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Dirk Pitt® #21
Crescent Dawn
In A.D. 327, a Roman galley barely escapes a pirate attack with its extraordinary cargo. In 1916, a British warship mysteriously explodes in the middle of the North Sea. In the present day, a cluster of important mosques in Turkey and Egypt are wracked by explosions. Does anything tie them together?
NUMA director Dirk Pitt is about to find out, as Roman artifacts discovered in Turkey and Israel unnervingly connect to the rise of a fundamentalist movement determined to restore the glory of the Ottoman Empire, and to the existence of a mysterious "manifest," lost long ago, which if discovered again . . . just may change the history of the world as we know it.
NUMA director Dirk Pitt is about to find out, as Roman artifacts discovered in Turkey and Israel unnervingly connect to the rise of a fundamentalist movement determined to restore the glory of the Ottoman Empire, and to the existence of a mysterious "manifest," lost long ago, which if discovered again . . . just may change the history of the world as we know it.
548 pages, Hardcover
First published November 16, 2010
1223 people are currently reading
5018 people want to read
About the author
Clive Cussler
612Ìýbooks8,360ÌýfollowersCussler 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 617 reviews
August 13, 2019
It's hard to write a review of this book because I have been an avid reader of Cussler's for many years. Over those years, the roles of the main characters from years ago have become diminished with the introduction of new characters. The stories aren't as exciting as they used to be and that's quite sad, because, this story didn't really get started till page 395. Way too long, but a good story nonetheless. I will still read a few more books that I already own, then say goodbye to some old friends.
First time readers who haven't read Cussler yet may enjoy these newer books more, but if you really want some good reading, start with the older ones first.
First time readers who haven't read Cussler yet may enjoy these newer books more, but if you really want some good reading, start with the older ones first.
November 2, 2017
When a Greek fisherman's net drags something up from the bottom of the ocean, a terrorist group seeking to restore the old Ottoman empire strikes.
Dirk Pitt is pushed into the middle of things when he and his wife are abducted by the terrorists in Istanbul. Meanwhile, Dirk Jr. has a flirtation with an Israeli archaeologist vigilante and runs up against the same group.
Lots of derring do.
Dirk Pitt is pushed into the middle of things when he and his wife are abducted by the terrorists in Istanbul. Meanwhile, Dirk Jr. has a flirtation with an Israeli archaeologist vigilante and runs up against the same group.
Lots of derring do.
November 27, 2019
Clive Cussler and Dirk PItt just get better and better with age and adventure!
In the age of the Roman Empire, a Roman ship containing something of extreme importance is attacked by a band of pirates. Many centuries later in the early 1900's a British warship mysteriously explodes and sinks in the North Sea.
In the present day, a small team of terrorists is wreaking havoc in the middle east, mosques in Egypt and Turkey are destroyed, while at the same time, Dirk Pitt is doing underwater explorations off the Turkey and Isreal coasts, discovering Roman artifacts and coming head-to-head with a ruthless tyrant attempting to resurrect the Ottoman Empire. Dirk's daughter Summer stumbles upon a manifest in England that dates back to the time of Jesus and sheds new light on early Christianity.
A wild ride right from the very beginning to the very end, and never lets up! A must-read for Cussler fans!
In the age of the Roman Empire, a Roman ship containing something of extreme importance is attacked by a band of pirates. Many centuries later in the early 1900's a British warship mysteriously explodes and sinks in the North Sea.
In the present day, a small team of terrorists is wreaking havoc in the middle east, mosques in Egypt and Turkey are destroyed, while at the same time, Dirk Pitt is doing underwater explorations off the Turkey and Isreal coasts, discovering Roman artifacts and coming head-to-head with a ruthless tyrant attempting to resurrect the Ottoman Empire. Dirk's daughter Summer stumbles upon a manifest in England that dates back to the time of Jesus and sheds new light on early Christianity.
A wild ride right from the very beginning to the very end, and never lets up! A must-read for Cussler fans!
September 23, 2020
It was a bit long.
July 3, 2020
4 Stars for Cresent Dawn: Dirk Pitt Series Book 21 (audiobook) by Clive Cussler and Dirk Clussler read by Scot Brick. Another great Dirk Pitt adventure.
June 4, 2023
Another fun Dirk Pitt adventure. I always learn something new when I read a Clive Cussler book.
August 4, 2022
Clive Cussler starte in �65 met schrijven van zijn boeken. In 2020 stierf hij jammer genoeg maar hij liet ons een mooie reeks verhalen na om te blijven genieten van zijn schrijvers talent. Cussler was verzamelaar van oude wagens, die nu en dan hun eigen rol krijgen in zijn verhalen. Maar Clive schrijft zichzelf nu en dan ook wel een rolletje toe in zijn boeken. Regelmatig werkte hij samen met andere auteurs om zijn verhalen te schrijven.
Wassende maan werd geschreven in samenwerking met zijn zoon Dirk.
Verhaal
367na christus ontsnapt een Romeinse galei, met mysterieuze vracht, op het nippertje aan piraten. In 1916 explodeert een Engels oorlogsschip. In de tegenwoordige tijd worden moskeeën opgeblazen. Dirk Pitt en zijn team worden ongewild meegesleurd in een strijd van politiek, geweld, en nietsontziende artefactjagers. Dirk moet alle lijnen ontrafelen vooraleer het te laat is. Met de hulp van zijn zoon, Dirk en dochter Summer en de rest van zijn team zetten ze alles op alles. Een manifest blijkt het document te zijn die de wereld kan veranderen.
Mijn gedacht
Cussler creëerde een verhaal met thema’s als politiek en religie. Hij speelt met heden en verleden. Hij stopt geschiedenis in zijn verhaal die een meerwaarde betekend voor het verhaal. Met hier en daar een goeie plottwist blijft hij de aandacht van de lezer vasthouden.
De spanningsboog is doorheen het boek top. Elke keer als men denkt dat het mindert gebeurt er wel iets nieuws. Dit trekt de lezer helemaal in het boek.
Dat de auteur zijn opwachting maakt in zijn eigen verhaal is leuk. Wat dan wel weer verwarrend is, is dat zowel vader als zoon Pitt als voornaam Dirk hebben. Dit vraagt dus de nodige aandacht bij het lezen. Vooral de stukken waar vader en zoon elk in hun verhaallijnen zitten moet men soms goed opletten over welke Dirk het gaat.
Alle personages zijn genoeg uitgewerkt voor het verhaal.
Slot
Tijdens het naderen van het einde worden alle restjes opgeruimd. De spanning stijgt toch nog een niveau. Echt grote verrassingen zijn er niet echt meer. Alle connecties tussen alle verhaallijnen worden nu wel duidelijk. De epiloog sluit het verhaal op een serene manier af.
Conclusie
Een spannend verhaal dat heden en verleden verbind. Een grote spanningsboog die de lezer meetrekt in het verhaal. Maar twee personages met dezelfde naam is toch wel verwarrend. Dirk Cussler toont met dit verhaal aan dat hij perfect kan samenwerken met zijn vader, Clive.
Engels
Clive Cussler started writing his books in '65. He sadly passed away in 2020, but he left us a beautiful series of stories to continue to enjoy his writing talent. Cussler was a collector of old cars, which now and then get their own role in his stories. But Clive also occasionally credits himself with a role in his books. He regularly collaborated with other authors to write his stories.
Crescent Moon was written in collaboration with his son Dirk.
Story
367AD, a Roman galley, carrying mysterious cargo, narrowly escapes pirates. In 1916, an English warship explodes. In the present day mosques are being blown up. Dirk Pitt and his team are unwittingly drawn into a battle of politics, violence, and ruthless artifact hunters. Dirk has to unravel all the lines before it's too late. With the help of his son, Dirk and daughter Summer and the rest of his team, they do everything they can. A manifesto turns out to be the document that can change the world.
My thought
Cussler created a story with themes such as politics and religion. He plays with present and past. He puts history in his story that adds value to the story. With a good plot twist here and there, it keeps the reader's attention.
The tension is top notch throughout the book. Every time one thinks it's going down, something new happens. This draws the reader completely into the book.
It's nice that the author makes an appearance in his own story. What is confusing, however, is that both father and son have Pitt as their first name Dirk. This therefore requires the necessary attention when reading. Especially the parts where father and son are each in their storylines, one sometimes has to pay attention to which Dirk it is about.
All characters are well developed for the story.
Key lock
When approaching the end, all leftovers are cleaned up. The tension still rises one level. There are no really big surprises anymore. All connections between all the storylines are now becoming clear. The epilogue closes the story in a serene way.
Conclusion
An exciting story that connects past and present. A great tension that draws the reader into the story. But having two characters with the same name is confusing. Dirk Cussler shows with this story that he can work perfectly with his father, Clive.
Wassende maan werd geschreven in samenwerking met zijn zoon Dirk.
Verhaal
367na christus ontsnapt een Romeinse galei, met mysterieuze vracht, op het nippertje aan piraten. In 1916 explodeert een Engels oorlogsschip. In de tegenwoordige tijd worden moskeeën opgeblazen. Dirk Pitt en zijn team worden ongewild meegesleurd in een strijd van politiek, geweld, en nietsontziende artefactjagers. Dirk moet alle lijnen ontrafelen vooraleer het te laat is. Met de hulp van zijn zoon, Dirk en dochter Summer en de rest van zijn team zetten ze alles op alles. Een manifest blijkt het document te zijn die de wereld kan veranderen.
Mijn gedacht
Cussler creëerde een verhaal met thema’s als politiek en religie. Hij speelt met heden en verleden. Hij stopt geschiedenis in zijn verhaal die een meerwaarde betekend voor het verhaal. Met hier en daar een goeie plottwist blijft hij de aandacht van de lezer vasthouden.
De spanningsboog is doorheen het boek top. Elke keer als men denkt dat het mindert gebeurt er wel iets nieuws. Dit trekt de lezer helemaal in het boek.
Dat de auteur zijn opwachting maakt in zijn eigen verhaal is leuk. Wat dan wel weer verwarrend is, is dat zowel vader als zoon Pitt als voornaam Dirk hebben. Dit vraagt dus de nodige aandacht bij het lezen. Vooral de stukken waar vader en zoon elk in hun verhaallijnen zitten moet men soms goed opletten over welke Dirk het gaat.
Alle personages zijn genoeg uitgewerkt voor het verhaal.
Slot
Tijdens het naderen van het einde worden alle restjes opgeruimd. De spanning stijgt toch nog een niveau. Echt grote verrassingen zijn er niet echt meer. Alle connecties tussen alle verhaallijnen worden nu wel duidelijk. De epiloog sluit het verhaal op een serene manier af.
Conclusie
Een spannend verhaal dat heden en verleden verbind. Een grote spanningsboog die de lezer meetrekt in het verhaal. Maar twee personages met dezelfde naam is toch wel verwarrend. Dirk Cussler toont met dit verhaal aan dat hij perfect kan samenwerken met zijn vader, Clive.
Engels
Clive Cussler started writing his books in '65. He sadly passed away in 2020, but he left us a beautiful series of stories to continue to enjoy his writing talent. Cussler was a collector of old cars, which now and then get their own role in his stories. But Clive also occasionally credits himself with a role in his books. He regularly collaborated with other authors to write his stories.
Crescent Moon was written in collaboration with his son Dirk.
Story
367AD, a Roman galley, carrying mysterious cargo, narrowly escapes pirates. In 1916, an English warship explodes. In the present day mosques are being blown up. Dirk Pitt and his team are unwittingly drawn into a battle of politics, violence, and ruthless artifact hunters. Dirk has to unravel all the lines before it's too late. With the help of his son, Dirk and daughter Summer and the rest of his team, they do everything they can. A manifesto turns out to be the document that can change the world.
My thought
Cussler created a story with themes such as politics and religion. He plays with present and past. He puts history in his story that adds value to the story. With a good plot twist here and there, it keeps the reader's attention.
The tension is top notch throughout the book. Every time one thinks it's going down, something new happens. This draws the reader completely into the book.
It's nice that the author makes an appearance in his own story. What is confusing, however, is that both father and son have Pitt as their first name Dirk. This therefore requires the necessary attention when reading. Especially the parts where father and son are each in their storylines, one sometimes has to pay attention to which Dirk it is about.
All characters are well developed for the story.
Key lock
When approaching the end, all leftovers are cleaned up. The tension still rises one level. There are no really big surprises anymore. All connections between all the storylines are now becoming clear. The epilogue closes the story in a serene way.
Conclusion
An exciting story that connects past and present. A great tension that draws the reader into the story. But having two characters with the same name is confusing. Dirk Cussler shows with this story that he can work perfectly with his father, Clive.
December 2, 2019
this book is really great.
December 5, 2012
I don't know why I do this to myself. I guess I get stuck in ruts and start to crave rut-busters. Every once in a while, I'll pick up a thriller just for something different, and I should know by now that I'm not a fan of Clive Cussler.
I've enjoyed Dan Brown's books, and the Jason Bourne series, but these are just a little too corny for my taste. The hero (or in this case heroes, as the book has several subplots on various continents) quips in the face of almost certain doom, and never seems to have a change of mood. The mood thing bothers me, as I feel like if thriller-y things happened to me, I would probably have moods: frightened, angry, relieved, and so on. But not the Pitt family! Wry amusement is their one-size-fits-all mood.
Yes, the Pitt family. The author apparently thought it would be a good idea to have two heroes named Dirk Pitt in the same book - father and son. And for equal opportunity, daughter Summer Pitt also has a role. This to me is one of the many things poking holes in the plausibility of the story. I mean, what are the odds that 3 members of the same family simultaneously and on different continents get embroiled in the same evil plot?
You really have to put your critical reasoning skills on the shelf in order to get through this without too many eye rolls, and some of it is flat our insulting. During one chase scene, the characters run (for no apparent reason) into an improbably located antique car show on a small rural island off the Turkish coast. Where they steal a car from a guy named Clive Cussler (for God's sake)! In case you haven't looked at the back of one of Mr Cussler's books, he is very keen for us to know that he likes antique cars. I'm sure authors write themselves, friends, family, into books all the time. But it takes a special kind of arrogance to do it so clumsily.
Oh, and I'll keep this vague in order to avoid spoilers, but even though I'm no archaeologist, I would venture to say that the potency of weapons left in the elements for 2000 years might be somewhat diminished. Just sayin'.
I've enjoyed Dan Brown's books, and the Jason Bourne series, but these are just a little too corny for my taste. The hero (or in this case heroes, as the book has several subplots on various continents) quips in the face of almost certain doom, and never seems to have a change of mood. The mood thing bothers me, as I feel like if thriller-y things happened to me, I would probably have moods: frightened, angry, relieved, and so on. But not the Pitt family! Wry amusement is their one-size-fits-all mood.
Yes, the Pitt family. The author apparently thought it would be a good idea to have two heroes named Dirk Pitt in the same book - father and son. And for equal opportunity, daughter Summer Pitt also has a role. This to me is one of the many things poking holes in the plausibility of the story. I mean, what are the odds that 3 members of the same family simultaneously and on different continents get embroiled in the same evil plot?
You really have to put your critical reasoning skills on the shelf in order to get through this without too many eye rolls, and some of it is flat our insulting. During one chase scene, the characters run (for no apparent reason) into an improbably located antique car show on a small rural island off the Turkish coast. Where they steal a car from a guy named Clive Cussler (for God's sake)! In case you haven't looked at the back of one of Mr Cussler's books, he is very keen for us to know that he likes antique cars. I'm sure authors write themselves, friends, family, into books all the time. But it takes a special kind of arrogance to do it so clumsily.
Oh, and I'll keep this vague in order to avoid spoilers, but even though I'm no archaeologist, I would venture to say that the potency of weapons left in the elements for 2000 years might be somewhat diminished. Just sayin'.
March 25, 2017
This is the 21st Dirk Pitt Adventure written by Clive Cussler and (in this case) his son Dirk. Since I was a wee tot, I've probably read about half of them. These books are a literary version of a bag of Doritos or Oreos. They're very tasty and enjoyable while you're consuming them, but lacking in substance when you're done.
This one was about a plot to create a new Ottoman empire taht was uncovered by and can only be stopped by Dirk Pitt, the Director of NUMA (the National Underwater Marine Agency). I listened to this one on audio and only discovered that it was abridged after I was done. Even in a formula thriller, there's a lot that can be cut out. It did feel a little lite. Oh well, there's plenty more where that came from.
6/10
This one was about a plot to create a new Ottoman empire taht was uncovered by and can only be stopped by Dirk Pitt, the Director of NUMA (the National Underwater Marine Agency). I listened to this one on audio and only discovered that it was abridged after I was done. Even in a formula thriller, there's a lot that can be cut out. It did feel a little lite. Oh well, there's plenty more where that came from.
6/10
April 3, 2024
Another Cussler, this time in Istanbul, Israel, Cyprus and England.
Pitt and the kids had their own adventures with shipwrecks and stolen antiquities, and terrorists. Another great 90's action movie.
Pitt and the kids had their own adventures with shipwrecks and stolen antiquities, and terrorists. Another great 90's action movie.
February 14, 2017
Another Cussler book in which my attention was grabbed right from the very start. I think that it must be something to do with the historical introductions that the Cusslers use to create an interest. However that may be, it certainly worked.
On this occasion we have a distinctly Turkish interest with siblings Celik and Maria trying to reassert their “inheritance� to the Ottoman Empire. Additionally there are others who are seeking the wreck for financial rather than political purposes. Include in the developing plot the death of Lord Kitchener on the HMS Hampshire in 1916, something in which the Church of England may or may not have had a hand, and his apparent ownership of a mysterious document called The Manifest, the revelation of which could have great repercussions throughout the religious world, and you have a Cussler plot that can hardly go wrong. The pace is almost frenetic, but I am beginning to lose count of how many times Dirk saves the world, although not tiring of reading about him doing so. Al Giordino and Dirk’s twins, Dirk and Summer, also have their parts to play with the characters of the twins developing with each story.
Now looking forward to the next one � Poseidon’s Arrow.
On this occasion we have a distinctly Turkish interest with siblings Celik and Maria trying to reassert their “inheritance� to the Ottoman Empire. Additionally there are others who are seeking the wreck for financial rather than political purposes. Include in the developing plot the death of Lord Kitchener on the HMS Hampshire in 1916, something in which the Church of England may or may not have had a hand, and his apparent ownership of a mysterious document called The Manifest, the revelation of which could have great repercussions throughout the religious world, and you have a Cussler plot that can hardly go wrong. The pace is almost frenetic, but I am beginning to lose count of how many times Dirk saves the world, although not tiring of reading about him doing so. Al Giordino and Dirk’s twins, Dirk and Summer, also have their parts to play with the characters of the twins developing with each story.
Now looking forward to the next one � Poseidon’s Arrow.
July 12, 2011
The Dirk Pitt books follow a formula. The men are resourceful, the women good-looking and often very intelligent. The venues are interesting and the history well-researched and embroidered. Lots of Ottoman Empire and Roman artifacts surround a terrorist plot that runs from Istanbul to Jerusalem. The bad guys/gal are intent on restoring the religious empire of the Ottoman Turks and are setting up a Muslim uprising to accomplish it. Dirk, Al and the rest of the usual team are arround and we even have a bit of British WW I maritime mystery thrown in.
If you liked previous books, you will enjoy this one.
If you liked previous books, you will enjoy this one.
December 31, 2020
It could be 3.3 stars. It was a little hard to keep track of multiple locations. Also it was confusing when the book used Dirk and Pitt for both father and son.
August 29, 2021
Records recovered from the ancient port of Caesarea, Roman artifacts aboard a sunken Ottoman gallery off Turkey, and two murderous siblings looking to resurrect the Ottoman Empire. Crescent Dawn is the twenty-first book of Clive Cussler’s Dirk Pitt series and fourth with his son Dirk, finds the Pitt family in the eastern Mediterranean and Britain unknowing find evidence to an ancient mystery while coming across political terrorists and rogue archaeologists.
The plot begins first in 327 AD a Roman galley carrying cargo so important that a contingent of the Emperor Constantine’s own guard is aboard when it is attacked by pirates off Crete before jumping 1916 in which a British warship mysteriously explodes and sinks in the North Sea. In the present, important mosques in Egypt and Turkey are damaged by planted explosives that raise tensions amongst Muslims across the Middle East, but especially in secular Turkey where a popular fundamentalist Istanbul imam is convinced to jump into the upcoming Presidential election by Ozden Celik. Celik and his sister Maria are behind the mosque bombings are the heirs to the last Ottoman sultan and are attempting to resurrect their family’s place in the country while also grabbing up anything connected to the Ottoman family. While doing underwater explorations off Turkey and on the Israeli coasts respectfully, Dirk Pitt and Dirk Pitt, Jr., find historic discoveries but the elder Pitt’s gets him in the sights of the Celik’s due to its connection to Sulieman the Magnificent. Pitt and NUMA are instrumental in help prevent a massive terror attack in Istanbul by the Celik’s just days before the election and prevent the fundamentalist candidate from winning. Summer Pitt stumbles upon a manifest in England that dates to the time of Constantine and sheds new light on early Christianity through relics found by his mother Helena but finds herself followed and foiled by a rogue British archaeologist. It turns out all three Pitts have found things connected to the 4th century Roman gallery that is found in a cavern in Crete with numerous holy relics connected with Christ and the disciples.
This book continued the fantastic run of narratives since Dirk Cussler joined his father in writing the series, however this is the first that had some annoying plot holes. The biggest and most important for the narrative plot is how getting a fundamentalist Islamic candidate win the Presidential election of the secular republic of Turkey would lead to the Celiks once again coming to power, without really touching on this the Celiks are just psychopathic terrorist siblings of which Maria is the better character of the two. The secondary antagonist, Bannister Ridley, was a cleaver annoying—in a good way—character that added spice to the book. The Pitts being split up into individual stories before coming together at the end was smart decision because it allowed Dirk Jr. and Summer to grow as characters even though Pitt and Al Giordino continued to be the A-subplot.
Crescent Dawn continues the strong narrative installments since Dirk Cussler has joined his father in writing though a significant plot hole marred it slightly. Regardless of the usual clichés of the series, Clive Cussler’s signature franchise is going through its best stretch of books.
The plot begins first in 327 AD a Roman galley carrying cargo so important that a contingent of the Emperor Constantine’s own guard is aboard when it is attacked by pirates off Crete before jumping 1916 in which a British warship mysteriously explodes and sinks in the North Sea. In the present, important mosques in Egypt and Turkey are damaged by planted explosives that raise tensions amongst Muslims across the Middle East, but especially in secular Turkey where a popular fundamentalist Istanbul imam is convinced to jump into the upcoming Presidential election by Ozden Celik. Celik and his sister Maria are behind the mosque bombings are the heirs to the last Ottoman sultan and are attempting to resurrect their family’s place in the country while also grabbing up anything connected to the Ottoman family. While doing underwater explorations off Turkey and on the Israeli coasts respectfully, Dirk Pitt and Dirk Pitt, Jr., find historic discoveries but the elder Pitt’s gets him in the sights of the Celik’s due to its connection to Sulieman the Magnificent. Pitt and NUMA are instrumental in help prevent a massive terror attack in Istanbul by the Celik’s just days before the election and prevent the fundamentalist candidate from winning. Summer Pitt stumbles upon a manifest in England that dates to the time of Constantine and sheds new light on early Christianity through relics found by his mother Helena but finds herself followed and foiled by a rogue British archaeologist. It turns out all three Pitts have found things connected to the 4th century Roman gallery that is found in a cavern in Crete with numerous holy relics connected with Christ and the disciples.
This book continued the fantastic run of narratives since Dirk Cussler joined his father in writing the series, however this is the first that had some annoying plot holes. The biggest and most important for the narrative plot is how getting a fundamentalist Islamic candidate win the Presidential election of the secular republic of Turkey would lead to the Celiks once again coming to power, without really touching on this the Celiks are just psychopathic terrorist siblings of which Maria is the better character of the two. The secondary antagonist, Bannister Ridley, was a cleaver annoying—in a good way—character that added spice to the book. The Pitts being split up into individual stories before coming together at the end was smart decision because it allowed Dirk Jr. and Summer to grow as characters even though Pitt and Al Giordino continued to be the A-subplot.
Crescent Dawn continues the strong narrative installments since Dirk Cussler has joined his father in writing though a significant plot hole marred it slightly. Regardless of the usual clichés of the series, Clive Cussler’s signature franchise is going through its best stretch of books.
June 7, 2021
Now this was a great story. Unlike the last book I read by Cussler and Cussler (Odessa Sea), this one was not disjointed at all. Good characters (of course) coupled with a good plot made for an excellent tale. They earned all of their five star rating this time.
December 12, 2024
This was better than your typical Dirk Pitt novel. Both of the children, Dirk, Jr. and Summer were featured separately, and were the stars of the book. The plot held together, with typical villains and some interesting history about a fascinating part of the world.
February 4, 2014
SUBJECTIVE REVIEW FOLLOWS:
Crescent Dawn was a good read, sort of like a comfortable chair we've grown accustomed to Clive Cussler's storytelling. Crescent Dawn captures two main subplots, one aimed at recreating the Ottoman Empire Ataturk banished when he declared Turkey a secular state. The other subplot is the recovery of sacred artifacts of Jesus time, lost when a Roman bireme was attacked by pirates while transporting them to Constantinople in 327 AD. I think most mystery fans will like this book, and it was worth the price of admission.
SPOILER PLOT SUMMARY FOLLOWS:
In Search of the Manifest. Dirk Pitt, ever in search of the unknown, is diving on a wreck off of Chios when his Aegean Explorer is attacked by bandits and kills two of his scientists at the wreck site. He slowly discovers that the wreck is a Roman bireme galley, set upon by two pirate ships in 327 AD and overwhelmed, but the bireme sunk and was subsequently concealed by layers of sand and mud. Unbeknownst to the world, the bireme was transporting artifacts of Jesus from Judea to Constantinople as prized relics. The chase to the relics is badly interrupted by two descendants of the last Ottoman Sultan, as they plot to have the Mufti of Istanbul elected president to return Turkey to a Sharia land. The Celiks execute their plot by setting up bombs in Istanbul and another muslim city, but are mostly overtaken when they move the plot to Jerusalem to take out the Rock of the Mount. Unfortunately, Dirk Jr's girl Sophie Elkin is killed in the attempt to defuse the bombs and Dirk Jr is ready for revenge. The Celik's make a hit on the Aegean Explorer while Dirk and Al Giordino are diving, taking all of the artifacts thus far recovered and Dr. Zeibig from the lab as hostage. Dirk and Al take out in the Bullet, a hyper-fast over or under water craft and chase the pirate craft to a hidden cove in Turkey. They recover Ziebig and discover that the Celiks had loaded eight hundred pounds of HDX along with tons of ammonium nitrate aboard a retrofitted Israeli water tanker, which they launch in hopes of exploding it on the shoreline of Istanbul. The hatred garnered from an Isreali ship exploding in the Golden Horn and killing untold thousands would incite Muslim outrage and launch the Mufti Battal to the presidency. Dirk, Al and Israeli commando LT Lazlo get to the tanker just as it approaches Istanbul and manage to turn it slowly towards a dredge that Al operates to carve a huge hole in the side of the tanker. The tanker lists until it falls over on the Celik's Italian yacht, taking out Maria Celik as the tanker capsizes and the explosions are contained in the depths of the Bosporus Strait. Having defeated the insurrection, Dirk and the Aegean Explorer return to Cyprus and discover the Roman bireme sheltered under a shoreline rock formation. After defeating treasure hawker Ridley Bannister and his thugs, they get to view the remnants of the Manifest on display in the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul.
Crescent Dawn was a good read, sort of like a comfortable chair we've grown accustomed to Clive Cussler's storytelling. Crescent Dawn captures two main subplots, one aimed at recreating the Ottoman Empire Ataturk banished when he declared Turkey a secular state. The other subplot is the recovery of sacred artifacts of Jesus time, lost when a Roman bireme was attacked by pirates while transporting them to Constantinople in 327 AD. I think most mystery fans will like this book, and it was worth the price of admission.
SPOILER PLOT SUMMARY FOLLOWS:
In Search of the Manifest. Dirk Pitt, ever in search of the unknown, is diving on a wreck off of Chios when his Aegean Explorer is attacked by bandits and kills two of his scientists at the wreck site. He slowly discovers that the wreck is a Roman bireme galley, set upon by two pirate ships in 327 AD and overwhelmed, but the bireme sunk and was subsequently concealed by layers of sand and mud. Unbeknownst to the world, the bireme was transporting artifacts of Jesus from Judea to Constantinople as prized relics. The chase to the relics is badly interrupted by two descendants of the last Ottoman Sultan, as they plot to have the Mufti of Istanbul elected president to return Turkey to a Sharia land. The Celiks execute their plot by setting up bombs in Istanbul and another muslim city, but are mostly overtaken when they move the plot to Jerusalem to take out the Rock of the Mount. Unfortunately, Dirk Jr's girl Sophie Elkin is killed in the attempt to defuse the bombs and Dirk Jr is ready for revenge. The Celik's make a hit on the Aegean Explorer while Dirk and Al Giordino are diving, taking all of the artifacts thus far recovered and Dr. Zeibig from the lab as hostage. Dirk and Al take out in the Bullet, a hyper-fast over or under water craft and chase the pirate craft to a hidden cove in Turkey. They recover Ziebig and discover that the Celiks had loaded eight hundred pounds of HDX along with tons of ammonium nitrate aboard a retrofitted Israeli water tanker, which they launch in hopes of exploding it on the shoreline of Istanbul. The hatred garnered from an Isreali ship exploding in the Golden Horn and killing untold thousands would incite Muslim outrage and launch the Mufti Battal to the presidency. Dirk, Al and Israeli commando LT Lazlo get to the tanker just as it approaches Istanbul and manage to turn it slowly towards a dredge that Al operates to carve a huge hole in the side of the tanker. The tanker lists until it falls over on the Celik's Italian yacht, taking out Maria Celik as the tanker capsizes and the explosions are contained in the depths of the Bosporus Strait. Having defeated the insurrection, Dirk and the Aegean Explorer return to Cyprus and discover the Roman bireme sheltered under a shoreline rock formation. After defeating treasure hawker Ridley Bannister and his thugs, they get to view the remnants of the Manifest on display in the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul.
October 10, 2013
Cussler's novels continue to be pulpish entertainment. Cussler always creates an odd web of intrigue including a mystery from ancient times crossed with a modern day threat of globabl proposrtions. This time, the story is about a shipwreck that contains something called the manifest. The manifest is a list of relics from the Holy Land, one of which appears to disprove the resurrection of Jesus himself. Therefore, the Muslims want to expose it, and the Anglican church has already taken action to conceal it. In the midst of this, a group of terrorists are trying to create a holy war by faking attacks on Muslim holy sites.
Into the midst of this web of intrigue comes our intrepid heroes, Dirk Pitt, Al Giordino, Dirk Pitt, jr. and Summer Pitt. (Isn't it amazing that Dirk didn't name one of his kids Peach?)
As usual, the Pitts are a cross between James Bond and Indiana Jones as they do both secret agent type stuff as well as maritime archaeological work. The villains are always whack jobs and are ALWAYS foolish enough to not simply kill the adversaries, but leave them around to foil their plots.
Cussler again employs the juvenile device of inserting himself and one of his autombiles into the story. The Pitts have met the author often enough in other books that by now they should recognize the old geezer. Somehow they don't do so. Cussler always includes some sort of an old car, making me wonder if he is able to use his rebuild costs as a tax deduction because he counts such restoration as research for his writing?
Sadly, with the addition of Dirk, jr. and Summer, the kids... Cussler continues to lower his standards and ends up taking his writing to a level that is only slightly above the level of HARDY BOYS or NANCY DREW. Coupled with the need to write himself into his novels-- sorry, this distracts terribly for me. At least when Hitchcock made his cameos, it never interfered with nor advanced the plot and therefore it was comical. I suppose in print it would be difficult to replicate the non-intrusive cameo, therefore, it would likely be best if it were simply left out entirely.
That's not to say that Cussler's novels are not fun to read. His early stuff is very, very, good -- but this particular series (The PITT stories) are clearly losing steam. Some of his other colloborations are still very good and definitely better reading than this juvenile fiction.
Into the midst of this web of intrigue comes our intrepid heroes, Dirk Pitt, Al Giordino, Dirk Pitt, jr. and Summer Pitt. (Isn't it amazing that Dirk didn't name one of his kids Peach?)
As usual, the Pitts are a cross between James Bond and Indiana Jones as they do both secret agent type stuff as well as maritime archaeological work. The villains are always whack jobs and are ALWAYS foolish enough to not simply kill the adversaries, but leave them around to foil their plots.
Cussler again employs the juvenile device of inserting himself and one of his autombiles into the story. The Pitts have met the author often enough in other books that by now they should recognize the old geezer. Somehow they don't do so. Cussler always includes some sort of an old car, making me wonder if he is able to use his rebuild costs as a tax deduction because he counts such restoration as research for his writing?
Sadly, with the addition of Dirk, jr. and Summer, the kids... Cussler continues to lower his standards and ends up taking his writing to a level that is only slightly above the level of HARDY BOYS or NANCY DREW. Coupled with the need to write himself into his novels-- sorry, this distracts terribly for me. At least when Hitchcock made his cameos, it never interfered with nor advanced the plot and therefore it was comical. I suppose in print it would be difficult to replicate the non-intrusive cameo, therefore, it would likely be best if it were simply left out entirely.
That's not to say that Cussler's novels are not fun to read. His early stuff is very, very, good -- but this particular series (The PITT stories) are clearly losing steam. Some of his other colloborations are still very good and definitely better reading than this juvenile fiction.
August 2, 2014
I see a lot of negative reviews for CRESCENT DAWN (ISBN 978-0425242391, paperback, $9.99) by the father and son team of CLIVE and DIRK CUSSLER. I heartily DISAGREE with the naysayers. If you have enjoyed any of the previous 21 Dirk Pitt adventures, you SHOULD enjoy this one as well.
Primarily set in the Middle East with brief interludes in Washington D.C. and Great Britain, Dirk Pitt and the rest of his family and NUMA cast of characters are confronted with two problems - one religious and one historical.
The first involves the discovery of an ancient document called "The Manifest". This is a list of cargo on a Roman ship that was shipwrecked on or near the island of Cyprus in the Mediterranean Sea in the first third of the fourth century. What is on the ship, and The Manifest, could have a mega negative effect on Christianity. There is a race to discover the relics of the Roman galley. There is a relationship to the explosion on board Lord Kitchener's flagship that sank the ship during WW1.
The second problem is that the Middle East is suffering through a series of bombings of mosques in different countries. We know who and why this is happening. An election in Turkey is the cause of this terrorist activity. Pitt and company become involved when Dirk junior falls in love with an Israeli Antiquities agent. They find out about a plan to blow up the Temple Mount in Old Town Jerusalem which leads them to Turkey.
There are car chases, boat chases and mayhem throughout the story as the heroes try to stop the villains. What fun! I can recommend this Cussler/Pitt adventure without hesitation.
GO! BUY! READ!
Primarily set in the Middle East with brief interludes in Washington D.C. and Great Britain, Dirk Pitt and the rest of his family and NUMA cast of characters are confronted with two problems - one religious and one historical.
The first involves the discovery of an ancient document called "The Manifest". This is a list of cargo on a Roman ship that was shipwrecked on or near the island of Cyprus in the Mediterranean Sea in the first third of the fourth century. What is on the ship, and The Manifest, could have a mega negative effect on Christianity. There is a race to discover the relics of the Roman galley. There is a relationship to the explosion on board Lord Kitchener's flagship that sank the ship during WW1.
The second problem is that the Middle East is suffering through a series of bombings of mosques in different countries. We know who and why this is happening. An election in Turkey is the cause of this terrorist activity. Pitt and company become involved when Dirk junior falls in love with an Israeli Antiquities agent. They find out about a plan to blow up the Temple Mount in Old Town Jerusalem which leads them to Turkey.
There are car chases, boat chases and mayhem throughout the story as the heroes try to stop the villains. What fun! I can recommend this Cussler/Pitt adventure without hesitation.
GO! BUY! READ!
Read
September 29, 2011Le affascinanti profondità marine celano tesori e misteri meravigliosi e inimmaginabili, che sfidano il tempo e la memoria. Nessuno lo sa meglio di Dirk Pitt, direttore della Numa, e del suo braccio destro Al Giordino, che al mare hanno dedicato la vita e la professione. Ma questa volta c'è un inspiegabile filo rosso che lega una galera romana affondata nel Mediterraneo da un attacco di pirati nel 327 a.C. e una nave da guerra britannica, misteriosamente scomparsa nel 1916 al largo delle isole Orcadi. Un filo rosso di sangue che porta fino ai giorni nostri, a una serie di violenti attentati a danno di moschee al Cairo e a Istanbul, che rischiano di far precipitare la situazione già molto tesa del Medio Oriente. A chi appartiene la mano omicida che muove le fila di questo terribile disegno di morte? Solo Dirk Pitt può venirne a capo, aiutato dai suoi figli Dirk jr e Summer, in un'avventura senza respiro che li porterà dai vicoli di Gerusalemme ai castelli della campagna inglese, allo splendido palazzo del Topkapi, in fuga da un'oscura e terribile organizzazione capeggiata da un criminale sadico che cova un folle sogno di grandezza. Fino a una scoperta sensazionale, che potrebbe rimettere in discussione la storia e le sue verità . Ma il prezzo da pagare per gli eroi della Numa sarà molto alto.
April 2, 2017
3.5
This book has lots of action, drama and mystery with a splattering of hummor... all the hallmarks of a Dirk Pitt novel.
Some of Cussler's books are very in depth with regards to its historical mysteries and I really like that, even though it's fiction you can usually feel the research that's been done seep through and makes the story more compelling, however this book is a bit light in that respect.
Overall Crescent Dawn is classic Cussler but not standout, one I'd recommend to any Dirk Pitt fans out there that want to continue in his adventures.
This book has lots of action, drama and mystery with a splattering of hummor... all the hallmarks of a Dirk Pitt novel.
Some of Cussler's books are very in depth with regards to its historical mysteries and I really like that, even though it's fiction you can usually feel the research that's been done seep through and makes the story more compelling, however this book is a bit light in that respect.
Overall Crescent Dawn is classic Cussler but not standout, one I'd recommend to any Dirk Pitt fans out there that want to continue in his adventures.
December 9, 2017
It's typical Clive Cussler action adventure/mystery that takes part a lot under the water as the main character is head of NUMA, National Underwater Marine Agency. I like adventure/mystery novels so it was good to read another one. It's not a literary masterpiece (but it is well written) so if that's what you're looking for, best to move on, but if you want a quick read that keeps moving and has twists and turns (several sub-plots), then enjoy.
December 20, 2010
Too many plot lines that skipped about too rapidly for my taste. I got to the point where I just didn't care what happened and quit reading about 100 pages from the end.
I do like adventure/suspense novels and I am a fan of the early Clive Cussler books. This one just didn't quite do it for me.
I do like adventure/suspense novels and I am a fan of the early Clive Cussler books. This one just didn't quite do it for me.
February 22, 2020
I usually enjoy this series. This book was painful to read for me. I kept reading, hence the 3 stars, but I skipped over a lot of it. Very predictable if you've read other books in the series and the story arcs didn't seem to fit together as well as usual.
February 19, 2018
Too long and too many "almosts and then not"!
September 23, 2019
Hat wie all die anderen Bände die ich gelesen habe, viel Spaß gemacht.
November 30, 2019
Clussler always delivers a action packed, globe hopping, and thrilling read!
February 27, 2020
Cussler is always good. Depth of research excellent. Story line great
September 4, 2020
This one was a bit hard for me to keep track of what was going on all the time, but I loved the ending!!
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