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Vixen 03Clive Cussler

Adventure thriller

Vixen 03

by Clive Cussler

Book 5 of the Dirk Pitt series

384 pages · First published 1978

In 1954, a U.S. Air Force transport plane carrying thirty-six canisters of a deadly biological weapon disappears without a trace, its wreckage hidden beneath the icy waters of a Colorado mountain lake. More than thirty years later, Dirk Pitt discovers the lost aircraft and uncovers a terrifying secret: several of its lethal canisters have already been removed. As Pitt investigates, the missing weapons become entangled in a violent political struggle in South Africa, where extremists are preparing an audacious attack on Washington, D.C. With an armed battleship threatening the nation's capital and a biological catastrophe looming, Pitt must expose the conspiracy before its deadly cargo can be unleashed. Perfect for readers craving a high-stakes adventure filled with Cold War secrets, underwater discoveries, political intrigue, and a desperate race against time.

Paired for this story

Frost & Honey Tea + Smoked Old Fashioned

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At a glance

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Spice4 of 5
Suspense4 of 5
Creepy1 of 5
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No surprises at chapter twelve

Content notes

Armed violence, shootings, and deaths · Threats involving biological weapons and mass casualties · Military aircraft disaster and underwater recovery · Terrorism and attacks against civilians and national landmarks · Apartheid-era racial conflict and politically motivated violence · Dangerous naval operations and explosive destruction · Sexualized descriptions and female nudity reported by readers · Profanity and sustained life-threatening suspense

Alcohol-Free Pour

Frost & Honey Tea

Warming black tea with honey, orange, and cloves offers a welcome contrast to the icy Colorado lake where Dirk Pitt discovers a long-lost aircraft carrying a terrifying secret.

What you'll need

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How to mix it

  1. Steep the tea with cloves. Stir in honey and add the orange slice before serving.
  2. Garnish: Orange slice.
  3. Glassware: Mug.
21+

Cocktail Pour · 21+

Smoked Old Fashioned

For adults of legal drinking age. Please drink responsibly.

Smoky bourbon and bitters evoke the dangerous secrets of a Cold War military operation as Dirk Pitt uncovers a missing aircraft and races to stop its deadly cargo from reaching Washington.

What you'll need

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How to mix it

  1. Stir bourbon, demerara syrup, and bitters with ice and strain over one large cube. Express an orange peel over the drink. Use a cocktail smoker with food-safe oak or cherry chips to fill the covered glass with smoke for 20–30 seconds, then uncover and serve.
  2. Garnish: Orange peel.
  3. Glassware: Rocks glass.

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