Cool., 18 Oct 2008
Non stop action from start till end.
I would have wished for a better ending but still I really enjoyed reading the book and wouldn t hesitate to recommend it to a friend.

dark watch, 20 Jan 2007
excellant book, unable to put down, and the story really flowed. The follow up book Skeleton coast carried straight with the action, recommended.
The story cuts back and forth in the great Cussler tradition, bringing various scenarios to a gripping conclusion. A real modern pirate story, fantastic.

Cool., 18 Oct 2008
Non stop action from start till end.
I would have wished for a better ending but still I really enjoyed reading the book and wouldn t hesitate to recommend it to a friend.

dark watch, 20 Jan 2007
excellant book, unable to put down, and the story really flowed. The follow up book Skeleton coast carried straight with the action, recommended.
The story cuts back and forth in the great Cussler tradition, bringing various scenarios to a gripping conclusion. A real modern pirate story, fantastic.

Entertaining, 30 Jun 2008
Clive Cussler is on the front cover and really no more else needs to be said. It's entertaining if not slightly ridiculous. This deviation from reality can be forgiven as it adds immesurably to the story and achieves that goal of tearing us from the daily routine and enriching our lives with a tale that rips along at 80 Knotts.
Entertainment aside, however, this NUMA files (Kurt Austin) adventure Didn't match the excitement of the Juan Cabrillo story Skeleton Coast.
A fan of Clive Cussler won't be dissapointed if they read without the preconception that Dirk Pitt is the alpha and the omega of Cussler's empire of literature.
Anyone contemplating a new book, and not having read a Cussler novel before, this isn't a bad place to start, it will leave you gasping for another like a fish taken from his favourite stretch of sea starved of the oxygen it provides.

The usual formula - just more tired than usual, 15 Apr 2008
With a Cussler novel, you know what you're going to get ... impossible links between the past and the present glory of good old America. This time we have a bull-necked villain of cartoon and cardboard type villainy; a baby-faced psychopathic assassin; a heroine of exotic features; sable hair and a strong streak of independence which doesn't stop her leaping into bed with our all-action hero. The theme naturally leads to the discovery of ancient treasures and the solving of equally ancient mysteries based upon the improbable fact that the Phoenicians travelled all the way to America to hide a precious artefact.

So if you like your adventure books to be written to a totally predictable formula (the villain keeps going on about the fires of hell - so guess how he dies) with characters that lack all semblance of believability, then you'll enjoy this book.

On the other hand, if you want a bit of depth and believable intrigue, try the novels of David Baldacci or Stephen Leather.

Typically brilliant, 24 Mar 2008
Rough-and-tumble adventure at sea with high-tech; Clive Cussler owns the genre. the Oregon series that I've read have all been fun, and it was no surprise to find a fantastic story line and implausible derring-do. Just what I was hoping for!

The Oregon series features Juan Cabrillo and his Corporation. Cabrillo is an ex-CIA operative turned paramilitary mercenary. Along with his hand-picked team he takes assignments mainly from the CIA. Oregon is the Corporation's base ship, a rust bucket refitted for speed, maneuverability and anonymity.

This series is co-authored, in this case by Jack Du Brul, but it bears Cussler's stamp. I found it well written and fun, a four-star read. My main issues (besides predictability) were the rather lame "bracketing story" in the prologue and epilogue, and the possibly too-large Corporation team. Juan Cabrillo is no Dirk Pitt, but he does rule his operation with flair. I will definitely read more from this series.
Another exciting read from one of the masters of action fiction. A great plot as usual, packed with energy and enthusiasm for the reader to enjoy.His writing style is so simple and easy to read, it`s a pleasure to pick up the book. I enjoyed the books from his oregon files series more, but that doesnt detract from this novel, it is excellent. I am a Lee Child fan, his Jack Reacher character is addictive reading, as is Harry Bosch, (Michael Connelly but the more novels he produces the more padded out they become, unlike Cussler who seems to keep them as exciting as ever. If you like serial books like Cussler look at Conrad Jones and his trilogy called `Soft Target` its similar genre but more violent, and a fantastic read.

This one is a `Truly great read.

The Author is Back on Track with This One, 25 Jul 2007

Clive Cussler was born in 1931 and grew up in Alhambra, California. He attended Pasadena City College before joining the Air Force. He went on to a successful advertising career, winning many national honours for his copywriting. He has also explored the deserts of the American Southwest in search of lost gold mines, dived in isolated lakes in the Rocky Mountains looking for lost aircraft and hunted under the sea for shipwrecks of historic significance, discovering and identifying more than sixty. He is married with three children, and divides his time between Colorado and Arizona. His credentials as a best selling author cannot be doubted and he has a large `stable' of best selling adventure novels.

I found this to be a much better book than the Lost City, the last book I read of Clive Cussler's. This one is full of the usual adventure and mayhem that are a feature of the author's books.

Many years ago, an ancient Phoenician statue known as the Navigator was stolen from the museum in Baghdad. There are men throughout the world who would do anything to get their hands on the priceless object and that includes murder. Their first victim is a shady antiques dealer who is murdered in cold blood. Their second attempt almost sees the demise of a UN investigator who, if not for the timely intervention of Austin and Zavala would now be experiencing a watery grave.

Why is there so much interest in a statue lost to mankind so many years ago? The search for the answer will take the NUMA team on an astonishing adventure through time and space. An adventure that encompasses no less than the lost treasures of King Solomon, plus a mysterious package of documents personally encoded by US President, Thomas Jefferson and a secret scientific programme that could change the world . . .

Plenty of Action Built Around Locating Ancient Objects, 24 Jul 2007
The Navigator is a beach read . . . and a pretty entertaining one. Mix in a little history, add a few Biblical references, season with a maniac villain, fold in a little sexual byplay, and tilt the odds in unexpected ways and you've got The Navigator.

The ancient Phoenicians had a valuable secret that they decided to hide away, far from where anyone would find it. Later, Thomas Jefferson caught a whiff of the secret and decided to track it down. Both the Phoenicians and Jefferson left behind coded clues.

Into this labyrinth enter Kurt Austin and Joe Zavala of NUMA when they encounter a high seas hijacking aimed at stealing a statue called the Navigator that had earlier been taken from the Baghdad museum during American invasion in 2003. In the process of foiling the theft (and other, more major, harms), Austin makes the acquaintance of the bewitching Carina Mechadi, an Italian expert in recovering stolen art works.

At the same time, an assistant librarian in the archives for the American Philosophical Society, finds misfiled some papers that seem to have been written by Thomas Jefferson. Before long, others are riveted by this find.

Austin and Mechadi take on the challenge of tracking down the Navigator after it is stolen again. At the same time, they sense the deeper riddle involving the Phoenicians and work on that puzzle as well.

Before the book's end, both will be severely tested and unexpected secrets will be revealed.

The ancient sea-going references make this book unmistakably a Clive Cussler creation. The NUMA technology and experience double that certainty. The presence of Kurt Austin and Joe Zavala convince you this is a Clive Cussler plot. From there, the book has a strong seasoning of tongue-in-cheek as the villain shows his preferences for jousting and ancient religions. I felt at times like this was "The Wild Wild West" meets the 21st century.

Although not as good as the earliest Dirk Pitt books, The Navigator is a book worthy of your time if you are looking for some light action-based reading with an occasional "what if?" thought injected.

As I read the book, I was concerned for some time that it was going to end up with some anti-Christian plot development or message. But the resolution of the story seemed to me to fall within the real of what is possible and still fit in with mainline Christianity. I only mention that point because some fiction these days chooses to plot out stories that are anti-Christian.

Have fun!

Cool., 18 Oct 2008
Non stop action from start till end.
I would have wished for a better ending but still I really enjoyed reading the book and wouldn t hesitate to recommend it to a friend.

dark watch, 20 Jan 2007
excellant book, unable to put down, and the story really flowed. The follow up book Skeleton coast carried straight with the action, recommended.
The story cuts back and forth in the great Cussler tradition, bringing various scenarios to a gripping conclusion. A real modern pirate story, fantastic.

Entertaining, 30 Jun 2008
Clive Cussler is on the front cover and really no more else needs to be said. It's entertaining if not slightly ridiculous. This deviation from reality can be forgiven as it adds immesurably to the story and achieves that goal of tearing us from the daily routine and enriching our lives with a tale that rips along at 80 Knotts.
Entertainment aside, however, this NUMA files (Kurt Austin) adventure Didn't match the excitement of the Juan Cabrillo story Skeleton Coast.
A fan of Clive Cussler won't be dissapointed if they read without the preconception that Dirk Pitt is the alpha and the omega of Cussler's empire of literature.
Anyone contemplating a new book, and not having read a Cussler novel before, this isn't a bad place to start, it will leave you gasping for another like a fish taken from his favourite stretch of sea starved of the oxygen it provides.

The usual formula - just more tired than usual, 15 Apr 2008
With a Cussler novel, you know what you're going to get ... impossible links between the past and the present glory of good old America. This time we have a bull-necked villain of cartoon and cardboard type villainy; a baby-faced psychopathic assassin; a heroine of exotic features; sable hair and a strong streak of independence which doesn't stop her leaping into bed with our all-action hero. The theme naturally leads to the discovery of ancient treasures and the solving of equally ancient mysteries based upon the improbable fact that the Phoenicians travelled all the way to America to hide a precious artefact.

So if you like your adventure books to be written to a totally predictable formula (the villain keeps going on about the fires of hell - so guess how he dies) with characters that lack all semblance of believability, then you'll enjoy this book.

On the other hand, if you want a bit of depth and believable intrigue, try the novels of David Baldacci or Stephen Leather.

Typically brilliant, 24 Mar 2008
Rough-and-tumble adventure at sea with high-tech; Clive Cussler owns the genre. the Oregon series that I've read have all been fun, and it was no surprise to find a fantastic story line and implausible derring-do. Just what I was hoping for!

The Oregon series features Juan Cabrillo and his Corporation. Cabrillo is an ex-CIA operative turned paramilitary mercenary. Along with his hand-picked team he takes assignments mainly from the CIA. Oregon is the Corporation's base ship, a rust bucket refitted for speed, maneuverability and anonymity.

This series is co-authored, in this case by Jack Du Brul, but it bears Cussler's stamp. I found it well written and fun, a four-star read. My main issues (besides predictability) were the rather lame "bracketing story" in the prologue and epilogue, and the possibly too-large Corporation team. Juan Cabrillo is no Dirk Pitt, but he does rule his operation with flair. I will definitely read more from this series.
Another exciting read from one of the masters of action fiction. A great plot as usual, packed with energy and enthusiasm for the reader to enjoy.His writing style is so simple and easy to read, it`s a pleasure to pick up the book. I enjoyed the books from his oregon files series more, but that doesnt detract from this novel, it is excellent. I am a Lee Child fan, his Jack Reacher character is addictive reading, as is Harry Bosch, (Michael Connelly but the more novels he produces the more padded out they become, unlike Cussler who seems to keep them as exciting as ever. If you like serial books like Cussler look at Conrad Jones and his trilogy called `Soft Target` its similar genre but more violent, and a fantastic read.

This one is a `Truly great read.

The Author is Back on Track with This One, 25 Jul 2007

Clive Cussler was born in 1931 and grew up in Alhambra, California. He attended Pasadena City College before joining the Air Force. He went on to a successful advertising career, winning many national honours for his copywriting. He has also explored the deserts of the American Southwest in search of lost gold mines, dived in isolated lakes in the Rocky Mountains looking for lost aircraft and hunted under the sea for shipwrecks of historic significance, discovering and identifying more than sixty. He is married with three children, and divides his time between Colorado and Arizona. His credentials as a best selling author cannot be doubted and he has a large `stable' of best selling adventure novels.

I found this to be a much better book than the Lost City, the last book I read of Clive Cussler's. This one is full of the usual adventure and mayhem that are a feature of the author's books.

Many years ago, an ancient Phoenician statue known as the Navigator was stolen from the museum in Baghdad. There are men throughout the world who would do anything to get their hands on the priceless object and that includes murder. Their first victim is a shady antiques dealer who is murdered in cold blood. Their second attempt almost sees the demise of a UN investigator who, if not for the timely intervention of Austin and Zavala would now be experiencing a watery grave.

Why is there so much interest in a statue lost to mankind so many years ago? The search for the answer will take the NUMA team on an astonishing adventure through time and space. An adventure that encompasses no less than the lost treasures of King Solomon, plus a mysterious package of documents personally encoded by US President, Thomas Jefferson and a secret scientific programme that could change the world . . .

Plenty of Action Built Around Locating Ancient Objects, 24 Jul 2007
The Navigator is a beach read . . . and a pretty entertaining one. Mix in a little history, add a few Biblical references, season with a maniac villain, fold in a little sexual byplay, and tilt the odds in unexpected ways and you've got The Navigator.

The ancient Phoenicians had a valuable secret that they decided to hide away, far from where anyone would find it. Later, Thomas Jefferson caught a whiff of the secret and decided to track it down. Both the Phoenicians and Jefferson left behind coded clues.

Into this labyrinth enter Kurt Austin and Joe Zavala of NUMA when they encounter a high seas hijacking aimed at stealing a statue called the Navigator that had earlier been taken from the Baghdad museum during American invasion in 2003. In the process of foiling the theft (and other, more major, harms), Austin makes the acquaintance of the bewitching Carina Mechadi, an Italian expert in recovering stolen art works.

At the same time, an assistant librarian in the archives for the American Philosophical Society, finds misfiled some papers that seem to have been written by Thomas Jefferson. Before long, others are riveted by this find.

Austin and Mechadi take on the challenge of tracking down the Navigator after it is stolen again. At the same time, they sense the deeper riddle involving the Phoenicians and work on that puzzle as well.

Before the book's end, both will be severely tested and unexpected secrets will be revealed.

The ancient sea-going references make this book unmistakably a Clive Cussler creation. The NUMA technology and experience double that certainty. The presence of Kurt Austin and Joe Zavala convince you this is a Clive Cussler plot. From there, the book has a strong seasoning of tongue-in-cheek as the villain shows his preferences for jousting and ancient religions. I felt at times like this was "The Wild Wild West" meets the 21st century.

Although not as good as the earliest Dirk Pitt books, The Navigator is a book worthy of your time if you are looking for some light action-based reading with an occasional "what if?" thought injected.

As I read the book, I was concerned for some time that it was going to end up with some anti-Christian plot development or message. But the resolution of the story seemed to me to fall within the real of what is possible and still fit in with mainline Christianity. I only mention that point because some fiction these days chooses to plot out stories that are anti-Christian.

Have fun!



Last straw, 26 Oct 2007
I used to like this author and always waited for and bought the next title as soon as it came out in paperback in the dirk pitt series. However thay are becoming repetitive, more unbelievable(if that is possible), and I struggled to finish this one. I decided there and then not to consider buying another and so far have ignored further books by this author

Automatic pilot, 18 Aug 2007
This rubbish is a perfect example of an Autor writing a book on automatic pilot.
Showing off with his technical research, the book is devoid of excitement, exuding a formulaic approach to writing.
Just dreary and boring.

A fascinating read, 31 Aug 2006
Clive Cussler has revealed once again his mastery of adventurous and thrilling stories As usual; the plot is fast-paced one, moving so quickly that the reader is not given the opportunity to notice any flaws. I loved the rugged nature of the characters. The plot is amazing, far-reaching and creates a sense of disbelief. Alaska, Korea, Japan.....the scope is wide. I will always continue to read the works of Cussler because I enjoy them as a quick relief from more serious works, and consider then to be good page-turners. If liked Cussler's earlier books, then here is another to enjoy. The story has an interesting plot and the dialogue is great. Once started, you won't want to put it down. The story flows.Also recommended: DISCIPLES OF FORTUNE, POLAR SHIFT ,THE GOLDEN BUDDHA are other gripping page turners.

crying shame, 08 Jun 2006
The worst thing that happened to Clive Cussler's universe was the awful decision to, magically and totally implausibly, discover that Dirk Pitt has kids - the son looking exactly like him so that Cussler can keep churning them out and hope that the people who grew up reading the adventures of the original Dirk and Al don't mind. The quality really stopped around "Sahara" for me. As most fans, I bought this book looking forward to another Dirk Pitt novel, but by page 45, having realised that the carbon-copy-son was the star I was already getting bored.
Dear Mr Cussler, instead of the identikit kid (with none of the charm) why not go back to the younger days of Dirk ? A bit of re-inventing did wonders for the Batman mythology. I'm sure that your fans would welcome older stories that you could fit in among the earlier timelines. You have a large market for your stories. It would be a real shame to continue with your current direction. Tom Clancy has had immense success, but also has opted to choose the son-following-in-Dad's-footsteps approach to his Jack Ryan series. This is a lazy approach - almost as bad as an ending where "it was all a dream". I've been with you for the last 20 years and to carelessly disgregard well-loved characters is disappointing.

Back to the drawing board I think!!, 30 Apr 2006
I have been a fan of Clive Cussler for as long as I can remember, and always looked forward to the pulication of his latest offering. But recently since he has started to collaborate with other lesser known authors the style and and identity of Clive Cussler's books has taken a nose dive. You could always rely on once a year Dirk Pitt arriving on the shelves and delivering a well written, thriller that you would finish and have enjoyed.
This latest book I did not even finish thus was the poor quality of the writing and the plot. They all seem to do it, Ludlum, Clancy, Patterson, sell out their place as an individual in the market and go with this new trend that publishers love, 2 or 3 books a year that will sell because of the top billing of a bestselling writer.
I have found that the NUMA files featuring Kurt Austin feel as though they are crashed out to fill a summer or Christmas demand and it seems as though Dirk Pitt is going the same way.
And The Oregon Files just fail to deliver.
Lets come up with even more mind numbingly stupid stories, throw in a touch of Bond, mix in the normal suspects of villans and babes and here you have a by the numbers mediocre thriller. Big fat cheque from the publishers and back to the lap top to compile another rip-off for the public.
They have all become comic book in there style and sadly I shall buy no more. Aviod this poor excuse of a thriller at all costs.

From the moment you begin Clive Cussler's latest undersea thriller, you know that you're in the hands of a old pro; thus any lingering crotchetiness over the book's stereotypical villains is offset by deft plotting and taut action. Flood Tide details the exploits of Dirk Pitt, Special Projects Director of the National Underwater and Marine Agency, whom Cussler fans already know and love. Judging by this book, "Special Projects" seems to be a euphemism for blowing stuff up. Pitt's worthy adversary is Qin Shang, a Chinese shipping tycoon who is definitely from the Fu Manchu school of management. As part of a nefarious plot to bring the United States to its knees with a flood of illegal immigrants, Qin Shang operates a secluded gulag in rural Washington, which the vacationing (ha!) Pitt stumbles upon. A lot of entertaining mayhem ensues, both on the water and under it. Flood Tide's enthusiastic xenophobia can stick in the throat, and may get in the way for some. But that flaw aside, it delivers the speed and shocks necessary.

Cool., 18 Oct 2008
Non stop action from start till end.
I would have wished for a better ending but still I really enjoyed reading the book and wouldn t hesitate to recommend it to a friend.

dark watch, 20 Jan 2007
excellant book, unable to put down, and the story really flowed. The follow up book Skeleton coast carried straight with the action, recommended.
The story cuts back and forth in the great Cussler tradition, bringing various scenarios to a gripping conclusion. A real modern pirate story, fantastic.

Entertaining, 30 Jun 2008
Clive Cussler is on the front cover and really no more else needs to be said. It's entertaining if not slightly ridiculous. This deviation from reality can be forgiven as it adds immesurably to the story and achieves that goal of tearing us from the daily routine and enriching our lives with a tale that rips along at 80 Knotts.
Entertainment aside, however, this NUMA files (Kurt Austin) adventure Didn't match the excitement of the Juan Cabrillo story Skeleton Coast.
A fan of Clive Cussler won't be dissapointed if they read without the preconception that Dirk Pitt is the alpha and the omega of Cussler's empire of literature.
Anyone contemplating a new book, and not having read a Cussler novel before, this isn't a bad place to start, it will leave you gasping for another like a fish taken from his favourite stretch of sea starved of the oxygen it provides.

The usual formula - just more tired than usual, 15 Apr 2008
With a Cussler novel, you know what you're going to get ... impossible links between the past and the present glory of good old America. This time we have a bull-necked villain of cartoon and cardboard type villainy; a baby-faced psychopathic assassin; a heroine of exotic features; sable hair and a strong streak of independence which doesn't stop her leaping into bed with our all-action hero. The theme naturally leads to the discovery of ancient treasures and the solving of equally ancient mysteries based upon the improbable fact that the Phoenicians travelled all the way to America to hide a precious artefact.

So if you like your adventure books to be written to a totally predictable formula (the villain keeps going on about the fires of hell - so guess how he dies) with characters that lack all semblance of believability, then you'll enjoy this book.

On the other hand, if you want a bit of depth and believable intrigue, try the novels of David Baldacci or Stephen Leather.

Typically brilliant, 24 Mar 2008
Rough-and-tumble adventure at sea with high-tech; Clive Cussler owns the genre. the Oregon series that I've read have all been fun, and it was no surprise to find a fantastic story line and implausible derring-do. Just what I was hoping for!

The Oregon series features Juan Cabrillo and his Corporation. Cabrillo is an ex-CIA operative turned paramilitary mercenary. Along with his hand-picked team he takes assignments mainly from the CIA. Oregon is the Corporation's base ship, a rust bucket refitted for speed, maneuverability and anonymity.

This series is co-authored, in this case by Jack Du Brul, but it bears Cussler's stamp. I found it well written and fun, a four-star read. My main issues (besides predictability) were the rather lame "bracketing story" in the prologue and epilogue, and the possibly too-large Corporation team. Juan Cabrillo is no Dirk Pitt, but he does rule his operation with flair. I will definitely read more from this series.
Another exciting read from one of the masters of action fiction. A great plot as usual, packed with energy and enthusiasm for the reader to enjoy.His writing style is so simple and easy to read, it`s a pleasure to pick up the book. I enjoyed the books from his oregon files series more, but that doesnt detract from this novel, it is excellent. I am a Lee Child fan, his Jack Reacher character is addictive reading, as is Harry Bosch, (Michael Connelly but the more novels he produces the more padded out they become, unlike Cussler who seems to keep them as exciting as ever. If you like serial books like Cussler look at Conrad Jones and his trilogy called `Soft Target` its similar genre but more violent, and a fantastic read.

This one is a `Truly great read.

The Author is Back on Track with This One, 25 Jul 2007

Clive Cussler was born in 1931 and grew up in Alhambra, California. He attended Pasadena City College before joining the Air Force. He went on to a successful advertising career, winning many national honours for his copywriting. He has also explored the deserts of the American Southwest in search of lost gold mines, dived in isolated lakes in the Rocky Mountains looking for lost aircraft and hunted under the sea for shipwrecks of historic significance, discovering and identifying more than sixty. He is married with three children, and divides his time between Colorado and Arizona. His credentials as a best selling author cannot be doubted and he has a large `stable' of best selling adventure novels.

I found this to be a much better book than the Lost City, the last book I read of Clive Cussler's. This one is full of the usual adventure and mayhem that are a feature of the author's books.

Many years ago, an ancient Phoenician statue known as the Navigator was stolen from the museum in Baghdad. There are men throughout the world who would do anything to get their hands on the priceless object and that includes murder. Their first victim is a shady antiques dealer who is murdered in cold blood. Their second attempt almost sees the demise of a UN investigator who, if not for the timely intervention of Austin and Zavala would now be experiencing a watery grave.

Why is there so much interest in a statue lost to mankind so many years ago? The search for the answer will take the NUMA team on an astonishing adventure through time and space. An adventure that encompasses no less than the lost treasures of King Solomon, plus a mysterious package of documents personally encoded by US President, Thomas Jefferson and a secret scientific programme that could change the world . . .

Plenty of Action Built Around Locating Ancient Objects, 24 Jul 2007
The Navigator is a beach read . . . and a pretty entertaining one. Mix in a little history, add a few Biblical references, season with a maniac villain, fold in a little sexual byplay, and tilt the odds in unexpected ways and you've got The Navigator.

The ancient Phoenicians had a valuable secret that they decided to hide away, far from where anyone would find it. Later, Thomas Jefferson caught a whiff of the secret and decided to track it down. Both the Phoenicians and Jefferson left behind coded clues.

Into this labyrinth enter Kurt Austin and Joe Zavala of NUMA when they encounter a high seas hijacking aimed at stealing a statue called the Navigator that had earlier been taken from the Baghdad museum during American invasion in 2003. In the process of foiling the theft (and other, more major, harms), Austin makes the acquaintance of the bewitching Carina Mechadi, an Italian expert in recovering stolen art works.

At the same time, an assistant librarian in the archives for the American Philosophical Society, finds misfiled some papers that seem to have been written by Thomas Jefferson. Before long, others are riveted by this find.

Austin and Mechadi take on the challenge of tracking down the Navigator after it is stolen again. At the same time, they sense the deeper riddle involving the Phoenicians and work on that puzzle as well.

Before the book's end, both will be severely tested and unexpected secrets will be revealed.

The ancient sea-going references make this book unmistakably a Clive Cussler creation. The NUMA technology and experience double that certainty. The presence of Kurt Austin and Joe Zavala convince you this is a Clive Cussler plot. From there, the book has a strong seasoning of tongue-in-cheek as the villain shows his preferences for jousting and ancient religions. I felt at times like this was "The Wild Wild West" meets the 21st century.

Although not as good as the earliest Dirk Pitt books, The Navigator is a book worthy of your time if you are looking for some light action-based reading with an occasional "what if?" thought injected.

As I read the book, I was concerned for some time that it was going to end up with some anti-Christian plot development or message. But the resolution of the story seemed to me to fall within the real of what is possible and still fit in with mainline Christianity. I only mention that point because some fiction these days chooses to plot out stories that are anti-Christian.

Have fun!



Last straw, 26 Oct 2007
I used to like this author and always waited for and bought the next title as soon as it came out in paperback in the dirk pitt series. However thay are becoming repetitive, more unbelievable(if that is possible), and I struggled to finish this one. I decided there and then not to consider buying another and so far have ignored further books by this author

Automatic pilot, 18 Aug 2007
This rubbish is a perfect example of an Autor writing a book on automatic pilot.
Showing off with his technical research, the book is devoid of excitement, exuding a formulaic approach to writing.
Just dreary and boring.

A fascinating read, 31 Aug 2006
Clive Cussler has revealed once again his mastery of adventurous and thrilling stories As usual; the plot is fast-paced one, moving so quickly that the reader is not given the opportunity to notice any flaws. I loved the rugged nature of the characters. The plot is amazing, far-reaching and creates a sense of disbelief. Alaska, Korea, Japan.....the scope is wide. I will always continue to read the works of Cussler because I enjoy them as a quick relief from more serious works, and consider then to be good page-turners. If liked Cussler's earlier books, then here is another to enjoy. The story has an interesting plot and the dialogue is great. Once started, you won't want to put it down. The story flows.Also recommended: DISCIPLES OF FORTUNE, POLAR SHIFT ,THE GOLDEN BUDDHA are other gripping page turners.

crying shame, 08 Jun 2006
The worst thing that happened to Clive Cussler's universe was the awful decision to, magically and totally implausibly, discover that Dirk Pitt has kids - the son looking exactly like him so that Cussler can keep churning them out and hope that the people who grew up reading the adventures of the original Dirk and Al don't mind. The quality really stopped around "Sahara" for me. As most fans, I bought this book looking forward to another Dirk Pitt novel, but by page 45, having realised that the carbon-copy-son was the star I was already getting bored.
Dear Mr Cussler, instead of the identikit kid (with none of the charm) why not go back to the younger days of Dirk ? A bit of re-inventing did wonders for the Batman mythology. I'm sure that your fans would welcome older stories that you could fit in among the earlier timelines. You have a large market for your stories. It would be a real shame to continue with your current direction. Tom Clancy has had immense success, but also has opted to choose the son-following-in-Dad's-footsteps approach to his Jack Ryan series. This is a lazy approach - almost as bad as an ending where "it was all a dream". I've been with you for the last 20 years and to carelessly disgregard well-loved characters is disappointing.

Back to the drawing board I think!!, 30 Apr 2006
I have been a fan of Clive Cussler for as long as I can remember, and always looked forward to the pulication of his latest offering. But recently since he has started to collaborate with other lesser known authors the style and and identity of Clive Cussler's books has taken a nose dive. You could always rely on once a year Dirk Pitt arriving on the shelves and delivering a well written, thriller that you would finish and have enjoyed.
This latest book I did not even finish thus was the poor quality of the writing and the plot. They all seem to do it, Ludlum, Clancy, Patterson, sell out their place as an individual in the market and go with this new trend that publishers love, 2 or 3 books a year that will sell because of the top billing of a bestselling writer.
I have found that the NUMA files featuring Kurt Austin feel as though they are crashed out to fill a summer or Christmas demand and it seems as though Dirk Pitt is going the same way.
And The Oregon Files just fail to deliver.
Lets come up with even more mind numbingly stupid stories, throw in a touch of Bond, mix in the normal suspects of villans and babes and here you have a by the numbers mediocre thriller. Big fat cheque from the publishers and back to the lap top to compile another rip-off for the public.
They have all become comic book in there style and sadly I shall buy no more. Aviod this poor excuse of a thriller at all costs.


Great action adventure, 21 Nov 2008
This is only the second Clive Cussler book I have read, (Black Wind being the first) however if they are all to this standard I believe it will not be the last. Flood tide is exciting and the characters are so likeable, especially the infamous Dirk Pitt. The story is an action packed adventure following Dirk and his pursuit of not only a shipping tycoon who makes vast profits from smuggling Chinese to America but also, with a little help from his friends, to find the lost bones of the 'Peking man' and lost treasures of China. I love Clive Cussler's style of writing as it is draws you into the story. It is witty to the point where I can laugh out loud but also intelligent. Definitely worth a read.

excellent serial characters, 28 Aug 2008
I have never been a big fan of action thrillers. The only author I read regularly in this genre is Lee Child and his `Jack Reacher` character, and I enjoy him a lot, so I decided to give Clive Cussler a try. I am happy to say I was not disappointed! Even though "Pacific Vortex" was the first published book in the Dirk Pitt adventures series, it was the first Cussler wrote, so logically, this is the novel I picked to start my journey. I found an interesting character that lives at the edge and is passionate about his work. Also in some aspects he is similar to James Bond, women mainly, and the mix is sufficient to keep the reader thoroughly entertained. If you enjoy serial characters then this is a must series for you, also try Michael Connelly`s `Harry Bosh` series, or much more violent is the `Soft Target` thrillers by Conrad Jones. In the Dirk pitt stories Cussler has created a very entertaining series, with a character that has an arrogant and pedantic side, but whom also shows his pure emotions and is true to his friends and ideals. This makes the Special Project Director of the National Underwater and Marine Agency a very likable character. This is a book that a reader can breeze through in a few hours making it an enjoyable way to spend a weekend's afternoon. I will surely read the next book in this series hoping for a similar experience.



A great page turner, 27 Mar 2006
This is only the second Clive Cussler book I have read, (Black Wind being the first) however if they are all to this standard I believe it will not be the last. Flood tide is exciting and the characters are so likeable, especially the infamous Dirk Pitt. The story is an action packed adventure following Dirk and his pursuit of not only a shipping tycoon who makes vast profits from smuggling Chinese to America but also, with a little help from his friends, to find the lost bones of the 'Peking man' and lost treasures of China. I love Clive Cussler's style of writing as it is draws you into the story. It is witty to the point where I can laugh out loud but also intelligent. Definitely worth a read.

Flood Tide, 15 Dec 2004
As Dirk Pitt novels go this is not one of the best but definately worth a read if only for some of the sinister descriptors of the immigrant smuggling ring.

Basically this time Dirk goes up against a chinese megalomaniac with an interest in antiques - as well as antics !!!

The ending is slightly far-fetched - with the great american must haves - dead dogs and divorce - but let's face it - It is Clive Cussler !!

Dunno how he manages it. By rights it should be 1..., 09 Oct 2001
An OK story. I read them all and am quite hooked.

However, there are things that are really rubbish about the later books. I know, because I went and read an earlier one to compare.

Characterisation is nowhere now - relies purely on whatever was in earlier books.

Dialogue is absolutely terrible. Take a tip, Clive, if you want to drop in a wealth of detail, do it in the narrative. Do not have the characters explain all in a 50 - word sentence.... absolutely no one on the planet speaks in such a cumbersome and clunky fashion - and particularly not while they're embroiled in a gunfight...

Dirk Pitt (registered trade mark) What the...?

Clive writing himself in as a character. I tell you, even if I'm by myself in a locked room, reading silently, episodes like that overwhelm me with utter embarrassment. What was he thinking? I have this cold dread because I know it's coming, and I can't do a thing about it.

The snobbery. No-one ever has a drink, or drinks some wine. You always get the full "1948 Ricardo Montalban - Nappy Valley Pinot Noir" nonsense that even Frasier Crane would reject as too prissy. If anything, the foodie-ness is worse.

Don't get me wrong, I still like, buy and read the books, but the standard of writing so lets it down. Imagine the good plots with good writing. Now that would be worthwhile.

Cool., 18 Oct 2008
Non stop action from start till end.
I would have wished for a better ending but still I really enjoyed reading the book and wouldn t hesitate to recommend it to a friend.

dark watch, 20 Jan 2007
excellant book, unable to put down, and the story really flowed. The follow up book Skeleton coast carried straight with the action, recommended.
The story cuts back and forth in the great Cussler tradition, bringing various scenarios to a gripping conclusion. A real modern pirate story, fantastic.

Entertaining, 30 Jun 2008
Clive Cussler is on the front cover and really no more else needs to be said. It's entertaining if not slightly ridiculous. This deviation from reality can be forgiven as it adds immesurably to the story and achieves that goal of tearing us from the daily routine and enriching our lives with a tale that rips along at 80 Knotts.
Entertainment aside, however, this NUMA files (Kurt Austin) adventure Didn't match the excitement of the Juan Cabrillo story Skeleton Coast.
A fan of Clive Cussler won't be dissapointed if they read without the preconception that Dirk Pitt is the alpha and the omega of Cussler's empire of literature.
Anyone contemplating a new book, and not having read a Cussler novel before, this isn't a bad place to start, it will leave you gasping for another like a fish taken from his favourite stretch of sea starved of the oxygen it provides.

The usual formula - just more tired than usual, 15 Apr 2008
With a Cussler novel, you know what you're going to get ... impossible links between the past and the present glory of good old America. This time we have a bull-necked villain of cartoon and cardboard type villainy; a baby-faced psychopathic assassin; a heroine of exotic features; sable hair and a strong streak of independence which doesn't stop her leaping into bed with our all-action hero. The theme naturally leads to the discovery of ancient treasures and the solving of equally ancient mysteries based upon the improbable fact that the Phoenicians travelled all the way to America to hide a precious artefact.

So if you like your adventure books to be written to a totally predictable formula (the villain keeps going on about the fires of hell - so guess how he dies) with characters that lack all semblance of believability, then you'll enjoy this book.

On the other hand, if you want a bit of depth and believable intrigue, try the novels of David Baldacci or Stephen Leather.

Typically brilliant, 24 Mar 2008
Rough-and-tumble adventure at sea with high-tech; Clive Cussler owns the genre. the Oregon series that I've read have all been fun, and it was no surprise to find a fantastic story line and implausible derring-do. Just what I was hoping for!

The Oregon series features Juan Cabrillo and his Corporation. Cabrillo is an ex-CIA operative turned paramilitary mercenary. Along with his hand-picked team he takes assignments mainly from the CIA. Oregon is the Corporation's base ship, a rust bucket refitted for speed, maneuverability and anonymity.

This series is co-authored, in this case by Jack Du Brul, but it bears Cussler's stamp. I found it well written and fun, a four-star read. My main issues (besides predictability) were the rather lame "bracketing story" in the prologue and epilogue, and the possibly too-large Corporation team. Juan Cabrillo is no Dirk Pitt, but he does rule his operation with flair. I will definitely read more from this series.
Another exciting read from one of the masters of action fiction. A great plot as usual, packed with energy and enthusiasm for the reader to enjoy.His writing style is so simple and easy to read, it`s a pleasure to pick up the book. I enjoyed the books from his oregon files series more, but that doesnt detract from this novel, it is excellent. I am a Lee Child fan, his Jack Reacher character is addictive reading, as is Harry Bosch, (Michael Connelly but the more novels he produces the more padded out they become, unlike Cussler who seems to keep them as exciting as ever. If you like serial books like Cussler look at Conrad Jones and his trilogy called `Soft Target` its similar genre but more violent, and a fantastic read.

This one is a `Truly great read.

The Author is Back on Track with This One, 25 Jul 2007

Clive Cussler was born in 1931 and grew up in Alhambra, California. He attended Pasadena City College before joining the Air Force. He went on to a successful advertising career, winning many national honours for his copywriting. He has also explored the deserts of the American Southwest in search of lost gold mines, dived in isolated lakes in the Rocky Mountains looking for lost aircraft and hunted under the sea for shipwrecks of historic significance, discovering and identifying more than sixty. He is married with three children, and divides his time between Colorado and Arizona. His credentials as a best selling author cannot be doubted and he has a large `stable' of best selling adventure novels.

I found this to be a much better book than the Lost City, the last book I read of Clive Cussler's. This one is full of the usual adventure and mayhem that are a feature of the author's books.

Many years ago, an ancient Phoenician statue known as the Navigator was stolen from the museum in Baghdad. There are men throughout the world who would do anything to get their hands on the priceless object and that includes murder. Their first victim is a shady antiques dealer who is murdered in cold blood. Their second attempt almost sees the demise of a UN investigator who, if not for the timely intervention of Austin and Zavala would now be experiencing a watery grave.

Why is there so much interest in a statue lost to mankind so many years ago? The search for the answer will take the NUMA team on an astonishing adventure through time and space. An adventure that encompasses no less than the lost treasures of King Solomon, plus a mysterious package of documents personally encoded by US President, Thomas Jefferson and a secret scientific programme that could change the world . . .

Plenty of Action Built Around Locating Ancient Objects, 24 Jul 2007
The Navigator is a beach read . . . and a pretty entertaining one. Mix in a little history, add a few Biblical references, season with a maniac villain, fold in a little sexual byplay, and tilt the odds in unexpected ways and you've got The Navigator.

The ancient Phoenicians had a valuable secret that they decided to hide away, far from where anyone would find it. Later, Thomas Jefferson caught a whiff of the secret and decided to track it down. Both the Phoenicians and Jefferson left behind coded clues.

Into this labyrinth enter Kurt Austin and Joe Zavala of NUMA when they encounter a high seas hijacking aimed at stealing a statue called the Navigator that had earlier been taken from the Baghdad museum during American invasion in 2003. In the process of foiling the theft (and other, more major, harms), Austin makes the acquaintance of the bewitching Carina Mechadi, an Italian expert in recovering stolen art works.

At the same time, an assistant librarian in the archives for the American Philosophical Society, finds misfiled some papers that seem to have been written by Thomas Jefferson. Before long, others are riveted by this find.

Austin and Mechadi take on the challenge of tracking down the Navigator after it is stolen again. At the same time, they sense the deeper riddle involving the Phoenicians and work on that puzzle as well.

Before the book's end, both will be severely tested and unexpected secrets will be revealed.

The ancient sea-going references make this book unmistakably a Clive Cussler creation. The NUMA technology and experience double that certainty. The presence of Kurt Austin and Joe Zavala convince you this is a Clive Cussler plot. From there, the book has a strong seasoning of tongue-in-cheek as the villain shows his preferences for jousting and ancient religions. I felt at times like this was "The Wild Wild West" meets the 21st century.

Although not as good as the earliest Dirk Pitt books, The Navigator is a book worthy of your time if you are looking for some light action-based reading with an occasional "what if?" thought injected.

As I read the book, I was concerned for some time that it was going to end up with some anti-Christian plot development or message. But the resolution of the story seemed to me to fall within the real of what is possible and still fit in with mainline Christianity. I only mention that point because some fiction these days chooses to plot out stories that are anti-Christian.

Have fun!



Last straw, 26 Oct 2007
I used to like this author and always waited for and bought the next title as soon as it came out in paperback in the dirk pitt series. However thay are becoming repetitive, more unbelievable(if that is possible), and I struggled to finish this one. I decided there and then not to consider buying another and so far have ignored further books by this author

Automatic pilot, 18 Aug 2007
This rubbish is a perfect example of an Autor writing a book on automatic pilot.
Showing off with his technical research, the book is devoid of excitement, exuding a formulaic approach to writing.
Just dreary and boring.

A fascinating read, 31 Aug 2006
Clive Cussler has revealed once again his mastery of adventurous and thrilling stories As usual; the plot is fast-paced one, moving so quickly that the reader is not given the opportunity to notice any flaws. I loved the rugged nature of the characters. The plot is amazing, far-reaching and creates a sense of disbelief. Alaska, Korea, Japan.....the scope is wide. I will always continue to read the works of Cussler because I enjoy them as a quick relief from more serious works, and consider then to be good page-turners. If liked Cussler's earlier books, then here is another to enjoy. The story has an interesting plot and the dialogue is great. Once started, you won't want to put it down. The story flows.Also recommended: DISCIPLES OF FORTUNE, POLAR SHIFT ,THE GOLDEN BUDDHA are other gripping page turners.

crying shame, 08 Jun 2006
The worst thing that happened to Clive Cussler's universe was the awful decision to, magically and totally implausibly, discover that Dirk Pitt has kids - the son looking exactly like him so that Cussler can keep churning them out and hope that the people who grew up reading the adventures of the original Dirk and Al don't mind. The quality really stopped around "Sahara" for me. As most fans, I bought this book looking forward to another Dirk Pitt novel, but by page 45, having realised that the carbon-copy-son was the star I was already getting bored.
Dear Mr Cussler, instead of the identikit kid (with none of the charm) why not go back to the younger days of Dirk ? A bit of re-inventing did wonders for the Batman mythology. I'm sure that your fans would welcome older stories that you could fit in among the earlier timelines. You have a large market for your stories. It would be a real shame to continue with your current direction. Tom Clancy has had immense success, but also has opted to choose the son-following-in-Dad's-footsteps approach to his Jack Ryan series. This is a lazy approach - almost as bad as an ending where "it was all a dream". I've been with you for the last 20 years and to carelessly disgregard well-loved characters is disappointing.

Back to the drawing board I think!!, 30 Apr 2006
I have been a fan of Clive Cussler for as long as I can remember, and always looked forward to the pulication of his latest offering. But recently since he has started to collaborate with other lesser known authors the style and and identity of Clive Cussler's books has taken a nose dive. You could always rely on once a year Dirk Pitt arriving on the shelves and delivering a well written, thriller that you would finish and have enjoyed.
This latest book I did not even finish thus was the poor quality of the writing and the plot. They all seem to do it, Ludlum, Clancy, Patterson, sell out their place as an individual in the market and go with this new trend that publishers love, 2 or 3 books a year that will sell because of the top billing of a bestselling writer.
I have found that the NUMA files featuring Kurt Austin feel as though they are crashed out to fill a summer or Christmas demand and it seems as though Dirk Pitt is going the same way.
And The Oregon Files just fail to deliver.
Lets come up with even more mind numbingly stupid stories, throw in a touch of Bond, mix in the normal suspects of villans and babes and here you have a by the numbers mediocre thriller. Big fat cheque from the publishers and back to the lap top to compile another rip-off for the public.
They have all become comic book in there style and sadly I shall buy no more. Aviod this poor excuse of a thriller at all costs.


Great action adventure, 21 Nov 2008
This is only the second Clive Cussler book I have read, (Black Wind being the first) however if they are all to this standard I believe it will not be the last. Flood tide is exciting and the characters are so likeable, especially the infamous Dirk Pitt. The story is an action packed adventure following Dirk and his pursuit of not only a shipping tycoon who makes vast profits from smuggling Chinese to America but also, with a little help from his friends, to find the lost bones of the 'Peking man' and lost treasures of China. I love Clive Cussler's style of writing as it is draws you into the story. It is witty to the point where I can laugh out loud but also intelligent. Definitely worth a read.

excellent serial characters, 28 Aug 2008
I have never been a big fan of action thrillers. The only author I read regularly in this genre is Lee Child and his `Jack Reacher` character, and I enjoy him a lot, so I decided to give Clive Cussler a try. I am happy to say I was not disappointed! Even though "Pacific Vortex" was the first published book in the Dirk Pitt adventures series, it was the first Cussler wrote, so logically, this is the novel I picked to start my journey. I found an interesting character that lives at the edge and is passionate about his work. Also in some aspects he is similar to James Bond, women mainly, and the mix is sufficient to keep the reader thoroughly entertained. If you enjoy serial characters then this is a must series for you, also try Michael Connelly`s `Harry Bosh` series, or much more violent is the `Soft Target` thrillers by Conrad Jones. In the Dirk pitt stories Cussler has created a very entertaining series, with a character that has an arrogant and pedantic side, but whom also shows his pure emotions and is true to his friends and ideals. This makes the Special Project Director of the National Underwater and Marine Agency a very likable character. This is a book that a reader can breeze through in a few hours making it an enjoyable way to spend a weekend's afternoon. I will surely read the next book in this series hoping for a similar experience.



A great page turner, 27 Mar 2006
This is only the second Clive Cussler book I have read, (Black Wind being the first) however if they are all to this standard I believe it will not be the last. Flood tide is exciting and the characters are so likeable, especially the infamous Dirk Pitt. The story is an action packed adventure following Dirk and his pursuit of not only a shipping tycoon who makes vast profits from smuggling Chinese to America but also, with a little help from his friends, to find the lost bones of the 'Peking man' and lost treasures of China. I love Clive Cussler's style of writing as it is draws you into the story. It is witty to the point where I can laugh out loud but also intelligent. Definitely worth a read.

Flood Tide, 15 Dec 2004
As Dirk Pitt novels go this is not one of the best but definately worth a read if only for some of the sinister descriptors of the immigrant smuggling ring.

Basically this time Dirk goes up against a chinese megalomaniac with an interest in antiques - as well as antics !!!

The ending is slightly far-fetched - with the great american must haves - dead dogs and divorce - but let's face it - It is Clive Cussler !!

Dunno how he manages it. By rights it should be 1..., 09 Oct 2001
An OK story. I read them all and am quite hooked.

However, there are things that are really rubbish about the later books. I know, because I went and read an earlier one to compare.

Characterisation is nowhere now - relies purely on whatever was in earlier books.

Dialogue is absolutely terrible. Take a tip, Clive, if you want to drop in a wealth of detail, do it in the narrative. Do not have the characters explain all in a 50 - word sentence.... absolutely no one on the planet speaks in such a cumbersome and clunky fashion - and particularly not while they're embroiled in a gunfight...

Dirk Pitt (registered trade mark) What the...?

Clive writing himself in as a character. I tell you, even if I'm by myself in a locked room, reading silently, episodes like that overwhelm me with utter embarrassment. What was he thinking? I have this cold dread because I know it's coming, and I can't do a thing about it.

The snobbery. No-one ever has a drink, or drinks some wine. You always get the full "1948 Ricardo Montalban - Nappy Valley Pinot Noir" nonsense that even Frasier Crane would reject as too prissy. If anything, the foodie-ness is worse.

Don't get me wrong, I still like, buy and read the books, but the standard of writing so lets it down. Imagine the good plots with good writing. Now that would be worthwhile.

Disapointment, 15 Aug 2008
This was my first Clive Cussler's book. It will also be the last. The plot was interesting but the characters are so shallow that makes one uncomfortable. The good guys are so good and the bad guys are so bad, it is all so simplistic...

Not One of Mr. Cussler's Better Offerings, 23 Jun 2007


Clive Cussler was born in 1931 and grew up in Alhambra, California. He attended Pasadena City College before joining the Air Force. He went on to a successful advertising career, winning many national honours for his copywriting. He has also explored the deserts of the American Southwest in search of lost gold mines, dived in isolated lakes in the Rocky Mountains looking for lost aircraft and hunted under the sea for shipwrecks of historic significance, discovering and identifying more than sixty. He is married with three children, and divides his time between Colorado and Arizona. His credentials as a best selling author cannot be doubted and he has a large `stable' of best selling adventure novels.

Lost City is not one of Clive Cussler's best books and I have to admit to being a little disappointed with it. However it is quite readable, if a little far fetched and better than a lot of the so called `Adventure novels' in the book stores today.

An enzyme or chemical catalyst has been discovered two thousand feet below the North Atlantic, in an area known as the `Lost City.' The enzyme has been proved to extend life, but why are the people who are attempting to harvest the substance getting killed?

Why are the scientists from a remote Greek laboratory systematically disappearing one by one? And what does all this have to doe with a body found in the ice high up in the Alps? Kurt Austin and his colleague Joe Zavala from NUMA's Special Assignment Team may have their greatest ever challenge.

Not One of Mr. Cussler's Best, 23 Jun 2007

Clive Cussler was born in 1931 and grew up in Alhambra, California. He attended Pasadena City College before joining the Air Force. He went on to a successful advertising career, winning many national honours for his copywriting. He has also explored the deserts of the American Southwest in search of lost gold mines, dived in isolated lakes in the Rocky Mountains looking for lost aircraft and hunted under the sea for shipwrecks of historic significance, discovering and identifying more than sixty. He is married with three children, and divides his time between Colorado and Arizona. His credentials as a best selling author cannot be doubted and he has a large `stable' of best selling adventure novels.

Lost City is not one of Clive Cussler's best books and I have to admit to being a little disappointed with it. However it is quite readable, if a little far fetched and better than a lot of the so called `Adventure novels' in the book stores today.

An enzyme or chemical catalyst has been discovered two thousand feet below the North Atlantic, in an area known as the `Lost City.' The enzyme has been proved to extend life, but why are the people who are attempting to harvest the substance getting killed?

Why are the scientists from a remote Greek laboratory systematically disappearing one by one? And what does all this have to doe with a body found in the ice high up in the Alps? Kurt Austin and his colleague Joe Zavala from NUMA's Special Assignment Team may have their greatest ever challenge.

Not One of Mr. Cussler's Best, 23 Jun 2007

Clive Cussler was born in 1931 and grew up in Alhambra, California. He attended Pasadena City College before joining the Air Force. He went on to a successful advertising career, winning many national honours for his copywriting. He has also explored the deserts of the American Southwest in search of lost gold mines, dived in isolated lakes in the Rocky Mountains looking for lost aircraft and hunted under the sea for shipwrecks of historic significance, discovering and identifying more than sixty. He is married with three children, and divides his time between Colorado and Arizona. His credentials as a best selling author cannot be doubted and he has a large `stable' of best selling adventure novels.

Lost City is not one of Clive Cussler's best books and I have to admit to being a little disappointed with it. However it is quite readable, if a little far fetched and better than a lot of the so called `Adventure novels' in the book stores today.

An enzyme or chemical catalyst has been discovered two thousand feet below the North Atlantic, in an area known as the `Lost City.' The enzyme has been proved to extend life, but why are the people who are attempting to harvest the substance getting killed?

Why are the scientists from a remote Greek laboratory systematically disappearing one by one? And what does all this have to doe with a body found in the ice high up in the Alps? Kurt Austin and his colleague Joe Zavala from NUMA's Special Assignment Team may have their greatest ever challenge.

Not the Author's Best, 23 Jun 2007

Clive Cussler was born in 1931 and grew up in Alhambra, California. He attended Pasadena City College before joining the Air Force. He went on to a successful advertising career, winning many national honours for his copywriting. He has also explored the deserts of the American Southwest in search of lost gold mines, dived in isolated lakes in the Rocky Mountains looking for lost aircraft and hunted under the sea for shipwrecks of historic significance, discovering and identifying more than sixty. He is married with three children, and divides his time between Colorado and Arizona. His credentials as a best selling author cannot be doubted and he has a large `stable' of best selling adventure novels.

Lost City is not one of Clive Cussler's best books and I have to admit to being a little disappointed with it. However it is quite readable, if a little far fetched and better than a lot of the so called `Adventure novels' in the book stores today.

An enzyme or chemical catalyst has been discovered two thousand feet below the North Atlantic, in an area known as the `Lost City.' The enzyme has been proved to extend life, but why are the people who are attempting to harvest the substance getting killed?

Why are the scientists from a remote Greek laboratory systematically disappearing one by one? And what does all this have to doe with a body found in the ice high up in the Alps? Kurt Austin and his colleague Joe Zavala from NUMA's Special Assignment Team may have their greatest ever challenge.

Cool., 18 Oct 2008
Non stop action from start till end.
I would have wished for a better ending but still I really enjoyed reading the book and wouldn t hesitate to recommend it to a friend.

dark watch, 20 Jan 2007
excellant book, unable to put down, and the story really flowed. The follow up book Skeleton coast carried straight with the action, recommended.
The story cuts back and forth in the great Cussler tradition, bringing various scenarios to a gripping conclusion. A real modern pirate story, fantastic.

Entertaining, 30 Jun 2008
Clive Cussler is on the front cover and really no more else needs to be said. It's entertaining if not slightly ridiculous. This deviation from reality can be forgiven as it adds immesurably to the story and achieves that goal of tearing us from the daily routine and enriching our lives with a tale that rips along at 80 Knotts.
Entertainment aside, however, this NUMA files (Kurt Austin) adventure Didn't match the excitement of the Juan Cabrillo story Skeleton Coast.
A fan of Clive Cussler won't be dissapointed if they read without the preconception that Dirk Pitt is the alpha and the omega of Cussler's empire of literature.
Anyone contemplating a new book, and not having read a Cussler novel before, this isn't a bad place to start, it will leave you gasping for another like a fish taken from his favourite stretch of sea starved of the oxygen it provides.

The usual formula - just more tired than usual, 15 Apr 2008
With a Cussler novel, you know what you're going to get ... impossible links between the past and the present glory of good old America. This time we have a bull-necked villain of cartoon and cardboard type villainy; a baby-faced psychopathic assassin; a heroine of exotic features; sable hair and a strong streak of independence which doesn't stop her leaping into bed with our all-action hero. The theme naturally leads to the discovery of ancient treasures and the solving of equally ancient mysteries based upon the improbable fact that the Phoenicians travelled all the way to America to hide a precious artefact.

So if you like your adventure books to be written to a totally predictable formula (the villain keeps going on about the fires of hell - so guess how he dies) with characters that lack all semblance of believability, then you'll enjoy this book.

On the other hand, if you want a bit of depth and believable intrigue, try the novels of David Baldacci or Stephen Leather.

Typically brilliant, 24 Mar 2008
Rough-and-tumble adventure at sea with high-tech; Clive Cussler owns the genre. the Oregon series that I've read have all been fun, and it was no surprise to find a fantastic story line and implausible derring-do. Just what I was hoping for!

The Oregon series features Juan Cabrillo and his Corporation. Cabrillo is an ex-CIA operative turned paramilitary mercenary. Along with his hand-picked team he takes assignments mainly from the CIA. Oregon is the Corporation's base ship, a rust bucket refitted for speed, maneuverability and anonymity.

This series is co-authored, in this case by Jack Du Brul, but it bears Cussler's stamp. I found it well written and fun, a four-star read. My main issues (besides predictability) were the rather lame "bracketing story" in the prologue and epilogue, and the possibly too-large Corporation team. Juan Cabrillo is no Dirk Pitt, but he does rule his operation with flair. I will definitely read more from this series.
Another exciting read from one of the masters of action fiction. A great plot as usual, packed with energy and enthusiasm for the reader to enjoy.His writing style is so simple and easy to read, it`s a pleasure to pick up the book. I enjoyed the books from his oregon files series more, but that doesnt detract from this novel, it is excellent. I am a Lee Child fan, his Jack Reacher character is addictive reading, as is Harry Bosch, (Michael Connelly but the more novels he produces the more padded out they become, unlike Cussler who seems to keep them as exciting as ever. If you like serial books like Cussler look at Conrad Jones and his trilogy called `Soft Target` its similar genre but more violent, and a fantastic read.

This one is a `Truly great read.

The Author is Back on Track with This One, 25 Jul 2007

Clive Cussler was born in 1931 and grew up in Alhambra, California. He attended Pasadena City College before joining the Air Force. He went on to a successful advertising career, winning many national honours for his copywriting. He has also explored the deserts of the American Southwest in search of lost gold mines, dived in isolated lakes in the Rocky Mountains looking for lost aircraft and hunted under the sea for shipwrecks of historic significance, discovering and identifying more than sixty. He is married with three children, and divides his time between Colorado and Arizona. His credentials as a best selling author cannot be doubted and he has a large `stable' of best selling adventure novels.

I found this to be a much better book than the Lost City, the last book I read of Clive Cussler's. This one is full of the usual adventure and mayhem that are a feature of the author's books.

Many years ago, an ancient Phoenician statue known as the Navigator was stolen from the museum in Baghdad. There are men throughout the world who would do anything to get their hands on the priceless object and that includes murder. Their first victim is a shady antiques dealer who is murdered in cold blood. Their second attempt almost sees the demise of a UN investigator who, if not for the timely intervention of Austin and Zavala would now be experiencing a watery grave.

Why is there so much interest in a statue lost to mankind so many years ago? The search for the answer will take the NUMA team on an astonishing adventure through time and space. An adventure that encompasses no less than the lost treasures of King Solomon, plus a mysterious package of documents personally encoded by US President, Thomas Jefferson and a secret scientific programme that could change the world . . .

Plenty of Action Built Around Locating Ancient Objects, 24 Jul 2007
The Navigator is a beach read . . . and a pretty entertaining one. Mix in a little history, add a few Biblical references, season with a maniac villain, fold in a little sexual byplay, and tilt the odds in unexpected ways and you've got The Navigator.

The ancient Phoenicians had a valuable secret that they decided to hide away, far from where anyone would find it. Later, Thomas Jefferson caught a whiff of the secret and decided to track it down. Both the Phoenicians and Jefferson left behind coded clues.

Into this labyrinth enter Kurt Austin and Joe Zavala of NUMA when they encounter a high seas hijacking aimed at stealing a statue called the Navigator that had earlier been taken from the Baghdad museum during American invasion in 2003. In the process of foiling the theft (and other, more major, harms), Austin makes the acquaintance of the bewitching Carina Mechadi, an Italian expert in recovering stolen art works.

At the same time, an assistant librarian in the archives for the American Philosophical Society, finds misfiled some papers that seem to have been written by Thomas Jefferson. Before long, others are riveted by this find.

Austin and Mechadi take on the challenge of tracking down the Navigator after it is stolen again. At the same time, they sense the deeper riddle involving the Phoenicians and work on that puzzle as well.

Before the book's end, both will be severely tested and unexpected secrets will be revealed.

The ancient sea-going references make this book unmistakably a Clive Cussler creation. The NUMA technology and experience double that certainty. The presence of Kurt Austin and Joe Zavala convince you this is a Clive Cussler plot. From there, the book has a strong seasoning of tongue-in-cheek as the villain shows his preferences for jousting and ancient religions. I felt at times like this was "The Wild Wild West" meets the 21st century.

Although not as good as the earliest Dirk Pitt books, The Navigator is a book worthy of your time if you are looking for some light action-based reading with an occasional "what if?" thought injected.

As I read the book, I was concerned for some time that it was going to end up with some anti-Christian plot development or message. But the resolution of the story seemed to me to fall within the real of what is possible and still fit in with mainline Christianity. I only mention that point because some fiction these days chooses to plot out stories that are anti-Christian.

Have fun!



Last straw, 26 Oct 2007
I used to like this author and always waited for and bought the next title as soon as it came out in paperback in the dirk pitt series. However thay are becoming repetitive, more unbelievable(if that is possible), and I struggled to finish this one. I decided there and then not to consider buying another and so far have ignored further books by this author

Automatic pilot, 18 Aug 2007
This rubbish is a perfect example of an Autor writing a book on automatic pilot.
Showing off with his technical research, the book is devoid of excitement, exuding a formulaic approach to writing.
Just dreary and boring.

A fascinating read, 31 Aug 2006
Clive Cussler has revealed once again his mastery of adventurous and thrilling stories As usual; the plot is fast-paced one, moving so quickly that the reader is not given the opportunity to notice any flaws. I loved the rugged nature of the characters. The plot is amazing, far-reaching and creates a sense of disbelief. Alaska, Korea, Japan.....the scope is wide. I will always continue to read the works of Cussler because I enjoy them as a quick relief from more serious works, and consider then to be good page-turners. If liked Cussler's earlier books, then here is another to enjoy. The story has an interesting plot and the dialogue is great. Once started, you won't want to put it down. The story flows.Also recommended: DISCIPLES OF FORTUNE, POLAR SHIFT ,THE GOLDEN BUDDHA are other gripping page turners.

crying shame, 08 Jun 2006
The worst thing that happened to Clive Cussler's universe was the awful decision to, magically and totally implausibly, discover that Dirk Pitt has kids - the son looking exactly like him so that Cussler can keep churning them out and hope that the people who grew up reading the adventures of the original Dirk and Al don't mind. The quality really stopped around "Sahara" for me. As most fans, I bought this book looking forward to another Dirk Pitt novel, but by page 45, having realised that the carbon-copy-son was the star I was already getting bored.
Dear Mr Cussler, instead of the identikit kid (with none of the charm) why not go back to the younger days of Dirk ? A bit of re-inventing did wonders for the Batman mythology. I'm sure that your fans would welcome older stories that you could fit in among the earlier timelines. You have a large market for your stories. It would be a real shame to continue with your current direction. Tom Clancy has had immense success, but also has opted to choose the son-following-in-Dad's-footsteps approach to his Jack Ryan series. This is a lazy approach - almost as bad as an ending where "it was all a dream". I've been with you for the last 20 years and to carelessly disgregard well-loved characters is disappointing.

Back to the drawing board I think!!, 30 Apr 2006
I have been a fan of Clive Cussler for as long as I can remember, and always looked forward to the pulication of his latest offering. But recently since he has started to collaborate with other lesser known authors the style and and identity of Clive Cussler's books has taken a nose dive. You could always rely on once a year Dirk Pitt arriving on the shelves and delivering a well written, thriller that you would finish and have enjoyed.
This latest book I did not even finish thus was the poor quality of the writing and the plot. They all seem to do it, Ludlum, Clancy, Patterson, sell out their place as an individual in the market and go with this new trend that publishers love, 2 or 3 books a year that will sell because of the top billing of a bestselling writer.
I have found that the NUMA files featuring Kurt Austin feel as though they are crashed out to fill a summer or Christmas demand and it seems as though Dirk Pitt is going the same way.
And The Oregon Files just fail to deliver.
Lets come up with even more mind numbingly stupid stories, throw in a touch of Bond, mix in the normal suspects of villans and babes and here you have a by the numbers mediocre thriller. Big fat cheque from the publishers and back to the lap top to compile another rip-off for the public.
They have all become comic book in there style and sadly I shall buy no more. Aviod this poor excuse of a thriller at all costs.


Great action adventure, 21 Nov 2008
This is only the second Clive Cussler book I have read, (Black Wind being the first) however if they are all to this standard I believe it will not be the last. Flood tide is exciting and the characters are so likeable, especially the infamous Dirk Pitt. The story is an action packed adventure following Dirk and his pursuit of not only a shipping tycoon who makes vast profits from smuggling Chinese to America but also, with a little help from his friends, to find the lost bones of the 'Peking man' and lost treasures of China. I love Clive Cussler's style of writing as it is draws you into the story. It is witty to the point where I can laugh out loud but also intelligent. Definitely worth a read.

excellent serial characters, 28 Aug 2008
I have never been a big fan of action thrillers. The only author I read regularly in this genre is Lee Child and his `Jack Reacher` character, and I enjoy him a lot, so I decided to give Clive Cussler a try. I am happy to say I was not disappointed! Even though "Pacific Vortex" was the first published book in the Dirk Pitt adventures series, it was the first Cussler wrote, so logically, this is the novel I picked to start my journey. I found an interesting character that lives at the edge and is passionate about his work. Also in some aspects he is similar to James Bond, women mainly, and the mix is sufficient to keep the reader thoroughly entertained. If you enjoy serial characters then this is a must series for you, also try Michael Connelly`s `Harry Bosh` series, or much more violent is the `Soft Target` thrillers by Conrad Jones. In the Dirk pitt stories Cussler has created a very entertaining series, with a character that has an arrogant and pedantic side, but whom also shows his pure emotions and is true to his friends and ideals. This makes the Special Project Director of the National Underwater and Marine Agency a very likable character. This is a book that a reader can breeze through in a few hours making it an enjoyable way to spend a weekend's afternoon. I will surely read the next book in this series hoping for a similar experience.



A great page turner, 27 Mar 2006
This is only the second Clive Cussler book I have read, (Black Wind being the first) however if they are all to this standard I believe it will not be the last. Flood tide is exciting and the characters are so likeable, especially the infamous Dirk Pitt. The story is an action packed adventure following Dirk and his pursuit of not only a shipping tycoon who makes vast profits from smuggling Chinese to America but also, with a little help from his friends, to find the lost bones of the 'Peking man' and lost treasures of China. I love Clive Cussler's style of writing as it is draws you into the story. It is witty to the point where I can laugh out loud but also intelligent. Definitely worth a read.

Flood Tide, 15 Dec 2004
As Dirk Pitt novels go this is not one of the best but definately worth a read if only for some of the sinister descriptors of the immigrant smuggling ring.

Basically this time Dirk goes up against a chinese megalomaniac with an interest in antiques - as well as antics !!!

The ending is slightly far-fetched - with the great american must haves - dead dogs and divorce - but let's face it - It is Clive Cussler !!

Dunno how he manages it. By rights it should be 1..., 09 Oct 2001
An OK story. I read them all and am quite hooked.

However, there are things that are really rubbish about the later books. I know, because I went and read an earlier one to compare.

Characterisation is nowhere now - relies purely on whatever was in earlier books.

Dialogue is absolutely terrible. Take a tip, Clive, if you want to drop in a wealth of detail, do it in the narrative. Do not have the characters explain all in a 50 - word sentence.... absolutely no one on the planet speaks in such a cumbersome and clunky fashion - and particularly not while they're embroiled in a gunfight...

Dirk Pitt (registered trade mark) What the...?

Clive writing himself in as a character. I tell you, even if I'm by myself in a locked room, reading silently, episodes like that overwhelm me with utter embarrassment. What was he thinking? I have this cold dread because I know it's coming, and I can't do a thing about it.

The snobbery. No-one ever has a drink, or drinks some wine. You always get the full "1948 Ricardo Montalban - Nappy Valley Pinot Noir" nonsense that even Frasier Crane would reject as too prissy. If anything, the foodie-ness is worse.

Don't get me wrong, I still like, buy and read the books, but the standard of writing so lets it down. Imagine the good plots with good writing. Now that would be worthwhile.

Disapointment, 15 Aug 2008
This was my first Clive Cussler's book. It will also be the last. The plot was interesting but the characters are so shallow that makes one uncomfortable. The good guys are so good and the bad guys are so bad, it is all so simplistic...

Not One of Mr. Cussler's Better Offerings, 23 Jun 2007


Clive Cussler was born in 1931 and grew up in Alhambra, California. He attended Pasadena City College before joining the Air Force. He went on to a successful advertising career, winning many national honours for his copywriting. He has also explored the deserts of the American Southwest in search of lost gold mines, dived in isolated lakes in the Rocky Mountains looking for lost aircraft and hunted under the sea for shipwrecks of historic significance, discovering and identifying more than sixty. He is married with three children, and divides his time between Colorado and Arizona. His credentials as a best selling author cannot be doubted and he has a large `stable' of best selling adventure novels.

Lost City is not one of Clive Cussler's best books and I have to admit to being a little disappointed with it. However it is quite readable, if a little far fetched and better than a lot of the so called `Adventure novels' in the book stores today.

An enzyme or chemical catalyst has been discovered two thousand feet below the North Atlantic, in an area known as the `Lost City.' The enzyme has been proved to extend life, but why are the people who are attempting to harvest the substance getting killed?

Why are the scientists from a remote Greek laboratory systematically disappearing one by one? And what does all this have to doe with a body found in the ice high up in the Alps? Kurt Austin and his colleague Joe Zavala from NUMA's Special Assignment Team may have their greatest ever challenge.

Not One of Mr. Cussler's Best, 23 Jun 2007

Clive Cussler was born in 1931 and grew up in Alhambra, California. He attended Pasadena City College before joining the Air Force. He went on to a successful advertising career, winning many national honours for his copywriting. He has also explored the deserts of the American Southwest in search of lost gold mines, dived in isolated lakes in the Rocky Mountains looking for lost aircraft and hunted under the sea for shipwrecks of historic significance, discovering and identifying more than sixty. He is married with three children, and divides his time between Colorado and Arizona. His credentials as a best selling author cannot be doubted and he has a large `stable' of best selling adventure novels.

Lost City is not one of Clive Cussler's best books and I have to admit to being a little disappointed with it. However it is quite readable, if a little far fetched and better than a lot of the so called `Adventure novels' in the book stores today.

An enzyme or chemical catalyst has been discovered two thousand feet below the North Atlantic, in an area known as the `Lost City.' The enzyme has been proved to extend life, but why are the people who are attempting to harvest the substance getting killed?

Why are the scientists from a remote Greek laboratory systematically disappearing one by one? And what does all this have to doe with a body found in the ice high up in the Alps? Kurt Austin and his colleague Joe Zavala from NUMA's Special Assignment Team may have their greatest ever challenge.

Not One of Mr. Cussler's Best, 23 Jun 2007

Clive Cussler was born in 1931 and grew up in Alhambra, California. He attended Pasadena City College before joining the Air Force. He went on to a successful advertising career, winning many national honours for his copywriting. He has also explored the deserts of the American Southwest in search of lost gold mines, dived in isolated lakes in the Rocky Mountains looking for lost aircraft and hunted under the sea for shipwrecks of historic significance, discovering and identifying more than sixty. He is married with three children, and divides his time between Colorado and Arizona. His credentials as a best selling author cannot be doubted and he has a large `stable' of best selling adventure novels.

Lost City is not one of Clive Cussler's best books and I have to admit to being a little disappointed with it. However it is quite readable, if a little far fetched and better than a lot of the so called `Adventure novels' in the book stores today.

An enzyme or chemical catalyst has been discovered two thousand feet below the North Atlantic, in an area known as the `Lost City.' The enzyme has been proved to extend life, but why are the people who are attempting to harvest the substance getting killed?

Why are the scientists from a remote Greek laboratory systematically disappearing one by one? And what does all this have to doe with a body found in the ice high up in the Alps? Kurt Austin and his colleague Joe Zavala from NUMA's Special Assignment Team may have their greatest ever challenge.

Not the Author's Best, 23 Jun 2007

Clive Cussler was born in 1931 and grew up in Alhambra, California. He attended Pasadena City College before joining the Air Force. He went on to a successful advertising career, winning many national honours for his copywriting. He has also explored the deserts of the American Southwest in search of lost gold mines, dived in isolated lakes in the Rocky Mountains looking for lost aircraft and hunted under the sea for shipwrecks of historic significance, discovering and identifying more than sixty. He is married with three children, and divides his time between Colorado and Arizona. His credentials as a best selling author cannot be doubted and he has a large `stable' of best selling adventure novels.

Lost City is not one of Clive Cussler's best books and I have to admit to being a little disappointed with it. However it is quite readable, if a little far fetched and better than a lot of the so called `Adventure novels' in the book stores today.

An enzyme or chemical catalyst has been discovered two thousand feet below the North Atlantic, in an area known as the `Lost City.' The enzyme has been proved to extend life, but why are the people who are attempting to harvest the substance getting killed?

Why are the scientists from a remote Greek laboratory systematically disappearing one by one? And what does all this have to doe with a body found in the ice high up in the Alps? Kurt Austin and his colleague Joe Zavala from NUMA's Special Assignment Team may have their greatest ever challenge.

Take a chill pill!, 07 Aug 2008
This was my first Clive Cussler, and the cast list at the beginning was constantly being referred to so as to identify who was on which side. At first I thought that would be a bad thing and could see myself not getting to the end (for the third time in my literary life!) but accepting that it was written for an American audience and therefore ignoring the geographichal and cultural faux pas, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I now seek out Clive Cussler novels (the earlier ones seem the best) in charity shops and anywhere they pop up. This one is not the best, but it holds a fond place in my affections for the road it sent me down.Sacred Stone: A Novel from the Oregon Files

Not impressed, 17 Feb 2008
Clive Cussler novels tend to be flag waving efforts at the best of times. This one goes over board and doubtless would upset any middle eastern person reading it. Also the implication that the US and UK government are caring and honest - please spare us. Other readers have noted the plot inaccuracies, these were particularly aggravating. Notably the scene with the motorcycle supposedly transporting a 400lb (that's 28.5 stone) in it's side car and yet nimbly managing to avoid the vehicles trying to stop it. Certainly not one of his better efforts, I'm just glad I borrowed it and didn't pay for it.

Disappointed, 08 Oct 2007
Just finished this book, though fairly enjoyable the plot was a bit far-fetched and the characters very one dimentional.
Certainly not one of Cussler's best books, rather writing by numbers.

Another Juan Cabrillo Novel, 04 Jul 2007

Clive Cussler was born in 1931 and grew up in Alhambra, California. He attended Pasadena City College before joining the Air Force. He went on to a successful advertising career, winning many national honours for his copywriting. He has also explored the deserts of the American Southwest in search of lost gold mines, dived in isolated lakes in the Rocky Mountains looking for lost aircraft and hunted under the sea for shipwrecks of historic significance, discovering and identifying more than sixty. He is married with three children, and divides his time between Colorado and Arizona. His credentials as a best selling author cannot be doubted and he has a large `stable' of best selling adventure novels.

Clive Cussler began his series The Oregon Files, with the adventure of the Golden Buddha featuring the captain of the Oregon, Juan Cabrillo. Now he follows on the series with the Sacred Stone a new adventure featuring Juan Cabrillo.

The whole world is put at risk when an ancient artifact that possesses enormous radioactive power in unearthed in a remote part of Greenland. Caught between two militant powers that are bent on using that power to commit wholesale slaughter, Juan Cabrillo and his network of spies known as The Corporation must do everything in their power to protect the stone from all the factions that are doing their utmost to obtain the artifact. Only in this way will World War III be averted.

Another Juan Cabrillo Novel, 04 Jul 2007

Clive Cussler was born in 1931 and grew up in Alhambra, California. He attended Pasadena City College before joining the Air Force. He went on to a successful advertising career, winning many national honours for his copywriting. He has also explored the deserts of the American Southwest in search of lost gold mines, dived in isolated lakes in the Rocky Mountains looking for lost aircraft and hunted under the sea for shipwrecks of historic significance, discovering and identifying more than sixty. He is married with three children, and divides his time between Colorado and Arizona. His credentials as a best selling author cannot be doubted and he has a large `stable' of best selling adventure novels.

Clive Cussler began his series The Oregon Files, with the adventure of the Golden Buddha featuring the captain of the Oregon, Juan Cabrillo. Now he follows on the series with the Sacred Stone a new adventure featuring Juan Cabrillo.

The whole world is put at risk when an ancient artifact that possesses enormous radioactive power in unearthed in a remote part of Greenland. Caught between two militant powers that are bent on using that power to commit wholesale slaughter, Juan Cabrillo and his network of spies known as The Corporation must do everything in their power to protect the stone from all the factions that are doing their utmost to obtain the artifact. Only in this way will World War III be averted.

Cool., 18 Oct 2008
Non stop action from start till end.
I would have wished for a better ending but still I really enjoyed reading the book and wouldn t hesitate to recommend it to a friend.

dark watch, 20 Jan 2007
excellant book, unable to put down, and the story really flowed. The follow up book Skeleton coast carried straight with the action, recommended.
The story cuts back and forth in the great Cussler tradition, bringing various scenarios to a gripping conclusion. A real modern pirate story, fantastic.

Entertaining, 30 Jun 2008
Clive Cussler is on the front cover and really no more else needs to be said. It's entertaining if not slightly ridiculous. This deviation from reality can be forgiven as it adds immesurably to the story and achieves that goal of tearing us from the daily routine and enriching our lives with a tale that rips along at 80 Knotts.
Entertainment aside, however, this NUMA files (Kurt Austin) adventure Didn't match the excitement of the Juan Cabrillo story Skeleton Coast.
A fan of Clive Cussler won't be dissapointed if they read without the preconception that Dirk Pitt is the alpha and the omega of Cussler's empire of literature.
Anyone contemplating a new book, and not having read a Cussler novel before, this isn't a bad place to start, it will leave you gasping for another like a fish taken from his favourite stretch of sea starved of the oxygen it provides.

The usual formula - just more tired than usual, 15 Apr 2008
With a Cussler novel, you know what you're going to get ... impossible links between the past and the present glory of good old America. This time we have a bull-necked villain of cartoon and cardboard type villainy; a baby-faced psychopathic assassin; a heroine of exotic features; sable hair and a strong streak of independence which doesn't stop her leaping into bed with our all-action hero. The theme naturally leads to the discovery of ancient treasures and the solving of equally ancient mysteries based upon the improbable fact that the Phoenicians travelled all the way to America to hide a precious artefact.

So if you like your adventure books to be written to a totally predictable formula (the villain keeps going on about the fires of hell - so guess how he dies) with characters that lack all semblance of believability, then you'll enjoy this book.

On the other hand, if you want a bit of depth and believable intrigue, try the novels of David Baldacci or Stephen Leather.

Typically brilliant, 24 Mar 2008
Rough-and-tumble adventure at sea with high-tech; Clive Cussler owns the genre. the Oregon series that I've read have all been fun, and it was no surprise to find a fantastic story line and implausible derring-do. Just what I was hoping for!

The Oregon series features Juan Cabrillo and his Corporation. Cabrillo is an ex-CIA operative turned paramilitary mercenary. Along with his hand-picked team he takes assignments mainly from the CIA. Oregon is the Corporation's base ship, a rust bucket refitted for speed, maneuverability and anonymity.

This series is co-authored, in this case by Jack Du Brul, but it bears Cussler's stamp. I found it well written and fun, a four-star read. My main issues (besides predictability) were the rather lame "bracketing story" in the prologue and epilogue, and the possibly too-large Corporation team. Juan Cabrillo is no Dirk Pitt, but he does rule his operation with flair. I will definitely read more from this series.
Another exciting read from one of the masters of action fiction. A great plot as usual, packed with energy and enthusiasm for the reader to enjoy.His writing style is so simple and easy to read, it`s a pleasure to pick up the book. I enjoyed the books from his oregon files series more, but that doesnt detract from this novel, it is excellent. I am a Lee Child fan, his Jack Reacher character is addictive reading, as is Harry Bosch, (Michael Connelly but the more novels