The Mediterranean Caper by Clive Cussler

This is the second of Dirk Pitt series by this author. This is set in the Med as the name suggests and starts with an attack on the Brady Airfield on the island of Thasos. The attack is carried out by an old bi-wing plane with familiar black Maltese Cross markings of World War I Germany. The pilot shoots at all the ground aircrafts and at the control tower. The young sergeant sends out a mayday.

Dirk and Al were flying in at this time to join the National Underwater Marine Agency’s research boat, First Attempt, lying off the Thasos island. They came racing across to see what assistance they can provide. They are amazed to see the old albatross shooting at the Air field. Dirk had been called in to investigate the strange accidents taking place on the First Attempt, while they are looking for a rare species of fish. They force the attacking plane away but are hit themselves and have to land at the air base. This curious incident leads them to try and find out what is happening and how if at all is this connected to the woes of the First Attempt. 

Dirk meets a young lady on the beach and get invited to dinner at her uncle’s home, a rich, reclusive and influential man on the island. The place is like a well-guarded manor with strange and old furnishing. The uncle, Bruno von Till, is mysterious and not at all happy when he realises Dirk is a US Major. When the niece Teri comes, she also behaves oddly and looks scared. Dirk catches the undercurrents and palms a knife from the table. Von Till sends Teri away and succeeds in getting Dirk into a dark passage way and shuts the door. Where will this dark passage lead to? What is that strange noise he can hear in the passageway? Will he be able to save himself from this unknown peril? 

Dirk and Al get stuck in finding out what secret Von Till is hiding? It does not appear to be something ordinary as he has been trying to get the NUMA ship to move away from the particular area. He more or less admitted that as the purpose of attack on the Brady Airfield and later on the First Attempt. There is something hidden in the waters around there which he does not want discovered. How involved is his niece Teri in this? Why is Interpol keeping an eye on the comings and goings at the Manor? 

It is a fairly fast paced novel and describes in detail the surroundings, the planes and ship and of course marine biology. There are lot of tense situations faced by Dirk and Al and keeps one on the edge and reading to know the outcome. A real good thriller and a good plot line that keep you glued right to the end.