Silversword

By Charles Knief

Book Overview

In previous accounts, Charles Knief's hero, John Caine, seemed indestructible. But in this fourth adventure of the man whom the Boston Globe described as the heir apparent to Travis McGee, we find that even he can't take a gunshot in the back and escape with a few bruises. We meet him far from his beloved Hawaii protecting his friend Chawlie, the Honolulu gangster, at the funeral of a rival Triad leader in San Francisco. Just as the coffin is placed in the hearse, a not totally unexpected shooting breaks out. Caine succeeds in keeping Chawlie intact and saving the life of Chawlie's number one son, and his reward is a long stay in a San Francisco hospital and the enmity of a female police detective with her own agenda. It isn't long before Caine learns that he is her prime suspect in a murder case. Back home, convalescing in Waikiki, Caine finds that there are better ways to pass the time than watching daytime TV when his old friend Hawaiian Police chief Kimo presents him with a new case. Donna Wong, a young scientist, has made an important discovery under the waters of the Pacific--one that could turn the history of Hawaii upside down--but her faculty advisor is planning to steal it from her. Can Caine look into the man's background to find out if he's ever done this before? "Of course," says Caine. "It's easy." But nothing is easy for John Caine. The California detective arrives in Hawaii to take him back to the mainland for trial. Dodging her

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312273029
• ISBN13: 9780312273026
• Release Date: June 2001
• Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
• Length: 388 Pages
• Weight: 1.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 5.8" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Fantastic Fun! OVERALL SCORE: (A+)

This is a great mystery story, full of action, sex, and graphic violence, what more can you want. John Caine, a wonderful hero who has depth, likeability, sensibility, and charm, a modern knight righting wrongs and helping those in trouble. Charles Knief, brings the beautiful Hawaiian islands to life in all of their brilliant color and majesty. The settings in this book and his others capture the real Hawaii that few really get to know. OVERALL SCORE: (A+)PLOT: (A+), CHARATERS: (A+), DIALOGUE: (B), SETTING: (A+), ACTION/COMBAT: (A-), ANTAGONISTS: (B+), ROMANCE: (A), SEX: (Adult Content), AGE LEVEL: (R)

Caine's not superman but he's close

Finally the new John Caine book is here! I couldn't hardly wait for the new installment of the Caine legacy. Now that I read it in one sitting I'm left wondering "how long before the next book?" All I can say if your a Caine fan I don't think you'll disappointed. Pick up this book I bet you won't be able to put it down!

The Best of the Travis McGee Reincarnations

I first became familiar with Charles Knief's work when we both appeared as authors on the same MEN OF MYSTERY program in Southern California. I began reading his John Caine adventures, and SILVERSWORD is the most impressive yet. John Caine is Travis McGee updated for our time. Caine is a former navy man, living in Hawaii. Many of the supporting characters could also have been lifted from the classic John D. series. SILVERSWORD opens with a shooting in San Francisco, and the plot moves swiftly from there. Caine is wounded in the shooting and finds himself threatened with homicide charges. The story later shifts home to Hawaii, and the I found the tale thoroughly enjoyable. SILVERSWORD is a fine work, and I recommend it highly.

Another grandslam by Chuck Knief

I have been waiting anxiously for this fourth episode of the exploits of P.I. John Caine. I received an advanced copy and read it in one sitting. I wasn't disappointed. This one starts out in Chinatown in San Francisco and after a gangland shooting the action moves to Honolulu, Hawaii. Caine is recovering from a gunshot wound and the plot has several twists and turns. I won't give away anymore of the plot other than to say this is a must read. A new Honolulu Police Detective described as a "rugged looking haole detective" is introduced in Chapter 39 by the name of Jim Husing. The author is a friend of mine and this is my 15 minutes of fame. I hope I am not killed off in future. Hope you are reading this Chuck.As always, Chuck's vivid descriptions of the Hawaiian locations are right on the money. Having been to many of the locations described I felt that I was once again in Hawaii while reading page after page. Chuck has been to all of the locations described and that is why the descriptions are picture perfect. As in the three previous Caine novels, this one has lots of beautiful girls, beautiful scenery, Hawaiian legends and history, and fast paced action.This book is a must for Caine/Knief fans. Don't delay in getting it. You won't be disappointed.Jim Husing That rugged-looking haole detective

The fourth, and best, John Caine adventure

Charles Knief brings the reader into a world of veiled motives and violence, interspersed with John Caine's thoughtful interior diologues. This latter element sets a rousing story line apart from other action series. The repercussions of past choices are fleshed out, and placed into perspective with possible futures that remain enticing, but not secure. The sudden injections of danger disrupt our hero's attempts to stabilize his life. They are shadowed by the incessant steamrollering presence of a California legal sytam that metes out politically correct "justice." The story's characters bring a broad range of interests into development and make it almost impossible to put down this book once one starts to read it.