What do you think?
Spartan Gold by Clive Cussler
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 27, 2026
Meet Sam and Remi Fargo. They’re filthy rich, absurdly attractive, smarter than everyone in the room, can decipher thousand-year-old mysteries before breakfast, and somehow still have a healthier marriage than 99% of the couples on HGTV. It’s honestly obnoxious.
This book is basically what happens when you give Indiana Jones a spouse, unlimited vacation time, and a bank account that says, “Money is merely a suggestion.”
Grant Blackwood keeps the story flying with treasure hunts, historical mysteries, and enough action to make you think, “There’s absolutely no way they’d survive this.” Then they do… because of course they do. They’re the Fargos. Gravity, bullets, and common sense are all optional.
The historical elements were surprisingly cool. Blackwood sprinkles in just enough real history that I occasionally forgot I was reading fiction. Then someone jumps off a cliff onto a moving boat and reality politely excuses itself from the room.
As a San Diego local, I got a kick out of the hometown connection. It’s always fun when your city gets a cameo instead of being destroyed by aliens or a giant earthquake.
If you’re looking for nonstop action without needing a therapist afterward because every chapter is soaked in blood and existential despair, this is your book. It’s fun, fast, and never takes itself too seriously.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I apparently have an entire Fargo series to read because Grant Blackwood tricked me into becoming a fan.
This book is basically what happens when you give Indiana Jones a spouse, unlimited vacation time, and a bank account that says, “Money is merely a suggestion.”
Grant Blackwood keeps the story flying with treasure hunts, historical mysteries, and enough action to make you think, “There’s absolutely no way they’d survive this.” Then they do… because of course they do. They’re the Fargos. Gravity, bullets, and common sense are all optional.
The historical elements were surprisingly cool. Blackwood sprinkles in just enough real history that I occasionally forgot I was reading fiction. Then someone jumps off a cliff onto a moving boat and reality politely excuses itself from the room.
As a San Diego local, I got a kick out of the hometown connection. It’s always fun when your city gets a cameo instead of being destroyed by aliens or a giant earthquake.
If you’re looking for nonstop action without needing a therapist afterward because every chapter is soaked in blood and existential despair, this is your book. It’s fun, fast, and never takes itself too seriously.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I apparently have an entire Fargo series to read because Grant Blackwood tricked me into becoming a fan.
November 10, 2025
I just finished Spartan Gold, the first entry in the Fargo Adventures series, and it’s a great kickoff to a modern treasure-hunting saga. This book feels like a contemporary Indiana Jones story full of mystery, history, clever puzzles, and globe-trotting action. Sam and Remi Fargo make for a fun husband-and-wife duo, blending intellect, adventure, and humor as they unravel a centuries-old mystery.
It starts in the Maryland swamps, where the Fargos stumble across a World War II German U-boat containing a rare bottle from Napoleon’s lost cellar. This discovery sets off a chain of events that leads them on a chase across continents for the legendary “Spartan Gold,” all while being hunted by the ruthless Hadeon Bondaruk.
While it’s clear Clive Cussler’s name carries the brand and much of the style, Grant Blackwood’s hand seems more prominent in the writing itself. The pacing, banter, and historical threads work well, even if some moments feel a bit formulaic. Still, it’s an entertaining and fast-paced read perfect for fans of historical mysteries and high-stakes adventure.
If you enjoy treasure hunts, ancient secrets, and cinematic escapades, Spartan Gold is a strong start to a series that only gets better from here.
It starts in the Maryland swamps, where the Fargos stumble across a World War II German U-boat containing a rare bottle from Napoleon’s lost cellar. This discovery sets off a chain of events that leads them on a chase across continents for the legendary “Spartan Gold,” all while being hunted by the ruthless Hadeon Bondaruk.
While it’s clear Clive Cussler’s name carries the brand and much of the style, Grant Blackwood’s hand seems more prominent in the writing itself. The pacing, banter, and historical threads work well, even if some moments feel a bit formulaic. Still, it’s an entertaining and fast-paced read perfect for fans of historical mysteries and high-stakes adventure.
If you enjoy treasure hunts, ancient secrets, and cinematic escapades, Spartan Gold is a strong start to a series that only gets better from here.
December 22, 2024
The Fargos are on another adventure after finding a bottle from Napolean's wine cellar. They first have to figure out the clues on the bottle they have and then the clues on each bottle they find thereafter. Someone else is also after the bottles and treasure and they have to keep one step ahead of them.
It was a good book and you wanted to keep reading to see what would happen next.
It was a good book and you wanted to keep reading to see what would happen next.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews