The Spy

I'm not sure what it is you're after, Cliff. These seem like astute observations, but all any of us could do would be to offer some speculative explanations, or alternately agree with you that somebody dropped the ball.

It's been a couple months since I read The Spy (checked out from the library) so I'd have to go back and read it again to be able to discuss this with you, but there are a fair number of Cussler nitpickers here--some good-spirited and some not so much. Hope you find what you're looking for.

Hi Sean -

I guess I figured that there would be folks here who could discuss the book plots, storylines, etc. I have read the "Errors in Clive's Books" thread, and remember encountering many of the errors that are recounted in that thread.

I too get most of my Cussler books from the local library. A couple of summers ago we were planning to go on a river cruise in Europe, and I went down to Borders or Barnes & Noble or such and bought copies of all the Cussler books that I hadn't yet read. It was a short list, but included "Mediterranean Caper," which the library didn't have. After the cruise I donated these all to the library.

-- Cliff in Virginia

Sorry, Cliff you will not find that level of scrutiny here. You will find a bunch of its only an error answers or the how you can possibly expect a lot of continuity with a large amount of books answers as well. Don't get me wrong, they love the Dirk Pitt Universe and this forum is a great site for Cussler news.

1. What on earth is the relationship between Dorothy Langner and Katherine Dee??? The two are together when Dorothy first walks into the Van Dorn detective agency at the Willard Hotel in D.C.; then Katherine turns out to be a really nasty little piece of work. No explanation ever offered in the book.


You say there is no explanation in the book therefore one can only guess.

2. Why go to all the trouble to introduce the young Russian navy officer at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, implying that he was somehow in cahoots with The Spy (who else would have given him the password?) And then his role in the plot just shrinks into nothingness.


You seem to have answered your own question here.

3. Why does the cover show a German submarine, when the story goes into great detail about why the submarine should be taken as British?


I'd like to know the answer to this one except to say that there is a long history of depicting German military machines within the cover art on Cussler's books. In fact, the forum's main banner has one.

Anyhow, welcome to the forum, Cliff! No harm in demanding answers here, it might eventually prompt some member into offering an opinion on your assertions.

Hey Cliff - I finished reading The Spy yesterday and was wondering the same thing as your questions one and two.

As for the first one I'm going to chalk it up that there was some kind of backstory written but due to space / time / whatever the editors cut it out.

The second question I really don't know but I thought it would be something the book would explore more but didn't.

The third question I don't know either but I rarely take a good look at the covers. I throw the dust cover off and start reading.

Overall I thought it was a good book and story. Maybe a little rushed at the end but it still was enjoyable. I was trying to sit here and think which series is my favorite but the only thing I could come up with is the lame - whatever book comes out next.

How many of you caught the Fred Astaire cameo in the book near the end? Took me a second when I read it but it finally clicked.