Helpful Score: 2
A very interesting mystery novel. It keeps your attention throughout the book.
Helpful Score: 2
In this suspenseful Da Vinci Code knockoff from British author Napier (Nemesis), Harry Blake, an antiquarian book dealer specializing in old maps and manuscripts, agrees to help Sir Toby Tebbit translate a 400-year-old journal, written in code, that Sir Toby has inherited from a heretofore unknown relative in Jamaica. The manuscript chronicles the adventures of a young cabin boy, James Ogilvie, who traveled to the Americas as part of a secret mission for the Elizabethan crown. When a mysterious woman approaches Blake about buying the journal, he refuses to sell. Later, Blake returns to the Tebbit household to discover that Sir Toby has been brutally murdered. Teaming up with rival historian Zola Kahn and Sir Toby's daughter, Debbie, the trio soon join a race to determine the meaning behind Ogilvie's encrypted text. A trail reaching as far back as the Crusades leads toward a holy relic that could be worth millionsor could be the key to a worldwide terrorist plot. Deftly mixing history, science and fiction, Napier keeps the action escalating toward a satisfying climax.
Helpful Score: 2
A historical icon is central to this book. A secret conspiracy over centuries of time unravels. This is an intersting book as involves coded items and secret purposes based around a diary that dates from the 16th century and a religious icon that is a thousand years old.
Helpful Score: 1
This book had me on the edge of my seat, and I couldn't put it down until I finished it---I HAD to find out what was coming next!
From back cover:
Antiquarian bookseller Harry Blake is hired to appraise a four-hundred-year old journal bequeathed to a wealthy landowner. At first, it appears to be only the curiously coded diary of a young cabin boy aboard Sir Walter Raleigh's celebrated 1585 Elizabethan expedition. But when Harry's client is murdered and his own life is threatened, he realizes that he's opened the door to a mystery worth killing for.
Enlisting the aid of eminent map dealer Zola Khan, Harry uncovers something else. Buried in the cryptic writings are puzzling references to a 'secret purpose'; terrified revelations of murder at sea, and an astonishing disclosure: the location of an invaluable holy relic thought lost for more than a thousand years.
Harry and Zola follow a trail that leads them to an ancient and dangerous secret conspiracy still unraveling after centuries, and possessing the unimaginable power to literally change history--and splinter it forever.
From back cover:
Antiquarian bookseller Harry Blake is hired to appraise a four-hundred-year old journal bequeathed to a wealthy landowner. At first, it appears to be only the curiously coded diary of a young cabin boy aboard Sir Walter Raleigh's celebrated 1585 Elizabethan expedition. But when Harry's client is murdered and his own life is threatened, he realizes that he's opened the door to a mystery worth killing for.
Enlisting the aid of eminent map dealer Zola Khan, Harry uncovers something else. Buried in the cryptic writings are puzzling references to a 'secret purpose'; terrified revelations of murder at sea, and an astonishing disclosure: the location of an invaluable holy relic thought lost for more than a thousand years.
Harry and Zola follow a trail that leads them to an ancient and dangerous secret conspiracy still unraveling after centuries, and possessing the unimaginable power to literally change history--and splinter it forever.
In the manner of Dan Brown. Quick read. Larger print in larger formatted book than the usual paperback I can just picture Harrison Ford as the hero!
Great book! Not too complicated in it's "secret" so it reads fast but still remains interesting.
A very fast paced read. The story kept me interested and wanting to see what comes next. Very good read if you like the religious icon type mysteries.
Good....but not great. Easy fun read....love any book w/Globe Trotting that is not too scary. This one fits the bill.
Good book for a quick and easy read. Enjoyable fast-paced adventure.
Antiquarian bookseller Harry Blake is hired to appraise a four hundred year old journal bequeathed to a wealthy landowner. At first, it appears to be only the curiously coded diary of a young cabin boy aboard Sir Walter Raleigh's celebrated 1585 Elizabethan expedition. But when Harry's client is murdered and his own life is threatened, he realizes that he's opened the door to a mystery worth killing for. Enlisting the aid of eminent map dealer Zola Khan. Harry uncovers something else. Buried in the cryptic writings are puzzling references to a "secret purpose", terrified revelations of murder at sea, and an astonishing disclosure: the location of an invaluable holy relic thought lost for more than a thousand years! Visit www.splinteredicon.com for more info! Book is in very good condition. Great, page turning novel!
This book is well written. It's about an antiquarian book seller who [along with some strange 'friends'] are looking for a piece of religious history
The blurb on the front implies the action and excitement of a Dan Brown however this is a more slowly moving story- don't expect puzzles and codes let alone a heart racing chase scene (well, there is a chase scene but it's more of a meander through Jamaica than anything else). While I did enjoy the book I was more impressed with the cabin boy's story than the mystery being solved in the present day chapters- I would buy this again simply for the history presented because it was integrated so well into the story but overall it doesn't live up to it's hype.
very good read-hold your interest-you won't want to put it down
An interesting scenario and an interesting book.
A book written in the style of Dan Brown. Fast paced, funny, suspenseful and wonderfully written about a "secret expedition, and a secret family icon."
A wonderful book. The plot isn't its strongest point--the information divulged in the course of the plot is what "made" this book for me. It takes place in Elizabethan times and the present, but is not time travel. As one plot runs its course, the other must also. A good read.
A four hundred year old journal is willed to a wealthy landowner, who is promptly murdered. Harry Blake, an antiquarian bookseller ishired to decode the journal to uncover the treasure. A delightful mix of science, religion, history and thrills. Good read.
Antiquarian bookseller Harry Blade is hired to appraise a four hundred year old journal bequeathed to a wealthy landowner. At first, it appears to be only the curiously coded diary of a young cabin boy aboard Sir Walter Raleigh's celebrated 1585 Elizabethan expedition. But when Harry's client is murdered and his own life is threatened, he realized that he's opened the door to a mystery worth killing for.Enlisting the aid of eminent map dealer Zola Khan, Harry uncovers something else. Buried in the cryptic writings are puzzling references to a "secret purpose," terrified revalations of murder at sea and an astonishing discloures: the location of an invaluable holy relic thought lost for more than a thousand years
A good read. Several twists that will keep you reading.
The story begins when an antique map dealer is asked to translate a four-hundred-year-old journal written in a secret language dating back to the Elizabethan era. But then, the owner of the journal is found brutally murdered. What does the dusty journal contain that is a matter of life or death?
The trail leads him into a world of deadly conspiracies and through a thousand years of religious intrigue back toy the blood soaked Crusades and the secret location of an ancient holy relic. Can one man and one woman fine the missing piece of a puzzle whose stakes are millions of dollars ad a terrorist plot to trigger nothing less than total war?
The story begins when an antique map dealer is asked to translate a four-hundred-year-old journal written in a secret language dating back to the Elizabethan era. But then, the owner of the journal is found brutally murdered. What does the dusty journal contain that is a matter of life or death?
The trail leads him into a world of deadly conspiracies and through a thousand years of religious intrigue back toy the blood soaked Crusades and the secret location of an ancient holy relic. Can one man and one woman fine the missing piece of a puzzle whose stakes are millions of dollars ad a terrorist plot to trigger nothing less than total war?
A good book if you liked the DaVinci Code...
A good read!
This was a good book. Historical mystery.
Quick read. Another book in the genre of Dan Brown's The DaVinci Code.
This is a fantastic story. Even though some people have called this a DaVinci Code knockoff, I didn't think so at all, the story was interesting. If you interested in history, and you like old books you'll enjoy this tale from Napier. It's got lots of action as well.
I was a bit dismayed when this "thriller" turned to a young man's journal on a sea journey; but only for a bit. The journal give fabulous colorful background and the plot moves quickly ahead. Between the past and the present day you have a complete idea of what is happening and why and I truly liked this book. It is billed as a "daVinci Code" wanna be. No, not quite but a very good read nonetheless.
