Book Review: Fire Ice

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Fire Ice     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Clive Cussler , Paul Kemprecos
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Thriller   Government Agency   Present Day Science Based
Series: NUMA Files # 3
Putnam, Jun 2002, $26.95, 384 pp.

Off the New England coast, a retired oceanographer turned fisherman recognizes the noise as a deadly tidal wave. He calls the police from the sea and averts a major catastrophe.

In the Aegean Sea, Captain Joe Logan takes visiting marine archeologist Dr. Pulaski underwater in a special sub. However, instead of scientific research Pulaski takes control of the sub waiting for a "pick-up".

A TV crew visits an abandoned Soviet sub base only to be attacked by Cossack warriors on horses. Only the intervention of National Underwater and Marine Agency scientist Kurt Austin saves their lives.

What these events have in common is Mikhail Razov and Boris the monk are behind each incident as they get ready for a Cossack holy war to take over Russia reminiscent of a modern day Czar with his Rasputin. They also expect to destroy the infidels starting with the United States. Only Austin and his old Soviet counterpart Victor Petrov stand in their way of succeeding.

As with all the NUMA tales, FIRE ICE is non-stop action that readers will dive into in one sitting. The exciting story line never slows down even for a paragraph as one event leads to another in Petrov’s efforts to become the first Czar of Russia in nine decades. Austin remains the heroic genius that he was in previous books and the villains are an interesting duet. Clive Cussler and Paul Kemprecos furbishes a strong entry in one of the better action series.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner