Rating: 
Summary: A superior effort from an acknowledged master.
Review: After leaving "the Company," Mako Hooker retired to the remote Caribbean island of Peolle, where he spends his days fishing aboard his boat, the Clamdip. His brief idyll ends when something starts attacking and sinking boats in the region, part of the mysterious Bermuda Triangle. The locals blame a sea creature, dubbing it "the Eater." Although Mako's seen the damage wreaked first hand, he hasn't come to any conclusion regarding the attacks.The attacks draw the attention of the Company, and, before you can say "intrigue", Hooker is once again forced to rely on skills and instincts he happily suppressed upon retiring from the spy game. Trying to uncover the source of the mayhem, his investigations are complicated by the presence of aggressive Company operatives, an opportunistic Hollywood film crew, and a budding romance with a sultry heiress. A successful author for over half a century now, Spillane still knows how to grab and hold a reader's attention--at eighty-five, his story telling skills remain undiminished. Sure, a few anachronisms creep in, and Mako is little more than a Mike Hammer/Tiger Mann hybrid, but those quibbles are easily ignored considering the story's brisk pacing, non stop action and colorful characters. In the final analysis, the book delivers all we've come to expect from a Mickey Spillane novel over the decades--plentiful action, riveting suspense, and a competent, tough hero who can take whatever his enemies have to throw at him. An explosive tale of intrigue and espionage, loyalty and betrayal, Something's Down There is a superior effort from an acknowledged master of mystery and suspense.
Rating:
Summary: A superior effort from an acknowledged master.
Review: After leaving "the Company," Mako Hooker retired to the remote Caribbean island of Peolle, where he spends his days fishing aboard his boat, the Clamdip. His brief idyll ends when something starts attacking and sinking boats in the region, part of the mysterious Bermuda Triangle. The locals blame a sea creature, dubbing it "the Eater." Although Mako's seen the damage wreaked first hand, he hasn't come to any conclusion regarding the attacks. The attacks draw the attention of the Company, and, before you can say "intrigue", Hooker is once again forced to rely on skills and instincts he happily suppressed upon retiring from the spy game. Trying to uncover the source of the mayhem, his investigations are complicated by the presence of aggressive Company operatives, an opportunistic Hollywood film crew, and a budding romance with a sultry heiress. A successful author for over half a century now, Spillane still knows how to grab and hold a reader's attention--at eighty-five, his story telling skills remain undiminished. Sure, a few anachronisms creep in, and Mako is little more than a Mike Hammer/Tiger Mann hybrid, but those quibbles are easily ignored considering the story's brisk pacing, non stop action and colorful characters. In the final analysis, the book delivers all we've come to expect from a Mickey Spillane novel over the decades--plentiful action, riveting suspense, and a competent, tough hero who can take whatever his enemies have to throw at him. An explosive tale of intrigue and espionage, loyalty and betrayal, Something's Down There is a superior effort from an acknowledged master of mystery and suspense.
Rating:
Summary: A superior effort from an acknowledged master.
Review: After leaving "the Company," Mako Hooker retired to the remote Caribbean island of Peolle, where he spends his days fishing aboard his boat, the Clamdip. His brief idyll ends when something starts attacking and sinking boats in the region, part of the mysterious Bermuda Triangle. The locals blame a sea creature, dubbing it "the Eater." Although Mako's seen the damage wreaked first hand, he hasn't come to any conclusion regarding the attacks. The attacks draw the attention of the Company, and, before you can say "intrigue", Hooker is once again forced to rely on skills and instincts he happily suppressed upon retiring from the spy game. Trying to uncover the source of the mayhem, his investigations are complicated by the presence of aggressive Company operatives, an opportunistic Hollywood film crew, and a budding romance with a sultry heiress. A successful author for over half a century now, Spillane still knows how to grab and hold a reader's attention--at eighty-five, his story telling skills remain undiminished. Sure, a few anachronisms creep in, and Mako is little more than a Mike Hammer/Tiger Mann hybrid, but those quibbles are easily ignored considering the story's brisk pacing, non stop action and colorful characters. In the final analysis, the book delivers all we've come to expect from a Mickey Spillane novel over the decades--plentiful action, riveting suspense, and a competent, tough hero who can take whatever his enemies have to throw at him. An explosive tale of intrigue and espionage, loyalty and betrayal, Something's Down There is a superior effort from an acknowledged master of mystery and suspense.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting but flawed story
Review: Aging cold warrior Mako Hooker has retired to the islands where he fishes and doesn't do much else. But rumors of a boat killer are starting to mount and the Company,' anxious to pick up political favors, sends a team into the area to find out whether the long extinct mega-shark has emerged. Because Mako has seen the six-inch broad bite marks that the killer has left. Along with the Company team, a cruise ship filled with millionaires and a Hollywood filming team are in the area. Mako's friend and boat captain pushes Maco into a relationship with be beautiful millionaire Judy (a.k.a. 'Doll'). That is the good news. The bad news is that the woman on the Company team is gunning for a chance to kill Maco and one of the Hollywood men is a Mafiosa. The Mafiosa may be playing legitimate now, but Mako knows that it's only a matter of time before he decides to go for illegal profits. A number of suspicious deaths in his past make Mako even more suspicious. Author Mickey Spillane has been writing hard-boiled action for more than half a century and he can still turn out captivating action. Still, SOMETHING'S DOWN THERE didn't seem quite put together. I wasn't clear why the Mafiosa had to be there and what illegal objective he was seeking that even a legitimate Hollywood manager (if there is such a thing) wouldn't be doing. The boat-killer is an intriguing concept but was perhaps too easy to guess and its final resolution seemed unsatisfactory to me. And the relationship between Mako and Judy seemed just a little too sexist for me to buy into. Finally, Spillane's characters occasionally date themselves, talking about World War II as if it was a recent event and as if veterans of that war were still active in espionage. SOMETHING'S DOWN THERE is flawed, but it is still interesting and occasionally compelling. Spillane maintains a way with words even in a story that is not his best.
Rating:
Summary: Well-Plotted Suspense!!!!!
Review: Forget that Mickey Spillane wrote this novel, and forget that you have ever read about Mike Hammer . . . because this is not a Mike Hammer story. If you are willing to do those things, you have an enjoyable story ahead of you. Many people forget or never knew that Mickey Spillane helped write Captain Marvel and Captain America comic books before launching his Mike Hammer books. To me, Something's Down There harkens back to those origins. Mako Hooker is a retired lethal operative for the Company. Now he spends his days kicking back on his vintage fishing boat and trying to keep his mate, Billy Bright, from calling him "Suh." They fish to eat what they catch, and generally enjoy a Miller Lite or two as they do. Billy's gradually introducing Mako to the delights of island cuisine in the process. This tranquility is broken when many local fishing boats are sunk by something large that "eats" through the bottom of their hulls. Life gets even more complicated when former colleagues from the Company arrive to find out more about what's going on. Chana Sterling in particular is not welcome, having once shot Mako. Then, leftover mines start showing up on the beach. But there's a positive side. Billy's helped arrange for Mako to meet a beautiful heiress, Judy Durant, and Mako's soon smitten. But Judy comes with complications too. Her father was killed mysteriously, and her father's former partners run the family businesses without any say-so from her. One of the CEOs is a man Mako recognizes as a Brooklyn mobster, Tony Pallatzo, who Mako knows to be a bad guy. Mako's soon watching his back. One of the great parts of the story is that the suspense builds remarkably as more and more discoveries are made about the "eater." You'll find yourself gripped by the suspense as you wonder about the "eater" and what will happen next. I cannot remember another book about the sea with this much suspense since Jaws. The book does have some weaknesses though. Mr. Spillane makes too rapid transitions within and into new scenes from time to time, and I found myself having to reread sections to figure out what was going on. In other places, he spends a little too much time having the Company people flex their bureaucratic muscles for one another. The plot itself is a refreshing and interesting one with twists that I didn't expect. If I were only rating the book on the plot, I would have given the story five stars. I hope that Mr. Spillane will give us more of Mako and Billy in the future. He's got a winner here!
Rating:
Summary: Well-Plotted Suspense!!!!!
Review: Forget that Mickey Spillane wrote this novel, and forget that you have ever read about Mike Hammer . . . because this is not a Mike Hammer story. If you are willing to do those things, you have an enjoyable story ahead of you. Many people forget or never knew that Mickey Spillane helped write Captain Marvel and Captain America comic books before launching his Mike Hammer books. To me, Something's Down There harkens back to those origins. Mako Hooker is a retired lethal operative for the Company. Now he spends his days kicking back on his vintage fishing boat and trying to keep his mate, Billy Bright, from calling him "Suh." They fish to eat what they catch, and generally enjoy a Miller Lite or two as they do. Billy's gradually introducing Mako to the delights of island cuisine in the process. This tranquility is broken when many local fishing boats are sunk by something large that "eats" through the bottom of their hulls. Life gets even more complicated when former colleagues from the Company arrive to find out more about what's going on. Chana Sterling in particular is not welcome, having once shot Mako. Then, leftover mines start showing up on the beach. But there's a positive side. Billy's helped arrange for Mako to meet a beautiful heiress, Judy Durant, and Mako's soon smitten. But Judy comes with complications too. Her father was killed mysteriously, and her father's former partners run the family businesses without any say-so from her. One of the CEOs is a man Mako recognizes as a Brooklyn mobster, Tony Pallatzo, who Mako knows to be a bad guy. Mako's soon watching his back. One of the great parts of the story is that the suspense builds remarkably as more and more discoveries are made about the "eater." You'll find yourself gripped by the suspense as you wonder about the "eater" and what will happen next. I cannot remember another book about the sea with this much suspense since Jaws. The book does have some weaknesses though. Mr. Spillane makes too rapid transitions within and into new scenes from time to time, and I found myself having to reread sections to figure out what was going on. In other places, he spends a little too much time having the Company people flex their bureaucratic muscles for one another. The plot itself is a refreshing and interesting one with twists that I didn't expect. If I were only rating the book on the plot, I would have given the story five stars. I hope that Mr. Spillane will give us more of Mako and Billy in the future. He's got a winner here!
Rating: 
Summary: Please - find the monster and kill the agony
Review: Get ready for lots of product plugs for Mr Spillane's favorite brand of beer, and ease back into your chair for hours of sheer boredom. Too many characters and no compelling story are the deathknells of this dreadful book. I liked Mako's tough guy image, and I liked his Caribbean sidekick, who keeps calling him "sar", but I didn't like the rambling nature of the book. Now, onto a book I can enjoy...
Rating:
Summary: THIS IS NOT MIKE HAMMER'S MICKEY SPILLANE
Review: I'm not sure that this is a novel for diehard fans, since it lacks the clear, lean narrative that usually characterizes this master's works. There are too many characters, too many vague plot lines, too much texture, too much technical detail. There is not enough grit, not enough action, not enough memorable one-liners. In short, it's not your usual Mickey Spillane book. Here, he's doing things that others do much better rather than doing the things that no one can do like him. For a weathered, government operative with old values and old expressions, go for a Donald Hamilton, who can also do boats and action at sea. Maybe it's just me. This is a guy who always deserves the benefit of the doubt. Keep writing, Mickey.
Rating:
Summary: Maybe it's me?
Review: I'm not sure that this is a novel for diehard fans, since it lacks the clear, lean narrative that usually characterizes this master's works. There are too many characters, too many vague plot lines, too much texture, too much technical detail. There is not enough grit, not enough action, not enough memorable one-liners. In short, it's not your usual Mickey Spillane book. Here, he's doing things that others do much better rather than doing the things that no one can do like him. For a weathered, government operative with old values and old expressions, go for a Donald Hamilton, who can also do boats and action at sea. Maybe it's just me. This is a guy who always deserves the benefit of the doubt. Keep writing, Mickey.
Rating:
Summary: Only for long time die hard fans of Mickey Spillane
Review: Retired from his harrowing operative career, American Mako Hooker spends his time fishing from his boat, the Clamdip. However, his solace at sea ends when his former employers order him back to work. They want Mako to investigate the explosive attacks on ships in the Bermuda Triangle where the former agent conveniently is spending his time. His ex employer also sends his former peer Chana Sterling to work closely with him over Mako's chagrin as this femme fatale once shot him. He would prefer to simply shoot Chana to put her out of everyone else's misery because she caused a lot of people much misery. Still Mako knows one never truly retires from the Company so he begins looking into the cause behind the gaping holes in the hulls of several vessels. That soon leads Mako to uncover conspiracies, but of what and why he still struggles (as does the reader after finishing the book) to learn. Only long time die hard fans of Mickey Spillane will appreciate this strange espionage thriller though the hero is an interesting throwback to the Jurassic Age. The story line is action-packed, but never seems to tie into a cohesive plot. The cast is hard boiled circa Eisenhower with perhaps the most interesting character being Mako the Shark (literally a fish in water and not Hooker). Harriet Klausner
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