The Orinoco Uranium

The Orinoco Uranium by Stephen O. Sears is a story set in WWII South America, inspired by true events and backed by extensive research and the author's personal knowledge of Venezuelan history and geology.

The narrative revolves around a geophysical survey party that stumbles upon smuggled uranium on a ship stranded along the Orinoco River bank after a violent storm. The ship was en route from Nazi Germany to Argentina, carrying stolen radioactive metal from a Berlin laboratory. The mastermind behind this theft is a renegade German physicist seeking refuge in South America.

The story follows American geologist Jerry MacDonald and his wife, Maria, who reside in the scenic lakeside community of Maracaibo, a city teeming with intrigue and espionage during this period of neutrality in Venezuela. While searching for new oil fields, Jerry leads the survey party deep into the South American wilderness, specifically to the Orinoco River delta. Upon discovering the uranium, Jerry informs the American government about the remarkable find when he returns to Maracaibo. However, this revelation triggers intense competition between German and American forces as they strive to seize control of the valuable cargo, ultimately leading to a violent encounter in the South Atlantic Ocean.

Now, turning to my thoughts on the book, let's start with its captivating cover design - it's truly beautiful and eye-catching. However, I personally did not thoroughly enjoy this book due to issues I encountered with the writing style. There was some kind of mismatch between myself as a reader and the writing itself. Additionally, I found the pace of the story to be rather slow at times. Nevertheless, one aspect that stood out was how skillfully the author depicted the setting. The book was filled with rich details that created an atmospheric backdrop for the events taking place.

ARC Via NetGalley