Celtic Empire

A Pharaonic princess flees a plague-filled Egypt with the disease’s cure, a genetically modified version of the plague appears across the globe in the 21st century and the cure appears to be in Ireland. Celtic Empire is the twenty-fifth of the Dirk Pitt series, the eighth co-written by Dirk Cussler and the last by creator Clive Cussler.

In their last collaboration the Cussler’s once again brought together a fun narrative, but the quality especially the antagonists was a bit lacking representing step down from the previous installment. The main antagonist’s execution of deploying her gendercide plan was sound, however how she was able to get the genetically modified virus in the first place with all the males in the laboratory where show more it was created and how she hid her plan from her own daughter that she sent on missions to further it were problematic. The hint of the Biblical Exodus in the prologue and connecting it with the various versions of Irish/Scottish legends of Queen Scota was interesting, but that ancient subplot was a tad underwhelming compared to previous books. A final annoyance was Dirk Jr. continual “borrowing” of vehicles that he essentially destroys when in chases.

Celtic Empire is the typically average Dirk Pitt book, which given this was Clive Cussler’s last seems about right. show less

This is certainly one of the best recent Dirk Pitt adventures. The action was nonstop. The characters are believable and intriguing in different ways. The plot was multifaceted and starred all of Cussler's familiar regulars including Dirk Pitt, Sr., Al Giordino, Pitt Jr., daughter Summer, wife Loren, and other NUMA personnel.
The book tied together a plot determined to wipe out the male race using Egyptian medical secrets. The scenery changed frequently and covered El Salvador, Ireland, Egypt, Scotland, and the US.
Highly entertaining for Pitt fans!

Celtic Empire (2019) by Clive and Dirk Cussler. This is yet another typical Dirk Pitt adventure, that is to say, fast paced, exciting adventures, daring rescues, fantastic perils, saving the human race, etc., etc. In short, this is much like any other Dirk Pitt/NUMA story of the past twenty years.
I couldn’t put it down.
An evil biochemical development company is using saving the world’s water supplies as an undercover method of introducing a world changing chemical mixture into the Earth’s major cities water resources. Leaping from continent to continent and touching on locations such as Detroit, Egypt, Loch Ness and the Upper Nile tombs of the Pharoahs, Celtic Empire shows us once again that the Mister Cusslers have not lost a show more step in the thriller business.
While this may not be the best of the Cussler novels, it is going to make many readers get more sun than they wanted while shooting through these pages. Bring lost of sun block with you if you plan on reading this at the beach or pool side. show less

And so it ends. I think I enjoyed the book more and rated it more highly knowing it was the last of the series, although I guess Dirk Cussler could easily continue it, given that he's been the co-author on these books for years now. But for now, it's over and it's time for me to move on to other books.

Plotwise, there are a lot of threads that feel familiar, but there are only so many different ancient civilizations you can dig up treasures for--and I'm pretty sure Cussler hit them all. This time around, an ancient Egyptian princess apparently made it to Celtic Ireland somehow. A mummy is stolen, bioengineered bacteria try to take over the world, someone is taking militant feminism to an extreme, and wacky (destructive) highjinks show more ensue.

It's Dirk Pitt in a nutshell and it's not a bad book at all for what it is. A good end. show less

action-adventure, sly-humor, Egypt, Ireland, Scotland, diabolical-villain *****

I always come to a Cussler book for the history and sly humor but stay for the action/adventure! The entwining plots revolving around each Dirk come together with a bang, and the journey was sooooo worth it. The publisher's blurb is adequate for a teaser, so the only spoiler I'll give is that the dachshund is important.
I'm glad that Scott Brick continues to narrate the Cussler books.

Yes, OK, the Cusslers write formulaic books: exotic locales and cars, murderous villians, ancient history impacting the modern world, action on or under the high seas. In this one, a waterborne bacteria is being systematically released into sources in several countries around the world. Dirk Pitt Sr. and Al rescue a scientist in El Salvador, where children are dying and Dirk Jr. and Summer rescue an archaeologist in Egypt when they are attacked by tomb raiders, who steal a mummy. Of course, the two stories run together, and it takes Hiram's supercomputer to tie together death of male heirs to the Pharoah in 1350 B.C. to El Salvador and a marine "accident" in Detroit where a firm with bioengineered bacteria is hired to clean the oil show more spill. Readers quickly lose track of how many vehicles Dirk Jr. destroys and how many times our heroes narrowly escape death. show less

What a fascinating archeological connection between Egypt and Ireland!

When genetically engineered waterborne bacteria was released into water sources in several countries, it's up to Dirk Pitt, his family, and NUMA to find the cure to save the other half of mankind. I thoroughly enjoyed this adventure.

I was confused who's who in some parts when Dirk meets Dirk. Also at the end, I think the villains went down a bit too easy.