A gripping and absorbing read (Golden Buddha - Clive Cussler)

Member Name: dizzysummer03

Product:	Golden Buddha - Clive Cussler
Date:	13/07/09 (13 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Introduces us to the crew of the Oregon

Disadvantages: Hard to work out which character is doing what due to the amount of characters and the pace of the s

Golden Buddha is the first novel from the 'Oregon Files' series by Clive Cussler.

We are given a list of all the crew members at the start of the book, and this is absolutely essential to have any chance of keeping up with the story.

The plotline is fast paced, and is at times hard to keep track of who is doing what, as this is the first time we are introduced to the characters and there are a lot of characters.

The plot revolves around a plan to return the Dalai Lama to Tibet and free Tibet from Chinese occupation. In order to achieve this the crew of the Oregon must find a golden Buddha statue which was stolen from the Dalai Lama during his flight from Tibet, and find the hidden compartment within the statue. Inside the compartment are documents which will provide Tibet with the power to get rid of the occupying Chinese power. The documents turn out to show details of oil fields in the mountains. Tibet then forms an alliance with Russia and the USA to negotiate China's retreat from Tibet in turn for a guaranteed supply of oil at a favourable rate to the oil poor nation. The Chinese accept the terms in the face of a growing Russian military force along the Mongolian border and leave Tibet. The Dalai Lama is then able to return in peace to his country.

Overall, the story was gripping and an absorbing read. However, I struggled to keep up with which character was doing what as the book shifted to different parts of the plot.

Summary: Well worth reading!