Rating: 
Summary: Skillful infusion of new character blood.
Review: I have read and loved all of Cussler's books. I was hesitant at first about reading this one. I was torn between loyalty to Dirk and Al, while at the same time realizing that after so many novels there had to be an infusion of new character blood. I was thrilled with this joint venture. There are similarities between the two action heros, but at the same time there are definite differences. The new team of Kurt and Joe have their moments. While this plot is not as complex, tension filled or as fast paced, as some of Cussler's other books, it is nonetheless in the true Cussler style. I was not disappointed with the new boys on the NUMA team nor with Nina, Kurt's apparent love interest. Cussler skillfully linked all four action characters and hopefully in a future novel the four will be able to share in a joint adventure. I am optimistic that Cussler will also rev the Kurt/Joe team up to the nail biting adventures that Dirk/Al seemed to constantly land in. I am excited that Mr Cussler would accept the challenge of bringing new characters into a well establish cult following of his. He not only accepted the challenge; he has won me over with them. Looking forward to more adventures of these new characters - soon I hope.
Rating: 
Summary: A Very Silly Book
Review: Sigh. The names may change (Dirk Pitt = Kurt Austin) but the formula plot remains the same. A decades old shipwreck (Andrea Doria) contains the key to an ancient mystery and buried treasure somewhere on the North American continent, and our hero, Dirk (oops, Kurt), must foil the evil plans of the bad guys and save the treasure for the good old U.S. of A!This formula works fairly well when Cussler takes his time to actually research a novel. That's why books like Night Probe, Vixen 03, and Raise the Titanic remain top notch sailor yarns. In the case of Serpent, however, Cussler and Kemprecos must have felt it unnecessary to do even the slightest bit of research into the history of the Phoenecians, Mayans, or Columbus. Their dates and times are all off -- often by centuries -- and Dirk's (oops, Kurt's) final musing that the Japanese taught the ancient Maya how to fly kites had me rolling on the floor. There are plot holes in this book large enough to drive a semi-truck through, and the so-called villain is one of the most ridiculous characters Cussler has ever foisted on his fans (many, I suspect, soon to be ex-fans if he keeps shoveling this type of stuff at us). What's worse, the inane plot of this novel, that no evidence of ancient contact between the Old World and the New World exists, forces Cussler to ignore the events of some of his previous novels as if they never happened. Therefore, the events of Raise the Titanic are mentioned and considered part of NUMA continuity, but the events of Treasure, where Dirk (not Kurt) dug up the ancient Library of Alexandria in Texas, has to be ignored as if it never happened because it completely destroys the premise of Serpent. Cussler is clearly doing nothing more than going through the motions at this point. He should take his novels more seriously or stop writing altogether because right now all he is doing is embarrasing himself. I cannot and do not recommend this novel.
Rating: 
Summary: Dirk is always Dirk!
Review: I don't give it a full five stars,mainly because there are better adventures. It is a hell of a read though!
Rating: 
Summary: So, so story
Review: 1) The audiobook version was a fair listen, with the reader not being the worst but not the best I've heard this past year. It was good enough that I listened to the entire program. 2) Dirk Pitt clone...whats the point?!? 3) The "far-fetched" story was so complex that a large percentage of the audiobook was simply dedicated to characters trying to explain how everything came to be with the bad guys and their motives. 4) A few of the characters are engaging and fun. 5) Visiting foreign locals always adds to the adventures. 6) I've read far better from Cussler and would say this one you can take it or leave it.
Rating:
Summary: Not much better than a beach read....
Review: This will be short and only somewhat sweet. Clive Cussler ( with Paul Kemprecos) has written an ok novel about a far fetched theory of an outfit called The Brotherhood. The first chapter on the sinking of the Andrea Doria is pure Cussler. Three hundred and twenty nine pages later we get back to the results of that sinking - somewhat wiser as to why - but this really is a long drawn out story which does little to endear me to the new genre of "A Novel from the NUMA Files." It is well enough written and containes some interesting historical assertions - but it is not much better than a beach read. If that's what you are looking for - this will do.
Rating:
Summary: Good Novel
Review: I'm not sure why some people are knocking these "NUMA File" books. I grew up loving the Dirk Pitt character and now I have new characters to learn about. I like the new series...
Rating:
Summary: a good read but its lacking something
Review: being a long time clive cussler addict, i would have to say that serpent is not one of his better books maybe that is because there being a co author maybe not.. dont get me wrong it is a enjoyable book as all of his books are. but there seems to be somethings missing. certain references to past books that were changed such as canada not being a part of the u.s. ya i know im nitpicking. but over all a very enjoyable read. i hope these new characters get the chance to grow like dirk and al did in the first books. and maybe someday a cross over book with all the characters in one. that would be interesting.
Rating:
Summary: Too bad- it could have been soooo much better.
Review: I read the other reviews before starting this. Some loved it, others were disappointed. I have to believe that if you have never before read a Cussler book, you would enjoy this one. If you do enjoy Cussler's other books, then you will spend the majority of your time noting the similarities to the Dirk Pitt series. On the other hand, I don't think Mr. Cussler ever really claimed to be a world-class author. If I'm not mistaken, he uses the income from his books to finance his other interests- interests that the rest of us can only dream about. So- if you have a long plane flight sometime, read the book. If you are looking for a new hero to read about, skip it. You already know these guys.
Rating:
Summary: Not one of Cusslers better books
Review: Unlike the other Dirk Pitt/NUMA adventures, which I can't put down until I finish reading the very last page, I found myself wishing this one would end soon. Unlike his other books, this books plot and subplots, just dragged on and on, with none of them generating any real excitement. The book never really built up to any sort of climax, leaving the reader feeling sort of empty at the end.
I found his new characters, Kurt Austin and his partner, flat and uninteresting. None of the snappy banter that occurs between Dirk and Al. One reason this book seemed "lackluster" compared to his other books could have to do with the fact that Cussler had a co-writer on this book. Bottom line, it's a fair "adventure book", but a bad "Cussler adventure book".
Rating:
Summary: First Cussler novel I've ever read - quite a story!
Review: I am a slow reader, having started this book nearly 6mo ago. But after reading the 1st chapter, where a young Italian waiter on the doomed Andrea Doria witnesses the murders of armed guards in the garage hold of the ship by masked assasins, I remained intrigued. What was in that armored truck anyway? The answer of course lies many chapters ahead. I was amazed at the amount of historical information on Mayan culture that Cussler wove into his plot, mixing fact with his own fiction in a perhaps preposterous, but I suppose plausible conclusion on what happened to Christopher Columbus after his "5th voyage". A great ending to a very entertaining novel. I'll now look for more of Cussler's works.
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