A review by fleurette
Poseidon's Arrow by Clive Cussler, Dirk Cussler

3.0

This is my third book by Clive Cussler which I have read recently and so far the weakest. Either I was not in the mood at all or it lacked some unique magic that is in the other books of this author and which allows you to fully appreciate the total lack of probability of the whole story and enjoy entertainment.

I can't believe I'm saying that but when it comes to the plotline, I think I preferred the global Nazi plot using the technology of the long gone Atlantis in Atlantis Found. Although completely unbelievable, it has at least something new and unique in it. And this is probably my biggest problem with this story. There is nothing unique about it. It resembles hundreds of other books of this genre. A conspiracy of one man whose motives are not very interesting. The secret weapon of Americans that the Chinese want to acquire (for a change from the Russians, but this is also nothing we have not heard of before). Nothing special. There is no interesting secret to discover here. It is just okay.

Another minor thing that annoyed me at times, but which did not affect my rating of this book, is the role of women, mostly Summer, Pitt's daughter. I rarely pay attention to such things in my books, but this time somehow I did. Why can't Summer do the same things as her twin brother Dirk? That is, to be in the center of events, to attack people with weapons, fight and so on. Why is it her who has to be saved, why it is her who is left to dress the wounded? Why it is Dirk who have an idea what to do next and she just is waiting there for his instructions? She is not a weak heroine, but in my opinion a bit omitted in this story about adventurous men. It's a pity.

This is not a bad book, just not the best in this series for me. I will probably read other books by this author. I hope they will be better.