I haven't enjoyed all of Clive Cussler's books, but this one is great! I started reading this author when I lived in Arizona and while visiting a local library found out that he lived only a few miles from me. Hey, I figured I needed to see if my neighbor was indeed a great writer and have only been disappointed in a few of his books. Inca Gold, so far, is definitely my favorite of his books.

Cussler's hero, Dirk Pitt, is once again chasing the bad guys with his best friend Al Giordino. This chase takes us through the Amazon jungles and through parts of Mexico without letting the reader stop to catch his breath. It starts out with an anthropological exploration at a water hole in the Andes and when the group finds themselves in trouble, Dirk and Al are sent to the rescue (amazing how the two of them can get involved in trouble just by trying to be nice guys!). The rescue throws them into the middle of an international smuggling ring in search of the golden chain of Huascar (an Inca treasure hidden for years - is it really myth or fact, Cussler won't let on).

Just when you think you've helped Dirk and Al out of a jamb, Cussler throws the next bit of action at them. I don't think he left anything out of this book, as it included an earthquake, a tsunami, the rescue at the beginning that I mentioned, hand-to-hand fighting, and a fantastic raft trip down an underground river filled with rapids. The underground river trip was one of my favorite parts and I re-read that portion a couple of times just because it was so intense and vivid!

Cussler always throws a bit of historical fact into his books along with his fictional accounts to make a most interesting combination. One thing that I don't like is the endless details he feels are necessary to his story. Now if they were pertaining to an exciting event instead of background I would feel differently about it but the facts are not exclusive to either. Another Cussler trademark in his stories is to include himself in a bit part - like a passing through town type person. You never know when the author will show up in the story and it's kinda fun to figure it out (but it's so sporadic that it's almost impossible to predict!).

This was one of my favorite Clive Cussler novels and I wish his later books were this much fun to read!






Recommended: Yes