There's nothing like a good Clive Cussler story for adventure, pacing and setting. Even those he has co-authored -- as he has The Navigator with Paul Kemprecos -- are real page-turners. Reading Cussler's Dirk Pitt and Kurt Austin novels is a guilty pleasure of many of my friends who would not want to admit in public that they enjoy him.

Cussler does not, however, excel at characterization. Those who populate his stories are cardboard cut-out figures stood against exotic and sometimes threatening backdrops. They have one-page resumes that are impressive both for their power and for their narrow focus. Never do his characters stop to question their orders, assess their loyalties or doubt their abilities. Never does one of his characters emerge from the considerable danger and violence through which he or she passes with any different character or personality than at the outset of the tale.

For those of us who enjoy reading stories for story's sake, that's a forgivable sin. But it does make the novels less literary, less stimulating and more predictable.

The Navigator is bothered by one other shortcoming that has not always been endemic to Cussler's work. The story line is a straight line with very few, if indeed any, surprise twists along the way. When you've finished reading the first few dozen pages, I'd bet you will already be able to see the ultimate outcome at least in broad outline. The villain appears early as a villain. You know it the instant you encounter him.

Even with those weaknesses -- and several other, more minor ones including a deeply ingrained gender discrimination characteristic of so many such works -- this is a fine read. The story pulls you through a plot that seldom plods and often races almost too fast to absorb in easy blocks of time.

If you're the type of reader who enjoys straight-forward adventure and isn't at least always concerned about deep characterization or clever plots, you're sure to enjoy this one.

If you love Clive Cussler for what he writes, you'll love The Navigator. If you're new to his genre, there are better books to start with.

Some unique twists to this wonderful tale of the heritage of the antiquities - particularly timely as we jus had a delightful family reunion!

It was a great book, but his books seem to follow the same equation every time. I guess I have read too many of his books. They are getting monotonous, but still a good read.

During his presidency, Thomas Jefferson was researching an explosive secret on the location of King Soloman's mines. Hidden in a code for personal correspondence with Meriwether Lewis, the documents ultimately become a key in the early years of the 21st Century to unlocking a door which has explosive ramifications on world history.

With war, murder, theft and the peeling back of layers of dead leads dating back to at least 900 B.C., co-authors Clive Cussler and Paul Kemprecos sail on a journey to solve the mystery surrounding an ancient artifact - the Navigator - and the story it can tell on the mastery of the oceans by the Phoenicians.

With good and evil on a collision course on land, sea and in the air, it is up to Kurt Austin and the NUMA team to fight for truth and justice. And there are plenty within the shadows who will stop at nothing to acquire the Navigator; leading the way on this sordid list is a billionaire philanthropist - and his coterie of hired guns - whose smile is oftentimes the kiss of death.

A solid action thriller with quality character development, the 532 pages capture the search for forgotten footprints left by explorers, no matter what the odds.

Excellent book. In keeping with Clive Cussler's typically intriguing writing style. Definitely recommended for Clive's fans.

The Navigator is full of historical what ifs and plenty of action. It was a great read as is all of Cussler's books.

I love CC and PK. I hated this book. The two writing styles were like night and day...instead of flowing from one to the other. I can't blame the authors. But, I do blame the editors. It is the worst editing job I have seen since 3rd grade. Words were misspelled, whole sentences didn't make sense, whole paragraphs had sentences from previous paragraphs that didn't belong. The horrible editing job totally distracted from the story. I don't know if this book was "the one that got away" from the editors or not. I did email the editors but, of course, never heard back from them. I wanted to toss the book in the trash, but I still have it. I have loaned it to a friend who teaches English in high school as an example to teach her students how NOT to write.

I hope Amazon or someone can get this review to the editors. All in all, a hugely disappointing book.

The plot is weak to say the least. I have just read a new Author Soft Target by Conrad Jones thats a thriller to get the blood pumping.

A fine read, Phonecians, Gold, Jousting, Thomas Jefferson, ...
What more could you want!?

I have been an avid Cussler fan for several years now. I can not finish this book. The plot is non-existent. The grammar is horrid. I even found several misspelled words. There are several places that even Word grammar check would have found problems. For instance; "is is" and "and the and the" is found several times. Don't waste your time reading this book. Cussler has lost one fan if this is what we should expect from future writings.

I have read every Clive Cussler book and enjoyed them except for this one. This one felt old and tired. The openning save the ship from the bad guys seemed familiar and reminded me of several such action scenes from previous books. The main thing is the way the story developes. The book is 448 page long, but Cussler waits till the last 30 pages to begin to wrap things up. The main villian is dispatched quickly and not in a very satisfactory manner. The henchman is is killed without ..... I don't know just ...well he sits there and dies. The big mystery is not resolved and is too far fetched. All in all the book seems to be cobbled together in a rushed manner. The begining books are the best and over time it seems that Cussler is over staid his welcome.

Another typical Cussler action adventure sage with the same old rehashed plot, but like all the rest, a great rainy weekend escape. For something slightly different from Cussler, try his new book "The Chase". It is about a determined detective tracking down a murderous bandit in turn of the century San Francisco and other western locales.

The Navigator continues the NUMA Files series featuring Kurt Austin and Joe Zavala in the Dirk Pitt/Al Giordino roles. Austin and Zavala are drawn into the search for The Navigator, a stolen Phonecian sculpture, which could point the way to King Solomon's mines and an ancient artifact, the revelation of which could start a disastrous Middle Eastern uprising with global consequences. The story ties in Thomas Jefferson, Meriwether Lewis and an interesting twist on the legend of Solomon's mines.

As has become Cussler's pattern, the story begins with a double prologue which is actually more entertaining than most of the ensuing story. The plot is predictable. The bad guy considers himself a descendant of Solomon, but for some reason his hobby is medieval jousting. (Gee, wonder how Austin will be forced to fight him in the end?) Paul and Gamay Trout make a requisite appearance, and the obligatory beautiful leading lady turns out to have a DaVinci Code-style connection to the back-story.

The weak point of the NUMA Files novels is the characters, who are thin even by action-adventure standards. Kurt Austin is boring. He collects dueling pistols, likes a good drink, and somehow always gets the girl despite the fact that Zavala is the good-looking charmer. Zavala has even less depth than Austin. It's not that they are characters to be disliked so much as they are almost non-entities: two-dimensional characters moving through a cookie-cutter plot. I find myself wondering if these co-authored NUMA novels are written via a mad-libs style Cussler template. "Insert bad guy with weird hobby here. Insert humorous quip here. Insert smart, good-looking woman in peril here..."

The Navigator is for the truly devoted Cussler fan or the truly bored. Not his worst, but far from his best.

These two authors (Cussler and PK)- the writing style is always stilted, trite conversations, like an amateur actor reading a script word by word -gabble gabble. I want to yell - cut to the chase and move the story along! I couldn't finish this one, got about half way before I decided I didn't care how it ended since it never captured my attention or interest. Funny thing - when Cussler writes alone - he's great.

Years ago, I came to the conclusion that Clive Cussler had a totally tin ear, wrote the worst love scenes in the world, and wasn't so great at "page turning suspense" either but...I read The Navigator after I realized he had obtained a ghost writer.

The ghost can't write even worse than Cussler can't write. This particular plot, revolving around Phoenecians in Harrisburg, PA (yes, you read that right) failed to suspend disbelief. Forget the characters. They were so muscular, gorgeous, and wooden that they made the plot seem believable in comparison. See, it goes like this: the Queen of Sheba's descendant beds down with the NUMA operative in between her various kidnappings (the lady gets hit over the head more often than Wiley Coyote) by another of King Solomon's spawn and---

There was one odd thing about this amazingly bad book: Cussler, having managed to have Phoenecians hand-carry golden plates on which are supposedly written the supposed ten commandments all the way into the Endless Mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania, totally misses a trick. At this point, our ancient mariners aren't far from Hill Cumora. Since Cussler was already accounting for the first landing in the New World, solving the puzzles of Phoenecian navigation, addressing the importance of the Queen of Sheba, locating King Solomon's Mines, and solving the mystery of the disappearance of the Ark of the Covenant, why didn't his Phoenicians cross into upstate New York and bury the plates near the home of Joseph Smith?

Maybe that's the next NUMA adventure.

This book was truly terrible.

Average Clive Cussler fare. Not the exciting twists that Sahara took(book only, please...the movie was awful). I beleive Mr. Cussler should have better writing to offer in the future.

DW)

Clive Cussler and Paul Kemprecos follow a previously successful formula twisting around history to create a fast based action adventure tale surrounding the actions of members of the fictitious National Underwater and Maritme Agency(NUMA).

Special Projects director Kurt Austin and his sidekick Joe Zavala find themselves in the midst of a mid oceanic hijacking. The booty is a bronze Phoenician statue known as The Navigator being transported under the guardianship of the alluring Carina Mechadi working for UNESCO. The statue was looted along with other antiquities from the Iraqi National Museum in Baghdad during the U.S. invasion. Mechadi's mission was to recovered the purloined artifacts.

The Navigator happened to be the object of desire of industrialist Viktor Baltazar head of a large private mercenary cartel and mining empire. Baltazar who traced his roots back to the days of King Solomon believed that the statue gave clues to details of a pre-Columbian visit to the New World by the Phoenicians.

Tied in with these historical events were a recently and accidently discovered encrypted letter penned by Thomas Jefferson under the guise of the secretive Artichoke society. Analysis of the Jefferson papers detailed a letter from Meriweather Lewis of the famous Lewis & Clark expedition. The correspondence hinted at the existence of a Phoenician landing in the New World with a mission to hide a precious and sensitive item whose existence could change the fabric of society as postulated by King Solomon.

Baltazar desired the information that The Navigator contained to advance his own nefarious plans. Meanwhile Austin, Zavala and their minions along his Austin love interest Mechadi team up to deter Baltazar in a rollicking adventure that strains the boundaries of credulity. The plot was standard fare for Cussler and his ghost writers but the ending was a bit of a cop out. For stress free reading requiring very little mentation, "The Navigator" is right up your alley.

Seems like a number of my library "recreational reads" came in at once, so I've had some down time from my normal fare of reading material. I finally made it to the top of the hold list for The Navigator by Clive Cussler with Paul Kemprecos. If you're in the mood for a fast-moving action adventure novel, it works pretty well...



The main story revolves around a statue called The Navigator. It was stolen from the Iraqi national museum but was recovered with the aid of a UN official named Carina Mechadi. While on a ship bound for the US with the other recovered items, the statue is once again the center of attention when an armed group invades the ship, attempts to transport the statue off by helicopter, and sets the ship to collide with an oil drilling platform to hide the evidence. But Kurt Austin and Joe Zavala of NUMA are able to pull off a dramatic rescue, saving the ship, the statue, *and* Ms. Mechadi. The mystery of why someone would want the statue deepens as a tie is discovered between the statue, Thomas Jefferson, and the ancient Phoenicians. When the statue is once again stolen and Carina once again kidnapped, Austin's full attention is focused on saving the damsel in distress one more time, as well as putting an end to the person behind it all.



Compared to Cussler's Dirk Pitt series, the Austin novel is much more sedate and comfortable. There's definitely enough action to keep you turning pages, but every chapter doesn't end with someone about to die and/or pull off a miraculous MacGyver-esque escape. The idea of Phoenicians being the first to visit North America isn't new in a Cussler novel (Serpent in 1999), but he does a nice job in putting together a Da Vinci-type mystery where people are willing to die to keep a secret.



If you're ready to kill off a few hours with a mental escape from reality, The Navigator should fit your needs well...

Seems like a number of my library "recreational reads" came in at once, so I've had some down time from my normal fare of reading material. I finally made it to the top of the hold list for The Navigator by Clive Cussler with Paul Kemprecos. If you're in the mood for a fast-moving action adventure novel, it works pretty well...

The main story revolves around a statue called The Navigator. It was stolen from the Iraqi national museum but was recovered with the aid of a UN official named Carina Mechadi. While on a ship bound for the US with the other recovered items, the statue is once again the center of attention when an armed group invades the ship, attempts to transport the statue off by helicopter, and sets the ship to collide with an oil drilling platform to hide the evidence. But Kurt Austin and Joe Zavala of NUMA are able to pull off a dramatic rescue, saving the ship, the statue, *and* Ms. Mechadi. The mystery of why someone would want the statue deepens as a tie is discovered between the statue, Thomas Jefferson, and the ancient Phoenicians. When the statue is once again stolen and Carina once again kidnapped, Austin's full attention is focused on saving the damsel in distress one more time, as well as putting an end to the person behind it all.

Compared to Cussler's Dirk Pitt series, the Austin novel is much more sedate and comfortable. There's definitely enough action to keep you turning pages, but every chapter doesn't end with someone about to die and/or pull off a miraculous MacGyver-esque escape. The idea of Phoenicians being the first to visit North America isn't new in a Cussler novel (Serpent in 1999), but he does a nice job in putting together a Da Vinci-type mystery where people are willing to die to keep a secret.

If you're ready to kill off a few hours with a mental escape from reality, The Navigator should fit your needs well...

As always Mr. Cussler weaves a varied thread of intrigue and history. As someones else mentioned, I missed his appearance in the plot however trivial. One has to wonder how much of these books he is really able to write these days and how much the co author does. In any event it was very enjoyable as always, although according to the Kirkus Reviews it the best ever. That I can't agree with.

Typical NUMA Files fare, which means a GREAT read. Typical plot elements, such as rescuing a BEAUTIFUL Damsel in Distress from a possible Kidnapping. This is the ultimate Summer Read. Ending is quite preposterous, but Hey this is a NUMA Files book. Relax, Read and Enjoy.

As always with Cussler there is a good historical bent to the book. He always weaves an intro story to set the scene for what will eventually take place. I love the interaction between the macho hero types, be it Pitt or Austin and their cronies. I don't miss a Cussler book and this was a good read. It's not his best and I did miss him in the book. If you like Cussler, you'll like this book.

I recieved this NEW book and it did not have a binder dustcover. What did they do? remove it before sending it to me?

Lennie Cousins

Exiteing novel. The norwegian traveller with "Kon Ti Ki" could hvae written it, but Clive Cussler did.

As came as no surprise to me "The Naviagotor" was an awesome read. Clive Cussler and Kurt Austin never fail to keep the reader spellbound to see what happens next as they weave multiple complicated plots together into a cohesive and thrilling conclusion. I highly recommend this book to all existing Clive Cussler fans as well as folks new to this incredible author.

Mr Cussler has done great job again, i have evey book he has writen the they just keep getting better , cant wait for the next book.The Navigator (NUMA Files)

Another good book from Clive Cussler. An enjoyable read, perfect for bringing on vacation.

When American forces invaded Iraq the first time, the Baghdad Museum was looted of valuable treasures. UNESCO agent Carina Mechadi is on their trail, and jumps at the chance when wealthy businessman Viktor Baltazar offers to privately finance her search, asking only that she keep him informed of her progress. Carina crosses paths with our hero, Kurt Austin, quite literally when she recovers the most valuable of the museum's missing items and accompanies them on their containership voyage across the Atlantic to the Smithsonian. Kurt Austin and sidekick Joe Zavala had been in the same area of the North Atlantic known as Iceberg Alley, helping to rope in icebergs heading for oil rigs and tow them from harm's way, when Carina's ship, the Ocean Adventure, appears to be steaming directly for an oil rig. When Austin's derring-do puts him aboard, he finds the Ocean Adventure had been boarded by pirates in helicopters. Their one objective seemed to have been recovery of a statue of dubious value in Carina's collection called the Navigator. Austin stops the theft and rescues the ship, seeing Carina safely to Washington. Once there, the mystery deepens when Anthony Saxon, an ill-respected archaeologist and writer, joins forces with Austin and the gang. Someone wants the Navigator badly, for the statue contains an ancient Phoenician map supposedly leading to King Solomon's Mines and a controversial set of the Ten Commandments carved in gold. They aren't the only ones looking for the lost artifacts, and the other guys will stop at nothing to get there first.

I have only one complaint about this book, and that is its inability to resist the urge to oh-so-trendily cast doubt on stories of Biblical origin. The outrage has died down, and so has our interest in this type of subject matter, which is handled with little skill and no attempt at originality. That disappointing detail aside, this is a fast-paced, white-knuckle thrill ride as Kurt Austin and his friends unravel a centuries-old mystery, trying to stay one step ahead of the bad guys, who naturally have sinister motives. Though the engaging Paul and Gamay Trout once again played disappointingly small roles and, sadly, maritime historian St. Julien Perlmutter sat this one out, it was nonetheless quite the page turner I found very difficult to put down.

With its seventh book, this series has obviously found its stride. With its Cussleresque abundance of corny similes and nonstop action woven into an intricate plot, combined with Kemprecos' warm, down-to-earth prose, it's hard to find action better than this smoothly-paced novel. Once again, you can't go wrong with a book with Cussler on the cover.

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!

As usual I think the authors did a great job. The one thing I did notice though is the use of words in the first chapter that I have never hear of. Sometimes I think authors pick words to impress readers. I'n not impressed.

Once again Cussler keeps you on the edge of your seat. The plot is engrossing, the characters likable and the action riviting. Although Cussler is one of my three favorite authors, I must admit his books sometimes feel tiresome due to the use of a similiar structure built around different plots. But, that doesn't keep me from coming back to read more. I'm eagerly awaiting his next release.

Considering myself a bit of a Cussler-Fanatic, I have read each and every Cussler story in print (as of July '07) and while some are hit & miss, all contain large doses of adrenaline-filled action...some of it easier to digest than others, but all-told I'd have to say almost every single one is loaded with great fun. As I finished 'The Navigator' I discovered a couple of things: First is that Paul Kemprecos has virtually mastered the 'formula' which Clive patented over the course of decades worth of Action/Adventure writing...and Second, this is sadly my least favorite of the NUMA Files novels.

That ISN'T to say it wasn't fun--quite the opposite, actually. I found 'The Navigator' to contain all the twists and turns that I have come to expect from Kurt & Joe. I wish I could be more specific, but something just literally left me a bit flat here -- and it is driving me nuts that I cannot put my finger on it. To be totally honest, I have enjoyed the last 4 NUMA Files novels more than the last 3 or 4 Dirk Pitt tales. (If you only knew how difficult that was for me to admit) While Dirk Cussler definitely has writing talent and will soon be in the same league as his famous father, he isn't there--at least not yet. The first two Oregon Files novels were near disasters, but thankfully Clive was brilliant enough to recognize Jack Du Brul and his awesome talent and signed him on to continue the series (the last two have been fantastic). For the most part, Paul Kemprecos has been nothing short of incredible at taking the previously mentioned 'Formula' and using it for all it was worth--and in this case, it was worth a LOT. While the characters of Kurt & Joe are nothing more than almost literal carbon-copies of Dirk & Al, that did not stop me from recognizing the fun within all the same.

But for some reason, the plot of 'The Navigator' just did not do it for me as much as I honestly thought it would. It was still fun...the action was still on High and the entertainment factor was still in gear, but not to the same degree that it had been in the earlier NUMA Files books. Wish I could single it out for you, but I just cannot. All I CAN say with any degree of certainty is that if you are a past fan of these novels you really ought to enjoy this one just as much. I only wish I had. Thankfully Clive has enough series going these days so that I won't have to wait too long for the next book. I still consider buying a Cussler book to be as close to a Sure Bet as you can get in the publishing world.

A good story line but not up to Cusslers usual exciting standard. Certain times in the story line it lost pace but in general a good novel

The Clive Cussler franchise, begun in the 1970's, is like the Energizer Bunny. It just keeps going and going. After a string of blockbuster Dirk Pitt novels, Cussler was running out of steam (and, presumably, wanting more time to spend some of the vast fortune he's earned). A few books ago, we met the aging Dirk Pitt's heretofore unknown twin children, Dirk and Summer. James Sandecker became vice-president of the US and Dirk took his job as head of NUMA. So far, so good. Meanwhile, Cussler was inventing new characters, like Juan Cabrillo of the Oregon Files and Steve Austin and Joe Zavala, Pitt/Giordino clones, of the NUMA Files. He engaged "co-writers" (read "ghostwriters") like Paul Kemprecos to churn these out. These "new" books are enjoyable only if the reader doesn't expect them to sound like Cussler. In Kemprecos' case, that's a good thing. His fluid writing style contrasts favorably with Cussler's stiffness, especially where dialogue is concerned.

The other thing Cussler evidently has to do to keep his franchise going is to let Kemprecos descend into all the silliness he wants. There's plenty of it in The Navigator. The premise is ridiculous on the face of it: Ancient Phoenicians, contemporaries with Israel's King Solomon, sailed to North America routinely. They did so because King Hiram of Tyre (a major Phoenician city) provided a favor to Solomon: He transported workers to North America to mine gold for Solomon in modern-day Pennsylvania, and his "Ships of Tarshish" brought the refined mineral home. Thus, Kemprecos wants us to believe, King Solomon's mines were never in the region of Palestine near the modern-day Gulf of Aqaba, as traditional Biblical scholars have held for generations. Absolute nonsense. Add to this the notion than no less august a personage than Thomas Jefferson knew of these ancient voyages and kept it a secret from his countrymen, and you're over the top. Throw in a baddie whose ancient family worshiped the Canaanite fertility god ba'al (never mind that they had no connection with Palestine), and you're even further over the top. And the female heroine, and love interest, just HAPPENS to be descended from Solomon's supposed lover, the Queen of Sheba. What a convenient coincidence.

Good grief. Where to start? To begin with, there's not a shred of evidence to suggest that the Phoenicians ever sailed across the Atlantic, or that they would have wanted to. Secondly, the stories of King Solomon's riches in the Hebrew Bible are inconsistent with the archaeological record in the extreme. Thirdly, the Queen of Sheba is likely a mythological figure, the story of whose adulation is designed to boost the esteem in which Solomon (and, by extension, the king who commissioned the story) is held. Fourthly, convenient plot devices are necessary to move the story. The diver who found the wreck of an ancient Phoenician ship in Chesapeake bay just HAPPENED to drown before he told anybody or brought up a significant number of artifacts.

There is a growing interest in, and research about, the world of the ancient near- and middle-east, perhaps fueled by the rise of militant Islam and the ongoing tension between Israelis and Palestinians in the land of Solomon. Many of the results are exciting, and some are changing the ways we view ancient history, especially between about 1,000 BCE and the time of Jesus. Writers like Israel Finkelstein and Neil Asher Silberman (look them up on Amazon), John Dominic Crossan, and Marcus Borg are working hard to integrate the revelations of modern archaeology and the claims of ancient texts. Unfortunately, anything can be commercialized, even research. The Navigator is an example of one of the worst efforts out there. But for my money (and I kept it) The DaVinci Code is the gold standard.

Pretty good story, a little bit different in that is predominantly a land based novel - obviously not the usual cussler read - but it's ok, not my favorite, but ok. Nicely done mixing in some "plausible" historical mystery, unlike other recent works.

Up until page 375 we had a 2-3 star book. Slightly unbelievable, but fairly good reading.
Then it seems that the book was getting too long and had to be finished quickly, the last 66 pages were filled with inconstancies, wild theories, unnecessary Biblical references, villains who turned inexplicably stupid, Delta Force and Seals Mercenaries who turned into mindless buffoons.
You want to stretch my imagination? Go ahead, but there has to be some credibility.
There should be some kind of warranty given out with books, maybe prorated. This is one that is going into my next yard sale, never to be read again, Paul Kemprecos you're forever off my reading list.
The only reason I bought this book was Clive Cussler's name on the cover. He needs to be more careful of the content put out under his name.

I had given up on Cussler a few years back as the stories all began to run together. My son though left "The Navigator" and A Tourist In The Yucatan at the house the other day and little did I know I was in for an adventure/thriller filled weekend. By Sunday night I had finished both books, but still wanted more! Not much depth here but Austin and Zavala keep the buddy action going and there is never a dull moment. Fans know what to expect, but if your new to Cussler I highly recommend you start with his early Dirk Pitt books. And if you are a fan of Cussler check out A Tourist In The Yucatan you won't be sorry!

This book was fast reading but lacked some of the Cussler story telling. I rate it just good.

For those of you that love a good Da Vinci Code esque historical fiction adventure, this is for you. It's a fast paced and interesting adventure that will keep you on the edge of your seat. I read the whole thing in 5 days. Great book.

It lives up to the Kurt Austin adventures. I just wish they would leave out any reference to having sexual relations. The story does not need it to make it good. In my opinion it detracts from it.

Not the best work from Cussler. Seems to be trying but not as well written in the past.
Reality fades quickly, especialy with the jousting.
Lets hope next book is more realistic.
Does Cussler need the second writer?

Cussler delivers another fun romp, starting with his trademark prologue of ancient history with a Cussler twist, continuing with a second prologue set in early America, then on to the present day action! Are his plots feasible? Nope. Who cares? They are great fun, always with the same formula, but a different historical hook. No one buys a NUMA adventure novel thinking it's a blueprint for real life. It's pure fantasy and escapism. Set aside your disbelief and buckle up! They're exciting rides. (On a more pedantic note, I'd love to see the publishing company find a better proofreader. Errata abound in many of his novels.)

All of the Clive Clusser books are great reading. This one has gone beyond his normal adventure and kept me on the edge of my seat. I found myself reading late into the night just to finish the story and find the ending. His ability to weave the mystery over eons of years is amazing when it all comes together. A superb book that all would enjoy.

This is another very good read from Clive Cussler. It has all the elements of a great adventure story and keeps you guessing until the very end. I highly recommend it.

A favorite author of mine knows how to kindle a shiver in one's back bone.
Clive and Paul tend to keep me reading for hours on end. The book is right
up my alley as far a excitement goes. Excellent reading but there is one
drawback, who in the world is responsible for proofreading the text prior
to publication? There are quite a few errors in the book.

This one compares much more to the Dirk Pitt Series in concept and plot than the previous Numa Files books. This, to me, is a good thing. Kurt Austin is the complete center of this story. Joe, Paul, and Gamay still have their roles, but they are minor compared to previous novels. You do get a mention of Vice President Sandecker and Director Pitt, but that is it. If you read Jack Du Brul, and you catch it, there is even a reference to one of his novels in there.

This is a great story, with a cohesive plot that all comes together. There is plenty of action and a little romance. There is some interesting new characters, some of which we might even get to read about again. Highly recommended.

Cussler et al. have done it again. Greatest story line ever, constantly has you wrapped around his finger with ancient history and American heros as well. An American Treasure story, could be a great movie.

As is typical of a Cussler novel, just suspend your beliefs and enjoy the ride. Filled with its usual narrow escapes and daring rescues, you'll no doubt rush through this novel and enjoy every bit. I love the way Cussler can bring the past into the present and create a great adventure.

Highly recommended.

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 . . .