by Clive Cussler and Dirk Cussler
Published in 2010 by Putnam
Summary: Dirk spends all of his time on this adventure in the Aegean Sea in and around Turkey as he seeks with the help of Al, Dirk Jr., Summer and Rudi to unravel two seemingly intertwined mysteries relating respectively to the origins of Christianity and Islam. Ancient artifacts have been stolen, holy sites bombed and people killed. The NUMA bunch inadvertently stumbles into the chaos in the performance of their daily duties, but their integrity, curiosity and courage won't allow them to walk away once they are involved until they see the mysteries through to the end. Ancient history mingles with modern technology and politics in what is one of Cussler's best Dirk adventures in the recent past.
Review: The more Clive and Dirk write together, the more seamless they become. It is exciting to think that a book series might out live its author, while maintaining its style and success. Granted Eric Lustbader has taken over the Bourne series after the death of Robert Ludlum, but that was unplanned and in many ways more about the success of the movie franchise. Clive has brought his son alongside, in essence mirroring in real life what has happened in the books as father and son work together while the reader assumes about both book and life that one day the son will take over for the father. One of the things I have really come to respect in the Dirk series is Cussler's willingness to age his characters and bring new ones into the mix to carry on when the aged have to back off. Dirk experiences aches and pains of an older man now, rather than being the unwavering, unhindered hero of his youth. He has concerns of a father and husband and leader of NUMA that he didn't as the young swashbuckling Special Projects director and it makes him that much more accessible. Cussler is one of the best adventure authors out there and he has once again written a magnificent book that connects well with headline issues and yet inspires and entertains us.
Reading Recommendation: YES, I cannot think of a time, other than Sahara, that I would ever consider not recommending a Dirk novel!
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