Blood and Treasure

Former Navy helicopter pilot Pote offers up a serviceable debut thriller in the vein of Clive Cussler. After the International Space Station suddenly disintegrates in orbit, video footage indicates that the sole survivor, Iranian astronaut Moj Zahedi, murdered the crew and reprogrammed a Cold War–era satellite weapon for unknown purposes, before escaping to Earth in a Soyuz space capsule. Former Navy pilot and CIA operative Ethan Cain, now the owner of a deep-sea treasure-hunting company, is anchored off the coast of Africa, where he’s just recovered the fabled Ark of the Covenant when Moj splashes down. Ethan rescues and revives the drowned astronaut, then learns that she’s a former CIA operative whom the agency disavowed after her cover was blown. Moj then joined a ruthless group of Persian assassins led by Hezbollah terrorist Azhar Arbab. Azhar, it turns out, has been chasing Ethan for weeks in pursuit of the Ark, and the arrival of Moj complicates both men’s missions. A handful of goofy contrivances aside, Pote spins his setup into an exhilarating tale that’s packed with sleek action and gasp-worthy cliffhangers. This may not break any new ground, but it’s a satisfying ride. Agent: Mark Tavani, David Black Literary. (July)