Zero Hour: A Novel from the NUMA Files

Kurt Austin and best pal Joe Zavala, those grown-up Hardy Boys, contend with Maxmillian Thero, a hideously disfigured mad scientist, in Cussler's action-packed, fun-filled 11th NUMA Files adventure (after 2012's The Storm, also coauthored with Brown). Thero has invented a machine that in theory draws on "background fields" to produce "zero-point energy," which could solve the planet's energy needs, though it also has the potential to unleash earthquakes and affect the movement of the continental plates. So what direction will Theo's madness take? He's out to destroy the world, of course%E2%80%94or at least parts of it. The authors provide the usual deserted volcanic-island lair, tricked-out ships, diving exploits, and plenty of thugs and minions to give Kurt a few problems, to say nothing of a beautiful woman scientist along for the love-interest role. Readers new to Cussler should be prepared for zero believability. Agent: Peter Lampack, Peter Lampack Agency. (June)