The Jungle

(Since I've originally read this novel in August 2012, I've updated it with a brand new review.)

In Clive Cussler's The Jungle, the 8th installment in the Oregon Files action-adventure series, get prepared to be blown away by fast-paced action series that had taken place in a post-911 world. It all started, when Juan Cabrillo and his crew mated had received orders to rescue a Pakistani boy from the terrorists. It was no rescue mission, when he met Marion  "MacD" Lawless, who had been a prisoner and had worked overseas. From there, they team up to escape, when things go awry for Cabrillo. Then he had gotten a call from Roland Croissard, a Swiss millionaire, who had requested their services to rescue his daughter Soleil in a Burmese camping trip. Things aren't what they seem to be, when they've been duped by a "John Smith" who's been working along them to rescue her. Since their meeting site was being attacked by bombs, they knew something was fishy and odd as Juan was taken prisoner and faced hours of water torture. When his crew rescued them, they recovered Soleil as a prisoner, too, and they knew that Suleiman Bahar had set them up into the trap. He wants to rule the world and have everyone at his knees as he uses crystals to control a quantum computer to destroy places and things by a sound of the voice. At the request of the President and their former boss, Langton Overholt, Juan and his team get ready to go undercover in a salt mine to take them out and destroy the computer before it was too late.

This was an excellent and mind-blowing action-adventure on land and on water. I cared about Juan Cabrillo and his team mates, especially his newest one, MacD. I also cared for Soleil Croissard as well, who had been dealt such a tough blow. I despised Bahar and everything he had done in plain sight. I loved the Middle Eastern settings from Myanmar, Phillippines, and elsewhere with gripping scenic location.  This would make you gasp and shake your head, cheer on Juan with his crew, and hook you with a thrill ride with non-stop action, drama, suspense and intrigue. 

Ready to enter the jungle? Pick up a copy today!

Crescent Dawn

In Clive Cussler's Crescent Dawn, the 21st installment in the Dirk Pitt NUMA action-adventure series, this took you right into the heart of the Middle East. It all started with the missing Roman galley who disappeared many centuries again. Now with a heated war between Turkey and Israel during a political year, things get down to the nitty gritty. For Dirk and the NUMA cry, it all began with a vacation and them it went downhill from there with stolen antiquities, terrorism and piracy, and the loot of pilfered treasures. It reached far back from England and back to the shores. For the Celik siblings, they wanted to do it for power for their new leader. But they would do anything to get in their ways from explosives to committing murders. When Dirk and his crew are onto them, it's a fight to the finish on land and on sea with a fitting ending.

This was another fascinating action-adventure novel with gripping pages to read. I cared about Dirk and his family, along with the NUMA crew. I hated to see Sophie killed from a senseless act of violence. I didn't like the Celiks one bit, while Bannister was okay. I loved to see Dirk Jr. and Summer have adventures of their own. The scenery from England to Cyprus, Turkey and Israel was stunning for the locations. This would enthrall you with plenty of action, drama, twists and turns, and lots of adventure and suspense every step of the way.

Will you be ready to go exploring by a crescent dawn?