The Olmec Head

by David Westheimer

Book Overview

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Paperback
• ISBN: 0515038067
• ISBN13: 9780515038064
• Release Date: January 1976
• Publisher: Pyramid Books
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Good Caper Novel with Lots of Action

David Westheimer's "The Olmec Head" is a caper novel. In this case smuggling a massive stone Olmec head out of Mexico. The story is presented from two points of view: (1) Sam Bell, the young American transportation specialist who is engaged to transport the head from the Mexican jungles across the US border, (2) Tomas Alvarado, a Mexican police official who regards theft of Mexican artifacts not only as a serious crime but as an affront to him and his culture. Sam Bell handles crisis after crisis in getting the head moved -- not just the logistics and avoiding the police, but there is a gang of thieves who prey on artifact theives. Meanwhile, Tomas Alvarado is gradually gleaning information about the head and how it is being moved. The plot is good; the pace is fast with action plentiful; the characters are adequate for this type of story. You have to have sympathy for Sam Bell who perseveres through one obstacle after another. On the other hand, you want Tomas Alvarado to keep the head from leaving Mexico. Not much in terms of detection, but a great action adventure story.