Nighthawk

Even Pauline in her Perils never faced as many close calls as does the NUMA team when it goes looking for a missing NSA spacecraft. The Russians and the Chinese are first among their enemies in the race to recover the payload harvested by the Nighthawk. The good characters, an always fast-paced and exciting storyline with a fillip of technology for flavoring Cussler's NUMA books stay a favorite series.

NIGHTHAWK by Clive Cussler, with Graham Brown, is yet another in a long line of superlative thrillers. This is a NUMA files action story starring Kurt Austin and Joe Zavala. The NSA has a super secret space craft, the X-37, coming back to Earth after three years. But upon reentry it is hijacked by the Russians, but then lost by them. The Chinese are sending a fleet toward South American waters to recover the craft, the Russians are likewise sending craft to the area, but Numa is tasked with finding and recovering the secret ship, and it's highly prized mystery cargo, before anyone else can get to it.
As always, both Austin and Zavala face danger and intrigue along the way. Beautiful, dangerous women both aid and attack our heroes, but show more nothing, not even death, can daunt these two on their mission.
Once again Mr. Cussler gives us a solid story, great characters, nice historical setting, and action, action, action. It is difficult to fault this entry to the series as it delivers on so many levels. Some may argue that this is a story straight from the cookie-cutter mold, but no one can say that Mr. Cussler's cookies aren't both wonderful and delicious.
I highly recommend this or any of the Cussler novels, and you can't go wrong by reading his nonfiction work either. show less

A fun techno-adventure novel that I enjoyed a great deal. A top secret CIA mission from space is returning (Nighthawk) and the control system starts having issues. They are certain it landed somewhere, but they need to get to it before anyone else. And a CIA agent is assigned to Kurt's tail watching his every move. Is there something she is not telling him and his team? The humor had me laughing out loud in several spots. The banter between the characters is great. The "Mole" situation was my favorite humorous moment (you will know it when you see it). Several twists I did not expect (which is a good thing). The language was clean and in short a fun read and well worth one's time if they enjoy adventure novels with fun characters, show more interesting setting (I guessed wrong on what the Nighthawk was actually carrying), and several other twists along the way. I am looking forward to the next NUMA book. show less

Nighthawk, Clive Cussler, author; Scott Brick, narrator
Centuries ago, in South America, the Incas were wiped out by a disease brought to them by outsiders. Now, hundreds of years later, an object that has been quietly orbiting the earth, for three years, is returning to this same area. As it descends, there is an error in its computer system, and it fails to follow the planned program for its landing. It disappears, crashing into an unknown location. The object contains a weapon of mass destruction that can cause death and devastation on a scale never seen before, It is, therefore, imperative that it is retrieved and neutralized as soon as possible or this same area will be wiped out again. The weapon may not stay stable.
This show more experimental vehicle is called Nighthawk. Experts from NUMA and NSA have been dispatched to find and retrieve it safely, before it can do great harm to civilization and the world. Few people know the real danger that is out there from this spacecraft, not even those looking for it. The Nighthawk is carrying a very dangerous cargo, a cargo that Russia and China are aware of and also want to possess. It is a secret weapon that has been developed in space which is the worst weapon of destruction to yet exist. The country in control would become the most powerful because it could bring about Armageddon. Behind the scenes, a madman is plotting just that.
While the book is exciting, there is almost too much intrigue as everything that can go wrong does go wrong. Often, the characters, all of whom are exceptionally bright, seem woefully naïve and trusting and are easily duped. Still, just in the nick of time, they usually save the day.
The novel is a thriller and it is narrated well by Scott Brick as all his narrations are excellent. However, the book itself stretches credulity at times and forces the reader to suspend disbelief.
Will Kurt Austin and his cohorts be able to save the world from the danger that is out there? Should America have ever conducted the experiments that created this danger? Will these questions be answered? show less

: action-adventure, addictive-series, suspense

No matter which series or who co authors with him, you can always count on a wild ride with Clive Cussler! This is no exception. All too timely and tied to historical reality, it goes from genocide by disease with Pizarro to extreme extortion involving the usual international suspects. Incredible suspense and fine detail are worked in very deftly, and the characters are engaging and intriguing as well. Loved it!!!
Scott Brick gives his usual stellar performance.

Cussler is a master of action novels, and although I've just read a handful so far, all have been quite entertaining. This book is a spin-off from his popular Dirk Pitt series (of which I wished my library had the first 20 or so novels in the series but they only have the last few) and involves an American experimental space craft that mysteriously loses control on re-entry and vanishes somewhere near the coast of Peru. The NSA and NUMA are dispatched to try to recover it, but the Russians and Chinese are likewise headed to the area to try and retrieve the ship for themselves. Those in the know are unusually certain the ship is intact...

Thus sets the stage for action and intrigue as the three superpowers vie to recover the vessel. show more There's a reason all sides are willing to use deadly force...at stake is a potential weapon of unmatched destructive capability -- but securing it could doom the human race! Add into the mix a Peruvian who thinks his technologically meek should inherit the earth and you wind up with 3 superpowers being played by a puppeteer. Fortunately, our heroes at NUMA are up to the task. show less

Nighthawk: NUMA Files by Clive Cussler is a great adventure involving the United States, Russia, and China and a rogue brilliant ex-agent. The author, Clive Cussler has tremendous knowledge about weaponry, cars, planes and boats and uses this knowledge in an intriguing caper from the beginning of the book until the last page. He always infuses comedy with his charming characters wit. The book is highly recommended and thus received five stars in this review.