The Solomon Curse

I've enjoyed this series, but this was not one of the better ones. I'm not sure if this is the same cowriter as the others, but this book needed another pass at the editor level.<br /><br />There are a lot of repeated phrases. A particular politician is "one of the good ones" a few times. Someone trying to not show emotion has a face carved of various things, usually granite, sometimes mahogany. One of them jokes about hurting their sacroliliac, which I'm not sure anyone under 60 or so says at this point.<br /><br />Flashlights die for no real reason. The Fargos make such brilliant choices as: There is unrest on the island, let's not stay on the safe boat because it doesn't meet our spoiled expectations. Oh, the unrest is getting worse. Let's go out for lunch. Someone just tried to kill us; let's go chase a robber in the dark, unarmed, alone. The main characters cover up a mass grave so they can go treasure hunting. This is not the Fargos as I've seen them before. <br /><br />The main story involves another unexpected archeological find. There are native legends, an uprising (committed by "the rebel militia" that never gets a name, double crosses, and links to war crimes from World War II. The book ends with a new discovery and another mystery that is never explained. <br /><br />This was a disappointment in the series. If the next one is like this, I will bow out on this one.

Sam and Remi Fargo mystery. Here they follow a trail to mysterious underwater city of long ago. In the Solomon Islands where during WW11 Japanese occupation changed the surviving native's outlook to anything foreign. Legends grew for succeeding generations. They discovered other incredible things too. A slick read.<br />Unputdownable.

Another non stop ACTION thriller featuring the Fargo' s. Kept me interested from start to finish!

Good...but I've read better from this author.

I'm a bit disappointed. I started reading Clive Cussler's Oregon Files and Dirk Pitt and like them both.<br /><br />In The Solomon Curse, the sunken temple exploration with reference to history was the best part of the book. It got me excited! The villain was sort of unexpected however I don't see how it was necessary to have that guy in Sydney in the story. <br /><br />The worst part of the book for me was the conversation that seems unnatural between Sam and Remi including her team. Their jokes aren't even funny. I see that there are great reviews for this book and fans of this series. Too bad I didn't truly enjoy it and wanted to just finish it.<br /><br />

From the time I read Inca Gold, I was hooked on Clive Cussler. I played catch-up with all his books before that one, and then waited impatiently for each book after. However, I was disappointed in The Solomon Curse. Never in any of Cussler's books have people been graphically hacked to death with machetes, or children kidnapped and used for medical experimentation while chained to the wall of a cave. Until this one. Really? This is not classic Cussler. This is not what I waited two months on a library waiting list for. I truly hope this is not a sign of things to come.

This has a different feel to it than most of Cussler’s stories. Instead of Sam &amp; Remy having a fantastic discovery or getting involved in a megalomaniac’s dream to take over or something, it remains quiet and almost too peaceful though the first half. Lulling us into sleep. Even the archaeology part was just background. <br /><br /> Then later when the danger started happening, Sam seemed awfully calm in spite of all the bad stuff going on around him. It’s like he was in denial. I think the Fargo’s are getting too blasé about everything.<br /><br /> Both Leonid and Lazlo were boring with barely any real importance to the story. I knew off the bat who the real bad guy was and who the story’s scape goat was.<br /><br /> And it was a very odd ending. Felt like there should be more chapters. And what happened with the underwater buildings? For being the whole start of the book, they don’t have a very big role in the story. They’re just mentioned now and then as they check up on its progress. Maybe we’ll see them in a future book.<br /><br /> All and all, not as satisfying as it could have been.<br /><br /> Quick Thoughts: 1)You’d think Sam &amp; Remi would have brought their own dive equipment. They’re rich enough. <br /><br /> 2)After all the buildup, does Leonid ever dive?<br /><br /> Fave Scenes: trip to see Nauru, barricading the hospital, following the river clues, Manchester &amp; Rollin’s meeting.<br />

The Sam &amp; Remi Fargo novels are almost cookie-cutter. They get involved in a problem in an inaccessible, out-of-the-way location. They manage to get all of the material and equipment needed to get out of the situation. The prime mover in this series is really Selma, their office/research manager. Selma is able to arrange for anything, including air travel, fully equipped diving and research ships, and ex-Seal security people, on a moments notice, with almost immediate delivery. THE SOLOMOM CURSE is no exception. Set on the island of Guadalcanal, the Fargo's decimate the island rental car fleet in their search for a possible treasure trove. Cussler appears to have made one change in his writing style which I will not elaborate on because it would be a spoiler. Unfortunately, the Fargo series does not match up to Cussler's NUMA series (Dirk Pitt, Kurt Austin &amp; company)or the OREGON series (Juan Cabrillo &amp; company).

The basic Clive Cussler formula:<br /><br />1. Protagonist(s) arrive on scene, rescue someone in distress.<br />2. Protagonist(s) meet foxy lady, either in distress, or involved in rescue.<br />3. Dinner between 1&amp;2<br />4. Problem in the area discovered, usually ecological in nature/plundering the earth. Treasure may or not be involved.<br />5. Bad guys discover protagonist(s) on scene a threat; attempt to get rid of opposition.<br />6. 5 piques interest of protagonist(s); further investigation; further attempts to eliminate.<br />7. Action, adventure, twists and turns.<br />8. Situation resolved/humanity saved/bad guys defeated.

For me I normally give 5 stars for all of Clive Cussler's novels. But with this new author's writing of Russell Blake, I am not overly impressed with.<br /><br />For those who have been on hand at the beginning of the Fargo's adventures, they have always had good bantering amongst themselves, but while I did enjoy the mystery, suspense and action, it just fell a little short for me. I will continue buying all of Clive Cusslers novels, because after reading them for 15 years, you are sort of hooked on the characters that have been established.