Review: Shadow Tyrants by Clive Cussler and Boyd Morrison

Boyd Morrison and Clive Cussler are back with Shadow Tyrants, the 13th book in the Oregon Files series. The series follows the exploits of Juan Cabrillo and his crew, who work under the moniker of “The Corporation,” and draws its name from Cabrillo’s ship, The Oregon.

Shadow Tyrants begins in typical Cussler fashion, with a prologue set in the past that lays the groundwork for the conflict that drives the story...

Read the full review at New York Journal of Books.

On the Writing of Primitive

I briefly reflect on the writing of Primitive, a Bones Bonebrake Adventure.

Primitive Audiobook Episode 6 (Final Episode!)

Primitive Audiobook- Episode 5

Resurrect by Kane Gilmour

Resurrect is an action-adventure that follows hero Jason Quinn as he, along with Dr. Eva Rayjek, races to foil a madman's plot to topple the Catholic church and plunge the world into war.

Synopsis: 

In the 1850s, a madman proclaims himself the Son of God and raises an army, taking over half of China. A century and a half later, his descendent and legions of devoted followers plan to take over more than just China. 

When alpine engineer and mountaineer Jason Quinn, a man with a past mired in tragedy and violence, meets archeologist Dr. Eva Rayjek after a plane crash in the high Himalaya, neither of them are expecting wave after wave of Chinese assassins. Pursued to America, the frozen ice of the Gulf of Finland, and the heights of Hong Kong, Quinn and Eva connect her investigations with the machinations of charismatic shipping magnate and cathedral-builder, David Hong.

As a scheme to obtain a private audience with the Pope at the Vatican comes to fruition, Hong’s fanatical followers are preparing for global warfare. If Quinn fails to stop Hong’s plan, the entire Catholic Church just might crumble. 

My thoughts: 

Resurrect is teeming with action-adventure goodness: an intriguing historical mystery, a tough, resourceful hero, a dangerous villain, and a globe-hopping adventure filled with chases, escapes, and action to spare. Kane Gilmour has collaborated with and edited Jeremy Robinson and you can clearly see parallels in his solo work. The action is non-stop, and he even includes the Metal Storm weapons that are a favorite in the Chess Team books! The Clive Cussler influence is also evident (which I consider a very good thing.) The plot structure is much like that of a Dirk Pitt adventure, and Jason Quinn is reminiscent of Pitt, not only in his toughness and resilience, but in some of the little details as well.

Recommended if you enjoy authors like Cussler, Robinson, James Rollins, Andy McDermott, Sean Ellis, or David Golemon.

Primitive Audiobook Episode 4

It is a myth out of history, spawned by Native American lore and the stories of Spanish Explorers. But what if the legends are true? Former Navy SEAL turned treasure hunter Uriah "Bones" Bonebrake sets off on his first solo adventure in this action-packed novella.

When television host Joanna Slater hires bones to help investigate one of Florida's oldest and best-known legends, their crew gets more than they bargained for. Mystery and thrills abound in PRIMITIVE!

If you love Indiana Jones, National Treasure, or the works of Clive Cussler, Dan Brown, or James Rollins, give Primitive a try!

Stone of Fire by JF Penn

Stone of Fire is JF Penn's debut novel, with an engaging, Dan Brown/Indiana Jones/Lara Croft vibe.

Synopsis:

A power kept secret for 2000 years. A woman who stands to lose everything.

India. When a nun is burned alive on the sacred ghats of Varanasi, and the stone she carried is stolen, an international hunt is triggered for the relics of the early church.

Forged in the fire and blood of martyrs, the Pentecost stones have been handed down through generations of Keepers who kept their power and locations secret.

Until now.

The Keepers are being murdered, the stones stolen by those who would use them for evil in a world transformed by religious fundamentalism.

Oxford University psychologist Morgan Sierra is forced into the search when her sister and niece are held hostage. She is helped by Jake Timber from the mysterious Arkane, a British government agency specializing in paranormal and religious experience. Morgan must risk her own life to save her family, but will she ultimately be betrayed?

From ancient Christian sites in Spain, Italy and Israel to the far reaches of Iran and Tunisia, Morgan and Jake must track down the stones through the myths of the early church in a race against time before a new Pentecost is summoned, this time powered by the fires of evil.

The first in the ARKANE series, Stone of Fire is a fast-paced thriller that explores the edges of faith against a backdrop of early Christian history, archaeology and psychology.

My thoughts:

Stone of Fire is a fun action-adventure story in which the main character, Morgan Sierra, is on a quest to recover the Pentecost Stones- stones collected by the disciples from the empty tomb of Jesus Christ. Morgan is joined by members of the covert group ARKANE, and hounded by the sinister group Thanatos, in a race against the clock to recover the stones and save her hostage sister before Pentecost.

Stone of Fire is a light read, and very fast-paced, with shades of Dan Brown and James Rollins' influences evident. My favorite element is the concept of the Pentecost Stones. I love a good MacGuffin, particularly one that has a Biblical tie-in. The stones are purely of Penn's creation, yet entirely believable. Penn also includes jaunts to fascinating locations, another "must" for me in a good adventure story. I did find myself wishing for more, especially in the first half of the book. There were many places in which I wanted greater detail, deeper exploration, or a few more bumps in the road. In all, Stone of Fire is a thrill ride for adventure fans. I'll definitely give Penn's next book a try. 

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Review- The Lost Island by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

The Lost Island is book 3 in the Gideon Crew series. While I enjoyed the previous installments of this The Lost Island might not be up there with my favorite Pendergast books, but it's by far my favorite of this series.

series, they fell short of the duo's Pendergast series.

Here's the synopsis:

Gideon Crew--brilliant scientist, master thief--is living on borrowed time. When his mysterious employer, Eli Glinn, gives him an eyebrow-raising mission, he has no reason to refuse. Gideon's task: steal a page from the priceless Book of Kells, now on display in New York City and protected by unbreakable security.

Accomplishing the impossible, Gideon steals the parchment--only to learn that hidden beneath the gorgeously illuminated image is a treasure map dating back to the time of the ancient Greeks. As they ponder the strange map, they realize that the treasure it leads to is no ordinary fortune. It is something far more precious: an amazing discovery that could perhaps even save Gideon's life.

Together with his new partner, Amy, Gideon follows a trail of cryptic clues to an unknown island in a remote corner of the Caribbean Sea. There, off the hostile and desolate Mosquito Coast, the pair realize the extraordinary treasure they are hunting conceals an even greater shock-a revelation so profound that it may benefit the entire human race . . . if Gideon and Amy can survive.

My thoughts:

The Lost Island is a true adventure story, with a treasure hunt, elements of history and mythology, mysterious creatures, mystery, and action. It has the feel of classic adventure stories, but with modern pacing. All in all, great fun! Highly recommended for adventure lovers!

Buy it on Google Play