Spartan Gold

By: Clive Cussler

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 12 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's summary

The debut of a brand-new, action-packed series from the number-one New York Times best-selling master of "pure entertainment" ( People).

Thousands of years ago, the Persian king Xerxes the Great was said to have raided the Treasury at Delphi, carrying away two solid gold pillars as tribute. In 1800 Napoleon Bonaparte and his army stumble across the pillars in the Pennine Alps. Unable to transport them, Napoleon creates a map on the labels of 12 bottles of rare wine. And when Napoleon dies, the bottles disappear....

Treasure hunters Sam and Remi Fargo are exploring the Great Pocomoke Swamp in Delaware when they are shocked to discover a World War II German U-boat. Inside, they find a bottle taken from Napoleon's "lost cellar". Fascinated, the Fargos set out to find the rest of the collection.

But another connoisseur of sorts has been looking for the bottle they've just found. He is Hadeon Bondaruk - a half- Russian, half-Persian millionaire. He claims to be a descendant of King Xerxes himself. And he wants his treasure back.

©2009 Clive Cussler (P)2009 Penguin

Action Packed Treasure Hunt

BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front) A non stop action packed packed treasure hunt that left few if any loose ends and kept me wanting to listen for what was coming around the bend.

Plot: I almost gave the book four stars because I like to reserve 5 for books I couldn't put down, but at the end of the day this was one of them. A husband and wife team wind up following clues, with historic references to Napoleon, the Spartans and Xerxes all the while trying to dodge, outsmart and stay one step ahead a vicious Ukrainian mob boss that is on the same trail. If you like the movie National Treasure or the Dan Brown books (Angels & Demons or Da Vinci Code) I would put this in that same category.

Narrator: I think Scott Brick does a very good job, as he does with the other Cussler books he reads. He is a solid narrator that I find few flaws with a very rarely take issue with any of his voices. I don't believe he has the range or difference in tones that some other narrators do, but all in all I enjoy his work.

Great read

This is a great listen. Suspence with musical magic. Perfect for a break at the office or on the road.

Our heros should have been dead twice over

Nobody gets that lucky that often and professionals that often unprofessional. There were too many cases were our heros should have just gotten shot by the "professionals" and what ever they had in treasures been taken. Also I loved the history lesson the author did not spend enough time developing plausible scenarios how our heros get out of sticky situations.

Not bad.

Any additional comments?

I've always wanted to read Cussler and found this on Audible. It's good not great. Worth trying another Cussler.

Cussler creates another series to read.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, if you like Cussler's work in the past, i.e. Dirk Pitt, then you will enjoy meeting the Fargos. A married couple with no need to really work anymore, they go adventuring (my fantasy by the way) and have a love for history and history's secrets. So let the adventures begin.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Salma-the Fargos research assistant who is a computer hacker, forensics genius, and anything the Fargos need her to be.

Any additional comments?

Good introduction book for this series. Enough adventure mixed in with intrigue and comedy to keep the reader interested.

another superb book by a fantastic author.

Chrysler is a very unique author he is very prolific every book produced in superb

Fun, but cringe-worthy at times

Would you recommend Spartan Gold to your friends? Why or why not?

I would recommend it to Cussler fans. If you're not familiar with any of his other books, I would recommend reading an older one which was written without an additional author (i.e. Sahara, Cyclops, etc.)

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Scott Brick?

I don't have anyone in particular in mind, but Brick's narration was probably the biggest reason I didn't enjoy this story very much. He routinely ended sentences with a very "sing-songy" cadence that often betrayed the gravity of the situation.

Any additional comments?

The banter between Sam and Remi felt seriously forced. These were the "cringe-worthy" moments I mentioned in my headline, and they could probably have been forgiven if they weren't so needlessly frequent. The banter sort of dies down as the story really starts to move (mostly in what I'd consider the third act), but by then the damage is done.

Awesome Book

One of the best books I've ever read! It keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire time. It's impressive how the author is able to combine so many eras of time and locations into one storyline.

Another GREAT adventure story

A great 'listen', many twists in a super story line. The miles fly listening to this one as it pulls you right into the story. I highly recommend it.

Good, but predictable.

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed the relationship between the husband and wife. They acted as partners, and didn't argue when one or the other had more knowledge. Example: She's a crack shot, and Sam has no problem handing the gun over. The story is predictable, but still a fun little adventure.