Havana Storm (Dirk Pitt)

Great adventure connecting history of the ancient Aztec history to the islands of the Caribbean with a modern twist. Enjoy it

I'm a Clive Cussler/Dirk Pitt fan since the 1980's when I was a teenager. I own every DP (and Isaac Bell) adventure, most in hardcover. I'll go on record stating that my favorite adventures are "Sahara" and "Atlantis Found", but most of the earlier 1970s/1980s/1990s Clive Cussler books are among my enduring favorites.Now on to Havana Storm: I preordered this book months before it became available and waited eagerly for its arrival. I read it from cover to cover the first night I got it, and then once again a week later. The verdict: "Really not that good." It pains me to say this - I want to like the story, but time and again I kept feeling that the various plot items were lifted from earlier DP adventures.****SPOILER ALERT: Don't read any further if you don't want to know how the story goes! ****Items borrowed from earlier stories:- The fight to take control of Cuba's government was right out of Cyclops, less the interesting villains embodied by General Velikov, Foss Gly, and to the lesser extent the Soviet Union. The villain this time was merely a vague sketch who was completely forgettable. His ultimate demise at the hands of Raul Castro was completely unsatisfying.- Other comparisons to Cyclops abound: DP gets stranded in the middle of hostile Cuba wounded with no weapons. In Cyclops he finds the taxi driver Herberto Figueroa to unwillingly help him (*and he eventually steals Figueroa's cab). Here we run in to a contrived "artist" that helps DP with no questions asked? DP is obviously being hunted by the military and these guys are going to just appear at the right time to help? Deux ex machina at its finest. And didn't we already do the "Main Sight (site)" gag in Cyclops?- Mercury plumes in the ocean (red tides from Sahara anyone?). In Sahara there's an exciting mission to find the cause and stop it. Here, there's a ho-hum cruise on the Sargasso Sea which gets hijacked (from Trojan Odyssey, Treasure). Summer gets trapped by the villain and condemned to die on the ocean floor in a wrecked submarine. Really? The submarine was already destroyed earlier in the book, why go to the trouble of locking her in the sub and dumping it on the sea floor when throwing her overboard would have sufficed? My suspension of disbelief was stretched to the limit on this one.- Now on to the treasure: Aztec treasure stored away to keep the gold away from the Conquistadors. Hmmm... sounds like Inca Gold! Instead of the "Drake quipu" we get a stone this time (well, a half stone) and a pictograph that somehow survived on the bottom of the sea. Well, the quipu survived the jungles of Ecuador, so I guess the Incas/Aztecs were much better at preservation of treasure maps than I thought. Too bad again that the treasure hunt wasn't as exciting as the confrontation with the Zolars though.**** END SPOILERS***Overall, the story appeared to be "paint by the numbers" and more like fan fiction than a genuine story. I hate to say this (and as Clive would say, "Humble Herbert I ain't") but Dirk Cussler really should not be writing these any more - go hire a better ghost writer for the next one.Oh, and please *edit* your book!! In chapter one the Maine is being attacked by boarders attempting to get on the ship. The text states "the borders" were gaining access. Please read your own book and don't rely on spell check. Fortunately there were no LOLZ or "UR" atrocities here, but I am sure that's only a matter of time.I don't mean to hate on this book, I am just disappointed. I can re-read any of Clive's older books and get caught up in the adventure. These new ones, not so much.

This is a story about hidden treasure, and a greedy man’s quest for political power at a significant cost to the environment.Dirk and Al are trying to find the source of a toxic mercury plume.Summer and Dirk Jr are assisting a Mexican professor in an underwater search of an Aztec antiquity.Both endeavors become dangerous as they are confronted by greedy men with no conscience.

Havana Storm brings back the old Dirk Pitt. Everything about this book pays homage to the original Pitt stories--action, adventure, science, and one man against incredible odds. I enjoyed this book even more than my previous favorite coauthored Pitt book, Treasure of Khan. Whereas Poseidon's Arrow (2012) was an enjoyable book, but with several flaws, Havana Storm is perfect in almost every way--like Captain America 2 versus the original Captain America movie.The plot is a typical Cussler plot, but it is pulled off with style and skill. The main plot features Pitt Sr. facing off against a plot by Cuba to mine uranium from hypo-thermal vents, which has the unfortunate side effect of releasing massive amounts of toxic mercury into U.S. waters. At the same time, Pitt must resolve a power struggle in Cuba involving the Castros and the Cuban Army. When Raul Castro is assassinated by mercenaries hired by a Canadian mining magnate connected with the head of the Cuban Army, General Gutier, Pitt is framed for the killing but escapes. On the run from the Cuban Army, Pitt must prove his innocence and at the same time stop the uranium mining.While all of these high-tech spy games are going on, Pitt Jr. and his sister Summer are investigating a mysterious Aztec stone, which is linked to an amazing treasure, the sinking of the battleship Maine, and the cause of the American-Spanish war. With able help from Hiram Yaeger and St. Julian Perlmutter, the Pitt kids are able to solve the mystery and find the treasure.There are some notable highlights in this book. There is mention made of the Oregon, which amps up the excitement for the next Oregon Files book coming out in May. Clive Cussler makes a very Alfred Hitchcock-like cameo as a bar owner in Mexico. It is also enjoyable to see Al Giordino and Dirk Jr. fighting back-to-back against men sent to capture the NUMA ship they are aboard. Finally, Pitt Sr. gets most of the exciting parts, allowing us to see a true master at work. Overall, a very good installment in the series, and the best co-authored book. I highly recommend Havana Storm.

Books received in excellent condition

Das Buch ist spannend strukturiert und es verleitet darum zu zügigem Durchlesen. Das Ende ist wie ich finde etwas komisch, darum - 1 Stern. Durchaus empfehlenswert.

Thriller passionnant difficile à lacher quand on a mis le nez dedans.C'est donc un très grand cru à lire absolument

ormai resta poco da inventare sul vecchietto pitt. resta sempre una buona lettura leggera anche se le trame si complicano un po'

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