Review of A Rope Over An Abyss

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Guda Lydia
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Review of A Rope Over An Abyss

Post by Guda Lydia »

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "A Rope Over An Abyss" by William Chamberlain.]
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3 out of 4 stars
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It was another hot and dry day in Tobruk, Libya, in 1973. Pax and Xavier were among the few European foreigners working in Libya as commercial divers, tasked with removing and countermining several bombs, mines, and torpedoes left underwater from the Second World War. As the team leader, Pax found it challenging since the team was not harmonious or cooperative. The most notorious members of the group were Harry and Animal, who contradicted every decision Pax made. To make matters worse, Libya was on the verge of another war, and Libyans were openly hostile to any foreigner, including the diving team.

Compounding their problems, their boss quickly abandoned them in the country with limited resources. It now fell on Pax to figure a way out, and that is when he began realizing some abnormalities with his circle. His landlord, who introduced himself as a lowly teacher, was surprisingly well versed in military and covert operations, raising alarms in Pax’s head. Animal and Harry’s hostility towards the team grew daily, and they seemed to have a secondary agenda and mission. Everything was unraveling faster than Xavier and Pax expected. Just as they thought they had everything figured out, a literal and figurative blow from the most docile team member left them gasping for air and fighting for their lives. The two quickly found themselves swimming in a world of government conspiracies and pawns.

William Chamberlain expertly introduces the story with a captivating and tense flow of events, instantly capturing the reader’s attention. The extensive description of each character highlights their distinct physical and personality traits, like Pax’s analytical personality and lean frame and Xavier’s sarcastic nature. The vivid description of several scenes and settings, like Libya’s stunning desert climate, cultural norms, military and police operations, and various action-packed fight scenes, allows one to visualize and experience each detail.

My favorite aspect of the read is the constant surprises, twists, and turns throughout the story. From the beginning, every character seems to be harboring a secret or motive, including Pax, whose skills suspiciously surpass a mere commercial diver. Additionally, each chapter has a surprise twist, and the story does not unfold as expected, creating more suspense. However, as the book concludes, the scenes unfold too fast, and a lot happens at once, losing some reality and the story’s flow. The fight and action scenes became too many and fictional. Therefore, I drop a star and give it a rating of 3 out of 4 stars.

A Rope Over An Abyss is excellently edited; I found only two minor grammar errors. The language employed is intelligible; however, there is extensive use of profanities, making the read suitable for mature readers. There are general descriptions of erotic scenes, and the brutal torture and murders might affect sensitive readers. A Rope Over An Abyss is a story that highlights various types of war, from a country threatened by war and the presence of foreigners. Also, a team facing infighting while trying to deal with external attacks, and a man fighting his inner demons and for the people he loves. I recommend it to readers looking for a thrilling and action-packed historical fiction story, with some surprising bouts of romance.

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A Rope Over An Abyss
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Shivali Y
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Post by Shivali Y »

Haven't really read a book with government conspiracies as a theme, so this sounds great. Thanks for the review!
Kingsley Emodi
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Post by Kingsley Emodi »

This historical fiction is clearly packed with so much action. Lovers of history will have a good time reading this. Great review.
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Chinaza Nnabuenyi
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Post by Chinaza Nnabuenyi »

This book will open our eyes to how humans can be their own worst enemies. I love the review. Great job!
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RHD
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Post by RHD »

Kingsley Emodi wrote: 22 Oct 2021, 08:13 This historical fiction is clearly packed with so much action. Lovers of history will have a good time reading this. Great review.
Action-packed indeed. Suspense and twists make everything more juicy. Well done, Guda!
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