Originally published in 1972 under the pseudonym John Lange, Easy Go is one of the late Michael Crichton's earliest novels. Easy Go is reminiscent of the Andromeda Strain in the sense that it's a straight forward novel that is not meandering in the least bit. Short, simple, and to the point, Easy Go includes a jack of all trades group who's interest in finding a long lost treasure. Cairo is the setting and robbing a Pharoahs tomb is the plan. Let the good times begin.
Easy Go opens with Harold Barnaby, an Egyptologist examining scrolls that he's convinced leads to a treasure that if found, will lead to millions of dollars. He pursues a familiar drunk in a hotel lobby named Robert Pierce. Pierce is a freelance writer who knows every type of person. He quickly takes on the role as the leader of this mission. Pierce then baits an eccentric millionaire, a noted smuggler, and a thief not unfamiliar with the art of murder. Together Pierce, Barnaby, Nikos Karagannis, Alan Conway, and Lord Grover plan an intelligent cover up dig in order to keep the Egyptian government from suspecting there is much more happening.
Although the characters are a little hokey and it seems like it was a little too convenient, Easy Go is still a good solid read. I imagine, under ideal circumstances, can read it in a few hours. There isn't the long windedness found in some of Crichton's later work but it's a fun ride. There's no need to whip out a thesaurus and the message is pretty transparent. I recommend this to die hard fans of Crichton and lovers of a good treasure hunt. Easy Go is timeless and that's why it ranks high on my list of favorites.****
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