8+: Lion Adventure and Gorilla Adventure - Willard Price

Release Date: 27/09/12

Book Blurb: 
The human bait was the boys themselves...Hal and Roger Hunt have been sent on a terrifying mission - they must save the population of Mtito Andei from a man-eating lion. But the 'King of the Beasts' isn't the only thing trying to kill the boys...Have the brothers bitten off more than they can chew this time?

Review: 
It Big Cat game time for the Hunts and boy, does this tale deliver in spades as our intrepid heroes carry on with their adventures in Africa. It’s definitely a series I have lots of time for as I have not only fond memories of it but also because the author clearly loves what he’s writing about. The prose are sharp, the action intense but for me, it’s the character releationships that really make the tales work. All in a great read and one that I was more than pleased to enjoy again. Magical.



   

Release Date: 27/09/12

Book Blurb: 
'You stand rooted to the spot or you run like mad.' Hal and Roget Hunt head off for another challenging mission - this time to search for gorillas in the Congo jungle. But when the boys stumble across the evil trade in baby gorillas, someone seems determined to silence them once and for all.

Review: 
Oh yes, to be back on the trail with Hal and Roger was a real treat for me as a reader, yes I read the originals a goodly number of years ago but to get them all rereleased so that I can share them with my nephews, that’s sheer heaven. Here in the this title, the Hunt’s are on the trail in Africa, a country that the author had a love affair with for many years. The prose is sharp, the antics amusing and whilst as an older reader I tend to sympathise more with Hal, Roger still keeps me entertained as they seek the objectives of their quests in quite inventive ways. Add to this a wonderfully warm and inviting writing style that just takes you away and for me as a reader it was sheer bliss to return to fond memories that I hope younger readers will get just as much out of.



   

8+: Elephant Adventure and Underwater Adventure - Willard Price

Release Date: 05/07/12  
BOOK BLURB:  
'You are walking into the jaws of death.' Hal and Roger Hunt are on an awesome African adventure to track down the rare great white elephant. The brothers coolly tackle their task - despite doom-laden prophecies from mumbo, a Watussi chieftain - and as the temperature rises...the danger-level intensifies.  

REVIEW:  
As we return to Africa for this offering, the reader will be glued as the two lead characters seek to fulfil their fathers list for animals. There’s a whole lot of things happening within the pages and of course you really can’t help but get wrapped up in the adventure as they use ingenuity alongside bravery to achieve thier goals. As with Willard’s other books, it wonderfully written with the country being the leading star which has taken many readers over the years on their own safari’s within the imagination. Back that up with an obvious love for travel and seeing the unusual and all in it’s a satisfying read. Magic. 

   

Release Date: 05/07/12  
BOOK BLURB:  
'Never trust sharks...' Hal and Roger Hunt dive into danger when they join the Oceanographic institute as part of an underwater operation in the South Seas. And it's sink or swim for the intrepid brothers when their aquatic adventures bring them face to face with a foe even more deadly than the sea creatures of the deep...  

REVIEW:  
Willard Price has enthused children for years and having started rereading the series again after my first read 25 years ago, I’ve fallen again for Hal and Rogers adventures. Whilst they’re not being released in chronological order the series is one that will capture the imagination as the two Hunt boys carry out their captures for their fathers business. Its full of adventure, danger and of course trouble as Roger really has never lost his mischievous attitude from the start. Add to this cracking pace and a real feeling of involvement and all in it’s a wonderful read. Great stuff. 
 

8+: Safari Adventure and Arctic Adventure - Willard Price

Release Date: 26/04/12  
BOOK BLURB:  
'It's war. And right now we're losing it'. Hal and Roger Hunt fly straight into the jaws of death when they join warden Mark Crosby in Tsavo, an African park where poaching is big business. And with a gang leaving behind a blood-stained trail of terror and torture, the heat is on for the brothers to solve the string of mysterious murders - before they too become victims...

REVIEW:
Africa is clearly a place that holds a lot of fond memories for the author Willard Price and whilst it has been a number of years since I originally read the series its one that holds fond memories for me. The landscape is vividly described, the characters grow and when you add a whole host of supporting cast members from various backgrounds as well as cultures it adds a flavour that will give the reader their first taste of travel without leaving the country. Add to this a conservation message (which whilst the zoo options aren’t popular now was then) backed up with a whole host of antics that lead to capturing their prizes alongside fighting bad guys along the way which when backed with survival skills alongside quick witted planning really makes this a title to enjoy. Great stuff.

 

Release Date: 26/04/12  
BOOK BLURB:  
'Adrift in a savage land of ice and snow'. Hal and Roger Hunt are colder than they've ever been in their lives, up among the ice floes of Greenland. This harsh land holds many dangers, from killer whales to grizzly bears, but an evil man may turn out to be the deadliest threat the boys have to face.

REVIEW:
OK, yes another Willard Price adventure and one that I have really fond memories of as I was going through a tough time during my first reading. As with Willard’s other titles it’s gripping, it brings the scenes easily to the readers mind and of course with two intrepid heroes to lead the way its an adventure book that really will shine through. Add to this a great turn of pace, wonderful character interaction and an author who clearly has a love for people that he meets in his travels all come through the writing. Finally add to this sequences of danger, daring captures and a wonderful turn of prose all make this a wonderful read. Great stuff.

 

8+: Amazon Adventure and South Sea Adventure - Willard Price

OK, confession time, I’m a huge Willard Price fan and having read the books originally 25 years ago couldn’t wait to embark on the adventures with the Hunt boys, Hal and Roger again when I heard of Random House rereleasing eight of them. However when they arrived I was hit with a sudden worry, what would I do if they weren’t as good as I remembered? I’d have ruined some fond childhood memories and of course would resent my choice to go through them again after all this time. Whilst on a reread now they are in places quite dated (such as prices achieved for their finds,) they still took me away on a wonderful adventure with characters that I have extremely fond memories of (for example Roger’s ability to get into mischief.) In addition to this I found them nigh impossible to put down when begun (and found that I read them front to back in one session) which when added to the solid prose, cracking character interaction alongside a villain to challenge them, felt that it was a revisit well worth the time. All in, if you have a young male about the house who is reluctant to pick up a title, leave some of these around the house, you’ll find that they’re soon devoured.

Release Date: 26/04/12  
BOOK BLURB:  
'It's a lost world out there'. Hal and Roger Hunt sink deep into danger when a specimen-collecting trip takes them into the lost world of the South Seas. But the deep-sea trawl has a hidden agenda - a top secret mission for Professor Stuyvesant, and his scientific experiments in Pearl Lagoon...

REVIEW:
OK, confession time, I’m a huge Willard Price fan and having read the books originally 25 years ago couldn’t wait to embark on the adventures with the Hunt boys, Hal and Roger again when I heard of Random House rereleasing eight of them. However when they arrived I was hit with a sudden worry, what would I do if they weren’t as good as I remembered? I’d have ruined some fond childhood memories and of course would resent my choice to go through them again after all this time. Whilst on a reread now they are in places quite dated (such as prices achieved for their finds,) they still took me away on a wonderful adventure with characters that I have extremely fond memories of (for example Roger’s ability to get into mischief.) In addition to this I found them nigh impossible to put down when begun (and found that I read them front to back in one session) which when added to the solid prose, cracking character interaction alongside a villain to challenge them, felt that it was a revisit well worth the time. All in, if you have a young male about the house who is reluctant to pick up a title, leave some of these around the house, you’ll find that they’re soon devoured.