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The Emperor's Revenge: A Novel of the Oregon Files

Review

The Emperor's Revenge: A Novel of the Oregon Files

Clive Cussler has been successfully placing thrillers and adventure stories on bestseller lists for many decades. He is at his best when the setting is on the high seas or in the ocean deep. For the past several years, he has shared his author byline with fellow like-minded writers. This brings me to Boyd Morrison. A former actor and “Jeopardy!” champion, Morrison has created some very entertaining novels of his own, including standouts like THE ROSWELL CONSPIRACY and THE LOCH NESS LEGACY.

Following their previous collaboration, PIRANHA, Cussler and Morrison have penned a new entry in theOregon Files series with the release of THE EMPEROR'S REVENGE. The Emperor in question is the legendary Napoleon Bonaparte. The prologue is set in April 1821 at St. Helena, where Lieutenant Pierre Delacroix is searching for a rare artifact. When he finds Napoleon, the exiled leader is shocked to discover that Delacroix's intentions are less about rescue and more about kidnapping with an ulterior motive. It seems that a document stolen from Napoleon during his disastrous invasion of Russia bears the power to potentially bring all of Europe and eventually the world to its knees.

"In typical Clive Cussler fashion, THE EMPEROR’S REVENGE jumps from one exotic locale to another while never lessening in intensity. The characters are interesting, the villains are beyond bad, and it seems that peril exists around every corner."

The present day finds the crew of the supership Oregon, led by Captain Juan Cabrillo, on another mission. Cabrillo is a former CIA agent who has now established his own corporation to do work that the U.S. cannot engage in directly. The latest adversary for the Oregon crew is the ruthless former Ukrainian naval officer Golov. Things kick off with a grand heist masterminded by Golov that involves a driverless car infiltrating the Monaco Grand Prix and wreaking havoc. All this subterfuge is used to distract from Golov's master plan. Credit Condamine, one of the world's biggest financial institutions, was completely wiped out during the fiasco at the Grand Prix. This grand larceny theft has left damage around the globe and even struck at the heart of Cabrillo's corporation.

Cabrillo is forced to deal with an ex-lover, Gretchen, to battle a nefarious villain who has wiped them out financially and has partnered with a renowned hacker known as ShadowFoe, who is capable of destroying any financial institution, individual or corporation. Golov seeks the mysterious and lost document of Napoleon's from St. Helena, which could assure their victory. With financial streams cut off, it is only a matter of time before all levels of existence are impacted --- food, shelter, utilities, etc. --- which could potentially cripple every nation of the world.

In typical Clive Cussler fashion, THE EMPEROR’S REVENGE jumps from one exotic locale to another while never lessening in intensity. The characters are interesting, the villains are beyond bad, and it seems that peril exists around every corner. Cussler, with the assistance of Boyd Morrison, has penned a winning summer thriller that is sure to please fans who have come to expect great things from the Cussler legacy.

Reviewed by Ray Palen on July 8, 2016

The Emperor's Revenge: A Novel of the Oregon Files
by Clive Cussler and Boyd Morrison

  • Publication Date: May 2, 2017
  • Genres: Adventure, Fiction, Suspense, Thriller
  • Paperback: 448 pages
  • Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons
  • ISBN-10: 0735215367
  • ISBN-13: 9780735215368