Customer Reviews

Flood Tide

5 star:		(99)
4 star:		(58)
3 star:		(24)
2 star:		(17)
1 star:		(20)

 

 

Pitt is back with his trusty companions trying to thwart the evil plans of a Chinese madman whose intentions of diverting the Mississippi River. Coupled with a slave ring of illegal immigrants from China, a gang of ruthless killers stalking Pitt and a lovely Chinese American INS agent, Cussler weaves an interesting tale and even writes himself into this story that was both clever and humorous. Plenty of narrow escapes, witty dialog, a nefarious villian (but a close group of henchmen was missing) and a great story of a missing passenger ship fleeing the Communist take over of China and a fortune of vanished artifacts. Blend these together and it spells another terrific tale from Cussler. Not the best, but certainly entertaining reading and not to be passed over. Once again, Al, Sandecker and company work with Pitt who uses his charm, snappy come backs and his trusty .45 Colt to save the day.

I consider myself a professional Clive Cussler reader...only because I've read EVERYTHING of his (in print that I'm aware of) and I have corrosponded with him on occasion. Now with that arrogant statement out of the way, I do not pretend to be a close friend, or even a decent acquaintance, however I DO know Dirk, Al, Rudi and Sandecker as well as can be expected, and I can tell the better Pitt stories from the lesser brilliant ones. This is a great 'starter' Pitt story, sort of a beginners Cussler book... but STILL fun. It seems as though we get one good Pitt novel to every GREAT Pitt novel. This isn't 'Raise The Titanic' or 'Cyclops' or even 'Sahara' but it IS an above-average adventure story (as are ALL of Cussler's books). If you are looking to get to know Dirk Pitt, by far THE best character in modern adventure fiction, I suggest you start here, and work up to his newest (and easily one of his best) 'Atantis Found'. Clive is a stud, and so is Pitt. See for yourself.

I used to enjoy Clive Cussler's novels; that is, until he started inserting himself into the story lines. Each time Dirk at some point has to take a break in his adventure to meet with some mysterious hermit-like fellow (Cussler) who just happens to be loaded with crucial information about the local area. In this book Cussler writes himself into the story line as the "Bayou Kid"-- an old timer who knows every nook and cranny of the Mississippi swamp Dirk must investigate and who just happens to have a sophisticated and well-appointed undercover swamp boat (complete with comic relief guard dog) for Dirk and his lady de jure to borrow for his mission. Yawn! Cussler's habit of writing himself into the plot may have been cute the first time he did it, but at this point it's become downright annoying. Let Cussler have his fantasies--and his books--for I shall not subsidize him any longer.

When you pick up a book by Clive Cussler, you know what you are getting into. There will be nonstop action, some unbelievable developments, a couple of twists, maybe a little xenophobia, and of course, enough machismo to to supply an Army.

"Flood Tide" is no different. Opening with Dirk Pitt trying to get in a little fishing, and winding up saving a large number of illegal immigrants, it just gets better. This book is literally jam-packed with action and adventure as Pitt tries to stop a Chinese arch-criminal from carrying out his diabolical plan to make China the most powerful nation in the world(kind of like "Dragon," only a few miles to the west). There's an excellent sequence with the mercenary warship Oregon (now with its own spinoff series), a thrilling battle on the Mississippi river, and a search for underwater treasure. In fact, if I have a complaint about the book, it's that it's too sprawling. A little bit of the urgency bleeds away since Pitt and pal Giordino have time to travel the globe and do everything they must. In addition, after the huge developments in the middle of the book, the final showdown with the villain seemed a little weak. Nonetheless, for an excellent adventure novel, look no further than "Flood Tide."

I enjoyed this Book by Cussler as I have enjoyed the previous novels read. I did have one issue with the story from historical preservationists view point. **SPOILER** I did not like the fact that Cussler reveals the bones of Peking man to the open air due to their age after being submerged 50 years. Pitt acted very uncharacteristically when he orders the anthropologists to unwrap them for all to see. Not a big deal, but just something that bugged me as a historian. Other than that, it was a fairly new plot with interesting insight into problems America faces today with our dealings on the international level and the immigration issue. Cussler may be using his work to express his views on these matters which could detract readers who disagree. I will still read because I enjoy the plot and writing.

This is my first Dirk Pitt novel and I was so very surprised by this book. A friend of mine recommended his newest book Atlantis or this one and I picked this one. CC is a great adventure writer. The book is suspense driven. I read this book in 2 days flat. It is a record for me. Don't pass this blockbuster up if you are a fans of adventure. Dirk is the classic hero who gets the girl in the end. My friend also recommended Du Brul's Charon's Landing. Don't forget a YES or NO Helpful to the review and check out my other reviews; you won't be sorry. A great story is only a click away.

Great fun in reading this book I hope Atlantis is just as good.

Flood Tide written by Clive Cussler is the fourteenth in the series of Dirk Pitt adventure novels. Dirk Pitt being the legendary hero who seems to stumble into this adventure as we are taken on a wild ride of adventure and intrigue from Washington State to Louisiana.

The villian in this book is a smuggler. A smuggler of human lives to anywhere on the globe he can make a profit. Cussler works in some intricately plotted suspense and some jingoistic slurs that if you can bear aren't too bad. But, if they were missing it would be better.

As the plot thickens, Pitt goes from the high seas to the Mississippi River trying to figure out just how this smuggler gets his contraband cargo in to port. Of course, what good Cussler adventure doesn't have some treasure hidden somewhere as a subplot. Well, this has a booty that is very suprising. Set in 1949 when Chiang Kai-shek is leaving the Chinese mainland.

Cussler's masterful storytelling, with the main plot and intricately woven subplots bringing the adventure to a fever pitch. The villian is a formidable crafty survivor and Pitt has his hands full with this adventure. Of course, all of the supporting personel from NUMA are at Pitt's disposal spicing the story just right.

The story moves quickly as the narrative is straight forward and to the point. The dialog between Pitt and his trusty partner Al Giordino is classic Cussler. I enjoyed this novel as it was entertaining with adventure and intriguing. You will be caught early in this engrossing book and won't be disengaged until the end.

This was my first Clive Cussler book ever and it was great. The pot paints a grim picture of what could happen to our country and the world because of the large numbers of immigrants, legal and non, into nations around the world. The villian in this book is a billionaire shipping tycoon who makes a large ammount of his fortune from smugling illegal immigrants into the US and other countries of the world. Dirk Pitt accidentally foils one of the tycoohn's smuggling operations and he himself becomes a target of this man's rage. Dirk Pitt is then assigned to investigate some of his suspicious bussiness ventures, such as digging a canal to nowhere in southern louisiana, building a shiping port in the middle of a marshland and buying a decades old cris ship for no aparent purpose. This adventure will keep you glued to the pages for hours. Dirk Pitt finally does win, with a certain ammount of romance along the way.

Clive Cussler brings back Dirk Pitt in another excitingadventure. This time he's up agianst a wealthy Chinese slaver who is intent on building his business empire with a super port in Louisiana. Along the way, we are treated to the recovery of a longlost Chinese artifact. As always, a great read if you're in the market for an exciting quest.

I finished Flood Tide almost a year after I purchased it. Thefirst 100 pages were fine, but after that I had a tough time keeping my interest in the book, and that's uncommon for me. I liked the idea, but I didn't like the writing style.