Rating: 
Summary: Good Entertainment, But Drifts a Little
Review: This is my second Cussler novel, and it was disappointing after my previous experience. Cussler writes an incredibly interesting plot, and builds his characters well. The disappointment comes in the archeology rabbit chasing. Too much repetitive dribble about archeological references that drag the story somewhat. The character of Nina was building as a major cast member that fades out for too long before working her way back in under a casual involvement with Kurt Austin. The novel is entertaining anyway, and worth the time to read it.
Rating: 
Summary: 5- Star Review
Review: I felt that when reading this book it kept me at the edge of my seat. I also would recomend this book to any of my friends. I felt that the chemistry between Austin and Nina was made very obvious. The mystery that this book had was very thrilling. I also think that if the plot in this book was written by any other auther, it probably wouldn't have been as good because Clive gives the story an extra pazaz
Rating: 
Summary: Dissapointment!
Review: Not up to Cussler's other books. It is as if some one else wrote the book (Paul Kemprecos? ) and used Clive's name.
Rating:
Summary: The Author(s) Said It Best.
Review: One of Cussler's (or Kemprecos') characters, in a moment of cheerful self-awareness, refers to "writers of popular semifictional archaelogical claptrap". And that, of course, is exactly what this is. Claptrap may be a little bit harsher than necessary-but this is, after all is said and done, a very light read. It's imaginative while at the same time formulaic and trying to be all things to all people. Cussler's characters are invariably beautiful/handsome, intelligent, rich, skilled (one character is described as being able to fix every kind of engine known to man, as well a practiced pilot-makes one wonder when he finds time to actually work) and canny. But we suspend our disbelief in these perfect people because the adventures they present us with are fun. And as long as you expect no more from this novel, you'll make it to page 470 without muss nor fuss. It won't change your life, but it will provide enjoyment, and hey-it's Clive Cussler.
Rating:
Summary: SATURDAY MATINEE THRILLER
Review: OK... ready? Take a bit of history, some likable characters, several harrowing escapes, and a wee bit of treasure. Mix thoroughly in a chrome cocktail shaker and pour out into about 6 or 7 stemmed glasses. Voila'...you have..."Serpent" (rocks optional) A fast paced, easy reading adventure that gives you something to do while at the beach or pool. (Ya can't stare at those cuties in their bikini's all the time ya know!) Have fun...sit back...and enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: Dirk Pitt poorly cloned
Review: Well, obviously Clive Cussler cares about keeping the worth of his trademarked character, Dirk Pitt, intact. Like Tom Clancy, Cussler has franchised this work out; saving the Dirk Pitt name for himself. Surely, as Cussler realized, this is an inferior piece of work and, as such, didn't merit the Pitt or Giordino names. So, poorly-veiled substitute NUMA heroes (Austin and Zapata, I think, but who cares) are used rather than those which have endeared themselves to us in Cussler's previous works. The plot is somewhat preposterous and the pace is erratic. It shows not one iota of the research and historical accuracy of Cussler's earlier works. The conclusion is obvious: This is not a Clive Cussler work; it is just Clive Cussler's name on the cover!
Rating:
Summary: Not one of Cussler's best
Review: I've read all of Cussler's and this one didn't do it for me. The story line about a brotherhood of killers trying to keep the fact that Columbus didn't discover America didn't work for me.
Rating: 
Summary: Enjoyable
Review: This is only the second Clive Cussler book I've read (the first was "Raise the Titanic!" way back in the 70's). My tastes usually run to weightier fiction, but I found this book surprisingly enjoyable on its own terms. Of course the plot and characters are preposterous, but if you're in the mood for a compulsive page-turner to take to the beach, the gym or on a long flight, this is a good choice. It's cool!
Rating:
Summary: Acceptable potboiler for light reading
Review: Unlike many of the reviewers here, I haven't read anything else by Clive Cussler. I gather that this book is co-authored, so don't know if this novel is typical of Cussler's solo work or not. In any event, I found the book fast-paced and entertaining. It did hold my interest. It is NOT particularly well-written, there are times when a paragraph reads like a list of brand names of scuba or paramilitary equipment, and other times when there is too much clumsy and lengthy descriptive prose. All the major heroes are charismatic, super-competent, calm, and saintly. I almost started laughing out loud when I read the lengthy list of academic degrees, accomplishments and skills one hero had built up by the age of 30, any one of which most of us would be happy to achieve in a working lifetime. The heroes do get hurt and do make mistakes, but never seem to suffer more than inconvenience because of it. I kept expecting someone to cry out: "Zounds! It was only a flesh wound!" As an archeology buff, I will refrain from posting my opinion of the archeology in the book, since Amazon would delete most of the words. I'll just say that if America had been visited by pre-Columbian Old Worlders as frequently as suggested in the book, the major hazard they'd have faced would have been colliding with each other at sea like the Andrea Doria and Stockholm do in this book! Lest this all sound hypercritical, I will say that the book did keep me reading and interested. If I run across others of Cussler's NUMA books, I might even pick them up to read on plane flights and the like....
Rating:
Summary: Different NUMA characters; Same Cussler
Review: I was surprised to read so many dissenting viewpoints regarding this Cussler collaboration. I have read all his books and while I was concerned that Dirk Pitt was not the featured artist, after reading it, I found Kurt Austin a solid replacement. Likewise for Al and Joe. I thought it was a fascinating plot with lots of adventure and excitement. The story leaves you thinking of a number of possibilities regarding the Mayan culture and its earliest visitors from the old world. It was well integrated into today's real world, and is entirely plausible. For a fictional yarn, it still leaves you wandering long after the book is completed. I would recommend a prospective reader of this book to decide for himself if Cussler has done a "Clancy" by collaborating. I hardly think so. I will be looking for his next NUMA file novel.
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