The deal he is on now with his publisher requires a book every two years. Temple took more then two years to write so the quality was a lot better. Not to mention he wanted to try a new perspective in writing, not a complete militaristic novel, but a adventure novel.imo
hovercrafts > temple + SHOEFIELD lol > contest +jack west books.
i have a real issue with the jack west books and really think they're a tier below. maybe the indiana jones thing is more of a cinematic experience? the group constantly going through new trap systems gets pretty repetitive pretty quickly and just isnt that exciting.
for a series of book that he ambitiously sets on the grandest scale you can, i feel they are overly lighthearted and lack the grit and substance that something like temple had (i use the term 'substance' lightly, i know im still talking about a MR book here). i find having 2 kids so central even to all the action scenes makes it feel more like a slap stick comedy/farce than the more genuine danger present in the likes of scarecrow.
needs more sex/drugs ?
And your opinion on his writing just became null when you said Hovercar Racer was better then his Race/Schofield novels. That was slated for younger teens, a bit obvious due to the fact Disney picked up the movie rights.