I just finished the latest C. Cussler. I doubt that I’ll buy another.
For a off-the-wall adventure type story, D. K. Richardson has a ‘World of the Chernyi’ series. Interesting characters, believeable story lines. I’ve got all 5 out so far.
Here’s a Christmas tip for you - - a truly amazing book: ‘Run’ by Douglas E. Winter.
Trust me on this.
It’s Winter’s only book (came out in 2000) and I have absolutely no idea why he never followed it up. ‘Run’ is about an illegal gun run from Washington DC (”Dirty City”) to New York, but it’s way more than that. Just great, and the writing style is truly original.