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Dirk Pitt® #25
Celtic Empire
Clive Cussler, "The Grand Master of Adventure," sends his intrepid heroes Dirk Pitt and Al Giordino on their wildest, boldest mission into the ancient world, unlocking extraordinary secrets and solving hideous crimes. Another fabulous read from the most beloved series from the #1 New York Times-bestselling author.
The murders of a team of United Nations scientists in El Salvador. . . A deadly collision in the waterways off the city of Detroit. . . An attack by tomb raiders on an archaeological site along the banks of the Nile. . . Is there a link between these violent events? The answer may lie in the tale of an Egyptian princess forced to flee the armies of her father three thousand years ago.
During what was supposed to be a routine investigation in South America, NUMA Director Dirk Pitt finds himself embroiled in an international mystery, one that will lead him across the world and which will threaten everyone and everything he knows--most importantly, his own family. Pitt travels to Scotland in search of answers about the spread of an unknown disease and the shadowy bioremediation company that may be behind it. Meanwhile, his son and daughter face a threat of their own when the discoveries they have made in an Egyptian tomb put killers on their trail. These seemingly unrelated riddles come together in a stunning showdown on the rocky isles of Ireland, where only the Pitts can unravel the secrets of an ancient enigma that could change the very future of mankind.
The murders of a team of United Nations scientists in El Salvador. . . A deadly collision in the waterways off the city of Detroit. . . An attack by tomb raiders on an archaeological site along the banks of the Nile. . . Is there a link between these violent events? The answer may lie in the tale of an Egyptian princess forced to flee the armies of her father three thousand years ago.
During what was supposed to be a routine investigation in South America, NUMA Director Dirk Pitt finds himself embroiled in an international mystery, one that will lead him across the world and which will threaten everyone and everything he knows--most importantly, his own family. Pitt travels to Scotland in search of answers about the spread of an unknown disease and the shadowy bioremediation company that may be behind it. Meanwhile, his son and daughter face a threat of their own when the discoveries they have made in an Egyptian tomb put killers on their trail. These seemingly unrelated riddles come together in a stunning showdown on the rocky isles of Ireland, where only the Pitts can unravel the secrets of an ancient enigma that could change the very future of mankind.
416 pages, ebook
First published March 19, 2019
3752 people are currently reading
4193 people want to read
About the author
Clive Cussler
643 books8,517 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 725 reviews
April 20, 2019
(Clive throws darts at map)
Egypt and.....Scotland.
(Clive randomly scrolls Wikipedia for both locations)
Tutankhamen and Loch Ness.
(Clive rolls dice and picks a page from the newspaper)
Plant-based medicine!
(Clive buys another vintage car)
Egypt and.....Scotland.
(Clive randomly scrolls Wikipedia for both locations)
Tutankhamen and Loch Ness.
(Clive rolls dice and picks a page from the newspaper)
Plant-based medicine!
(Clive buys another vintage car)
May 3, 2019
Yes, OK, the Cusslers write formulaic books: exotic locales and cars, murderous villians, ancient history impacting the modern world, action on or under the high seas. In this one, a waterborne bacteria is being systematically released into sources in several countries around the world. Dirk Pitt Sr. and Al rescue a scientist in El Salvador, where children are dying and Dirk Jr. and Summer rescue an archaeologist in Egypt when they are attacked by tomb raiders, who steal a mummy. Of course, the two stories run together, and it takes Hiram's supercomputer to tie together death of male heirs to the Pharoah in 1350 B.C. to El Salvador and a marine "accident" in Detroit where a firm with bioengineered bacteria is hired to clean the oil spill. Readers quickly lose track of how many vehicles Dirk Jr. destroys and how many times our heroes narrowly escape death.
April 22, 2019
This is classified as a thriller and fully meets that description. I was entertained and enjoyed the link established between ancient Egypt and Celtic Ireland. Dirk Pitt and Giordino, and Dirk's son and daughter, Dirk and Summer, respectively, are working in concentric circles and ultimately end up together to fight a common foe.
It is fast paced and the plot interesting throughout.
It is fast paced and the plot interesting throughout.
March 5, 2022
What a great read. I'll always miss Clive Cussler, but he will live on through his writings.
October 12, 2021
4.5 Stars for Celtic Empire: Dirk Pitt Adventure by Clive Cussler and Dirk Cussler read by Scott Brick.
Another great Dirk Pitt story. This is one of my favorite series when I need some adventure. I love all of the history that they integrate into these stories. And Scott Brick does a wonderful job with the narration.
Another great Dirk Pitt story. This is one of my favorite series when I need some adventure. I love all of the history that they integrate into these stories. And Scott Brick does a wonderful job with the narration.
May 28, 2019
So, I have concerns about this book. It is a book that brings up very real issues of gender imbalance while being misogynistic portrayals of its characters. It also makes the person who is bringing up the gender imbalances into the evil unhinged villain who has turned evil because of a nervous breakdown after a series of abuses by men of her and one of her daughters.
As I write this I keep dropping the number of stars on this review. I had started at three and the more I write the worse I feel about this book. It even ends with a giant middle finger at the person who actually solved this puzzle who is the daughter of the person credited with the solution.
I've been reading these books since high school and they used to be more misogynystic and then got better. This one, however, elevates very real problems of women's rights to the point of being a hysterical evil female, I feel caters to the men who feel that feminism is a dirty word and that people who support it want to emasculate men. This is just obscene.
As I write this I keep dropping the number of stars on this review. I had started at three and the more I write the worse I feel about this book. It even ends with a giant middle finger at the person who actually solved this puzzle who is the daughter of the person credited with the solution.
I've been reading these books since high school and they used to be more misogynystic and then got better. This one, however, elevates very real problems of women's rights to the point of being a hysterical evil female, I feel caters to the men who feel that feminism is a dirty word and that people who support it want to emasculate men. This is just obscene.
May 23, 2019
The latest Dirk Pitt novel. There's shenanigans in Scotland, and tomb raiders try to raid an archaeological dig. The Pitts are around, though, and put the kibosh on the scheme. Eventually father and progeny reunite, and put the final nail in the coffin.
Not bad, but going through the motions, mainly.
Not bad, but going through the motions, mainly.
March 26, 2019
Hmmm Clive and his son Dirk collaborate on another novel and i'm wondering how much of it Clive actually wrote. In my opinion the book has Clive's name on it to attract the readers, having read all of the Dirk Pitt, Issac Bell and Fargo novels I don't recognise any of Clive's writing in this book. The story itself is Ok, the writing is Ok in fact everything is Ok, this reads like Dirk Pitt lite. There is no substance to it, the characters immediately solve every problem put in front of them within moments, even though the secrets have been lost for millennia and searched for by countless people, along come Dirk and Summer Pitt (who surely have the most uncomfortable almost incest like relationship I have ever read) and find the clue, tomb or artefact without breaking a sweat. There's no emotion in the book, no heart stopping moments and even in the fight or baddie stages there is never any real peril. The book simply ticks along, tick, tick, tick , tick the end.
Enough of this now Clive, you have too many fingers in too many pies and by allowing other authors, even your son, to write your characters in their style, you are ruining the legacy of the characters you have created.
Enough of this now Clive, you have too many fingers in too many pies and by allowing other authors, even your son, to write your characters in their style, you are ruining the legacy of the characters you have created.
March 31, 2019
I'm a huge fan of the Dirk Pitt series and have read them all over the years, reading each new one as they come out. I really enjoyed Celtic Empire. It has everything I enjoy the most about these thrillers, including an archaeological mystery, audacious evil masterminds and beautiful settings, above and below the water. I especially enjoyed the chapters set in Scotland. Dirk shares the action with his son and daughter these days but he's still got fight left in him and, considering what happens here, it's just as well. Thoroughly entertaining, action-packed, humorous, with a good plot and enjoyable baddies.
May 1, 2019
Although this is a typically good Clive Cussler read, I think the writers (Clive and Dirk - both males) are culturally and socially insensitive to the times. I say this as a male myself. As women strive for financial equality in the real world, they make women who promote women in leadership roles, the villains in this tale. The writers need to be more culturally sensitive, and for this reason alone, I recommend boycotting this book. Hopefully, they will do better in their choice of villains in the future, as I have always enjoyed their books.
April 19, 2019
3.5*. I like to listen to Clive Cussler audiobooks. Maybe it's because he writes his books like a movie. So I can listen as if to an old-fashioned radio play. If you're a fan of Dirk Pitt books, you would like this. Sure, he and his sidekick, Al Giordino, are older. However, that does not stop them stumbling into these adventures. We have a parallel story involving Dirk's children. The 2 storylines inevitably connect. One does not read these books expecting deep philosophical discussions. There is no in-depth psychological examination of the villain's motives. This is pure, action-packed fun.
March 24, 2019
Typical Cussler, a quick read, fast paced put an Egyptian royal from the time of he Pharaohs in to Ireland, and then the woman head of a company producing Bio based oil spill cleanup with a hidden desire to eliminate the male population. The Pit family are all involved in this one.
March 27, 2021
Отдавна не си бях причинявала Дърк Пит. Донякъде е забавно - поне със сигурност знам, че какъвто и страшен катаклизъм да очаква човечеството, той ще го избави ей така, между другото, докато си пие следобедния чай. В "Келтска империя" страшният катаклизъм е една по-особена чума, причинена от луди феминистки, и на практика става дума не точно за келти, а за древни египтяни, но нейсе, важното е, че накрая светът е спасен, лошите са мъртви, а Дърк Пит не го лови куршум.
April 19, 2024
4.5 rounded up
I love this series. The books follow a formula but I always learn so much historical information and the action is non-stop.
I love this series. The books follow a formula but I always learn so much historical information and the action is non-stop.
April 16, 2019
Wow. The latest Dirk Pitt adventure (authored by father and son Clive and Dirk Cussler) is not so good, to put it mildly. Celtic Empire follows the formula established in earlier novels. Pitt rescues a good looking female scientist from certain death, a global conspiracy that is somehow tied in with the ancient past is uncovered and smashed. This is the twenty fifth book in the series Constant Reader so if you've followed along this far you know how things go. Typically I like this formula, so I rarely have complaints-after all I read Dirk Pitt novels to be entertained. However two things about Celtic Empire really rubbed me the wrong way. One: Summer Pitt is useless. Can we please teach Summer to shoot a gun or give her some martial arts classes? She essentially is a ghost, the semi-effectual doppelganger of her twin brother. Do something more with this character or kill her. Two: The Evil Goal of the Big Bad in this book is utterly ridiculous and boneheaded. Really. It is comic book level stupid, and it so glaringly obvious that it is stupid it overshadows everything else. The Cussler's phoned this one in. Three stars as the book still has some entertainment value.
November 5, 2020
For me, a Clive Cussler book is a fast page-turner. I know, I know, it's formulaic. We know Dirk Pitt is going to save the girl as well as save the world from a megalomaniac, leaving a trail of wreckage in his wake. However, I liked the historical mystery in this one. An Egyptian princess flees the Land of the Nile and winds up in Ireland, creating the "Celtic Empire" of the title. I could have given this 25th Dirk Pitt book 3 or 4 Stars, but I'm giving it only 2 stars. This is because of the excessive sexism in the book. I guess we've accepted a certain amount of sexism in our books for years. Well, it's past time for a change, isn't it! I don't really want to discuss this further, but I'm sorry to say, as much as I've enjoyed reading Cussler's books since 1983, I can't recommend this book. However, I cannot give this book a 0 or 1 star rating, so a 2, as I did enjoy much of the story!
January 17, 2022
A Pharaonic princess flees a plague-filled Egypt with the disease’s cure, a genetically modified version of the plague appears across the globe in the 21st century and the cure appears to be in Ireland. Celtic Empire is the twenty-fifth of the Dirk Pitt series, the eighth co-written by Dirk Cussler and the last by creator Clive Cussler.
In their last collaboration the Cussler’s once again brought together a fun narrative, but the quality especially the antagonists was a bit lacking representing step down from the previous installment. The main antagonist’s execution of deploying her gendercide plan was sound, however how she was able to get the genetically modified virus in the first place with all the males in the laboratory where it was created and how she hid her plan from her own daughter that she sent on missions to further it were problematic. The hint of the Biblical Exodus in the prologue and connecting it with the various versions of Irish/Scottish legends of Queen Scota was interesting, but that ancient subplot was a tad underwhelming compared to previous books. A final annoyance was Dirk Jr. continual “borrowing” of vehicles that he essentially destroys when in chases.
Celtic Empire is the typically average Dirk Pitt book, which given this was Clive Cussler’s last seems about right.
In their last collaboration the Cussler’s once again brought together a fun narrative, but the quality especially the antagonists was a bit lacking representing step down from the previous installment. The main antagonist’s execution of deploying her gendercide plan was sound, however how she was able to get the genetically modified virus in the first place with all the males in the laboratory where it was created and how she hid her plan from her own daughter that she sent on missions to further it were problematic. The hint of the Biblical Exodus in the prologue and connecting it with the various versions of Irish/Scottish legends of Queen Scota was interesting, but that ancient subplot was a tad underwhelming compared to previous books. A final annoyance was Dirk Jr. continual “borrowing” of vehicles that he essentially destroys when in chases.
Celtic Empire is the typically average Dirk Pitt book, which given this was Clive Cussler’s last seems about right.
January 20, 2022
On the one hand…I will always love Dirk Pitt and Al Giordino. I grew up reading his adventures. But on the other hand, the books are a bit formulaic at this point, and I’ve never become invested in his kids.
March 29, 2022
Action packed as always. Another great adventure with Dirk and the gang.
June 27, 2019
Alba Gu Brath and Erin Go Bragh, Mr. Pitt!
Another fun-filled Dirk Pitt adventure, this time involving plot elements of ancient Egypt and present day Scotland and Ireland (my beloved ancestral countries from whence my clan name originates).
—p. 225: “His Georgetown house outside of Washington...” Um, Georgetown is actually **in** Washington!
—p. 230: “Drumnadrochit and the ruins of Urquhart Castle,” och aye, laddie, Albu Gu Brath!
—p. 232: “Loren had already eyed a European prime minister,” hmmm, a thinly-veiled reference to Frau Angela Merkel?
—p. 246: Lookup “Bowmore’s” Scottish whiskey.
—p. 254: “‘It just so happens I have a thing for women in tartan berets,’” haha, way to go, Al Giordino, och aye, laddie!
—p. 290: “Caledonian Canal at Fort Augustus,” aye, the memories of my 2011 Loch Ness vacay!
—p. 358: “Pitt took off at a dead run. He raised the SIG Sauer and squeezed off four rounds at the boat. The slide locked open on the last shot.” Um, that’s a total of six shots (counting the two Pitt had fired earlier), and the SIG P320 holds a 15-round magazine!
—p. 422: “buggers,” wow, strong language for a post-1988 Cussler novel!
CENTRAL CASTING CALL: Helen Mirren as Evanna McKee, Heather Graham as Congresswoman Loren Smith-Pitt
Another fun-filled Dirk Pitt adventure, this time involving plot elements of ancient Egypt and present day Scotland and Ireland (my beloved ancestral countries from whence my clan name originates).
—p. 225: “His Georgetown house outside of Washington...” Um, Georgetown is actually **in** Washington!
—p. 230: “Drumnadrochit and the ruins of Urquhart Castle,” och aye, laddie, Albu Gu Brath!
—p. 232: “Loren had already eyed a European prime minister,” hmmm, a thinly-veiled reference to Frau Angela Merkel?
—p. 246: Lookup “Bowmore’s” Scottish whiskey.
—p. 254: “‘It just so happens I have a thing for women in tartan berets,’” haha, way to go, Al Giordino, och aye, laddie!
—p. 290: “Caledonian Canal at Fort Augustus,” aye, the memories of my 2011 Loch Ness vacay!
—p. 358: “Pitt took off at a dead run. He raised the SIG Sauer and squeezed off four rounds at the boat. The slide locked open on the last shot.” Um, that’s a total of six shots (counting the two Pitt had fired earlier), and the SIG P320 holds a 15-round magazine!
—p. 422: “buggers,” wow, strong language for a post-1988 Cussler novel!
CENTRAL CASTING CALL: Helen Mirren as Evanna McKee, Heather Graham as Congresswoman Loren Smith-Pitt
April 1, 2019
What a fascinating archeological connection between Egypt and Ireland!
When genetically engineered waterborne bacteria was released into water sources in several countries, it's up to Dirk Pitt, his family, and NUMA to find the cure to save the other half of mankind. I thoroughly enjoyed this adventure.
I was confused who's who in some parts when Dirk meets Dirk. Also at the end, I think the villains went down a bit too easy.
When genetically engineered waterborne bacteria was released into water sources in several countries, it's up to Dirk Pitt, his family, and NUMA to find the cure to save the other half of mankind. I thoroughly enjoyed this adventure.
I was confused who's who in some parts when Dirk meets Dirk. Also at the end, I think the villains went down a bit too easy.
April 3, 2024
Follows the typical Cussler formula, this time in Egypt and Scotland. Did have the bonus of the storyline with the kids this time, first time I’ve read with Dirk Jr. and Summer on their own adventure.
July 13, 2020
Un'altra affascinante avventura di Dirk Pitt e Al Giordino, che affonda le radici nell'antichità, nella tomba di una principessa egiziana per salvare il futuro da una terribile epidemia.
February 7, 2025
This was a pretty standard Dirk Pitt thriller, which is actually okay because the books are entertaining and include interesting history, though the author takes some literary license with the Egyptian parts. I wish the author, who took over following his father’s death, would retire Dirk Pitt, Sr. who would be too old for the action attributed to him. Besides, the best part of the newer books is the twin siblings, Dirk, Jr. and especially Summer Pitt. They are fun, and since they’re single, offer opportunity for romance. Having the older generation around keeps them in the background.
July 7, 2025
What I appreciated most this time around was seeing more of Pitt’s children, Dirk Jr. and Summer. Their involvement gave the story a more personal edge. Some parts felt a little predictable, like I could see the next twist coming, but honestly, I didn’t mind too much. Sometimes it’s nice to read something that you know is going to deliver exactly what you’re looking for.
I am longtime fan of the series. For me, Celtic Empire was familiar, entertaining, and just adventurous enough to make me want to jump into the next one.
I am longtime fan of the series. For me, Celtic Empire was familiar, entertaining, and just adventurous enough to make me want to jump into the next one.
September 12, 2020
This was the last Dirk Pitt Novel and i absolutely loved it. I'll miss you!!
April 21, 2022
Indiana Jones in barca.
May 19, 2021
Typical Dirk Pitt book. I still get briefly confused by Dirk and Dirk, without Jr. or Sr.
April 20, 2019
This book felt a bit more like the old-school Pitt adventure. The primary characters were represented and they were the focus of the story. The Celtic plot thread was solid and I enjoyed it.
March 11, 2020
Dirk at his best. It had it all. A spec of history that is brought to life in today’s world.
Women are not quite in control yet!!!!
Women are not quite in control yet!!!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 725 reviews