Rating: 
Summary: Substituted Kurt Austin for Dirk Pitt. Bring back Dirk Pitt
Review: I have read every book written by Clive Cussler. Unfortunately, the latest book lacks the intensity of a Dirk Pitt novel. While reading the book, I felt that Kurt Austin and his side kick were a "flat" substitute for Dirk Pitt and his side kick, i.e. instead of restoring old cars and boats, Kurt collected old weapons. On a good note, I did enjoy the references to Dirk Pitt made by Kurt Austin, as a way to tie the characters together. I also missed the usual appearance by Clive Cussler in the book. I want Dirk Pitt back!
Rating: 
Summary: I enjoyed this-- also recommend other authors
Review: Cussler comes up with original ideas and tells them in a fast-paced style. He's not as long winded as Clancy and I appreciate that. Another book just read that I recommend is ATLANTIS by Greg Donegan. A modern, fast-paced thriller with some sci-fi overtones. Also, for military thrillers, try Bob Mayer's books on special forces-- he wore the green beret and writes with authority-- try CUT OUT or SYNBAT. He's also the same guy who writes under the name Robert Doherty and his AREA 51 series is quite fascinating.
Rating: 
Summary: Where is the REAL Clive Cussler??
Review: As excited as I was to find a new Clive Cussler novel, I was equally dissappointed in "Serpent". It was obvious to me that Mr. Cussler had little to do with the writing of this book. It seems he sold his name for profit. If you put your name on a novel as the author, you should be the one to write the book, not someone else. I have no problems with new characters, but I feel Mr. Cussler sold me out. If he was honest and up-front with what he was doing (not writing the book), I would have no problem. But a man has only got his name and to sell it for profit is unconscionable.
Rating:
Summary: A large disappointment
Review: I am an avid Cussler reader but was very disappointed in the "Serpent." Ocassionally I thought I could see a few pages where Author Cussler took over and tried to inject his much beloved writing style but overall he was not successful. The plot is confusing and quite improbable. If Kurt Austin is the new Dirk Pitt then perhaps I have a chance also. Give me back Dirk Pitt, his friends and novels written only by Clive Cussler.
Rating:
Summary: Not what you expect from Cussler
Review: Too much rambling about archeology and not enough action. Reads like a textbook. I too think Cussler did not write much of the book at all. I found myself skipping pages looking for action and not missing anything when passing over the long-winded "digging for treasure" educational paragraphs.
Rating:
Summary: One of Cussler's Weakest, But There's A Reason...
Review: I have read most of the reviews of Serpent and see that many people believe that Clive Cussler wrote this book with some help from a collaborator, Paul Kemprecos. Actually, Cussler only developed the plot outline and the characters while Kemprecos wrote the novel (although with Cussler's name in huge letters and Kemprecos' name in much smaller letters on the cover, I understand why people think that way, but that's book publisher marketing for you).One can tell fairly early that the prose is not that of Cussler. Kemprecos likes to take several pages to set a scene, going into detail as to the twists and turns of a boat adventure before he describes the little bit of action that occurs. Cussler ususally gives just enough detail to set the stage for what becomes a ton of action. That is why I don't think Serpent should be considered a "Clive Cussler novel", because it isn't, despite the packaging. There are a lot of pages spent on details not that important to the main story, especially the subplot of Gamay Trout and Dr. Chi's adventure (I didn't think that would ever end). The new heros, Kurt Austin and Joe Zavala, appear sporatically throughout the book and are not well developed. They aren't Dirk Pitt and Al Giordino clones, not even close. I also thought that the book ended rather abruptly for all the buildup. But I will say that Kemprecos tied the storylines together fairly well at the end, so the book was not bad at all, just a little too long (about 100 pages, I'd say). Overall, a Cussler fan should read this new book, because he may be setting the stage for Kemprecos to take over the series someday when Cussler and Pitt retire to enjoy tequila on the beach. If that's the case, I hope Kemprecos gets a better feel for developing action sequences.
Rating:
Summary: Bravo to the Reader from Philadelphia!
Review: Well said! If Mr. Cussler is listening, this is his wake up call. I predict that many readers will hesitate before buying his next book. I know I will. Especially if he continues to use a co-author. Mr. Cussler's next book will need to be better than great to overcome Serpent's shortcomings.
Rating:
Summary: Wandered around lost
Review: I rarely read thrillers, I'm more of a Saving Private Ryan or The Triumph and the Glory type, but Cussler has produced some great books in the past so I purchased his latest, Serpent: The Numa Files. It started off very well, I thought, but then just kind of drifted along like a refloated Titanic without a crew (ha ha). I too suspect that there is some funny stuff going on with the writing, this one didn't seem like the Cussler we all know and love so well. What's up with this one, Clive ?
Rating:
Summary: Great book, a real page turner. Maybe a little too familiar.
Review: I have read all of Cussler's novels, and I tought this one was one of the best. People feel they should critizice the writing just because of the new author. Yet I didn't notice anything different about the style of writing nor the characters in the book. The only flaw that I noticed were the actual two characters. I just felt that they were a little too much like Dirk and Al. What I mean is that they were exactly like them in almost every way. It just didn't seem believable to me(not that the story did). But throughout the story Cussler brought up the historical elements which make his books so enticing and unique. The historical background was even more interesting and more researched than his other books which I loved. This was one of Clive Cussler's greatest books yet, and I recommend it to any one.
Rating:
Summary: This was not one of Clive Cusslor's better masterpieces.
Review: As a diehard Cussler fan, I jumped at the sight of the book when I noticed the book on the shelf at the bookstore.Now, even my wife noticed that I was laboring to read this book.With Dirk Pitt in the game, a book would usually take two or three days to finish.My theory,Don't pee down my back and tell me its raining.Dirk is the man!
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