Vahalla Rising by Clive Cussler

Title: Vahalla Rising

Author: Clive Cussler

Genre: Mystery, a Dirk Pitt novel

Summary: A clever scientist invents a way to produce high quality oil cheaply, but the company he used to work for doesn't want anyone to know about it.

The Take-Away: Fantastic escapes and rescues pepper this novel from the start. Every impossible situation is resolved and Dirk keeps his humor and wits about him at all time. The plot solely relies on the antics of Dirk and womanizing side-kick Al.

A unique element of Mr. Cussler's novels is the appearance of the author in each one. Usually, Dirk and Al have gotten themselves into a situation that no stretch of the imagination can resolve. Mr. Cussler literally steps in and saves the day. While it rings of deus ex machina, it becomes an event that the reader waits for, knowing that it will occur.

Recommendation: If action driven reading is what you seek, look to any of the Dirk Pitt novels.