Customer Reviews: Read 81 more reviews...
 An excellent book by Greg Iles November 19, 2008
Having read several books by author Greg Iles, I decided to give some of his earlier work a try. Black Cross is perhaps the best book he ever wrote. Set in the backdrop of a fictional concentration camp, Greg Iles combines page-turning suspense with interesting historical and scientific detail. Amazon.com was clearly the place to turn to for a copy of this novel published in the early 1990s. It was inexpensive yet in good condition. I have ordered dozens of used books through Amazon and they have all arrived in a timely manner and there have been no glitches with the transfer of payment. So...the book, the website, the transaction...the whole works has been a very satisfying experience and it keeps me coming back.
The evil of Nazi Germany November 14, 2008
portrayed brillantly in Black Cross. First Greg Iles novel for me. Certain sentences touched my inner core. ... "Mark felt a sudden magnifying of his own importance, like a subtle shift in the earth's gravitational field." I'm amazed with an author that writes as though he has personally been through the experiences of his characters. Thank you for a great novel.
 Too much for me September 28, 2008
I really like Greg Iles' books, but this one was way too graphic for me. The very specific and lengthy concentration camp scenes and descriptions are not something that I can read. I have great sorrow and empathy for the cruelty, but I just can't read the details of it.
Enthralling August 25, 2008
This reviewer is a big fan of the writer and I went back to read one of his earliest novels, written in 1995. This takes place as the Allies Forces are preparing for theor D-Day ivasion. Britosh intelligence learns that the Germand are testing a highly sophisticated nerve gas in one of the Conentration Camps. Due to the sensitive geopolitical ramifications that are involved, a special team is set up to gain samples of this gas. This book had me hooked from the first page and it is sometimes difficult to tell what is fact and what is part of a very fertile imagination of the writer. The characters have true depth and their personalities are embellished as each page passes. Iles is a true master and this work is in the league with writers such as LeCarre, Follett and Forsythe. The writer is a master of intrigue as well as utilizing numerous twists as the story is developed. This reader had difficulty putting the book down yet also did not wish to see it end. This is truly a remarkable achievement and is highly recommended to those who like novels of intrigue and espionage.
Excellent WW2 fiction tale July 3, 2008
Wow. Basically bought this on a whim because I happened to see it on the shelf at the bookstore. I could not have been more surprised with its exciting and intriguing story. A true diamond in the rough! If you are looking for a story based in fact and set during World War Two that features action, espionage, and drama, then you should check this novel out! A plethora of interesting characters abound here. Despite the exciting nature of the story, though, it gives a very detailed and non glamorous look at life in a concentration camp - not for the weak hearted I warn you!
This isn't all action hero escapism, it is a REAL struggle with characters that could have been REAL people - Jewish women and children doing ANYTHING they can to survive day by day under the heel of a sadistic Nazi doctor, Britain's military leaders trying to figure out a way to halt the progression of Germany's chemical arsenal, and the pacifist American chemist attempting to work with a Jewish Palestinian terrorist to get the mission off the ground.
A great read. It is shocking that I missed this one until now! Highly recommended for those in search of a good yarn!
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