Date first published	1997
ISBN Number	0 684 81640 7
Page Count	511 h/b
h/b= hardback : p/b= paperback

Storyline

Dirk Pitt, exhausted, has taken up the offer of a cabin retreat to recover from his exertions in defeating the Dorsetts (Shockwave). Now a new mystery awaits him at his holiday destination just outside Seattle.

Aboard an Ocean Liner Ling T'ai, has come to realize that she has made a fundamental error and that this is most likely going to result in her death along with a large number of Oriental illegal immigrant.

The story is set for Dirk to meet with one of his most ruthless adversaries. A man who thinks merely in terms of profit, and treats human lives as an expendable cargo, when they have no further value.

Pitt on returning to his cabin realizes that it has been searched, and more intriguingly that it has also been bugged. Curiosity peaked, he seeks the help of NUMA, and requests some specialist equipment that will allow him to find the secrets of Lake Orion. One that he may wished he had never discovered.

During his search of the Lake and the Chinamans (Qin Shang) secret lair, he inadvertently stumbles across the murder of the Ling T'ai and her companions, and is able to rescue many of them. In retribution Dirk kills the crew responsible for the attempted murders, and also sinks the Chinamans prized yacht.

The story moves on a pace as Dirk and the immigration service work towards finding the route of the illegal immigrants. Suspicion falls on a mysterious seaport built in the middle of Louisiana, which has no connecting services for onward transporting of goods that are delivered to the port.

As the investigation gains momentum, Dirk finds himself involved in a diabolical project to re-route the Mississippi, drowning thousands, but turning the irrelevant seaport into a major port, not only for goods but also for illegal immigrants.

Dirk takes a brief trip to Hong Kong to look at the United States which Qin Shang. An investigation of the ship by Pitt reveals a gutted hull with the ship apparently fully automated. Following his search of the ship Pitt heads back to the States. Unfortunately the Peoples Republic of China have become alarmed at Pitts poking around and send the navy, to stop Pitt once and for all.

Qin Sangs plan is finally thwarted at the 11th hour, in what can only be described as a blood thirsty battle aboard the United States. Having dealt with the plan Dirk turns his attention to dealing with the evil architect, and deals with him eventually in a most fitting manner.

Review

As always with the Pitt novels the book starts with a brief novel, in the past. This books is slightly different in that the initial story does not become the central part of the main story. The prologue is in fact the lure to the final epic meeting between Pitt and Shang. This does not detract from the story, as the prologue does not fit in with the main story at all. Unlike previous stories this is not a simple hunt for treasure, but a straight good v evil story.

Again Pitt is against a man greedy for money and power. Shang has no qualms about killing off the people he is transporting into the States. Some of whom are entering a life of slavery. Pitt besides his ever dependable friend Al also has the hot headed INS agent Julia Lee. Who has the knack of getting into some very dubious situations, from which she has little chance of escaping.

From the way the book is written Cusslers revulsion at this inhuman trade comes through clearly, and it comes as a relief when Pitt finally puts an end to the Shang dynasty.

The book is one of Cusslers better novels, it has an innovative theme, and is not so much about saving the world, as tackling one of the nastier traits of human nature.

Once again the low point (for me) is the inclusion of Cussler as one of the characters. This is a constant irritation that annoys me intensely. However this seems to be quite popular among some fans (possibly his American fans) who seem to think the idea indearing. Having got that off my chest, it is a minor niggle, within a book that is well up to standard. There is less reliance on the main characters. Most of the main characters appear in the book, but are mainly bit players in the story. Even Al has less to do in this story, but the novel isstronger for that, and adds a little bit of diversity, which a serial such as this needs.

A very good read, with strong characters, some rip roaring adventure, and less fancy theoretical technology which can date the books.

Previous	Index	Next