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Fargo Adventures #10

The Grey Ghost

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In 1906, a groundbreaking Rolls-Royce prototype known as the Grey Ghost vanishes from the streets of Manchester, England, and it is only the lucky intervention of an American detective named Isaac Bell that prevents it from being lost forever. Not even he can save the good name of Marcus Peyton, however, the man wrongly blamed for the theft, and more than a hundred years later, it is his grandson who turns to Sam and Remi Fargo to help prove his grandfather's innocence.

But there is even more at stake than any of them know. For the car has vanished again, and in it is an object so rare that it has the capacity to change lives. Men with everything to gain and a great deal to lose have a desperate plan to find it - and if anybody gets in their way? They have a plan for that, too.

369 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 29, 2018

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About the author

Clive Cussler

643 books8,517 followers
Cussler 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.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 435 reviews
Profile Image for Ryan Steck.
Author 10 books524 followers
May 8, 2018
See this review and more at www.TheRealBookSpy.com


Sam and Remi Fargo risk everything to find a legendary automobile in this exciting new novel (the 10th in the series) from Clive Cussler and Robin Burcell.

This time out, the Fargos are in search of an extremely rare automobile with a killer history after a mysterious man claiming to be British royalty goes through Sam’s mother to arrange a meeting in Pebble Beach. The car, an early Rolls-Royce prototype nicknamed the Gray Ghost, was first developed by Charles Rolls and Henry Royce back in 1906. It was stolen that same year in Manchester, the first theft in what would become a long history of being passed around by thieves from generation to generation.

Rumors suggest the car, which was last seen just after World War II, may now contain treasure, making the Gray Ghost even more valuable if one can, in fact, finally track it down.

Eventually, Sam and Remi discover that the great American detective Isaac Bell (of the Van Doren Detective Agency) once worked the case back in the day when a man named Marcus Peyton was accused of stealing the Gray Ghost. Bell happened to be in England tracking criminals who’d been targeting train cars and is said to have actually located the Rolls-Royce, though it’s long been passed around since then. Now, it’s a relative of Peyton’s who seeks the Fargos’ help, hoping the duo can clear his grandfather’s name and, in the process, find the car that could be worth up to $50 million. . . or maybe even quadruple that price tag if the chest of rumored 1906 gold sovereigns really was stashed in the car.

As the treasure-hunting couple heads off to England in search of the Gray Ghost, they quickly find out that they’re hardly the only people looking for the car. Another group has their eye on the prize too, and they’re willing to do whatever it takes in order to bring home the Rolls-Royce. . . and the treasure.

Cussler and Burcell knocked this one out of the park. The Gray Ghost is a thrilling adventure novel with tons of action and a deep, vibrant cast of characters. The pacing is quick and their writing is sharp, rarely giving readers a moment to stop and catch their breath. The fact that Isaac Bell is mentioned and tied into things made phenomenal use of Cussler’s vast universe, and might be just enough to hold readers over until his next full-length book, which hasn’t yet been announced. Cussler works with plenty of talented co-authors, but none better than Robin Burcell who, since teaming up with him for Pirate (2016), has helped make this arguably Cussler’s best franchise still going.

Burcell brings a ton to the table, and it’s hard to imagine her and Cussler coming up with and executing a better story than this one. Think National Treasure on steroids. . . The Gray Ghost is everything you want in an adventure novel and then some.

Book Details

Author: Clive Cussler and Robin Burcell
Series: Fargo #10
Pages: 400 (Hardcover)
ISBN: 0735218730
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons
Release Date: May 29, 2018
Book Spy Rating: 8.0/10
Order Now: https://amzn.to/2K4YoAG



Praised as “one of today’s finest book reviewers” by New York Times bestselling author Gayle Lynds, Ryan Steck (“The Godfather of the thriller genre” — Ben Coes) has “quickly established himself as the authority on mysteries and thrillers” (Author A.J. Tata). He currently lives in Southwest Michigan with his wife and their six children.
6,202 reviews80 followers
September 8, 2018
A book that brings two of Cussler's properties together, even though they are separated by almost a century of time.

In the early 20 century, a prototype of an early Rolls Royce automobile is stolen. Even though Isaac Bell looks far and wide for it, he is unable to locate it.

Current day, a senile British Lord asks Sam and Remi for help. He is running out of money, and needs help to find some treasure his ancestor left behind. Sam and Remi get involved. Of course, there's a megalomaniacal rich guy out to ruin the Lord and anyone who gets in his way.

One of the more exciting novels in this series.
Profile Image for Gerald Kubicki.
Author 32 books345 followers
January 24, 2019
The Fargos have changed and become more aggressive. They are searching for and old Rolls-Royce in England. Jolly good story.
Profile Image for Steve.
446 reviews42 followers
June 1, 2018
This was a cool crossover book and a first of its kind in the Cussler universe. The Fargo series crosses with that of Isaac Bell. Creatively executed, effective, and a lot of fun for anyone already a fan of both series.
Profile Image for Kathy Davie.
4,876 reviews738 followers
June 16, 2018
Tenth in the Sam and Remi Fargo action-adventure series and revolving around a young-but-retired couple of millionaires who enjoy doing good deeds, especially if it involves guns, escapes, and quick thinking.

My Take
This was SOO much better than the last one. Whew. I particularly enjoyed how Cussler–Burcell slipped back and forth from our time to Jonathan's journals from 1906. Very clever. Another clever bit was how Cussler–Burcell disguised that info dump, giving us Sam's and Remi's backgrounds. Very nice.

It's good triumphs over evil with plenty of action. I particularly enjoyed the crisis Sam and Remi face over having all their funds and accounts frozen. They're forced to be quite clever…and talk about one in the eye for the bad guys, lol. I loved their complacency and seeing it shatter page by page. Yep, because the authors are using third person global subjective point-of-view, we know what several of the characters are thinking and feeling as well as getting their perspective on events. It sure doesn't make me feel any kinder about the bad guys! That dad!!?! But it does make their comeuppance all the sweeter.

I gotta say it was scary seeing how easy it was for the Fargos to get shut down.

There's a wee bit more progress on the Selma–Lazlo "romance".

Some niggles. There were a few areas that felt "neglected" or glossed over. It's my whine that I had to really work to figure out who was what in a few areas, particularly the one about the issue that split the family. I took notes, speculated, and finally came 'round to what I think is the reason. I still don't get why Arthur is so upset about the whole thing. Where does Reggie get the idea that his uncle stole the estate from his younger brother?

Then there's Dad's expectations: If Jonathan is expected to put time into the orphanage six days a week, how is it that he doesn't notice how hungry and poorly clothed the kids are? As for Chad only knowing what he's learned on the Internet…excuse me? Chad says that he worked with his uncle on collectible cars, taught him everything, so, um, how does that work? His uncle dies and all the knowledge and experience he gave Chad died too? Sounds like the same person who wrote the book summary was the editor…and missed a bit.

The Story
They keep coming out of the woodwork, the relatives with a hand out. Sam is sure those Paytons are more of the same, wanting to use the Gray Ghost as collateral for a loan to save the family estate…blah, blah, blah…

Only, it seems the Fargos are second cousins, and the Paytons really do need help. A whole lot more help when the Gray Ghost is stolen. Again. And again.

The Characters
Sam and Remy Fargo retired early due to Sam's inventive mind. Now their efforts are devoted to the charitable Fargo Foundation. Clive Cussler is a friend. They live in a fortress in La Jolla, California, with offices in their home where Selma Wondrash, their Hungarian-born researcher, works with Professor Lazlo Kemp ( The Eye of Heaven , 6), a cryptographer. Zoltán is their German shepherd. They have two part-time assistants, Pete Jeffcoat and Wendy Corden, who don't show in this story. Eunice "Libby" Fargo is Sam's mother and runs a charter boat in Key West for snorkelers and deep-sea fishing.

The dotty Lord Albert Payton, the 7th Viscount Wellswick, is having to sell up everything. Oliver Payton is his nephew and heir. Mrs. Beckett is the housekeeper at Payton Manor. I think Jones is the chauffeur.

Allegra is Oliver's younger sister. She has a son, Trevor, who's into computers and has an eidetic memory…like Remi. She divorced Dex Northcott because of his brutality.

Arthur Oren is estranged family. Jane is his secretary. Arthur Jr "AJ" is his one-year-old son. Colton Devereux is a cold, heartless mercenary who never fails and has a team of ex-Special Forces and computer hackers. I think Frank and Bruno work for him.

Chad Williams made himself out to be a Rolls-Royce restoration whiz. David Cooke is the solicitor the Fargos hire to defend Uncle Albert from murder charges. Bill Snyder is a private detective working for Cooke. Geoffrey Russell is the nephew of the Fargos' personal banker.

Italy
Georgia and John Bockoven used to photograph cars and write articles about them, then they bought a vineyard in Italy and retired. Paolo Magnanimi owns a restaurant on the Via Appia Antica and makes the best tiramisu. Marco Verzino is a friend of Georgia's and has a B&B in Rome. Luca is a much-removed "friend of a friend" who can get the Fargos into an illicit auction. Lorenzo Rossi is a facilitator who works out of Milan. Monsieur Marchand handles the Paris office.

Concours d'Elegance at Pebble Beach is…
…where a vintage car show is taking place. Kimberley is the concierge at the Inn at Spanish Bay.

1906, Manchester, England
Jonathan Payton, while heir to a viscountcy, works for Rolls-Royce Limited. Reginald Oren is a cousin with whom he was raised. Elizabeth is Reginald's wife, and they have a newborn son. Viscount Wellswick, Jonathan's father, was a major jerk, a harsh disciplinarian, and cheap as well. Byron is Lord Ryderton, a friend of the family.

Charles Rolls and Henry Royce, as well as Viscount Payton, have invested everything in the forty-fifty Gray Ghost prototype. Barker and Company outfitted the Rollses.

Toby Edwards and his younger brother, Chip, live at the Payton Home for Orphans and are searching for food. Lizzie and Abigail are their sisters. Miss Lydia Atwater is a teacher at the orphanage. Barclay Keene is the owner of the Barclay Keene Electric Motor Works and married to the sister of the headmaster of the orphanage.

Will Sutton is a private detective. Isaac Bell is a private detective with the Van Dorn Detective Agency chasing down a group of train robbers.

Eddie, Mac, and Finlay are some of the robbers.

The Cover and Title
The cover is perfect with this scene from the book, as Oliver, Remi, and Sam make a desperate bid to escape a warehouse fire in a 1917 Ahrens-Fox fire engine. Cussler's name is huge, taking up the top third of the book using an embossed white with a metallic silver outline. The second author's name is teeny in white under it. The title is at the bottom in an embossed metallic gold while the series information is below that in white.

The title is the focus throughout, the recovery of The Gray Ghost.
Profile Image for Robert.
4,549 reviews29 followers
July 19, 2018
The story starts quickly and moves right along, the hook isn't as historical as some others, but fits well in the canon, and the crossover with the Bell series was fun but a bit troubling - dates are a but unclear in the present, but Isaac Bell's first adventure clearly takes place in 1906 as do the flashback scenes in this volume. Not everyone is bothered by continuity conflicts but they always gets to me.
Profile Image for Erin Cataldi.
2,536 reviews64 followers
April 11, 2023
Until reading the reviews - I did not realize that this was a crossover book featuring Isaac Bell (the center of another Cussler series). However - that wouldn't have made to much difference to me. The story was slow and the treasure just meh. I wanted more historical info and actual treasure hunting. It was mostly just action. Honestly, it might be my least favorite so far - but of course I'll keep going - I am this close to the end - may as well finish out the series!
Profile Image for MaryD.
1,737 reviews2 followers
June 4, 2018
I loved the way the authors blended Isaac Bell's story in 1906 with Remi & Sam Fargo in the present as each tries to solve a mystery involving a rare Rolls-Royce car- the Gray Ghost.
Profile Image for asianartist.
31 reviews5 followers
January 29, 2023
This was a bit of a disappointment. It wasn't up to the standard of some of Cussler's other books, and compared to something like 'The Oracle', it just wasn't great. Dnf at 43%, which isn't something I should be doing for a Fargo Adventure.
It was a good book, but that's just it - it was good, not great.
There was a solid plot that was pretty interesting, but not exactly riveting. A stolen car from years ago that the Fargos are trying to hunt down to help Sam's cousin, as they're in need of financial aid. Again, solid plot, but it wasn't as creative as some of the other novels in this series.
The Fargos themselves though, were really fun to read, I love these characters so much, and their interactions with each other are always fun. Oliver was a bit of a bore, I can't lie, but he wasn't downright annoying. His sister, on the other hand, was a different story.
I just felt like sighing every time she showed up. She was a weak character and fell for her ex's trick way too easily, which led to her and her son being taken hostage. No thank you.

Anyway, despite all my ranting, this was a pretty okay book. Not the worst Cussler novel by far, but it had a good plot and the Fargos are always fun to read about. I'll probably revisit this in the future, but for now, it can go on the dnf shelf.
Profile Image for Todd.
2,224 reviews8 followers
April 26, 2025
The Fargos are contacted by a distant relative about a Rolls Royce prototype he owns. The family's finances are down the tubes, and why they would want Fargo and Remi to help with a sale l have no idea.

The book is split between Isaac Bell investigating the theft of the car back in the early 1900s and the Fargos in current time. The Bell parts are more enjoyable to me.
Profile Image for Bob.
1,984 reviews21 followers
June 15, 2018
​The Fargos area convinced to help a distant relative of Sam's in England whose family is being put through hard times and is desperate to save the big house and the tenant farms. Forced to sell of much of their possessions the put up for auction The Gray Ghost, a 1906 prototype Rolls Royce. When the Rolls is stolen from the auction site the Fargoes take on the hunt to recover it. At the same time there is a side story of of the history of the Gray Ghost and and earlier theft which includes an appearance by Issac Bell the Detective from America (1906 era and another of Cussler's series).
Much back and forth and the Fargo's usual scrapes and wins in another quick Cussler (&company) read.​
34 reviews
June 20, 2018
This is not the great American novel, but it is typical Clive Cussler. It is a fun, fast paced page turner, exactly what I was looking for when I checked it out of the library.
Profile Image for Kay.
2,212 reviews1,201 followers
July 11, 2018
Strangely, Robin Burcell writes better Issac Bell than the real Issac Bell writers. I think I will give that series another go with a new author.

This Fargo adventure led them to Europe as they helped a distant cousin locate a missing RR Gray Ghost and possibly stolen treasure from the Crown since 1906.

I like the light mystery adventure. The tied in from the past, Issac Bell and the journal was very good and the best part of this book. However, I found the dialogue between the Fargos somewhat annoying 🙄.
Profile Image for Jason Blythe.
195 reviews1 follower
June 5, 2018
Another great Clive Cussler book with the Fargos! Great easy summer read.
Profile Image for Jim.
341 reviews1 follower
June 6, 2018
Another excellent Fargo adventure, with an Isaac Bell adventure (via diaries) thrown in as a bonus. :)
Profile Image for Ed.
591 reviews2 followers
June 22, 2018
Another quick thriller of Sam and Remi beating the bad guys without too much injury to themselves.
255 reviews1 follower
August 27, 2018
Groundbreaking Rolls Royce (aka Gray Ghost) vanishes from the streets of Manchester, England in 1906. Isaac Bell, American detective, discovers its whereabouts but can’t disprove that Marcus Peyton was guilty of the steal. 100 years later thanks to the due diligence of his grandson Marcus’ innocence was proven. Meanwhile, the car goes missing again. This time there is much more at stake — more interested parties and perhaps a treasure as well. Good read!
Profile Image for Tom Tischler.
904 reviews16 followers
July 19, 2018
I have to start off here by saying that Clive Cussler is one of my favorite authors. I've
been reading his novels for a long time and enjoyed 90% of them. This Gray Ghost novel
I'm afraid just wasn't one of them. I just didn't like the story and I guess this ruined the
novel for me. I pushed the rating and gave it a 3.
Profile Image for Wenzel Roessler.
814 reviews7 followers
July 16, 2020
The Fargo's are up against a surprisingly cruel adversary. This is not the normal Fargo's sky diving in the Antarctic or deep sea diving in the Sahara Desert adventure this is more of a detective novel. The plot is very one dimensional there is no B story in the book and this could be boring if not for the clever shift in the story telling from present day to 1906.
568 reviews9 followers
June 14, 2018
Remi and Sam Fargo do it again--solving a hundred year old mystery and helping a friend. As usual, Clive Cussler manages a wild adventure with NO profane or vulgar language. Amazing feat these days.
26 reviews
August 31, 2018
The Gray Ghost Runs Red

Clive Cussler never fails to entertain. Sam and Remi are always creative and, as usual, very generous. They help Sam's cousin who goes from wealth to poverty back to wealth.
123 reviews1 follower
June 18, 2018
another very good novel by CUssler. Don't know how much is true but it quite interesting.
1,293 reviews3 followers
June 24, 2018
This is a good mystery. It is a little different this time, not in the water or in exotic locations, but still typical Cussler.
9 reviews1 follower
July 1, 2018
Good reading as always

I am not a huge fan of the Fargos. This is a good book anyway. I am a fan of Cussler
Profile Image for Don.
90 reviews
July 2, 2018
Another fantastic book by Cussler. At this point I have not read a bad book from him. If you are looking for a good series read, Cussler offers outsanding choices.
Profile Image for Sue.
199 reviews1 follower
August 18, 2018
I always enjoy a Cussler car story and this quite a good adventure.
464 reviews3 followers
September 2, 2018
Good

I like to read Clive Cussler's books. This is a Sam and Remi Fargo story about a 1906 Rolls-Royce automobile that incorporated new technology at that time. This car was said to be cursed, and had been stolen twice, due to it's value and stolen treasure it supposedly held. Not quite as suspenseful as the Dirk Pitt novels, but nonetheless a good story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 435 reviews

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