Lost Empire

Fast moving pace, great characters, good story! Always look forward to the next novel. Keep them coming.

This being the 2nd in the Fargo Series, it was very good, lots of action and a little fun with history. I am looking forward to the next book in this series

LOST EMPIRE is the latest novel featuring treasure-hunting couple Sam and Remi Fargo, who are on a scuba-diving holiday off the coast of Tanzania, where they find a coin with unusual markings. Nearby, while seeking its origins, they discover yet a more exciting relic --- a ship's bell inscribed with numerous strange markings --- and send images of the bell to their research team back in California for identification. Selma Wondrash heads the team that will search for answers and set off a vast hunt for the ancient origins of a modern civilization. In far-off Mexico City, Quauhtil Garza sits as President of Mexico and head of his Mexican Tenochca party. He's been swept into power on the promise of restoring Mexico's heritage as an Aztec nation, a return to its rich historical past. However, his campaign is successful primarily due to the previous administration's incompetence and corruption. He has renounced his Christian name in favor of the Nahautl one, a symbol of embracing his Aztec heritage, and will stop at nothing to retain the illusion of a return to historical roots, while in fact he seeks absolute power. He employs a six-foot menace in the form of Itzli Rivera to sustain his powerful regime. A military-trained soldier, Rivera is commissioned to squelch any effort that may be made to solve the mysterious disappearance of Mexico's early Aztec civilization. For a decade, Rivera has been successful in burying any archaeological discovery that would diminish the lofty standing of his president's heritage. Rivera rushes to Tanzania when a telecast of the Fargos' discovery threatens that further research will unearth the Aztec mystery. When the Fargos return to the area where they have lifted the ship's bell, they are stopped by Tanzanian authorities who question their reasons for diving in the area. A shadowy figure on the government yacht is obviously behind the harassment. Sam and Remi resolve to locate the position of whatever sunken ship is home to the bell they've found. The word "Ophelia" is inscribed in the bell, along with unusual scripts and notations that could be mathematical in nature. Selma leads the search through archives to the discovery that the ship is likely a Civil War vessel, formerly christened the Shenandoah, that was originally used by the southern Confederacy as a blockade-runner. De-commissioned, it was sold to a wealthy Mid-Eastern sultan and re-named several times. The Fargos travel to a remote museum that houses the research of Winston Lloyd Blaylock. The man had lived in Africa many years, contracted malaria and disappeared into a jungle on a curious quest. Uncovering his journal, the Fargos wind deeper into the mystery that both eluded Blaylock and the present-day Mexican mercenaries who seem bent on ending Sam and Remi's journey --- with death. True to his research style, Clive Cussler writes extensive detail into his story. We read about construction of Civil War vessels, with particulars about the ships th

You pretty much know what you are going to get when you read a Cussler, no matter what series the book belongs to. I particularly am enjoying this new series featuring the Fargos. I really like the historical tie-ins. They feature lots of puzzles and mystery built in. These books may not be great Literature, but they serve their purpose of allowing one to live vicariously through the crazy expoits of others. Buckle up for a great ride! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and an looking forward to many more adventures with Sam and Remi.