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Daniel Knox #1
The Alexander Cipher
Non stop adventure and death defying chases in Will Adam’s outstanding debut novel.
It's 318 BC in the deserts of Libya, and Alexander the Great is buried as only a God should be, placed in a golden Sarcophagus in a catacomb of chambers, each packed with diamonds, rubies and gold. This was how he should have remained, but time waits for no-one.
2007 and underwater archaeologist Daniel Knox has been on the trail of Alexander's Gold ever since he can remember. When a tomb is uncovered on the construction site of a new hotel, Daniel believes he has found the clue to what he has been working towards for years. But the discovery has alerted two of the most dangerous men in the world, and Daniel is now a marked man.
It's 318 BC in the deserts of Libya, and Alexander the Great is buried as only a God should be, placed in a golden Sarcophagus in a catacomb of chambers, each packed with diamonds, rubies and gold. This was how he should have remained, but time waits for no-one.
2007 and underwater archaeologist Daniel Knox has been on the trail of Alexander's Gold ever since he can remember. When a tomb is uncovered on the construction site of a new hotel, Daniel believes he has found the clue to what he has been working towards for years. But the discovery has alerted two of the most dangerous men in the world, and Daniel is now a marked man.
528 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2007
217 people are currently reading
8925 people want to read
About the author
Will Adams
12 books276 followersLibrarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
Will Adams has tried his hand at a multitude of careers over the years. Most recently, he worked for a London-based firm of communications consultants, before giving it up to pursue his lifelong dream of writing fiction. His first novel, The Alexander Cipher, is a modern-day quest to find the lost tomb of Alexander the Great. Published in November 2007 by Harper Collins, it is being translated into twelve languages, including French, German, Italian, Spanish and Dutch, and will be published in the USA by Grand Central Publishing.
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
Will Adams has tried his hand at a multitude of careers over the years. Most recently, he worked for a London-based firm of communications consultants, before giving it up to pursue his lifelong dream of writing fiction. His first novel, The Alexander Cipher, is a modern-day quest to find the lost tomb of Alexander the Great. Published in November 2007 by Harper Collins, it is being translated into twelve languages, including French, German, Italian, Spanish and Dutch, and will be published in the USA by Grand Central Publishing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 425 reviews
September 25, 2017
The treasure quest mystery novel has long been a favorite of mine and The Alexander Cipher by Will Adams did not disappoint! I remember reading one of Adams' later novels (perhaps even a Daniel Knox [main character in this series] one) but decided to start from the beginning just to be safe. I added The Alexander Cipher to my reading list earlier this summer and decided it was time to switch off of my other favorite, the cozy serial.
While I am a history buff and a bit of a language guy, I had to just accept a lot of what Adams drives via the story of Alexander the Great and the Macedonians, but as always, he does some with great flair and exuberance. I have already purchased the other 3 in the series (one of which could be a re-read!) and will slot them in every other book for the next few weeks... too much historical fiction and hardcore archaeological detail can be a bit draining.
The villains are bad but not too caricature-like (perhaps just a tad), and some good guys actually perish which helps make it all the more realistic, but you still need to suspend some of your disbelief at all the pure chances at luck Daniel meets. All in good fun tho... he comes up with a few bruises and wounds that will take some time heal.
About Me
For those new to me or my reviews... here's the scoop: I read A LOT. I write A LOT. And now I blog A LOT. First the book review goes on Goodreads, and then I send it on over to my WordPress blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, where you'll also find TV & Film reviews, the revealing and introspective 365 Daily Challenge and lots of blogging about places I've visited all over the world. And you can find all my social media profiles to get the details on the who/what/when/where and my pictures. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Vote in the poll and ratings. Thanks for stopping by. Note: All written content is my original creation and copyrighted to me, but the graphics and images were linked from other sites and belong to them. Many thanks to their original creators.
While I am a history buff and a bit of a language guy, I had to just accept a lot of what Adams drives via the story of Alexander the Great and the Macedonians, but as always, he does some with great flair and exuberance. I have already purchased the other 3 in the series (one of which could be a re-read!) and will slot them in every other book for the next few weeks... too much historical fiction and hardcore archaeological detail can be a bit draining.
The villains are bad but not too caricature-like (perhaps just a tad), and some good guys actually perish which helps make it all the more realistic, but you still need to suspend some of your disbelief at all the pure chances at luck Daniel meets. All in good fun tho... he comes up with a few bruises and wounds that will take some time heal.
About Me
For those new to me or my reviews... here's the scoop: I read A LOT. I write A LOT. And now I blog A LOT. First the book review goes on Goodreads, and then I send it on over to my WordPress blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, where you'll also find TV & Film reviews, the revealing and introspective 365 Daily Challenge and lots of blogging about places I've visited all over the world. And you can find all my social media profiles to get the details on the who/what/when/where and my pictures. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Vote in the poll and ratings. Thanks for stopping by. Note: All written content is my original creation and copyrighted to me, but the graphics and images were linked from other sites and belong to them. Many thanks to their original creators.
March 16, 2009
Well... The first thing that bothered me was the fact that the author did not write a plausible American male character. FYI: "wanker" is a typically British term. Why did the guy have to be American anyway? It didn't matter to the storyline. The second thing was the female love interest, Gaille. The term "milquetoast" could have been created just for her. What a wimp! And no moment of grace. One of the things I remember most about my fiction writing class is that idea that the important characters should have a "moment of grace". For example, a shy, submissive character should be compelled through the storyline to reach deep down and be more than what they are; she deserved a moment of assertiveness, at the very least. Because of this one dimensional character (who did not seem in the least bit French) it was hard to even like her or root for her. As for Knox, the protagonist, it seemed his main function in the book was to convey, through dialogue, his immense knowledge of the pertinent historical/archeological facts.
Bottom Line: It wasn't horrible but it wasn't great either. It was well researched and detailed, but it fell short on character development. The secondary storylines were unnecessarily melodramatic.
Bottom Line: It wasn't horrible but it wasn't great either. It was well researched and detailed, but it fell short on character development. The secondary storylines were unnecessarily melodramatic.
May 8, 2009
Thrillers like this one, by their very nature, are page turners. I love stories of Robert Langdon and Indiana Jones. The historical lessons are inspiring; the archeological finds stir the imagination. I have a new name to look for when I want a good thriller: Daniel Knox.
As usual, I cannot vouch for the historical information presented in this book. But what I will say is that I found it to be plausible and possible. The themes presented regarding Alexander, the historical period of Alexander’s conquests, the clash of religions, and the political climate then and now are all well presented in this novel.
The POV shifts throughout are all necessary to progress the story being told and are well accomplished. Most of the characters are fleshed out well, the main exception being the females and in particular, Gaille. I would have liked to have seen a real teeth-gritting change in her after seeing the truth about dear old dad. Daniel Knox is supposed to be an American, yet in chapter ten he thinks ‘sod it’. There isn’t an American out there that thinks ‘sod it’, where an ‘f’ bomb will suffice. What I’m saying is that Will Adams missed the mark on Americanizing his American character. It happens again in chapter twenty-three when Knox refers to Nicolas as a ‘wanker’. My thesaurus doesn’t even have ‘wanker’ as an entry, but if it did then ‘jerk-off’ might be suggested. One last problem I had with the story is that several of the characters throughout do what is called ‘pulling a face’, as in: he pulled a face. That just sounds wrong, and it seems to mean something slightly different each time when taken in context.
Anyway, I liked the novel overall; in spite of its shortcomings it kept me turning pages far into the night. The strength of the historical/archeological themes made up for the weakness in some of the characters. I enjoyed Daniel Knox, I’m sort of mad that Rick died, and I wish Aly had more of a role. Work on those characters, Will, and give us some more exploits of Daniel Knox.
As usual, I cannot vouch for the historical information presented in this book. But what I will say is that I found it to be plausible and possible. The themes presented regarding Alexander, the historical period of Alexander’s conquests, the clash of religions, and the political climate then and now are all well presented in this novel.
The POV shifts throughout are all necessary to progress the story being told and are well accomplished. Most of the characters are fleshed out well, the main exception being the females and in particular, Gaille. I would have liked to have seen a real teeth-gritting change in her after seeing the truth about dear old dad. Daniel Knox is supposed to be an American, yet in chapter ten he thinks ‘sod it’. There isn’t an American out there that thinks ‘sod it’, where an ‘f’ bomb will suffice. What I’m saying is that Will Adams missed the mark on Americanizing his American character. It happens again in chapter twenty-three when Knox refers to Nicolas as a ‘wanker’. My thesaurus doesn’t even have ‘wanker’ as an entry, but if it did then ‘jerk-off’ might be suggested. One last problem I had with the story is that several of the characters throughout do what is called ‘pulling a face’, as in: he pulled a face. That just sounds wrong, and it seems to mean something slightly different each time when taken in context.
Anyway, I liked the novel overall; in spite of its shortcomings it kept me turning pages far into the night. The strength of the historical/archeological themes made up for the weakness in some of the characters. I enjoyed Daniel Knox, I’m sort of mad that Rick died, and I wish Aly had more of a role. Work on those characters, Will, and give us some more exploits of Daniel Knox.
Read
April 21, 2015Although the premise is interesting, this book had too many plot lines and characters for me to follow. Maybe that's my fault, but I got tired of being confused and having to work so hard, and so I stopped reading.
May 16, 2009
If it weren't for the very well written setting of this book, I don't think I would have finished it. But I'm a sucker for "sense of place" and Adams' ability to put me in Egypt with the archeologists and thugs who populate this book held my interest until the very end. Reading the plot and the characters, unfortunately, was not that enjoyable. There are twists upon twists, crossed back stories galore, and characters who speak in multiple English dialects for no known reason. The historical references in the story were interesting and educational, but there are times that the story stops being a story and becomes a History Channel episode on the many legends of Alexander. It's good information to know, but a dead stop for a thriller, especially when it's done flat out tell, not showm dialog. This book makes an attempt to mix history with thriller, but soap opera got thrown into the mix and the outcome is less it could have been.
June 25, 2022
4,25 sterren - Nederlandse paperback
Quote blz. 194: "Heel goed," zei Dragoumis. " Dan zal ik u een waarheid vertellen. Mijn grootouders zijn geboren in Groot Macedonië. Tegen de tijd dat ze volwassen waren, was een van hen Serviër, en de ander Griek. Voor mensen zoals u, mensen zonder "zaak", lijkt het misschien prima families zoals die van mij worden uiteengescheurd en uitgedeeld als slaven. Maar er is een groep mensen die heel sterk vsn mening is dat dit niet zo prima is. Kunt u misschien raden wie die mensen zijn?"
Alexander de Grote spreekt na al die eeuwen nog steeds tot de verbeelding. En er zijn boeken vol geschreven over zijn vermeende relaties en veldslagen. Deze gegevens verschijnen hier en daar in dit boek. Het verhaal wordt eraan opgehangen.
Onderwaterarcheoloog Daniel Fox is al decennialang op zoek naar het graf van Alexander de Grote. Wanneer tijdens de bouw van een hotel in Alexandrië een tombe wordt ontdekt uit de tijd van Alexander, denkt hij eindelijk een aanwijzing te hebben die naar de vindplaats van het graf kan leiden.
Maar de vondst is ook opgemerkt door twee van de gevaarlijkste mannen in het Midden-Oosten, die het graf van Alexander willen gebruiken om een burgeroorlog te ontketenen…
Er zijn " de goede", de " meelopers" en de "slechterikken. Wat dit boek wel heeft is dat het een "eerlijk" einde heeft. Zoals het in de echte wereld zou gaan. En natuurlijk een dame die gered moet worden.
Quote blz. 194: "Heel goed," zei Dragoumis. " Dan zal ik u een waarheid vertellen. Mijn grootouders zijn geboren in Groot Macedonië. Tegen de tijd dat ze volwassen waren, was een van hen Serviër, en de ander Griek. Voor mensen zoals u, mensen zonder "zaak", lijkt het misschien prima families zoals die van mij worden uiteengescheurd en uitgedeeld als slaven. Maar er is een groep mensen die heel sterk vsn mening is dat dit niet zo prima is. Kunt u misschien raden wie die mensen zijn?"
Alexander de Grote spreekt na al die eeuwen nog steeds tot de verbeelding. En er zijn boeken vol geschreven over zijn vermeende relaties en veldslagen. Deze gegevens verschijnen hier en daar in dit boek. Het verhaal wordt eraan opgehangen.
Onderwaterarcheoloog Daniel Fox is al decennialang op zoek naar het graf van Alexander de Grote. Wanneer tijdens de bouw van een hotel in Alexandrië een tombe wordt ontdekt uit de tijd van Alexander, denkt hij eindelijk een aanwijzing te hebben die naar de vindplaats van het graf kan leiden.
Maar de vondst is ook opgemerkt door twee van de gevaarlijkste mannen in het Midden-Oosten, die het graf van Alexander willen gebruiken om een burgeroorlog te ontketenen…
Er zijn " de goede", de " meelopers" en de "slechterikken. Wat dit boek wel heeft is dat het een "eerlijk" einde heeft. Zoals het in de echte wereld zou gaan. En natuurlijk een dame die gered moet worden.
June 30, 2011
Written in an Indiana Jones genre, author Will Adams has created a character who uses his intellect, rather than physical force, to escape one predictament after another. The main character Daniel Knox is a knock-around archaeologist in Egypt with a special interest in Alexander the Great. After having a run in with a well connected millionaire Egyptian and escaping to Alexandria to figure out where he can safely go to avoid being killed; Knox becomes involved in a site that has been uncovered by a construction company and holds clues to where the final resting place of Alexander is located.
The Alexander Cipher beautifully blends the history of Alexander and his successors into an entertaining, action-packed adventure. I found the information on Alexander's rule, his mysterious death, and the fact that his body was coveted as a justification for power by his successors in Egypt, the Ptolemys, and Alexander's native Macedonians quite interesting. Also, I enjoyed how the author blended in current politics by adding a rich Macedonian nationalists to the story by describing how this character was intent on using Alexander's body as the means, after more than 2,000 years, of fomenting revolution to establish a separate Macedonia out of Greece and Balkan states.
I would strongly recommend this book to amateur archaeogists, history buffs, or those craving suspense.
The Alexander Cipher beautifully blends the history of Alexander and his successors into an entertaining, action-packed adventure. I found the information on Alexander's rule, his mysterious death, and the fact that his body was coveted as a justification for power by his successors in Egypt, the Ptolemys, and Alexander's native Macedonians quite interesting. Also, I enjoyed how the author blended in current politics by adding a rich Macedonian nationalists to the story by describing how this character was intent on using Alexander's body as the means, after more than 2,000 years, of fomenting revolution to establish a separate Macedonia out of Greece and Balkan states.
I would strongly recommend this book to amateur archaeogists, history buffs, or those craving suspense.
May 25, 2012
When I read the first book in the Daniel Knox series by Will Adams, The Alexander Cipher is a total package of action-adventure and historical fiction for this thriller. Set in Egypt, this is reminiscent of the Indiana Jones movie trilogies. Plenty of action, danger and suspense, when we're introduced to Daniel Knox and the characters in the novel. My heart sank, when Gaille and Daniel revealed about loss in their family, the same for Elena on her husband, and my heart ache on Mohammed's sick daughter. He would do anything to save his daughter's life, even illegally. We learn about the secrets of Alexander the Great's tomb and his origins between Macedonia and Egypt. The location is exotic and interesting. The historical aspect of Alexander's life and Egyptian customs--then and now--makes this for a good read. We're really set in the throes of danger and adventure in every page with a shocking conclusion, and a cliffhanger for the other four books in the series. Get ready to plunge into heart-pounding danger in Egypt.
June 19, 2008
I have a huge thing for mystery thrillers. :D And this one is no exception except...it wasn't as good as I expected it to be. The beginning was way too boring and long. It kinda mattered in the end, but there were way too many details which just were not important at all.
The middle part and all the historical/or not so historical parts (whatever!) regarding Alexander were great though. It really turned out to be a pageturner.
But then, there was the ending. *siiiiigh* I felt like the author had no fun writing anymore, that he needed an ending. Maybe the end made kinda "sense" regarding the topic but I just found it stupid!! Plus, some plotlines had no end at all. WTF?! Seriously, you could have made this a lot better. :/
Still, a nice and fast read, except the beginning and the end.
The middle part and all the historical/or not so historical parts (whatever!) regarding Alexander were great though. It really turned out to be a pageturner.
But then, there was the ending. *siiiiigh* I felt like the author had no fun writing anymore, that he needed an ending. Maybe the end made kinda "sense" regarding the topic but I just found it stupid!! Plus, some plotlines had no end at all. WTF?! Seriously, you could have made this a lot better. :/
Still, a nice and fast read, except the beginning and the end.
April 12, 2018
My definition of "non-stop action" and "death defying chases" is really really different than the authors / book blurb writers. There were 2 chases, 2 chases, and a hand full of deaths that happened pretty quickly / suddenly.
Had this book been 300 pages shorter, with just the digs, it might have been ok, but never "non-stop action". More like 10% action, if that.
Sucks, and it took forever (for me, a week is forever) to finish it.
Had this book been 300 pages shorter, with just the digs, it might have been ok, but never "non-stop action". More like 10% action, if that.
Sucks, and it took forever (for me, a week is forever) to finish it.
May 25, 2022
הארכיאולוג התת-ימי, דניאל נוקס, מוצא את עצמו מתוסבך
קשות עם ראש מאפיה מקומי בשל החלטה רגעית ופזיזה ונס
על נפשו כל עוד הוא יכול.
שכן, כמו במקסיקו, מתברר שגם במצרים בעל המאה הוא בעל
הדעה. כמעט לכל מקום שהוא הולך הוא מוצא את עצמו לכוד
ומצליח להתחמק בעור שיניו בזכות חברים ומכרים מהעבר ובזכות
הרבה מאוד מזל. לא רק זאת, בהמשך אנו נחשפים לעובדה
שחברינו, נוקס, עצבן עוד אנשים נוספים בדרכו ליעד הנכסף -
חיפוש הקבר של אלכסנדר מוקדון ואתו גם אוצרות הזהב
והיהלומים.
ועכשיו, בעודו נס אל נפשו, הוא נתקל בתגלית של חשיפת קבר
המובילה אותו לרמז שהוא מאמין שייקח אותו לאוצר שחיפש כל
חייו. לדאבונו, הוא לא היחיד, אלא גם אלה המתעבים אותו.
הספר מעניין במידת מה, בעיקר בשל הנושאים ההיסטוריים. אך,
לוקה בחסר בכל שאר הדברים. דמותו של דניאל אינה מעניינת
ומאוד קשה להתחבר אליה רגשית (דווקא כמה מהדמויות המשניות
הצליחו להראות את החיבור הנדרש). הדבר היחיד שמעניין בו
זה הידע הארכיאולוגי - היסטורי ותו לא. כל שאר ההתרחשויות
היו לא מעניינות ואף סתמיות.
קשות עם ראש מאפיה מקומי בשל החלטה רגעית ופזיזה ונס
על נפשו כל עוד הוא יכול.
שכן, כמו במקסיקו, מתברר שגם במצרים בעל המאה הוא בעל
הדעה. כמעט לכל מקום שהוא הולך הוא מוצא את עצמו לכוד
ומצליח להתחמק בעור שיניו בזכות חברים ומכרים מהעבר ובזכות
הרבה מאוד מזל. לא רק זאת, בהמשך אנו נחשפים לעובדה
שחברינו, נוקס, עצבן עוד אנשים נוספים בדרכו ליעד הנכסף -
חיפוש הקבר של אלכסנדר מוקדון ואתו גם אוצרות הזהב
והיהלומים.
ועכשיו, בעודו נס אל נפשו, הוא נתקל בתגלית של חשיפת קבר
המובילה אותו לרמז שהוא מאמין שייקח אותו לאוצר שחיפש כל
חייו. לדאבונו, הוא לא היחיד, אלא גם אלה המתעבים אותו.
הספר מעניין במידת מה, בעיקר בשל הנושאים ההיסטוריים. אך,
לוקה בחסר בכל שאר הדברים. דמותו של דניאל אינה מעניינת
ומאוד קשה להתחבר אליה רגשית (דווקא כמה מהדמויות המשניות
הצליחו להראות את החיבור הנדרש). הדבר היחיד שמעניין בו
זה הידע הארכיאולוגי - היסטורי ותו לא. כל שאר ההתרחשויות
היו לא מעניינות ואף סתמיות.
December 27, 2021
Auf maximales Verfilmungspotenzial zugeschnittenes Archäologenspektakel, das neben der Schatzjagd auch die Lösung für ein historisches Rätsel anbietet und Alexander den Großen auch als Vorbild im Schlechten für Julian Apostata und Napoleon Bonaparte darstellt.
Will Adams treibt bei seinem Erstling ein ziemlich umfangreiches Ensemble durch Ägypten und rund ums Mittelmeer, immerhin in kurzen Kapiteln, so dass beim permanenten Sprung von einem Schauplatz zum nächsten der Spannungsfaden nicht wirklich abreißt. Allerdings verknüpft er die Fäden beim Auflösen alter Verbrechen zu eng unter den Mitgliedern des Ensembles. Von daher potenziert sich der Unglaubwürdigkeitsfaktor gegen Ende, auch wenn der Schluss/Showdown so weit stimmig ist.
Will Adams treibt bei seinem Erstling ein ziemlich umfangreiches Ensemble durch Ägypten und rund ums Mittelmeer, immerhin in kurzen Kapiteln, so dass beim permanenten Sprung von einem Schauplatz zum nächsten der Spannungsfaden nicht wirklich abreißt. Allerdings verknüpft er die Fäden beim Auflösen alter Verbrechen zu eng unter den Mitgliedern des Ensembles. Von daher potenziert sich der Unglaubwürdigkeitsfaktor gegen Ende, auch wenn der Schluss/Showdown so weit stimmig ist.
November 12, 2019
The book was interesting but it lacked the suspense factor that would have made it an outstanding book. I liked the character of Daniel Knox and I believe he will develop over time...but the majority of the characters were just a little too much on the unrealistic side in their reactions. Fans of the thriller genre with an interest in Egyptology and Alexander The Great will find that there is a great deal to like here...but those of us that seek more action and adventure in our books will find they are bogged down in too many subplots and historical facts.
November 13, 2010
Note: I listened to this as an audiobook. Also it is possible this review includes material that some sensitive souls may regard as spoilery. If you are a sensitive soul, not only should you stay away from this review, but the actual book as well I think!
Had a love hate relationship with this one, and consequently find myself torn between the 2-star "it was OK" rating and the 3-star "liked it". Aspects of it were utterly fascinating, but all too often I found myself shouting in frustration at the author, who had a terrible tendency to bang on and on with the melodrama, trying to artificially heighten the suspense by chucking big long descriptive passages at various scenes, dwelling on minutiae of what characters were thinking and doing. I got the feeling at times that he was anticipating the book being turned into a movie, and was actually including notes for the film-maker. The result: boring, pointless detail. Characters were taken apparently well past the point of certain death time and again, just to be rescued - usually by the hero. Tedious, tedious. I hated most of the female characters most of the time. I hated the way Gaille was referred to as "the girl" so often, although admittedly this was sometimes a device to indicate the contempt with which a particular one of the many arrogant men in the book regarded her. I hated the way that in spite of her having little discernible gumption, courage, chutzpah or personality, she became the hero's romantic interest. I can only say thank God there was no sex scene between them. (and don't get me started on the sex scene that was in the book. *shudders*)
The historical and archeological aspects of the book were brilliant. Alexander is one of the most interesting and amazing leaders in history, and I really enjoyed all the details of his legend woven into this book. For me, that was what made it worth finishing. Will I read the next in the series? Maybe. But not until time has numbed the irritation I felt from this one.
Had a love hate relationship with this one, and consequently find myself torn between the 2-star "it was OK" rating and the 3-star "liked it". Aspects of it were utterly fascinating, but all too often I found myself shouting in frustration at the author, who had a terrible tendency to bang on and on with the melodrama, trying to artificially heighten the suspense by chucking big long descriptive passages at various scenes, dwelling on minutiae of what characters were thinking and doing. I got the feeling at times that he was anticipating the book being turned into a movie, and was actually including notes for the film-maker. The result: boring, pointless detail. Characters were taken apparently well past the point of certain death time and again, just to be rescued - usually by the hero. Tedious, tedious. I hated most of the female characters most of the time. I hated the way Gaille was referred to as "the girl" so often, although admittedly this was sometimes a device to indicate the contempt with which a particular one of the many arrogant men in the book regarded her. I hated the way that in spite of her having little discernible gumption, courage, chutzpah or personality, she became the hero's romantic interest. I can only say thank God there was no sex scene between them. (and don't get me started on the sex scene that was in the book. *shudders*)
The historical and archeological aspects of the book were brilliant. Alexander is one of the most interesting and amazing leaders in history, and I really enjoyed all the details of his legend woven into this book. For me, that was what made it worth finishing. Will I read the next in the series? Maybe. But not until time has numbed the irritation I felt from this one.
August 23, 2010
My review is not going to bee to good even though I gave it three stars. I think it is mostly because it was not the right time for me to read this book. Everything seemed good about it but for some reason it just dragged on for me. Characters I did not care about and his writing style was not very good for my taste. HE kept trying to keep the suspense moving by having people in conversations about stuff that is not important and then when it comes to the last line of the conversation he moves on to another part in the book. Sorry man but I just did not care.
I do hate it when authors put in a stupid sex scene that has nothing at all about the book, nothing about the plot and it seems that he is just trying to fulfill some sexual fantasy that I have to read. too much information and he even writes about the clean up, just stupid and gross.
At the end I started to like Knox but I think I am done with this author.
I do hate it when authors put in a stupid sex scene that has nothing at all about the book, nothing about the plot and it seems that he is just trying to fulfill some sexual fantasy that I have to read. too much information and he even writes about the clean up, just stupid and gross.
At the end I started to like Knox but I think I am done with this author.
June 6, 2021
Barely readable. Gave up in chapter eight at the sentence, “she was a proud and independent woman herself, and like so many of her kind, she had yearned to fall helplessly in love.” Yuck.
June 21, 2024
The best part of this book was the final third when the Thriller part kicked in. The rest kind of slogs along. First, it was hard to identify with the characters because the characterization wasn't the best. One, Elena, was totally not believable, and the romance didn't spark much interest.
I finished the book because I love anything archeology, and the search for Alexander's real tomb grabbed my attention.
I finished the book because I love anything archeology, and the search for Alexander's real tomb grabbed my attention.
December 27, 2020
The book is not as captivating as the title! The history is difficult to follow without being properly introduced and explained to the reader,the thrill and adventure seems a bit pointless at times and the characters are lacking development. Overall, disappointed in the book since I'm usually a lover of archeological thrillers!
August 30, 2020
Just what I needed in-between epic fantasy series. A quick, easy read. It was a fast page turner, with an exciting plot. Maybe the characters weren't very strongly built, or maybe the Points of View swapped between too many of them, but it was very enjoyable.
October 30, 2017
I loved this book. Can't wait to read the rest of the series!
June 26, 2024
I enjoyed it, fun adventure. Story has good potential, just too many extra characters and storylines that could be edited out.
March 3, 2017
Because Alexandria is my home city. I liked this novel very match. Will Adams succeeded to build a full scene for my city as a background for his thriller about Alexander the great tomb.
February 2, 2010
Adams weaves history, suspense and modern Balkan politics in his debut novel, which is centered around the various tombs of Alexander the Great. The hero of our tale is Daniel Knox. He was a well-respected archaeologist before some controversial event happened a number of years previous. Now, he lives in Egypt and makes a modest living as a dive instructor and leading tours in the waters around Alexandria. His quiet life takes another turn after he helps rescue a woman from the clutches of one Hassan al-Assyuti, a local dabbler in the underworld.
As a result, Knox finds himself on the run, seeking help from a French friend working on a dig in Alexandria. He ends up helping with the dig, placing him in the center of a race to find the true tomb of Alexander the Great, with possibilities in Alexandria proper, the nearby oasis of Siwa, and even in Alexander's native Macedonia. Area archaeologists know that finding the tomb will make a career.
The problem is that a wealthy Macedonian sees the recovery of Alexander's preserved body as an opportunity to bring about the independence of a Greater Macedonia, an area currently split between Serbia, Greece, and Romania.
Knox, like any adventure archaeologist, needs a romantic lead, and his takes on the form of Gaille Bonnard. She is a specialist in ancient languages and cryptography. The two are brought together as everyone seems to work together to find the tomb. Gaille and Knox find not only an interest, but an interesting in recovering history and a shared past that might tear their relationship apart.
The story is filled with a number of background characters that run the gamut to ruthless villains to sympathetic fathers, allowing for a realistic three-dimensional world for Knox to inhabit.
Adams does a nice job of including a plethora of information about Alexander, the Ptolemies, and Graeco-Egyptian history so novices will be able to understand the consequences of the search for the real tomb, including a belief that possession of Alexander's body will make any nation all-powerful. Personally, I found such information to be very interesting and a strength for the book, but those looking for pure action may find that these sections bog down the pacing of the plot.
All-in-all, I found this to be an enjoyable read. Those interested in ancient cultures will probably like it, too. If you are looking for the quick pacing of an Indiana Jones movie, though, you will probably find this novel a bit slow.
As a result, Knox finds himself on the run, seeking help from a French friend working on a dig in Alexandria. He ends up helping with the dig, placing him in the center of a race to find the true tomb of Alexander the Great, with possibilities in Alexandria proper, the nearby oasis of Siwa, and even in Alexander's native Macedonia. Area archaeologists know that finding the tomb will make a career.
The problem is that a wealthy Macedonian sees the recovery of Alexander's preserved body as an opportunity to bring about the independence of a Greater Macedonia, an area currently split between Serbia, Greece, and Romania.
Knox, like any adventure archaeologist, needs a romantic lead, and his takes on the form of Gaille Bonnard. She is a specialist in ancient languages and cryptography. The two are brought together as everyone seems to work together to find the tomb. Gaille and Knox find not only an interest, but an interesting in recovering history and a shared past that might tear their relationship apart.
The story is filled with a number of background characters that run the gamut to ruthless villains to sympathetic fathers, allowing for a realistic three-dimensional world for Knox to inhabit.
Adams does a nice job of including a plethora of information about Alexander, the Ptolemies, and Graeco-Egyptian history so novices will be able to understand the consequences of the search for the real tomb, including a belief that possession of Alexander's body will make any nation all-powerful. Personally, I found such information to be very interesting and a strength for the book, but those looking for pure action may find that these sections bog down the pacing of the plot.
All-in-all, I found this to be an enjoyable read. Those interested in ancient cultures will probably like it, too. If you are looking for the quick pacing of an Indiana Jones movie, though, you will probably find this novel a bit slow.
June 3, 2013
This book was a disappointment. I got the audiobook version to listen to while I work. I think the majority of problems were with the writing, but some were also with the narration. I suspect I would have liked this book better had I physically read it, which is why I'm giving it two stars instead of the one I'm inclined to assign it.
The narrator's emphasis made Knox, the main character, sound like a sarcastic meathead of a lump. The women were weak, petty, and unsympathetic, and the Egyptian and Macedonian characters sounded like they were supposed to be either charmingly, bumblingly provincial or constantly scheming and up to no good. Everything felt like a stereotype. I suspect that much of this was inherent in the writing, but it was inescapable in the narration. I had no particular interest in any of the characters, and I just couldn't bring myself to be distressed when bad things happened to them.
As for the plot, the build-up was so long that by the time the book got to the climax, I'd really lost interest. That said, the climactic scene was reasonably well written, and had some exciting parts.
I was bothered by the astonishing number of coincidences. I can suspend disbelief to an extent, and I understand that Egyptian archaeology is probably a fairly small world in which most people are familiar with each other, but everyone had some close history with everyone else (the surprising nature of which was, of course, revealed explosively).
The writing was often ham-fisted and repeated phrases to my annoyance. (If I never again have to hear about someone "pulling a face", I will be a happy girl.) I was mildly bothered that Knox, an American, used a lot of British and Aussie slang, but that's a relatively minor issue in a book filled with larger ones.
I understand that this is Adams' first novel, but unfortunately it was sufficiently off-putting that I won't try his subsequent books.
The narrator's emphasis made Knox, the main character, sound like a sarcastic meathead of a lump. The women were weak, petty, and unsympathetic, and the Egyptian and Macedonian characters sounded like they were supposed to be either charmingly, bumblingly provincial or constantly scheming and up to no good. Everything felt like a stereotype. I suspect that much of this was inherent in the writing, but it was inescapable in the narration. I had no particular interest in any of the characters, and I just couldn't bring myself to be distressed when bad things happened to them.
As for the plot, the build-up was so long that by the time the book got to the climax, I'd really lost interest. That said, the climactic scene was reasonably well written, and had some exciting parts.
I was bothered by the astonishing number of coincidences. I can suspend disbelief to an extent, and I understand that Egyptian archaeology is probably a fairly small world in which most people are familiar with each other, but everyone had some close history with everyone else (the surprising nature of which was, of course, revealed explosively).
The writing was often ham-fisted and repeated phrases to my annoyance. (If I never again have to hear about someone "pulling a face", I will be a happy girl.) I was mildly bothered that Knox, an American, used a lot of British and Aussie slang, but that's a relatively minor issue in a book filled with larger ones.
I understand that this is Adams' first novel, but unfortunately it was sufficiently off-putting that I won't try his subsequent books.
October 6, 2012
A lot of this book reminded me of Indiana Jones and the Worst Movie Ever (the 4th installment that we are pretending never happened). While Daniel Knox is not faced with surviving a nuclear blast with only a refrigerator for protection (Adams is probably saving that for the next book), he does manage to get knocked unconscious time and again, shot, and otherwise roughed up. Following each incident, he not only comes out unscathed, but able to mentally and physically excel. Perhaps Adams finished writing this just after watching Monty Python? It's only a flesh wound!
The story begins when our hero, Daniel Knox, saves a ridiculously naive woman from being raped (and implied that she kinda sorta deserved it cause she was dressed rather slutty...). Anyway, a fist fight with a powerful Egyptian gangster type ensues in which Adams somehow manages to beat the crap out of this guy who is significantly bigger and surrounded by body guards. This is only the first of countless miraculous escapes to come.
So here's the basic premiss: Knox, an archeologist, begins a quest to uncover the mystery of Alexander the Great's lost tomb while making major enemies along the way. While he could have escaped the country and everything would have been hunky-dory, he elicits to stay and engage on the quest for no other purpose than his own edification. Had he not been there at all, events would have unfolded along more or less the same lines.
So why the two stars? The book was pretty crappy, but it was still a page turner. Also, it was one of those the right-book-at-the-right-time reads for me. Not only did this keep me perfectly occupied during jury duty, but I read it after just finishing All the King's Men. I needed something rather vapid after that and vapid this book was.
The story begins when our hero, Daniel Knox, saves a ridiculously naive woman from being raped (and implied that she kinda sorta deserved it cause she was dressed rather slutty...). Anyway, a fist fight with a powerful Egyptian gangster type ensues in which Adams somehow manages to beat the crap out of this guy who is significantly bigger and surrounded by body guards. This is only the first of countless miraculous escapes to come.
So here's the basic premiss: Knox, an archeologist, begins a quest to uncover the mystery of Alexander the Great's lost tomb while making major enemies along the way. While he could have escaped the country and everything would have been hunky-dory, he elicits to stay and engage on the quest for no other purpose than his own edification. Had he not been there at all, events would have unfolded along more or less the same lines.
So why the two stars? The book was pretty crappy, but it was still a page turner. Also, it was one of those the right-book-at-the-right-time reads for me. Not only did this keep me perfectly occupied during jury duty, but I read it after just finishing All the King's Men. I needed something rather vapid after that and vapid this book was.
Read
January 31, 2013The Alexander cipher is a mystery/treasure hunter book about an American archeologist living in Alexandria named Daniel Knox. He gets in trouble with the local warlord, Hassan, and he is being hunted down from the moment the book starts. He meets up with a friend to hide from Hassan, but when he figures out that his friend is working on a archeological dig, he has to go check it out. What he finds there gives him a clue to one of the biggest mysteries of all time, where Alexander the Great's body lays. Unfortunately Knox isn't the only person to fugue out the clue. A group of Macedonian's want to return Alexander's body to his home in Macedonia, and will do anything to get him there. So, Knox and his friend and a fellow archeologist that he met on the way named Gaille set out on the journey to find Alexander's sarcophagus. The Macedonians reach the tomb first, but Knox and Gaille outwit the Macedonians and get Alexander's sarcophagus and bring it to an Egyptology museum, where they are hailed as heroes.
I enjoyed this book a lot because I love mystery and treasure hunting books. I would thoroughly recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed the movie National Treasure, as its very similar. This is a real page turner and has many twists throughout the book that keeps you wanting to read more. So, in conclusion I loved The Alexander Cipher and I would recommend it to anyone.
I enjoyed this book a lot because I love mystery and treasure hunting books. I would thoroughly recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed the movie National Treasure, as its very similar. This is a real page turner and has many twists throughout the book that keeps you wanting to read more. So, in conclusion I loved The Alexander Cipher and I would recommend it to anyone.
August 21, 2011
My parting thought with this book was that it was very Dan Brown-esque. Whether that is to be taken as a compliment or a critique, I will leave to the individual to decide...
It was an entertaining page-turner and served it's purpose of providing a distraction while I was reading it everyday at lunch, but it certainly wasn't the best book I've come across. There were plot lines and characters that seemed superfluous and served only to confuse me, however the topic and the pacing were quite interesting.
My biggest critique of this book has to be the romance between Daniel and Gaille. Seriously, if I thought a man was my father's lover and was involved in his death & the death of our relationship, it would take quite a lot of relationship building to find myself suddenly in love with the guy myself... She goes from hating him to being in love with him with no hashing out of the problems between them or any significant building of their relationship. It just read as implausible and hastily thrown together for the sake of the belief that we (the readers) can't care about a main character unless they have a love interest.
It was an entertaining page-turner and served it's purpose of providing a distraction while I was reading it everyday at lunch, but it certainly wasn't the best book I've come across. There were plot lines and characters that seemed superfluous and served only to confuse me, however the topic and the pacing were quite interesting.
My biggest critique of this book has to be the romance between Daniel and Gaille. Seriously, if I thought a man was my father's lover and was involved in his death & the death of our relationship, it would take quite a lot of relationship building to find myself suddenly in love with the guy myself... She goes from hating him to being in love with him with no hashing out of the problems between them or any significant building of their relationship. It just read as implausible and hastily thrown together for the sake of the belief that we (the readers) can't care about a main character unless they have a love interest.
March 9, 2011
I loved this book! It is exactly what I've been looking for! The plot was well put together and the way Will Adams weaved the storylines together reminded me somewhat of Jon Land in his Ben Kamal and Danielle Barnea series. I liked the characters and look forward to reading the next book in this series. I have only one criticism, "speeded". Now maybe this is just me being picky, but I'm pretty sure that "speeded" isn't proper English adn that it should be "sped". If this had just come up once, I might have passed over it as a typo, and if it had been used in a sentence spoken by a character I would have ignored it completely and taken it as being part of the way the character spoke. However, I found it more than once in the book and it annoyed me slightly. I'm not generally given to criticizing the grammer or word usage in a book, but this seemed to me a rather glaring oversight. On the other hand it did not detract at all from my enjoyment of the book and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys history, archaeology, Jon Land, or adventure books.
May 9, 2020
Who'd have thought that archaeology could be so exciting and more than just dry bones and treasure?
Alexander the Great, son of Philip of Macedon, was a somewhat popular leader. He is thought to have had tombs built in several different locations and many archaeologists search for the one true tomb.
Nicholas Dragoumis and his father want Alexander's remains and gold to take back to Macedonia with them, to inspire their fight for a new Macedonian nation.
The antiquities authority in Egypt, being corrupt (in this book, anyway) will go to virtually any lengths to keep all things Alexandrian in Egypt.
Daniel Knox, a discredited archaeologist, is also trying to stop both sides from disturbing the antiquities and basically grace robbing them.
After many attempts on his life, and some of his friends being hurt or killed, Knox has some success. However, he is persuaded to compromise his ideals to cover up for the head of antiquites and to have his discreditation overturned.
A fast moving story, full of twist and turns.
Alexander the Great, son of Philip of Macedon, was a somewhat popular leader. He is thought to have had tombs built in several different locations and many archaeologists search for the one true tomb.
Nicholas Dragoumis and his father want Alexander's remains and gold to take back to Macedonia with them, to inspire their fight for a new Macedonian nation.
The antiquities authority in Egypt, being corrupt (in this book, anyway) will go to virtually any lengths to keep all things Alexandrian in Egypt.
Daniel Knox, a discredited archaeologist, is also trying to stop both sides from disturbing the antiquities and basically grace robbing them.
After many attempts on his life, and some of his friends being hurt or killed, Knox has some success. However, he is persuaded to compromise his ideals to cover up for the head of antiquites and to have his discreditation overturned.
A fast moving story, full of twist and turns.
July 12, 2010
Whew! I now want to become an archaeologist and dig in the dirt and learn more about Alexander the Great...
There was a lot of backstory that I hope will be covered in the future books of this series. The explanations of Alexander and his demise were interspersed with a whole lot of action and people getting whacked and drugged and kidnapped while searching for the final resting place of Alexander. A good mixture for me to get me back in the thriller mode that I've been neglecting for, lo, these many months.
I could compare the style to a Dirk Pitt novel, but Daniel Knox actually feels pain and takes a while to get up from getting beat up. I've never had the feeling that Dirk ever really feels pain, but that's okay. I read the Dirk Pitt books for other reasons, mainly because I picture Matthew McConaghey as I read them thanks to the movie Sahara. Still working on who I cast as Daniel Knox....
Four treasure trove beans.....
There was a lot of backstory that I hope will be covered in the future books of this series. The explanations of Alexander and his demise were interspersed with a whole lot of action and people getting whacked and drugged and kidnapped while searching for the final resting place of Alexander. A good mixture for me to get me back in the thriller mode that I've been neglecting for, lo, these many months.
I could compare the style to a Dirk Pitt novel, but Daniel Knox actually feels pain and takes a while to get up from getting beat up. I've never had the feeling that Dirk ever really feels pain, but that's okay. I read the Dirk Pitt books for other reasons, mainly because I picture Matthew McConaghey as I read them thanks to the movie Sahara. Still working on who I cast as Daniel Knox....
Four treasure trove beans.....
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