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An inactive CIA agent, the Perfectionist has the skills and knowledge necessary to hunt for lost Nazi gold. However, he needs a couple of excellent companions and a ship. He finds these in a Mexican engineer who once worked with the KGB and an old Seabee friend. The three set out to find the gold with a highly modified ship and equipment. However, a powerful drug cartel has acquired information about this extraordinary ship and decides to coerce the group into running drugs for them. The cartel threatens and tests them, nearly costing them their lives. The cartel has no idea how connected these men really are, though, and how capable they are of playing their deadly game.
Oropela's book is an adventure in the vein of a Clive Cussler novel. Most stories in this genre include highly skilled, ex-military or CIA operatives now working freelance who interrupt the plans of an evil group of people. However, Oropela's protagonists are much more likely to outsmart their enemies than to outgun them. The author obviously enjoys his subject material and likes having his characters show off what they know and what they can do with that knowledge. Stylistically, the writing is easy to follow, although the overall effectiveness of the narrative would have benefited from some additional editing. While many readers will likely anticipate more action than this story puts forth due to the genre, Oropela opts for a different approach and does a good job of creating tension through the constant fear of the characters' real allegiances being exposed. Fans of spy novels will likely appreciate the author's book.