Date first published	1986
ISBN Number	0 7221 2756 1
Page Count	500 p/b
h/b= hardback : p/b= paperback

Storyline

Raymond LeBaron a highly successful business mogul, if somewhat disliked, disappears on a treasure hunt. Pitt unwittingly swims into this adventure when the blimp on which LeBaron disappeared on suddenly appears. Pitt narrowly prevents a disaster when the uncontrolled blimp heads for a crowded beach.

Pitt is reluctantly drawn into a search for LeBaron. Whilst flying off the coast of Cuba the Blimp is shot down, and Pitt and his motley crew accidentally stumble onto the Soviets most sensitive base, where he meets an old acquaintance from Night Probe.

Matters are running ahead, as the President is approached on the golf course and told about the Jersey project. The project is nearly complete, but is in danager of being destroyed by the Russians. The President incredulous that such a project could take place without government knowledge sets up a covert investigation to find out who is behind the project, and have them rounded up.

Pitt after having enjoyed the hospitality (sic) of the Russians manages to escape back to the states in a most unconventional craft. He eventually leads back a team of Cuban exiles to destroy the base and recue his friends. Whilst returning from the destroyed base he is taken hostage by Mrs LeBaron and taken on a detour to Cuba. Here he helps prevent the Soviet overthrow of the Castros, and nearly prevents a devastating holocaust in Havana.

Pitt finally rescues the treasure, and learns the dark secret behind Raymond LeBarons early fortune.

Review

The story is more like a James Bond novel, with Pitt diving headlong into danger at every turn. His encounter with the Russians is anything but friendly, and he is lucky to survive his meetings with his interrogator.

The plot lines concerning the Castros, and the reconciliation with the USA is intriguing, especially as the Socialist Republic has outlived its ideological masters. The plot concerning the Jersey Colony is one of Cusslers attempts to peer into the future, and has still not been achieved. The story was written when space travel, and interest in space travel was still of great interest.

Russia attempts to overthrow the Castro administration and return there own puppet government is interesting, and give Pitt that bit extra to do to save the world (well Cuba at any rate). The story concerning Ira Hagen, adds an interesting extra dimension, and fills in a lot of detail about the men and money behind the Jersey Colony.

I have to admit that when I re-read Night Probe I thought I remembered an all out battle with the leading thug, and was somewhat dismayed that I remembered it incorrectly. It was a pleasant surprise to find that the fight is actually in this story, and was much as I remember it.

Parts of the story stretch reality to the limits - especially the blimp flying on the edges of a hurricane, but it is a fast paced enjoyable romp, with Cussler on top form.

Having started to read again all of the novels, it is amazing how closely they are all connected, with several referrals to previous stories. It is even more amazing that to date Cussler has not written a really bad story, which is quite a feat (I include those stories written since this book was first published)

A good story, but read Night Probe first to get a feeling for Pitt's personal adversary.

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