by Clive Cussler and Graham Brown
Published by G.P. Putnam's Sons in 2011
Summary and Review: This is the first book in some time published from the Kurt Austin series previously written by Clive Cussler and Paul Kemprecos. Despite combing the Internet for an explanation as to why these two quite co-authoring, I have failed to find any reference. Regardless of the reason, Paul is out and Graham Brown is in. Prior to this release I had never heard of Graham Brown, but once again Cussler has done a fine job in selecting a co-author. Brown does well to retain the original flavor of the series while adding a depth to the characters that was previously missing. The relational aspect of Kurt, Joe, Paul and Gamay that was present but shallow in the earlier novels has been introduced in much the same way that Cussler introduced Pitt's children in that series. There is an intimacy and honesty to their relationships and feelings of honor and fear. This story is about the dictator of a small African country who is using technology to create a super weapon that is indefensible. Austin and Joe stumble onto his first test of the weapon and are quickly drawn into the drama. The story has everything you need for a good sea read, pirates, beautiful damsels in distress with Russian accents, history and bravado.
When I first started reading the Kurt Austin series more than a decade ago, I wasn't sure if I could ever like it as much as the Dirk Pitt series, but by book three I was hooked on Kurt, Joe and the gang. When we went a couple of years after Medusa was published without an installment, I was beginning to worry what was happening to the series and was truly missing the silver haired fox and his dueling pistol collection. The pause was due to the break-up of Cussler and Kemprecos and the subsequent finding of the new partner in Brown. The series picks up right where it left off with not only all of the flare of the old books, but lots of potential for all of the installments to come!
Reading Recommendation: Yes, a good re-launch of a long standing series with a new co-author.
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