Sunday, March 16, 2014

Night Probe! - Clive Cussler (Audiobook)

Audiobook Reader:  Michael Pritchard
Books on Tape, 1993
Originally published by Bantam Books, 1981
Listened to February 2013, at age 34
First time listened to, never read

This is the sixth book in the “Dirk Pitt” series of novels. 

Publisher’s summary via Books On Tape:

A long lost secret treaty between the U.S. and Britain that gave Canada to the United States disappeared in 1914 when two couriers died in a watery grave, taking with them the only copies. It was soon forgotten. A 1989 international crisis brings it back to mind and Dirk Pitt is called upon to rescue the document. For an energy-starved, economically-devastated America, the document is worth billions. To Great Britain, it's worth war. Pitt's quest plunges him into an explosive confrontation with Britain's most cunning secret agent. It also plunges him into the throes of a torrid love triangle. 

Overall:
Well… after a pretty strong entry into the Dirk Pitt library with Vixen 03, Night Probe falls off a bit.  It wasn't BAD, but it also wasn't good.  It felt fragmented, and the whole setup seemed a stretch.  Once Dirk Pitt made his entrance, about 5 hours into the story, the book picked up and went along reasonably well.  Until then, it was a clumsy, convoluted way of making Quebeckers into the villains, and uniting Canada and the US seem like a reasonable thing to do.

The characters were reasonably well described.  Still pretty broad strokes, but reasonable.  There was even a competent woman character, although, despite her competence, most of the comments made to her, and descriptions of her, focused on looks, not ability.  Still, it’s getting better.

The biggest complaint that I have is that the book is still very over-written.  There are just too many words for the ideas, especially in the dialogue, but in the description as well.

This was another competent read by Michael Prichard – nothing fancy, but gets the job done.

Rating: 3

Other Opinions:

Not much out there.  If you know of another, let me know!

Not a fan


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