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Oregon Files #3
Dark Watch
The author of the bestselling NUMA and Dirk Pitt series returns with an all-new novel of adventure and intrigue featuring his unbeatable hero of the high seas-Juan Cabrillo.
Cabrillo and his motley crew aboard the clandestine spy ship Oregon have made a very comfortable and very dangerous living working for high-powered Western interests. But their newest clients have come from the Far East to ask for Cabrillo's special brand of assistance: a consortium of Japanese shipping magnates whose fortunes are being threatened by brutal pirates trolling the waters of Southeast Asia.
Normally, such attacks on the high seas are limited to smaller ships and foreign-owned yachts-easy targets on the open ocean. Now, however, giant commercial freighters are disappearing. But when Cabrillo confronts the enemy, he learns that the pirates' predations hide a deadly international conspiracy-a scheme of death and slavery that Juan Cabrillo is going to blow out of the water.
Cabrillo and his motley crew aboard the clandestine spy ship Oregon have made a very comfortable and very dangerous living working for high-powered Western interests. But their newest clients have come from the Far East to ask for Cabrillo's special brand of assistance: a consortium of Japanese shipping magnates whose fortunes are being threatened by brutal pirates trolling the waters of Southeast Asia.
Normally, such attacks on the high seas are limited to smaller ships and foreign-owned yachts-easy targets on the open ocean. Now, however, giant commercial freighters are disappearing. But when Cabrillo confronts the enemy, he learns that the pirates' predations hide a deadly international conspiracy-a scheme of death and slavery that Juan Cabrillo is going to blow out of the water.
357 pages, Paperback
First published October 31, 2005
887 people are currently reading
3388 people want to read
About the author
Clive Cussler
643 books8,516 followersCussler began writing novels in 1965 and published his first work featuring his continuous series hero, Dirk Pitt, in 1973. His first non-fiction, The Sea Hunters, was released in 1996. The Board of Governors of the Maritime College, State University of New York, considered The Sea Hunters in lieu of a Ph.D. thesis and awarded Cussler a Doctor of Letters degree in May, 1997. It was the first time since the College was founded in 1874 that such a degree was bestowed.
Cussler was an internationally recognized authority on shipwrecks and the founder of the National Underwater and Marine Agency, (NUMA) a 501C3 non-profit organization (named after the fictional Federal agency in his novels) that dedicates itself to preserving American maritime and naval history. He and his crew of marine experts and NUMA volunteers discovered more than 60 historically significant underwater wreck sites including the first submarine to sink a ship in battle, the Confederacy's Hunley, and its victim, the Union's Housatonic; the U-20, the U-boat that sank the Lusitania; the Cumberland, which was sunk by the famous ironclad, Merrimack; the renowned Confederate raider Florida; the Navy airship, Akron, the Republic of Texas Navy warship, Zavala, found under a parking lot in Galveston, and the Carpathia, which sank almost six years to-the-day after plucking Titanic's survivors from the sea.
In addition to being the Chairman of NUMA, Cussler was also a fellow in both the Explorers Club of New York and the Royal Geographic Society in London. He was honored with the Lowell Thomas Award for outstanding underwater exploration.
Cussler's books have been published in more than 40 languages in more than 100 countries. His past international bestsellers include Pacific Vortex, Mediterranean Caper, Iceberg, Raise the Titanic, Vixen 03, Night Probe, Deep Six, Cyclops, Treasure, Dragon, Sahara, Inca Gold, Shock Wave, Flood Tide, Atlantis Found, Valhalla Rising, Trojan Odyssey and Black Wind (this last with his son, Dirk Cussler); the nonfiction books The Sea Hunters, The Sea Hunters II and Clive Cussler and Dirk Pitt Revealed; the NUMA® Files novels Serpent, Blue Gold, Fire Ice, White Death and Lost City (written with Paul Kemprecos); and the Oregon Files novels Sacred Stone and Golden Buddha (written with Craig Dirgo) and Dark Watch (written with Jack Du Brul).
Clive Cussler died at his home in Scottsdale, Arizona on February 24, 2020.
Cussler was an internationally recognized authority on shipwrecks and the founder of the National Underwater and Marine Agency, (NUMA) a 501C3 non-profit organization (named after the fictional Federal agency in his novels) that dedicates itself to preserving American maritime and naval history. He and his crew of marine experts and NUMA volunteers discovered more than 60 historically significant underwater wreck sites including the first submarine to sink a ship in battle, the Confederacy's Hunley, and its victim, the Union's Housatonic; the U-20, the U-boat that sank the Lusitania; the Cumberland, which was sunk by the famous ironclad, Merrimack; the renowned Confederate raider Florida; the Navy airship, Akron, the Republic of Texas Navy warship, Zavala, found under a parking lot in Galveston, and the Carpathia, which sank almost six years to-the-day after plucking Titanic's survivors from the sea.
In addition to being the Chairman of NUMA, Cussler was also a fellow in both the Explorers Club of New York and the Royal Geographic Society in London. He was honored with the Lowell Thomas Award for outstanding underwater exploration.
Cussler's books have been published in more than 40 languages in more than 100 countries. His past international bestsellers include Pacific Vortex, Mediterranean Caper, Iceberg, Raise the Titanic, Vixen 03, Night Probe, Deep Six, Cyclops, Treasure, Dragon, Sahara, Inca Gold, Shock Wave, Flood Tide, Atlantis Found, Valhalla Rising, Trojan Odyssey and Black Wind (this last with his son, Dirk Cussler); the nonfiction books The Sea Hunters, The Sea Hunters II and Clive Cussler and Dirk Pitt Revealed; the NUMA® Files novels Serpent, Blue Gold, Fire Ice, White Death and Lost City (written with Paul Kemprecos); and the Oregon Files novels Sacred Stone and Golden Buddha (written with Craig Dirgo) and Dark Watch (written with Jack Du Brul).
Clive Cussler died at his home in Scottsdale, Arizona on February 24, 2020.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 328 reviews
February 14, 2021
Book 3 in the Oregon Files series published 2005.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
This remark is about to tell you just how long my memory is, as for me, this book felt like ‘Mission Impossible’ meets the ‘A Team’, a mission so impossible that only the A Team could succeed. People of my vintage will understand exactly of what I speak.
Juan Carbrillo and his team of, lets face it, mercenaries are, once again, taking the fight to the bad guys. This time round these bad guys are nothing more than human effluent. The mission is to put a stop to some very violent high sea piracy that has been happening in the Sea of Japan. But as things progress Juan soon realises that the piracy problem is only the tip of the iceberg. The real problem is people smuggling which in turn is a disguise for human slavery.
This is a very slick thriller/adventure story that wraps itself around some very confronting and real issues. This might be a work of fiction but there is enough evidence around to support the reality of human slavery in the 21st century, hard to believe but true none the less.
I gave the book 3.5 stars not because it didn’t entertain but because I felt that the subject of slavery is too important for this Mission Impossible type of approach.
At the same time I have to congratulate the author ‘Clive Cussler’ for putting a spotlight on is disgraceful reality.
A slick entertaining thriller/adventure that come with a reality check.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
This remark is about to tell you just how long my memory is, as for me, this book felt like ‘Mission Impossible’ meets the ‘A Team’, a mission so impossible that only the A Team could succeed. People of my vintage will understand exactly of what I speak.
Juan Carbrillo and his team of, lets face it, mercenaries are, once again, taking the fight to the bad guys. This time round these bad guys are nothing more than human effluent. The mission is to put a stop to some very violent high sea piracy that has been happening in the Sea of Japan. But as things progress Juan soon realises that the piracy problem is only the tip of the iceberg. The real problem is people smuggling which in turn is a disguise for human slavery.
This is a very slick thriller/adventure story that wraps itself around some very confronting and real issues. This might be a work of fiction but there is enough evidence around to support the reality of human slavery in the 21st century, hard to believe but true none the less.
I gave the book 3.5 stars not because it didn’t entertain but because I felt that the subject of slavery is too important for this Mission Impossible type of approach.
At the same time I have to congratulate the author ‘Clive Cussler’ for putting a spotlight on is disgraceful reality.
A slick entertaining thriller/adventure that come with a reality check.
May 19, 2019
Another wonderful adventure of Clive Cussler's Juan Cabrillo series. I just love reading them. Unputdownable
June 29, 2019
I started reading this book and the first couple chapters my eyes glazed over and my mind numbed and I am thinking I can NOT read this book. Well I kept plugging along and it twas a good thing :) The story really developed into something strong. Great ending :)
September 1, 2011
Dark Watch, one of the Oregon Files novels, is pretty much what you expect from the cover. Clive Cussler's books are a general type - adventure happens, horrible bad guys do horrible things, upstanding good guys (usually Juan Cabrillo and his crew) do good and risky things to stop them, a few capers are put on with interesting misdirection, and by the end of the book the bad guys have been put in their place and the righteous have prevailed, and usually, made a profit as well.
If you haven't read the books of the Oregon Files, they're about a ship full of good-guy secret agents who have retired from government service (usually American, but sometimes another allied country) and do freelance jobs for the government when there's something that needs to be done under the table, as it were.
I'm not sure how much of these books are written by Clive Cussler and how much by Jack du Brul, but they read pretty similarly to when Mr. Cussler was writing them solo, and I recommend these to a fan of the old books who aren't sure of the collaborations he does.
Honestly, why isn't there a GURPS Cussler, I don't know. :)
If you haven't read the books of the Oregon Files, they're about a ship full of good-guy secret agents who have retired from government service (usually American, but sometimes another allied country) and do freelance jobs for the government when there's something that needs to be done under the table, as it were.
I'm not sure how much of these books are written by Clive Cussler and how much by Jack du Brul, but they read pretty similarly to when Mr. Cussler was writing them solo, and I recommend these to a fan of the old books who aren't sure of the collaborations he does.
Honestly, why isn't there a GURPS Cussler, I don't know. :)
April 29, 2020
4.5 stars, after the second book is questioning whether or not to continue the series, but so glad I did. Such a great story!
September 9, 2020
Good stuff, very short.
January 14, 2017
Borrowed from my dad. So not my thing. Made it through to the end, but didn't enjoy it at all.
The biggest thing that bothered me is that the women were just window dressing or plot devices, and there were a few really terrible lines thrown in for good measure. One line about how in his younger CIA days, Juan slept with a Russian operative, not to get information from her because she was too low level for that, but because it made him feel like James Bond. Gross. And another line about how one of the guys that work for him didn't have much luck with women, "if one overlooked the occasional Goth girl he hooked up with. But a girl with more piercings than a pincushion and who was impressed with a guy who could catch air on a skateboard half-pipe wasn't much of a catch..." So Juan doesn't think of women as real people and doesn't have much respect for one of his employees either because he skateboards. Let's not forget Tory, whose sole purpose in the book appears to be getting rescued at the beginning and be someone for Juan to sleep with at the end. But she's also apparently smart and capable because she used to be some sort of British intelligence operative, because we couldn't possibly have Juan stoop to hooking up with a lame Goth girl, could we? Not that Tory got to actually do anything cool in the story.
The biggest thing that bothered me is that the women were just window dressing or plot devices, and there were a few really terrible lines thrown in for good measure. One line about how in his younger CIA days, Juan slept with a Russian operative, not to get information from her because she was too low level for that, but because it made him feel like James Bond. Gross. And another line about how one of the guys that work for him didn't have much luck with women, "if one overlooked the occasional Goth girl he hooked up with. But a girl with more piercings than a pincushion and who was impressed with a guy who could catch air on a skateboard half-pipe wasn't much of a catch..." So Juan doesn't think of women as real people and doesn't have much respect for one of his employees either because he skateboards. Let's not forget Tory, whose sole purpose in the book appears to be getting rescued at the beginning and be someone for Juan to sleep with at the end. But she's also apparently smart and capable because she used to be some sort of British intelligence operative, because we couldn't possibly have Juan stoop to hooking up with a lame Goth girl, could we? Not that Tory got to actually do anything cool in the story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 26, 2009
I think I am starting to like the Oregon books better than the original Pitt ones. I could totally see their adventures becoming a tv series. It contains a very good cast of characters and real life stories that people could connect to.
March 14, 2016
4.5 stars
The start was fairly disjointed despite the multiple story threads but it ended up coming together very nicely in the end
The start was fairly disjointed despite the multiple story threads but it ended up coming together very nicely in the end
February 17, 2025
Best one in the series so far. Tory Ballinger rescued from ship that had been sinking for several days and she turned out to be badass.
Started as chasing pirates, ended up the Shere Singh and Anton Savich had teamed up to take a bunch of illegal Chinese immigrants as slave labor to mine gold from Kamchatka peninsula for gold.
Massive ship yard with ship saw to destroy ships. Eddie Seng rode the snake to see where it led him, which was Kamchatka. Awesome book.
Started as chasing pirates, ended up the Shere Singh and Anton Savich had teamed up to take a bunch of illegal Chinese immigrants as slave labor to mine gold from Kamchatka peninsula for gold.
Massive ship yard with ship saw to destroy ships. Eddie Seng rode the snake to see where it led him, which was Kamchatka. Awesome book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 25, 2016
This is the 3rd book of the Oregon Files series by Clive Cussler. With this book, he has changed his co-author from Craig Dirgo to Jack duBrul. While the first two books were good, this one was so much better. The writing style was stronger, the plot had more tension and there was significantly more character development (yea!). Those who have read the first two books and gave up, I urge you to give the series another try.
I rated the first 2 books 4 each as they were fun, easy reads that kept my interest throughout in one of my preferred genres - despite rather anticlimactic endings. This one is well on its way to being 4.25 to 4.5 (assuming we could give partial stars) as it was a much more enjoyable read due to the improvements mentioned above.
Book Summary from GR: Cabrillo and his motley crew aboard the clandestine spy ship Oregon have made a very comfortable and very dangerous living working for high-powered Western interests. But their newest clients have come from the Far East to ask for Cabrillo's special brand of assistance: a consortium of Japanese shipping magnates whose fortunes are being threatened by brutal pirates trolling the waters of Southeast Asia.
Normally, such attacks on the high seas are limited to smaller ships and foreign-owned yachts-easy targets on the open ocean. Now, however, giant commercial freighters are disappearing. But when Cabrillo confronts the enemy, he learns that the pirates' predations hide a deadly international conspiracy-a scheme of death and slavery that Juan Cabrillo is going to blow out of the water.
I rated the first 2 books 4 each as they were fun, easy reads that kept my interest throughout in one of my preferred genres - despite rather anticlimactic endings. This one is well on its way to being 4.25 to 4.5 (assuming we could give partial stars) as it was a much more enjoyable read due to the improvements mentioned above.
Book Summary from GR: Cabrillo and his motley crew aboard the clandestine spy ship Oregon have made a very comfortable and very dangerous living working for high-powered Western interests. But their newest clients have come from the Far East to ask for Cabrillo's special brand of assistance: a consortium of Japanese shipping magnates whose fortunes are being threatened by brutal pirates trolling the waters of Southeast Asia.
Normally, such attacks on the high seas are limited to smaller ships and foreign-owned yachts-easy targets on the open ocean. Now, however, giant commercial freighters are disappearing. But when Cabrillo confronts the enemy, he learns that the pirates' predations hide a deadly international conspiracy-a scheme of death and slavery that Juan Cabrillo is going to blow out of the water.
June 6, 2009
Dark Watch by Clive Cussler was not as interesting as his other works. This abridged audio book was the story of modern day pirates who take not only the cargo of a captured ship but they also�take the ship itself. Throw in some international slave traders and you have what seems like two books going at the same time with only minimal interactions.
The book would have been better if it focused on one story and then developed it in greater detail. I am still a big fan of Cussler. This one is not his best work.
The book would have been better if it focused on one story and then developed it in greater detail. I am still a big fan of Cussler. This one is not his best work.
November 2, 2009
If Dark Watch was only the first half of the book, it would have been an excellent beginning. It was like there was a deadline and the last chapter was a recap of the last half of the book. So, it needed to be finished. These superstars who lend their names to others who actually write the books with the approval of the primary author should make sure there is some quality control or at least a complete manuscript. What I read I loved, but I want the complete story. If you want great Cussler books read the ones he writes with Paul Kemprecos-those are complete and excellent.
June 15, 2016
Third entry in the Oregon Files series.
Juan Cabrillo and The Corporation are hired to fight pirates in the Pacific. After battling a pirate band, they get onto a deeper conspiracy. A conspiracy dealing with slavery and gold. The crew goes all over the world, and indulge in all sorts of derring-do. Of course, Cabrillo finds a beautiful woman.
Entertaining with some very interesting settings.
Juan Cabrillo and The Corporation are hired to fight pirates in the Pacific. After battling a pirate band, they get onto a deeper conspiracy. A conspiracy dealing with slavery and gold. The crew goes all over the world, and indulge in all sorts of derring-do. Of course, Cabrillo finds a beautiful woman.
Entertaining with some very interesting settings.
August 21, 2020
Na morzu Południowochińskim piraci atakują statki, które znikają bez śladu, po osiągnięciu konkretnego celu. Na pomoc zostaje wezwany "Oregon" - okręt szpiegowski, wyposażony tak, że w gruncie rzeczy niczego mu nie brakuje oraz w środku znajduje się wykwalifikowana, do takich zadań specjalnych, załoga. Zostają oni zaatakowani, udało im się zatopić wroga, ale wydobyli pewien duży pojemnik w którym było kilkadziesiąt ludzkich zwłok - prawdopodobnie migrantów, uciekających z krajów wchodnich. Okazuje się, że te ataki, porwania i zatopienia statów są częścią planu, który jeśli ostatecznie dostanie zrealizowany to pochłonie tysiące ludzkich żyć. Priorytetem załogi okrętu szpiegowskiego jest powstrzymanie tego procederu, by zapanował kompletny spokój.
Moje nastawienie do powieści Cusslera jest dosyć specyficzne, ponieważ nie mam szczególnych chęci, żeby czytać jego książki i odkładam to na późniejszą chwilę, ale jak już zabiorę się za czytanie to wcale tak źle nie wychodzę na tym. Powieść ma niecałe 300 stron, więc można spodziewać się mocnego napakowania informacji, a fabuła siłą rzeczy z każdym rozdziałem trzyma w napięciu. Trochę obawiałam się, że słownictwo tej książki mnie pokona, ponieważ jest tutaj od groma określeń dotyczących statków, łodzi podwodnych, ich konstrukcji i oprzyrządowania, ale z tym również nie było tak źle. Miałam momenty, kiedy czytało mnie się trochę gorzej i mało płynnie, ale cała historia jest godna uwagi.
Moje nastawienie do powieści Cusslera jest dosyć specyficzne, ponieważ nie mam szczególnych chęci, żeby czytać jego książki i odkładam to na późniejszą chwilę, ale jak już zabiorę się za czytanie to wcale tak źle nie wychodzę na tym. Powieść ma niecałe 300 stron, więc można spodziewać się mocnego napakowania informacji, a fabuła siłą rzeczy z każdym rozdziałem trzyma w napięciu. Trochę obawiałam się, że słownictwo tej książki mnie pokona, ponieważ jest tutaj od groma określeń dotyczących statków, łodzi podwodnych, ich konstrukcji i oprzyrządowania, ale z tym również nie było tak źle. Miałam momenty, kiedy czytało mnie się trochę gorzej i mało płynnie, ale cała historia jest godna uwagi.
August 10, 2025
It was a good read, but kind of formulaic. Still, a better book than much of what is published today.
I got the feeling that the author is trying to find a justification for his team. Not sure why, it's pretty simple: There are bad guys that need to be removed from the Earth and Juan and his team are very good at doing that.
Find it. Buy it. Read it!
I got the feeling that the author is trying to find a justification for his team. Not sure why, it's pretty simple: There are bad guys that need to be removed from the Earth and Juan and his team are very good at doing that.
Find it. Buy it. Read it!
March 16, 2020
I love this series, the Oregon , one of my favorites!
November 11, 2020
Great action but a bit too technically accurate which slows the pace. As always, hopefully there are people ready and waiting to right the wrongs.
March 25, 2017
Floating docks gold mining in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and the use of mercury riding the snake and Gold mountain a good adventure book. Henry V "We few, we happy few, we band of brothers.” Nelson "England expects that every man will do his duty.
I felt the part about the gold bankers irrelevant just to give a reason for the story.
I felt the part about the gold bankers irrelevant just to give a reason for the story.
February 25, 2025
I'll start with 3 stars and then decide if I want to change it when I finish my review. It started out so SLOW. So very slow. The book felt like it dragged the first 300, 350 pages, and then it kicked into high gear and the last bit of the book just flew by. It was crazy. I almost quit reading it; I am glad I did not.
The characters are . . . different. I don't know if it is the way De Brul writes them, but they felt just a little "off" compared to Morrison's and Maden's works. I would not say that is necessarily a bad thing as it kind-of made the book more interesting in that regard. By and large, the main characters really do not deviate too much from what makes them who they are, so there is not really much development that can occur. That means most of the character development has to come from side characters amidst the crew as well as the "extras" introduced in this book for this book alone. I suppose it was decent. None of those characters really stood out to me.
On the plus side,
About the story. It was okay. It bounces around a lot. It did hold my interest enough for me to finish the book, and as I said above, that last 50 pages or so were page-turners. It was funny, though - despite there being a sense of tension in the book in spots, I knew nothing bad would truly happen to our band of intrepid heroes (and not just because I have read most of the books out of order, hahahah!). I think I would have been shocked if any of them had ended up with broken bones or some serious injuries.
Something else I found funny The book does have one "MAJOR" gaffe, though.
Some nits to pick:
The Oregon. She is quite the ship! After first having been introduced in the Dirk Pitt story Flood Tide, it is cool that an audience was found for telling the various adventure stories the crew experiences. It is funny how the "medical doctor" taking care of Dirk appears to have left the crew by the time the series starts, hahahah! In any case, All in all, a wonderful vessel!
So. I think I am finished with my review. I would have rated it 2-stars but for the last 50 or so pages of the book. I would rate it either 2.7 rounded up to 3 stars or maybe 3.1 rounded down to 3 stars. I don't think it was quite good enough to be 4 stars , but I am still glad I read this book (and got a different flavor of the crew during their early adventures).
The characters are . . . different. I don't know if it is the way De Brul writes them, but they felt just a little "off" compared to Morrison's and Maden's works. I would not say that is necessarily a bad thing as it kind-of made the book more interesting in that regard. By and large, the main characters really do not deviate too much from what makes them who they are, so there is not really much development that can occur. That means most of the character development has to come from side characters amidst the crew as well as the "extras" introduced in this book for this book alone. I suppose it was decent. None of those characters really stood out to me.
On the plus side,
About the story. It was okay. It bounces around a lot. It did hold my interest enough for me to finish the book, and as I said above, that last 50 pages or so were page-turners. It was funny, though - despite there being a sense of tension in the book in spots, I knew nothing bad would truly happen to our band of intrepid heroes (and not just because I have read most of the books out of order, hahahah!). I think I would have been shocked if any of them had ended up with broken bones or some serious injuries.
Something else I found funny The book does have one "MAJOR" gaffe, though.
Some nits to pick:
The Oregon. She is quite the ship! After first having been introduced in the Dirk Pitt story Flood Tide, it is cool that an audience was found for telling the various adventure stories the crew experiences. It is funny how the "medical doctor" taking care of Dirk appears to have left the crew by the time the series starts, hahahah! In any case, All in all, a wonderful vessel!
So. I think I am finished with my review. I would have rated it 2-stars but for the last 50 or so pages of the book. I would rate it either 2.7 rounded up to 3 stars or maybe 3.1 rounded down to 3 stars. I don't think it was quite good enough to be 4 stars , but I am still glad I read this book (and got a different flavor of the crew during their early adventures).
September 9, 2023
I've said it before and I will say it again — I am too young to remember those Saturday cinema matinees with such films as "The Perils of Pauline," "Buck Jones" and "Flash Gordon. Those films that ended usually with cliff-hangers to get theatre goers to return the next week.
But I ALWAYS think of them when I read a Clive Cussler — and unlike those films, Cussler never leaves you with a cliff-hanger. There's crazy action and tight moments, and yet somehow his heroes (both male and female) come through, fighting the good fight against seemingly insurmountable odds, beating the bad guys and usually, at least for the male characters such as Juan Cabrillo, with a beautiful babe.
So need I say, this tale is no different. The beginning sets up an interesting premise and then switches to our protagonists that somehow get into the action. And from there — there's no stopping, you just have to keep reading. Because who can say they don't cheer for the heroes?
Dark Watch is one of Cussler's early ones — not so much in books but the Oregon Files series — but its still good. Cabrillo, captain of the Oregon — a seemingly derelict ship that miraculously can do just about anything on the high seas — and CEO of The Corporation, has taken on a new case, hunting pirates that are snatching ships to the tune of millions. Some are flat out disappearing never to be seen again.
But when they engage with the enemy, Cabrillo realizes that something even more sinister is happening, and his indignation knows no bounds. And before you know it, all of those sailing or affiliated with the Oregon, are in for a wild rollercoaster of an adventure.
Hey, I know that its nigh nearly impossible for everything that happens for these people to survive as they do in this story. It doesn't matter. I'm hooked on the adrenaline high and there's no way I can stop. Serious reading? Of course not! But just like those Saturday cinema matinee offerings are not fine film making, there's just something that makes you eager to shadow these imaginary superheroes and when they return victorious, you mentally cheer. How much fun is that?
But I ALWAYS think of them when I read a Clive Cussler — and unlike those films, Cussler never leaves you with a cliff-hanger. There's crazy action and tight moments, and yet somehow his heroes (both male and female) come through, fighting the good fight against seemingly insurmountable odds, beating the bad guys and usually, at least for the male characters such as Juan Cabrillo, with a beautiful babe.
So need I say, this tale is no different. The beginning sets up an interesting premise and then switches to our protagonists that somehow get into the action. And from there — there's no stopping, you just have to keep reading. Because who can say they don't cheer for the heroes?
Dark Watch is one of Cussler's early ones — not so much in books but the Oregon Files series — but its still good. Cabrillo, captain of the Oregon — a seemingly derelict ship that miraculously can do just about anything on the high seas — and CEO of The Corporation, has taken on a new case, hunting pirates that are snatching ships to the tune of millions. Some are flat out disappearing never to be seen again.
But when they engage with the enemy, Cabrillo realizes that something even more sinister is happening, and his indignation knows no bounds. And before you know it, all of those sailing or affiliated with the Oregon, are in for a wild rollercoaster of an adventure.
Hey, I know that its nigh nearly impossible for everything that happens for these people to survive as they do in this story. It doesn't matter. I'm hooked on the adrenaline high and there's no way I can stop. Serious reading? Of course not! But just like those Saturday cinema matinee offerings are not fine film making, there's just something that makes you eager to shadow these imaginary superheroes and when they return victorious, you mentally cheer. How much fun is that?
September 1, 2013
I am reviewing the novel Dark Watch by Clive Cussler et al which is a very good adventure story and which I bought from a car boot sale. This book is part of the Oregon series about a state of the art state which contains mercenaries with hearts of gold who do work for money but are the heroes of the story and are led by Juan Cabrillo. The ship is nuclear powered and almost like a warship disguised as a freight vessel. This story sees the North Koreans siding with the Syrians in capturing vessels in the far east and doing people trafficking from China to the west. Lots of vessels are being captured by pirates and plundered and their crews being massacred regardless whether they put up resistance or not. The Americans are worried if they wade in with military action they will get problems with terrorists not to mention anger the international community so they hire the Oregon. It does turn out many of the refugees are being murdered by the pirates and that this suits the traffickers just fine. I enjoyed this book and their is a happy ending. This book also does a good job of explaining some of the political problems in the far east. The refugees have to pay upwards of $30,000 to travel with these people traffickers which normally is paid off by the refugees working in places like sweat shops on favourable terms to the traffickers. If these people quietly disappear the family is enslaved and the traffickers have a win win situation. If these people just disappear the traffickers save a load of money that would normally go on travel, food and accommadation etc. This book was written in 2005 when there was also bad feeling in certain quarters about Saudi Arabia siding with America in the First Gulf War.There is a little bit about that in the story.
January 14, 2018
SPOILERSSSS
It was alright. Clive Cussler is usually good at what he does.......though his characters start blending together at some point. I don't know what kind of off year he was having when he teamed up with Mr. DuBrl to write this book. I found that I didn't really care about any of the characters. I always hope Dirk and Al can fight their way out of danger in some of his other novels.....but I really couldn't give two shits about the crew of the Oregon.
Also, the ending felt supremely rushed. It was anti-climactic, the BigBaddie showdowns were small or took place off screen in a sense since we were told rather than witnessed things. And seriously.....Cussler waited until the last two pages to address some past issue with the main character which may or may not be important (or could have added more to his character)... and then acted like it really meant nothing at all by mentioning it and then dismissing the whole thing. What the hell? What was the point of that? That's....not ok. That's a rookie mistake, Clive. It was unnecessary and it just added to that rushed feeling. Not to mention, he forces a relationship suddenly between the main guy and of the Fleming-esque women.
And what the hell was with the main character anyway? He finally makes an ethnic main character only stereotypically in name (Juan Cabrillo) and then disregards his heritage by making him blond haired and blue eyed .......and no mention of his family other than he was a surfer from California.
Not that impressed. Also.....way more gory than usual. Wasn't really expecting that. Thanks for the first case of nausea from reading.
It was alright. Clive Cussler is usually good at what he does.......though his characters start blending together at some point. I don't know what kind of off year he was having when he teamed up with Mr. DuBrl to write this book. I found that I didn't really care about any of the characters. I always hope Dirk and Al can fight their way out of danger in some of his other novels.....but I really couldn't give two shits about the crew of the Oregon.
Also, the ending felt supremely rushed. It was anti-climactic, the BigBaddie showdowns were small or took place off screen in a sense since we were told rather than witnessed things. And seriously.....Cussler waited until the last two pages to address some past issue with the main character which may or may not be important (or could have added more to his character)... and then acted like it really meant nothing at all by mentioning it and then dismissing the whole thing. What the hell? What was the point of that? That's....not ok. That's a rookie mistake, Clive. It was unnecessary and it just added to that rushed feeling. Not to mention, he forces a relationship suddenly between the main guy and of the Fleming-esque women.
And what the hell was with the main character anyway? He finally makes an ethnic main character only stereotypically in name (Juan Cabrillo) and then disregards his heritage by making him blond haired and blue eyed .......and no mention of his family other than he was a surfer from California.
Not that impressed. Also.....way more gory than usual. Wasn't really expecting that. Thanks for the first case of nausea from reading.
November 2, 2020
Juan Cabrillo, captain of the Oregon and Chairman of the Corporation, accepts a job to find and stop a ring of pirates that are preying on ships in the Pacific Ocean. Their state of the art ship is disguised to lure the pirates. When that inevitably happens, they sink the pirate ship and manage to save a large container that had been on the deck. After they open it they discover it is filled with dead bodies, probably migrants trying to escape to better conditions. They also find a sinking ship that still has one passenger alive and must perform some tricky steps to get her out before it sinks.
Dark Watch is action-packed and never slows down until the final scene. The story line feels more like a Mission Impossible movie than a novel, but is fun to follow as Cabrillo and his crew save themselves in some pretty tension-filled scenarios. I was not much of a fan of the first two books in this series, which Cussler wrote with Craig Dirgo. The change to new co-author Jack du Brul was a great move and added some real character development to the mixture. Fans of the Oregon Files will enjoy this latest adventure to stop an international banking syndicate who plan use murder as a business tool to build up their human slave trade.
Dark Watch is action-packed and never slows down until the final scene. The story line feels more like a Mission Impossible movie than a novel, but is fun to follow as Cabrillo and his crew save themselves in some pretty tension-filled scenarios. I was not much of a fan of the first two books in this series, which Cussler wrote with Craig Dirgo. The change to new co-author Jack du Brul was a great move and added some real character development to the mixture. Fans of the Oregon Files will enjoy this latest adventure to stop an international banking syndicate who plan use murder as a business tool to build up their human slave trade.
January 8, 2023
Struggling with the rating on this one. It is the standard quick read, fast pace story. My problem is that the end felt so rushed. A very small chapter was used to quick wrap up all of the loose ends. Whereas there were sections that maybe went into too much detail and made the story drag a bit much. Plus afterward I always struggle with these types of stories where the good guys have so much money and have all the coolest tools. It all seems so over the top.
Juan and his crew get pulled into a pirate investigation all while some are struggling that one of their own had retired. The investigation sends team members all over, key one Eddie Seng gets thrown into a cover position that truly is not safe.
I admit I like these stories because they are such easy reads and when character development is done in a decent manner it just lets you escape. Which this one did, just a few things threw me off. And will I read one again - yes, I will.
Juan and his crew get pulled into a pirate investigation all while some are struggling that one of their own had retired. The investigation sends team members all over, key one Eddie Seng gets thrown into a cover position that truly is not safe.
I admit I like these stories because they are such easy reads and when character development is done in a decent manner it just lets you escape. Which this one did, just a few things threw me off. And will I read one again - yes, I will.
November 14, 2012
Anyone who can read a Clive Cussler novel and not have the urge to read another is either nuts or lacking imagination. He is the king of Story Telling, as his adventures grip you from the first word and hurl you through worlds of sheer excitement and interesting characters. This is my first from the Oregon series and I loved it. Juan Cabrillo is one enigmatic captain with one of the coolest ships roaming the high seas. The fact that Cabrillo is handicapped, lost a leg and has a prosthetic, is both interesting and in Cussler's hands a unusual asset to him. If you have been looking for an adventure series that will leave you wanting more, go no further, Clive Cussler has you taken care of.
July 12, 2016
4.5★'s
This has to rank as the best of this series thus far. Clive Cussler teams with adventure/thriller writer Jack DuBrul for the this...the third book... in the "Oregon Files" series. Non-stop action throughout and plots and schemes by the Oregon crew to bring the bad guys down that would equal "Mission Impossible" or an episode of "McGeyver". The authors juggled complicated, multiple plots throughout the story and tied them together into a believable, exciting, and interesting package at the end that pulled the Oregon crew out of the frying pan and the fire....while offering a special surprise for them all. Looking forward to the next adventure with Juan Cabrillo and friends.
This has to rank as the best of this series thus far. Clive Cussler teams with adventure/thriller writer Jack DuBrul for the this...the third book... in the "Oregon Files" series. Non-stop action throughout and plots and schemes by the Oregon crew to bring the bad guys down that would equal "Mission Impossible" or an episode of "McGeyver". The authors juggled complicated, multiple plots throughout the story and tied them together into a believable, exciting, and interesting package at the end that pulled the Oregon crew out of the frying pan and the fire....while offering a special surprise for them all. Looking forward to the next adventure with Juan Cabrillo and friends.
December 14, 2011
Actually I didn't finish this book.
This is the 4th book in this series that I have read and it dawned on me that all these books are very very similiar. And it's just not that the same characters are involved, the ship is the same etc etc.
With unlimited money, state of beyond the art technology, contacts with everyone in power throughout the world and the world's best luck the drama that I experienced in the first few books just isn't there anymore as I know they will prevail in the end.
So I'd recommend picking iup a couple of books ion this series but then move on.
Exciting for the first few books, but then repetitive, other than the antagonist, each book thereafter
This is the 4th book in this series that I have read and it dawned on me that all these books are very very similiar. And it's just not that the same characters are involved, the ship is the same etc etc.
With unlimited money, state of beyond the art technology, contacts with everyone in power throughout the world and the world's best luck the drama that I experienced in the first few books just isn't there anymore as I know they will prevail in the end.
So I'd recommend picking iup a couple of books ion this series but then move on.
Exciting for the first few books, but then repetitive, other than the antagonist, each book thereafter
January 21, 2022
Finally these books are getting better. Didn't plan on continuing the series after the disjointed, confusing and below mediocre first two entries, but I had this on audiobook and some free time... This time I think it's a decently written action-advanture that is perfect for lazy days.
September 2, 2017
The third in a series of which I haven't read the previous books.
Too much action. Not enough plot. Reminds me of an action movie with a
gun fight, car chase or some other mayhem every 5 minutes.
Way too gory. The author seems to be fascinated with dismemberment. People were
getting sliced, diced or blown to tiny pieces. All graphically described.
Too much action. Not enough plot. Reminds me of an action movie with a
gun fight, car chase or some other mayhem every 5 minutes.
Way too gory. The author seems to be fascinated with dismemberment. People were
getting sliced, diced or blown to tiny pieces. All graphically described.
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