Clive Cussler's Fire Strike

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I would recommend reading any one of the dozen novels in the Oregon Files series before Fire Strike. As expected, the heroic lead character Juan Cabrillo and his familiar loyal and brave crew members are present to provide the exciting action. A mad scientist-style villain with genetic engineering is at the center of Fire Strike but there are other parallel subplots. While the prior books focused on the ship, its crew and their clandestine operations, this one spends little time on the ship, little time developing the character of the crew, and was not engaging.

What drew me to The Oregon Files and made it my Clive Cussler favorite series are the ship and her crew. That would have been pretty crazy, to be on an aircraft carrier and watching a C-130 coming in to not only land but take off multiple times with its payload being increased for the next time it landed. This story had the added pressure of trying to find a hypersonic missile which was stolen from India. The characters feel developed out and we worry for them, even when we sense that they are in danger.The book did have a lot of humor scattered throughout; I remember laughing at times while reading, but I do not remember what I found funny. Another story line is our following of the lead doctor ventured into the jungle to locate a friend of hers to deliver pharmaceuticals to her project involving native people. And then you had the "mobile attack group" attacking a camp "filled" with these enhanced soldiers and the camp is easily taken out with zero casualties to the Oregon's team(s). Apparently, it was just intended to show the reader how bad the bad guys are without the situation being necessary for the plot.

When Juan Cabrillo, captain of the Oregon , is hired to extract an undercover operative in Kenya, he finds himself on the trail of a deadly international plot. The author, Mike Maden did a very good job in writing this novel in the true style of the deceased Cussler. As I said before in my previous book review, a LOVE BOAT is the last thing I want when reading this series. I've enjoyed reading the series to this point, but unfortunately, I'll have to discontinue the series is just "high-stakes action" all the time. I think I've said this numerous times regarding these Clive Cussler originated books, but they're all good easy reading.Hard to believe that this book flies under Clive Cussler's banner, and that it has such a high rating on Goodreads. Maden has served as a political consultant and campaign manager in state and national elections, and hosted his own local weekly radio show. Juan Carrillo and his team of high paid mercenaries are tasked to find the missing brother of an associate that has been reported serving time in an overseas high security prison. Juan Cabrillo is doing a favor for the CIA by tracking down the brother of a formerly high ranking Israeli agent. Juan Cabrillo and his gang, the Corporation on their super-ship, the Oregon are back at adventures again.

It was sad to read about the damage done to the port as I can only assume numerous innocent civilians and military personnel going about their normal business were killed, but it was still a cool moment.The Oregon is not only a vessel but is a main character, an extension of every great character on board. My only issue with the story is that Maden did not place the ship Oregon in the center of the action. Like millions of others, I first became a Tom Clancy fan after reading The Hunt for Red October, and began my published fiction career in the same techno-thriller genre, starting with DRONE and the sequels, BLUE WARRIOR, DRONE COMMAND and DRONE THREAT. I also liked how Juan used one of the stolen missiles to take out the other stolen missile (hidden onboard a cargo vessel in an Iranian port. I felt that the author took Cabrillo to an unbelievable "level" of survivability in this book and it took me out of the moment.