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taque's review against another edition
2.0
What do a St. Lawrence River boat crash and a Hudson River train crash have in common? Dirk Pitt. That and the fact that several governments are all interested in a historical artifact relating to both diasters. Throw in some high-tech diving and gunfights, take Giordino and Gunn along for the ride, and you have Night Probe.
Cussler had almost hit his stride with this book. It was better written than his next, Iceberg, and he brought the reader into the story. The downside was the last third of the book again, where Cussler seems to struggle. A moment of brutality and some ending scenarios that just did not seem believable, even for the characters and plot.
Cussler had almost hit his stride with this book. It was better written than his next, Iceberg, and he brought the reader into the story. The downside was the last third of the book again, where Cussler seems to struggle. A moment of brutality and some ending scenarios that just did not seem believable, even for the characters and plot.
thomcat's review against another edition
4.0
The fifth published Dirk Pitt novel was pretty good, and may be a tough standard for the other novels to live up to. Underwater action, adventure, seduction, and of course classic cars - but this novel adds history to the mix quite effectively. I just wish it were more electronically available...
I have read that this is one of the best early Dirk Pitt novels - apparently [b:Treasure|85737|Treasure (Dirk Pitt, #9)|Clive Cussler|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1314486012l/85737._SY75_.jpg|3041094] is the dividing point. I did enjoy it quite a bit, especially the underwater scenes. I also read that Brian Shaw was essentially James Bond, but I didn't get that vibe. Well, okay, full marks in the seduction game, but otherwise no. Gly is a suitable villain, though a bit mad. I understand he returns in a later novel.
So what didn't I like? I remember 1981, and the threat of a separatist Quebec was as much in the news as the Cold war. The ending felt very a-historical. This is only the 2nd Dirk Pitt I've read, so maybe this is always a thing, but I'm not sure how this world continues. Also, the action at the end was a little hard to follow. Minor quibbles, indeed. Will be interesting to see how the others match up to this.
I have read that this is one of the best early Dirk Pitt novels - apparently [b:Treasure|85737|Treasure (Dirk Pitt, #9)|Clive Cussler|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1314486012l/85737._SY75_.jpg|3041094] is the dividing point. I did enjoy it quite a bit, especially the underwater scenes. I also read that Brian Shaw was essentially James Bond, but I didn't get that vibe. Well, okay, full marks in the seduction game, but otherwise no. Gly is a suitable villain, though a bit mad. I understand he returns in a later novel.
So what didn't I like? I remember 1981, and the threat of a separatist Quebec was as much in the news as the Cold war. The ending felt very a-historical. This is only the 2nd Dirk Pitt I've read, so maybe this is always a thing, but I'm not sure how this world continues. Also, the action at the end was a little hard to follow. Minor quibbles, indeed. Will be interesting to see how the others match up to this.
bodebeabay's review against another edition
4.0
[b:Night Probe!|818372|Night Probe! (Dirk Pitt, #6)|Clive Cussler|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388278191s/818372.jpg|1689755] by [a:Clive Cussler|18411|Clive Cussler|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1225620641p2/18411.jpg]
Genres; Action/Adventure, Crime, Mystery, Suspense
4 Stars
Published April 1st 1982 by Bantam Book
I admit it. I oftentimes buy my books at flea markets and yard sells. What is awesome is when the wife is dumping her husbands book collection. Talk about a gold mine for an avid addicted reader and a lover of suspense, action and 'secret agent' types. This particular yard sell endeavor yielded me a BOX FULL of paperback and (got to love it) Hardback! copies of Clive Cussler books and other gems.
Another big plus, in the very near future I was to meet my present husband, and when he saw my collection of these books, it was 'Insta-Love'.
I sometimes wonder if he just wanted me for my books. Lmbo.
This one was full of action and suspense. Mystery & Intrigue.
A super fun read.
I Loved it.
Genres; Action/Adventure, Crime, Mystery, Suspense
4 Stars
Published April 1st 1982 by Bantam Book
I admit it. I oftentimes buy my books at flea markets and yard sells. What is awesome is when the wife is dumping her husbands book collection. Talk about a gold mine for an avid addicted reader and a lover of suspense, action and 'secret agent' types. This particular yard sell endeavor yielded me a BOX FULL of paperback and (got to love it) Hardback! copies of Clive Cussler books and other gems.
Another big plus, in the very near future I was to meet my present husband, and when he saw my collection of these books, it was 'Insta-Love'.
I sometimes wonder if he just wanted me for my books. Lmbo.
This one was full of action and suspense. Mystery & Intrigue.
A super fun read.
I Loved it.
unphilosophize's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
fat_girl_fiction's review against another edition
4.0
Night Probe by Clive Cussler
I'm a massive fan of Clive Cussler and all his works, especially Dirk Pitt, Kurt Austin and the new Isaac Bell stories. As expected, Night Probe is a great addition to the collection. It's classic Cussler, spans over years and is full of action and adventure.
I'm a massive fan of Clive Cussler and all his works, especially Dirk Pitt, Kurt Austin and the new Isaac Bell stories. As expected, Night Probe is a great addition to the collection. It's classic Cussler, spans over years and is full of action and adventure.
dsneediii's review against another edition
4.0
This was another great story in the Dirk Pitt series. I liked the whole premise of the U.S. floundering with money issues and a shortage of oil, and a document that may well be the solution to the problems. Overall this was a great action/ adventure book and is a must read for Clive Cussler fans.
misscharlied's review against another edition
4.0
Stupid Heidi. So stupid!
One female character, and she's gorgeous, super intelligent, and screws everything up for "love" - INFURIATING, CUSSLER.
By the by, story is pretty good. Quite the spin.
Maybe too many spins.
One female character, and she's gorgeous, super intelligent, and screws everything up for "love" - INFURIATING, CUSSLER.
By the by, story is pretty good. Quite the spin.
Maybe too many spins.
vermidian's review against another edition
2.0
This is not a book I would choose to read again. For that reason, I feel 2 stars is accurate.
The plot is interesting enough, but more than anything it’s inconsequential to the overall series as the final discovery never seems to be mentioned again. This is something I find to be a failing of the books. While they make several mentions of the Vixen affair in this book, no one mentions anything in later books about the grand merger.
As per usual, the sexism is pretty thick. It wasn’t nearly as bad, granted, but I still found myself wondering if Clive Cussler had ever met real women before. His women seem to be doll-like and mostly there to flatter the egos of strong, male characters. Heidi falls into bed with two of them while the only other female character, the Canadian PM’s wife, was passed around by three assholes the whole book. Oh, the PM wasn’t that bad you say? Shut it. He literally helped enact his own wife’s murder with a contract killer. I don’t see how any of the men in this book are in any way desirable. Sure, Dirk Pitt may be handsome and a daredevil, but his personality is sorely lacking. Shaw gets a pass, I guess, if it doesn’t bother you that he repeatedly used Heidi for his own purposes.
All in all, this book is passable. Good? Eh. Not really for me. Just passable. I know Cussler can write, and his writing does seem to be improving, but it’s not quite there yet for me.
The plot is interesting enough, but more than anything it’s inconsequential to the overall series as the final discovery never seems to be mentioned again. This is something I find to be a failing of the books. While they make several mentions of the Vixen affair in this book, no one mentions anything in later books about the grand merger.
As per usual, the sexism is pretty thick. It wasn’t nearly as bad, granted, but I still found myself wondering if Clive Cussler had ever met real women before. His women seem to be doll-like and mostly there to flatter the egos of strong, male characters. Heidi falls into bed with two of them while the only other female character, the Canadian PM’s wife, was passed around by three assholes the whole book. Oh, the PM wasn’t that bad you say? Shut it. He literally helped enact his own wife’s murder with a contract killer. I don’t see how any of the men in this book are in any way desirable. Sure, Dirk Pitt may be handsome and a daredevil, but his personality is sorely lacking. Shaw gets a pass, I guess, if it doesn’t bother you that he repeatedly used Heidi for his own purposes.
All in all, this book is passable. Good? Eh. Not really for me. Just passable. I know Cussler can write, and his writing does seem to be improving, but it’s not quite there yet for me.
bookishdea's review against another edition
4.0
The thing to keep in mind during this book is when it was published. It's a good book, a fun read, implausible but amusing, and I certainly have a weak spot for books like this. But as a modern reader who wasn't born when this book was published, I definitely had to keep telling myself that this book was published before the Berlin Wall came down, before the internet or truly modern communication, etc. That doesn't really take away from the story, but it's still something to remember when you want to go "but why not do X" and then remember that X didn't exist yet, or that we were still not at all friendly with Russia, etc.