Golden Buddha
by Clive Cussler and Craig Dirgo
Penguin $108
This series introduces a new action hero: the one-legged sea captain Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo. On the surface, his ship, the Oregon, is a derelict rust bucket. But it's really a hi-tech vessel with state-of-the-art submarines, electronic equipment and diving gear on board. The crew members are not what they seem either. They're all highly trained men and women who've served in the armed forces. Cabrillo and his crew are mercenaries, available for hire by countries or large companies to perform clandestine services around the world. But Cabrillo won't work for anyone he doesn't approve of. In this instalment, he's been hired by the US government to find and rescue a Golden Buddha statue that was stolen from the Dalai Lama by the Chinese in 1959. The array of James Bond-style secret weapons that Cussler has dreamed up for his heroes will keep fans entertained.