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Fargo Adventures #7
The Solomon Curse
Sam and Remi Fargo search for a legendary lost city in this thrilling adventure from the #1 New York Times –bestselling author.
Husband-and-wife treasure-hunting team Sam and Remi Fargo have heard many rumors about the bay off Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. Some say it was the site of the vanished empire of the Solomon king and that great treasure lies beneath the waters. Others say terrible things happened here, atrocities and disappearances at the hands of cannibal giants, and those who venture there do not return. It is cursed.
The Fargos can’t resist the mystery, but their exploration takes a turn when islanders start disappearing. Soon the pair learn there may be truth behind the fables. Clues and whispers lead them on a hunt from the Solomons to Australia to Japan, and what they find at the end of the trail is both wonderful and monstrous—and like nothing they have ever seen before.
Husband-and-wife treasure-hunting team Sam and Remi Fargo have heard many rumors about the bay off Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. Some say it was the site of the vanished empire of the Solomon king and that great treasure lies beneath the waters. Others say terrible things happened here, atrocities and disappearances at the hands of cannibal giants, and those who venture there do not return. It is cursed.
The Fargos can’t resist the mystery, but their exploration takes a turn when islanders start disappearing. Soon the pair learn there may be truth behind the fables. Clues and whispers lead them on a hunt from the Solomons to Australia to Japan, and what they find at the end of the trail is both wonderful and monstrous—and like nothing they have ever seen before.
464 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2015
747 people are currently reading
3357 people want to read
About the author
Clive Cussler
643 books8,519 followersCussler began writing novels in 1965 and published his first work featuring his continuous series hero, Dirk Pitt, in 1973. His first non-fiction, The Sea Hunters, was released in 1996. The Board of Governors of the Maritime College, State University of New York, considered The Sea Hunters in lieu of a Ph.D. thesis and awarded Cussler a Doctor of Letters degree in May, 1997. It was the first time since the College was founded in 1874 that such a degree was bestowed.
Cussler was an internationally recognized authority on shipwrecks and the founder of the National Underwater and Marine Agency, (NUMA) a 501C3 non-profit organization (named after the fictional Federal agency in his novels) that dedicates itself to preserving American maritime and naval history. He and his crew of marine experts and NUMA volunteers discovered more than 60 historically significant underwater wreck sites including the first submarine to sink a ship in battle, the Confederacy's Hunley, and its victim, the Union's Housatonic; the U-20, the U-boat that sank the Lusitania; the Cumberland, which was sunk by the famous ironclad, Merrimack; the renowned Confederate raider Florida; the Navy airship, Akron, the Republic of Texas Navy warship, Zavala, found under a parking lot in Galveston, and the Carpathia, which sank almost six years to-the-day after plucking Titanic's survivors from the sea.
In addition to being the Chairman of NUMA, Cussler was also a fellow in both the Explorers Club of New York and the Royal Geographic Society in London. He was honored with the Lowell Thomas Award for outstanding underwater exploration.
Cussler's books have been published in more than 40 languages in more than 100 countries. His past international bestsellers include Pacific Vortex, Mediterranean Caper, Iceberg, Raise the Titanic, Vixen 03, Night Probe, Deep Six, Cyclops, Treasure, Dragon, Sahara, Inca Gold, Shock Wave, Flood Tide, Atlantis Found, Valhalla Rising, Trojan Odyssey and Black Wind (this last with his son, Dirk Cussler); the nonfiction books The Sea Hunters, The Sea Hunters II and Clive Cussler and Dirk Pitt Revealed; the NUMA® Files novels Serpent, Blue Gold, Fire Ice, White Death and Lost City (written with Paul Kemprecos); and the Oregon Files novels Sacred Stone and Golden Buddha (written with Craig Dirgo) and Dark Watch (written with Jack Du Brul).
Clive Cussler died at his home in Scottsdale, Arizona on February 24, 2020.
Cussler was an internationally recognized authority on shipwrecks and the founder of the National Underwater and Marine Agency, (NUMA) a 501C3 non-profit organization (named after the fictional Federal agency in his novels) that dedicates itself to preserving American maritime and naval history. He and his crew of marine experts and NUMA volunteers discovered more than 60 historically significant underwater wreck sites including the first submarine to sink a ship in battle, the Confederacy's Hunley, and its victim, the Union's Housatonic; the U-20, the U-boat that sank the Lusitania; the Cumberland, which was sunk by the famous ironclad, Merrimack; the renowned Confederate raider Florida; the Navy airship, Akron, the Republic of Texas Navy warship, Zavala, found under a parking lot in Galveston, and the Carpathia, which sank almost six years to-the-day after plucking Titanic's survivors from the sea.
In addition to being the Chairman of NUMA, Cussler was also a fellow in both the Explorers Club of New York and the Royal Geographic Society in London. He was honored with the Lowell Thomas Award for outstanding underwater exploration.
Cussler's books have been published in more than 40 languages in more than 100 countries. His past international bestsellers include Pacific Vortex, Mediterranean Caper, Iceberg, Raise the Titanic, Vixen 03, Night Probe, Deep Six, Cyclops, Treasure, Dragon, Sahara, Inca Gold, Shock Wave, Flood Tide, Atlantis Found, Valhalla Rising, Trojan Odyssey and Black Wind (this last with his son, Dirk Cussler); the nonfiction books The Sea Hunters, The Sea Hunters II and Clive Cussler and Dirk Pitt Revealed; the NUMA® Files novels Serpent, Blue Gold, Fire Ice, White Death and Lost City (written with Paul Kemprecos); and the Oregon Files novels Sacred Stone and Golden Buddha (written with Craig Dirgo) and Dark Watch (written with Jack Du Brul).
Clive Cussler died at his home in Scottsdale, Arizona on February 24, 2020.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 539 reviews
December 2, 2015
I've enjoyed this series, but this was not one of the better ones. I'm not sure if this is the same cowriter as the others, but this book needed another pass at the editor level.
There are a lot of repeated phrases. A particular politician is "one of the good ones" a few times. Someone trying to not show emotion has a face carved of various things, usually granite, sometimes mahogany. One of them jokes about hurting their sacroliliac, which I'm not sure anyone under 60 or so says at this point.
Flashlights die for no real reason. The Fargos make such brilliant choices as: There is unrest on the island, let's not stay on the safe boat because it doesn't meet our spoiled expectations. Oh, the unrest is getting worse. Let's go out for lunch. Someone just tried to kill us; let's go chase a robber in the dark, unarmed, alone. The main characters cover up a mass grave so they can go treasure hunting. This is not the Fargos as I've seen them before.
The main story involves another unexpected archeological find. There are native legends, an uprising (committed by "the rebel militia" that never gets a name, double crosses, and links to war crimes from World War II. The book ends with a new discovery and another mystery that is never explained.
This was a disappointment in the series. If the next one is like this, I will bow out on this one.
There are a lot of repeated phrases. A particular politician is "one of the good ones" a few times. Someone trying to not show emotion has a face carved of various things, usually granite, sometimes mahogany. One of them jokes about hurting their sacroliliac, which I'm not sure anyone under 60 or so says at this point.
Flashlights die for no real reason. The Fargos make such brilliant choices as: There is unrest on the island, let's not stay on the safe boat because it doesn't meet our spoiled expectations. Oh, the unrest is getting worse. Let's go out for lunch. Someone just tried to kill us; let's go chase a robber in the dark, unarmed, alone. The main characters cover up a mass grave so they can go treasure hunting. This is not the Fargos as I've seen them before.
The main story involves another unexpected archeological find. There are native legends, an uprising (committed by "the rebel militia" that never gets a name, double crosses, and links to war crimes from World War II. The book ends with a new discovery and another mystery that is never explained.
This was a disappointment in the series. If the next one is like this, I will bow out on this one.
September 20, 2021
Sam and Remi Fargo mystery. Here they follow a trail to mysterious underwater city of long ago. In the Solomon Islands where during WW11 Japanese occupation changed the surviving native's outlook to anything foreign. Legends grew for succeeding generations. They discovered other incredible things too. A slick read.
Unputdownable.
Unputdownable.
September 18, 2015
Another non stop ACTION thriller featuring the Fargo' s. Kept me interested from start to finish!
March 4, 2020
Good...but I've read better from this author.
December 28, 2015
I'm a bit disappointed. I started reading Clive Cussler's Oregon Files and Dirk Pitt and like them both.
In The Solomon Curse, the sunken temple exploration with reference to history was the best part of the book. It got me excited! The villain was sort of unexpected however I don't see how it was necessary to have that guy in Sydney in the story.
The worst part of the book for me was the conversation that seems unnatural between Sam and Remi including her team. Their jokes aren't even funny. I see that there are great reviews for this book and fans of this series. Too bad I didn't truly enjoy it and wanted to just finish it.
In The Solomon Curse, the sunken temple exploration with reference to history was the best part of the book. It got me excited! The villain was sort of unexpected however I don't see how it was necessary to have that guy in Sydney in the story.
The worst part of the book for me was the conversation that seems unnatural between Sam and Remi including her team. Their jokes aren't even funny. I see that there are great reviews for this book and fans of this series. Too bad I didn't truly enjoy it and wanted to just finish it.
September 17, 2015
From the time I read Inca Gold, I was hooked on Clive Cussler. I played catch-up with all his books before that one, and then waited impatiently for each book after. However, I was disappointed in The Solomon Curse. Never in any of Cussler's books have people been graphically hacked to death with machetes, or children kidnapped and used for medical experimentation while chained to the wall of a cave. Until this one. Really? This is not classic Cussler. This is not what I waited two months on a library waiting list for. I truly hope this is not a sign of things to come.
October 18, 2015
This has a different feel to it than most of Cussler’s stories. Instead of Sam & Remy having a fantastic discovery or getting involved in a megalomaniac’s dream to take over or something, it remains quiet and almost too peaceful though the first half. Lulling us into sleep. Even the archaeology part was just background.
Then later when the danger started happening, Sam seemed awfully calm in spite of all the bad stuff going on around him. It’s like he was in denial. I think the Fargo’s are getting too blasé about everything.
Both Leonid and Lazlo were boring with barely any real importance to the story. I knew off the bat who the real bad guy was and who the story’s scape goat was.
And it was a very odd ending. Felt like there should be more chapters. And what happened with the underwater buildings? For being the whole start of the book, they don’t have a very big role in the story. They’re just mentioned now and then as they check up on its progress. Maybe we’ll see them in a future book.
All and all, not as satisfying as it could have been.
Quick Thoughts: 1)You’d think Sam & Remi would have brought their own dive equipment. They’re rich enough.
2)After all the buildup, does Leonid ever dive?
Fave Scenes: trip to see Nauru, barricading the hospital, following the river clues, Manchester & Rollin’s meeting.
Then later when the danger started happening, Sam seemed awfully calm in spite of all the bad stuff going on around him. It’s like he was in denial. I think the Fargo’s are getting too blasé about everything.
Both Leonid and Lazlo were boring with barely any real importance to the story. I knew off the bat who the real bad guy was and who the story’s scape goat was.
And it was a very odd ending. Felt like there should be more chapters. And what happened with the underwater buildings? For being the whole start of the book, they don’t have a very big role in the story. They’re just mentioned now and then as they check up on its progress. Maybe we’ll see them in a future book.
All and all, not as satisfying as it could have been.
Quick Thoughts: 1)You’d think Sam & Remi would have brought their own dive equipment. They’re rich enough.
2)After all the buildup, does Leonid ever dive?
Fave Scenes: trip to see Nauru, barricading the hospital, following the river clues, Manchester & Rollin’s meeting.
October 18, 2015
The Sam & Remi Fargo novels are almost cookie-cutter. They get involved in a problem in an inaccessible, out-of-the-way location. They manage to get all of the material and equipment needed to get out of the situation. The prime mover in this series is really Selma, their office/research manager. Selma is able to arrange for anything, including air travel, fully equipped diving and research ships, and ex-Seal security people, on a moments notice, with almost immediate delivery. THE SOLOMOM CURSE is no exception. Set on the island of Guadalcanal, the Fargo's decimate the island rental car fleet in their search for a possible treasure trove. Cussler appears to have made one change in his writing style which I will not elaborate on because it would be a spoiler. Unfortunately, the Fargo series does not match up to Cussler's NUMA series (Dirk Pitt, Kurt Austin & company)or the OREGON series (Juan Cabrillo & company).
September 8, 2015
One of the worst to date. What is usually the main plot point, some type of underwater / archaeological site has little to anything to do with the plot. Luckily there are so many subplots, all basically irrelevant or poorly tied together, that it doesn't really matter. It must also be nice to know that as the main characters, you won't be killed off and will escape no matter what dangers you face. There's adventurous and brave, and then there's just stupid. The biggest escape they pull off is an escape from reality. I know that technically these are "escapist" literature, but there should be a touch of common sense and realism, otherwise it becomes too hard to swallow the adventure.
September 9, 2015
The basic Clive Cussler formula:
1. Protagonist(s) arrive on scene, rescue someone in distress.
2. Protagonist(s) meet foxy lady, either in distress, or involved in rescue.
3. Dinner between 1&2
4. Problem in the area discovered, usually ecological in nature/plundering the earth. Treasure may or not be involved.
5. Bad guys discover protagonist(s) on scene a threat; attempt to get rid of opposition.
6. 5 piques interest of protagonist(s); further investigation; further attempts to eliminate.
7. Action, adventure, twists and turns.
8. Situation resolved/humanity saved/bad guys defeated.
1. Protagonist(s) arrive on scene, rescue someone in distress.
2. Protagonist(s) meet foxy lady, either in distress, or involved in rescue.
3. Dinner between 1&2
4. Problem in the area discovered, usually ecological in nature/plundering the earth. Treasure may or not be involved.
5. Bad guys discover protagonist(s) on scene a threat; attempt to get rid of opposition.
6. 5 piques interest of protagonist(s); further investigation; further attempts to eliminate.
7. Action, adventure, twists and turns.
8. Situation resolved/humanity saved/bad guys defeated.
September 8, 2015
For me I normally give 5 stars for all of Clive Cussler's novels. But with this new author's writing of Russell Blake, I am not overly impressed with.
For those who have been on hand at the beginning of the Fargo's adventures, they have always had good bantering amongst themselves, but while I did enjoy the mystery, suspense and action, it just fell a little short for me. I will continue buying all of Clive Cusslers novels, because after reading them for 15 years, you are sort of hooked on the characters that have been established.
For those who have been on hand at the beginning of the Fargo's adventures, they have always had good bantering amongst themselves, but while I did enjoy the mystery, suspense and action, it just fell a little short for me. I will continue buying all of Clive Cusslers novels, because after reading them for 15 years, you are sort of hooked on the characters that have been established.
November 3, 2015
A pretty good read although the ending felt like it left you hanging and was sudden. It followed the standard course of Cussler's book and I liked that it allowed me to read without much thought and escape for a few hours each night while I read.
October 10, 2015
Seemed like the action didn't start until page 150. Kinda boring.
December 11, 2015
I had an incredibly hard time finishing this book. I don't know if it's because I expected too much from it, but at times it came close to being boring.
March 7, 2016
The Fargos picked a very interesting setting for their lastest adventure.
August 1, 2016
I love the Fargos, but this wasn't their best adventure. Not true to the Cussler way of writing-too much graphic violence, unexplained details, & unwise choices by the couple I'm used to feeling are super-smart. Also, maybe my imagination but I felt Remy's character was a bit more girly than I'm used to in other Fargo books. These two are a great team & each has their own skills, but worrying about her hair in tropical humidity? That just seemed uncharacteristic & silly to me! Hope the next person who writes with Mr. Cussler does better with keeping the characters intact! It's hard enough for a woman marine scientist to find a few good heroes! Don't water down this one-please!
September 5, 2015
Great Adventure Story
I give this story five stars for having a great story line. It is not your typical Fargo story. However, it makes the characters stand out as three dimensional people.
I give this story five stars for having a great story line. It is not your typical Fargo story. However, it makes the characters stand out as three dimensional people.
August 12, 2018
Very weak plot. All the characters were stereotypes or caricatures. Disappointing.
October 26, 2022
I liked this one a lot more than most because it wasn't some typical bad guy out to thwart the Fargos and steal the treasure first. It's just some rich CEO working with rebels to nationalize the Solomon Islands that happens to be getting in the way of the Fargos - which doesn't sound like much but it was a nice change. I also liked one of the new characters introduced, a Russian archaeologist who enlists the Fargos help when he discovers what appears to be a sunken city. The treasure hunt leads the team through several points in history - not just ancient times, which is interesting. A breath of fresh air in a series where the plots start to become stale. Genuinely excited for the next in the series.
January 18, 2018
een heel goed boek met een verrassende ontknopping op het einde. zeker de moeite van het te lezen. zelfs ik heb het einde totaal niet zien aankomen.
September 24, 2021
I liked this story for the most part. The "tall" ending was an over do. I found the conversation between people too simplified and stilted for my taste. Run Spot run! Bleh.
November 25, 2015
Clive Cussler usually limits the world-saving to Dirk Pitt, his carbon copy Kurt Austin and Corporation head Juan Cabrillo. Isaac Bell and Sam and Remi Fargo seem to work on smaller scales most of the time, which is probably to their benefit.
Russell Blake follows up on his initial outing as Cussler's co-author with The Solomon Curse, a yarn that find our favorite anthropologist/archaeologist/multi-millionaire adventurer couple assisting a friend diving on a possible new find at Guadalcanal. The area is rumored by native villagers to be cursed, and just enough bad things happen that the Fargos and their friend lose all local help. But as they conduct their own dives and learn more about the potential discoveries of the site they're exploring, they realize they may uncover long-buried historical secrets -- that not everyone wants found, or at least not found by the Fargos. Civil unrest on the islands makes their situation a little more hazardous, and allows their enemies excellent cover should the interloping Americans suddenly disappear.
Blake builds on his decent first outing, He sketches the turbulent political background of the Solomons quite well and uses it equally well to backlight his story and add danger for Sam and Remi. He tones down the couple's banter to more acceptable levels -- banter is good when well-done, but Blake is not yet the one to push those boundaries -- and makes several of the native characters more than just the equivalent of indigenous extras in a Tarzan movie. His main story about the treasure hunt and learning the possible secrets behind both its discovery and later attempts to hide it moves well, but the medical subplot stuffed into the corners makes little sense except as someplace to hide a villain.
But he is improving, so there's no reason to let the Fargo series sail on its own way just yet.
Original may be found here.
Russell Blake follows up on his initial outing as Cussler's co-author with The Solomon Curse, a yarn that find our favorite anthropologist/archaeologist/multi-millionaire adventurer couple assisting a friend diving on a possible new find at Guadalcanal. The area is rumored by native villagers to be cursed, and just enough bad things happen that the Fargos and their friend lose all local help. But as they conduct their own dives and learn more about the potential discoveries of the site they're exploring, they realize they may uncover long-buried historical secrets -- that not everyone wants found, or at least not found by the Fargos. Civil unrest on the islands makes their situation a little more hazardous, and allows their enemies excellent cover should the interloping Americans suddenly disappear.
Blake builds on his decent first outing, He sketches the turbulent political background of the Solomons quite well and uses it equally well to backlight his story and add danger for Sam and Remi. He tones down the couple's banter to more acceptable levels -- banter is good when well-done, but Blake is not yet the one to push those boundaries -- and makes several of the native characters more than just the equivalent of indigenous extras in a Tarzan movie. His main story about the treasure hunt and learning the possible secrets behind both its discovery and later attempts to hide it moves well, but the medical subplot stuffed into the corners makes little sense except as someplace to hide a villain.
But he is improving, so there's no reason to let the Fargo series sail on its own way just yet.
Original may be found here.
September 7, 2015
Mr. Cussler has done it again! The Solomon Curse is a mesmerizing trip from WWII to Guadalcanal. The rumors of giants, unimaginable treasures and a lost city are part of what Sam and Remi Fargo are facing. . . Add a morose Russian and a hyper Englishman and you have a fascinating ride through the mind of Clive Cussler. A great read for anyone, any time!
September 11, 2015
It's always nice to settle down with Sam and Remi and enjoy their latest adventures. Yes, you almost know what is going to happen, but these are delightful, quick read books. Always love this series and when the narrator began his book, it was like sitting down with an old friend to hear their latest exploits. Fun, fun, fun.
April 12, 2018
I won this uncorrected proof a couple of years ago from Goodreads giveaway and finally decided to pick it up last week.
If you like an adventure which discusses some archeological findings as well as some World War II historical lore, you will enjoy this book. This is the first experience I've had witrh this particular series, but will not be my last.
If you like an adventure which discusses some archeological findings as well as some World War II historical lore, you will enjoy this book. This is the first experience I've had witrh this particular series, but will not be my last.
January 3, 2019
The twist at the end was a bit cheesy, but in general its a typical Fargo Adventure series Cussler book. Starts off with an interesting bit of fictional history that turns into an adventure.
April 24, 2020
good book
April 23, 2021
I love the way Clive Cussler books draw you in from the start, the characters and places, it really feels like you are there with the people in the book.
April 10, 2025
I love the characters and I always learn a lot reading a Clive Cussler book.
June 15, 2025
দূর্দান্ত থ্রিলার। ছোট বেলার সেবা প্রকাশনীর ট্রেজার হান্ট কাহিনীর অনুভূতি পেলাম অনেকদিন পর। অনুবাদকের অনুবাদ বেশ ভালো হয়েছে, কোথাও খটমট লাগে নি । দ্বীপবাসীর আঞ্চলিক ভাষা বুঝাতে বাংলা আঞ্চলিক ভাষার ব্যবহার করাটা যথেষ্ঠ সাহসিকতার পরিচয় বলবো আমি, কিন্তু অনুবাদক এতে বেশ ভালভাবেই উতরে গেছে।
Displaying 1 - 30 of 539 reviews