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Splintered Icon
As an antique map dealer in a small English town, Harry Blake appreciates the quiet life. But when a local landowner asks him to value a 400-year-old journal and is then brutally murdered twelve hours later, Harry begins to suspect he's being pulled into something sinister. What does the dusty journal contain that is a matter of life and death? Why is someone prepared to pay Harry a fortune for it? He turns to marine historian Zola Kahn to uncover the mysteries. And when they meet at the old Greenwich Observatory, Harry is convinced there is more to Zola than meets the eye. The trail of the journal leads him into a world of deadly Elizabethan conspiracies, with a thread of history that takes him through a thousand years of religious intrigue back to the blood-soaked Crusades and a long lost icon whose rediscovery has the potential to ignite a worldwide religious war. Combining the thrill of a contemporary chase novel with a historical puzzle this is one novel that will leave readers gasping for breath.
360 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 2, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
March 18, 2025
My 2009 one sentence review: 'Formulaic conspiracy adventure … in search of a triptych containing a section of the True Cross.' - looks like yet another Dan Brown inspired work that just doesn't do it! 3 out of 12
June 2, 2009
My favorite parts of this book are the title page, where we are informed that it was "Previously published as Shattered Icon"; and page 153 where the chapter opens as follows:
"Debbie?"
"Harry!"
I now picture people playing a game a lot like Marco Polo, with an 80s pop icon instead of a 13th century trader.
That is all.
"Debbie?"
"Harry!"
I now picture people playing a game a lot like Marco Polo, with an 80s pop icon instead of a 13th century trader.
That is all.
April 24, 2025
Ik verwachte een Da Vinci Code achtig boek maar helaas kreeg een Action versie ervan. Het geschiedenis deel van het boek was zo diep als een boterkuipje, de karakters waren nog minder boeiend dan de werkzaamheden in het Hunnerpark. 4 paginas voor het einde vind de schrijver het nog een goed idee om koolstofdatering 1.5 lang uit te leggen. De eerste helft van het boek was beter dan het einde.
Blij dat het af is. 2.5 ster
Blij dat het af is. 2.5 ster
May 16, 2018
Paveikta lobių paieškų bei Indiana Jone's nuotaikos nusigriebiau dar vieną lobį, kuris ne vienerius metus išgulėjo lentynoje (bent jau tai žadėjo aprašymas bei viršelis). Idėja įdomi (užšifruoti dienoraščiai, tuo pat metu pasakojimas iš jų apie plaukimą laivu su slapta misija, paslaptingas mirtis, detalės apie J. Dee, jo sukurtą kalendorių, perversmą), veiksmo nestigo, kaip ir pavojų, bet tai nebuvo stipriausia knyga apie relikvijos paieškas. Tiesiog neužkabino, nors labai mėgstu tokio tipo knygas, suriju jas su pasimėgavimu, bet ne šį katą. Išsiblaškiusi sklaidžiau per puslapius ir vien tik iš smalsumo norėjau sužinoti pabaigą. Galbūt ne mano rašytojas ir tiek.
October 21, 2014
(3.5/5)
Finished reading this today. I won't bother with a synopsis of the plot since that is easily found elsewhere. The story has two different stories within, one set in the modern day, and the other set in the 16th Century.
Overall I enjoyed it. It's essentially a 'treasure hunt for a holy relic while being pursued by bad guys' type of story - which I like. Similar to Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code, though there aren't nearly as many 'riddles' etc. It is a fun 'story', not 'literature' - so if you don't usually like that type of book then you should give it a miss and read something else.
Personally I enjoyed the adventures of Ogilvie during the 16th century voyage the most (which actually surprised me, as I'm not usually a fan of books set in historical periods). In fact I found that character to be be the most well developed, and almost wish that the entire story had been written about him - though if it had been I probably would have dismissed it as an historical thriller and wouldn't have read it in the first place! I suspect this was the part of the story that most excited the author when writing it, and wonder if it was trimmed down based on editorial advice.
It's a pretty short read, and think it needed another fifty pages or so, to develop the characters more (including the antagonists). Again I wonder if editorial advice came into play here - if so then it was a pity.
Fun quick read.
Finished reading this today. I won't bother with a synopsis of the plot since that is easily found elsewhere. The story has two different stories within, one set in the modern day, and the other set in the 16th Century.
Overall I enjoyed it. It's essentially a 'treasure hunt for a holy relic while being pursued by bad guys' type of story - which I like. Similar to Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code, though there aren't nearly as many 'riddles' etc. It is a fun 'story', not 'literature' - so if you don't usually like that type of book then you should give it a miss and read something else.
Personally I enjoyed the adventures of Ogilvie during the 16th century voyage the most (which actually surprised me, as I'm not usually a fan of books set in historical periods). In fact I found that character to be be the most well developed, and almost wish that the entire story had been written about him - though if it had been I probably would have dismissed it as an historical thriller and wouldn't have read it in the first place! I suspect this was the part of the story that most excited the author when writing it, and wonder if it was trimmed down based on editorial advice.
It's a pretty short read, and think it needed another fifty pages or so, to develop the characters more (including the antagonists). Again I wonder if editorial advice came into play here - if so then it was a pity.
Fun quick read.
June 27, 2011
From Publishers Weekly: 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 millions -- or could be the key to a worldwide terrorist plot.
***
Dan Brown has a lot to answer for, number one on the list being the plethora of "hunt for the holy relic" novels he spawned with the incredibly popular The DaVinci Code. Not that Splintered Icon is a bad read: it's fun, enjoyable, and somewhat more believable than many of its cousins. And this particular take on the genre gives us a look at a relatively obscure (at least on this side of the pond) expedition to the New World featuring Sir Walter Raleigh, his cohorts, and a suspected Catholic plot against Queen Elizabeth. That alone makes this novel worth slogging through the unsurprising surprises and not-so-twisty twists of a done-to-death storyline. Or maybe I've just read too many of this type of novel. I do have a weakness for them, regardless of their familiarity.
Fluffy, but fun.
***
Dan Brown has a lot to answer for, number one on the list being the plethora of "hunt for the holy relic" novels he spawned with the incredibly popular The DaVinci Code. Not that Splintered Icon is a bad read: it's fun, enjoyable, and somewhat more believable than many of its cousins. And this particular take on the genre gives us a look at a relatively obscure (at least on this side of the pond) expedition to the New World featuring Sir Walter Raleigh, his cohorts, and a suspected Catholic plot against Queen Elizabeth. That alone makes this novel worth slogging through the unsurprising surprises and not-so-twisty twists of a done-to-death storyline. Or maybe I've just read too many of this type of novel. I do have a weakness for them, regardless of their familiarity.
Fluffy, but fun.
March 19, 2011
Antiquarian book dealer Harry Blake is called upon to translate and provide a valuation for a journal -- which turns out to belong to a sailor on Sir Walter Raleigh's Roanoke expedition. When his client is murdered, the man's daughter (Debbie) retains Harry to continue the translation.
Pretty soon, Harry, Debbie and several others involved in the translation project find their lives in danger.
Bill Napier's "Splintered Icon" is part historical fiction, part modern-day thriller and part treasure hunt. The story draws the reader in straight from the beginning and doesn't let go until the end. The characters are multi-dimensional and interesting, and the plot is fascinating.
Highly recommended.
Pretty soon, Harry, Debbie and several others involved in the translation project find their lives in danger.
Bill Napier's "Splintered Icon" is part historical fiction, part modern-day thriller and part treasure hunt. The story draws the reader in straight from the beginning and doesn't let go until the end. The characters are multi-dimensional and interesting, and the plot is fascinating.
Highly recommended.
February 23, 2011
Eine sehr spannende Geschichte, die sich erst langsam entwickelt. Bei anderen Büchern ist das total langwierig, hier aber nicht. Denn man macht die gleiche Wissensentwicklung mit wie die Charaktere und es wird nicht wie bei anderen Büchern vergangene Ereignisse angedeutet die man als Leser gar nicht weiß.
Das einzige Manko für mich war, das eine vergangene und eine aktuelle Geschichte abwechselnd erzählt wurde, ein Geschichtswechsel aber nicht deutlich abgegrenzt wurde. Mir er ging es einige Male am Anfang eines Kapitels, das ich gar nicht wusste um was es ging, da gerade der Erzählte gewechselt hatte. Die ICH-Perspektive war also nicht sehr gut gewählt.
Deswegen leider nur die 3 Sterne!
Das einzige Manko für mich war, das eine vergangene und eine aktuelle Geschichte abwechselnd erzählt wurde, ein Geschichtswechsel aber nicht deutlich abgegrenzt wurde. Mir er ging es einige Male am Anfang eines Kapitels, das ich gar nicht wusste um was es ging, da gerade der Erzählte gewechselt hatte. Die ICH-Perspektive war also nicht sehr gut gewählt.
Deswegen leider nur die 3 Sterne!
December 26, 2010
German title: Der 77. Grad
I liked the Ogilvie part of the book and could have read a lot more about his story as it was very captivating. But I didn't care for the rest. It was just boring.
Why swapped: sounded interesting
why read: monthly challenge on TT
I liked the Ogilvie part of the book and could have read a lot more about his story as it was very captivating. But I didn't care for the rest. It was just boring.
Why swapped: sounded interesting
why read: monthly challenge on TT
March 2, 2014
I bought this when I read the Dan Brown books. But it wasn't as good as those novels, if you like them. There are better mystery/ thriller books out there. I even gave my copy away in one of my book clearing out phases, and unlike a lot of books I regret giving away this wasn't one of them.
August 14, 2015
Enjoyable read. It was a race to the finish to find the True Cross, or a piece of the True Cross. I liked going back in time with the journal, instead of it being all in present day. It gave it character.
July 24, 2010
If you are a fan of Dan Brown's books, then you may appreciate this novel. I am no fan of Dan Brown.
December 21, 2022
Pasărea zbura în cercuri graţioase, sus, pe curenţii montani, cu mişcări încete, leneşe. Armonizarea perfectă a aripilor sale, rezultat al forţelor evolutive vechi de mii de ani, îi menţinea capul perfect aliniat faţă de curentul ascendent de aer, iar ochii negri fixau cu îndărătnicie un punct aflat la o sută cincizeci de metri dedesubt. Ochii îi rămăseseră fixaţi pe un animal mare, nemişcat. Instinctele străvechi îi spuneau păsării că acest animal mare era în pericol.
O umbră trecu rapid pe deasupra mea. Ceva mare, dar nu puteam spune ce era. Mi-am deschis cu greu ochii, dar la început nu am putut zări decât soarele necruţător. Pe urma am văzut în înalturi o formă neagră: o pasăre, o frumuseţe ce plana în aerul de munte. Apoi încă una şi încă una. „Trebuie să beau ceva.” Îmi simţeam limba ca de plumb. Faţa îmi ardea, plină de broboane de sudoare. Acum păsările chiar erau multe.
„Zboară în cerc deasupra mea. Se lasă mai jos.” O pasăre de pradă ateriză la vreo douăzeci de metri. Nu arăta deloc delicat: avea ciocul puternic pentru sfâşiere, capul chel, gâtul lung şi jigărit, gheare mari. Şi ochii aceia negri şi lucioşi. Pe urmă am auzit un fâlfâit puternic în spatele meu, provocat de nişte aripi mari, şi zgomotele produse de două păsări care se încăierau. Apoi se auzi un fel de foşnet, foarte aproape. Chiar lângă ceafa mea.
„Nu pot să mă mişc!”
Acum erau mai multe perechi de ochi. Nu se vedea niciun pic de milă în ei; nu exista vreo modalitate de a pleda sau de a ajunge la o înţelegere, nu exista niciun mod de a ne conecta minţile. Se apropiau cu sărituri mici, prudente, ca indienii în jurul cercului format din căruţe, înainte de atac. Întâi îmi vor ataca părţile cele mai moi, ochii. Pe urmă, poate urechile şi nasul. Apoi se vor apuca de ceafă şi obraji, sfâşiind carnea.
O umbră trecu rapid pe deasupra mea. Ceva mare, dar nu puteam spune ce era. Mi-am deschis cu greu ochii, dar la început nu am putut zări decât soarele necruţător. Pe urma am văzut în înalturi o formă neagră: o pasăre, o frumuseţe ce plana în aerul de munte. Apoi încă una şi încă una. „Trebuie să beau ceva.” Îmi simţeam limba ca de plumb. Faţa îmi ardea, plină de broboane de sudoare. Acum păsările chiar erau multe.
„Zboară în cerc deasupra mea. Se lasă mai jos.” O pasăre de pradă ateriză la vreo douăzeci de metri. Nu arăta deloc delicat: avea ciocul puternic pentru sfâşiere, capul chel, gâtul lung şi jigărit, gheare mari. Şi ochii aceia negri şi lucioşi. Pe urmă am auzit un fâlfâit puternic în spatele meu, provocat de nişte aripi mari, şi zgomotele produse de două păsări care se încăierau. Apoi se auzi un fel de foşnet, foarte aproape. Chiar lângă ceafa mea.
„Nu pot să mă mişc!”
Acum erau mai multe perechi de ochi. Nu se vedea niciun pic de milă în ei; nu exista vreo modalitate de a pleda sau de a ajunge la o înţelegere, nu exista niciun mod de a ne conecta minţile. Se apropiau cu sărituri mici, prudente, ca indienii în jurul cercului format din căruţe, înainte de atac. Întâi îmi vor ataca părţile cele mai moi, ochii. Pe urmă, poate urechile şi nasul. Apoi se vor apuca de ceafă şi obraji, sfâşiind carnea.
June 30, 2023
Bill Napier creates an extremely well researched, believable and immersive historical thriller in Splintered Icon. From the time I opened the book to finishing it, I was literally mesmerized. Let me say this up front, I love detailed stories that require massive amounts of searching on the parts of the characters. This may turn off some readers.
The Tebbit family in England receives a cryptic package from Jamaica containing old parchment and a note from a lawyer stating that the Tebbit's are the inheritants of the estate of an unknown, solitary poor man from Jamaica. Thomas Tebbit, knowing nothing about the parchment, contacts an old acquaintance who can value it for him. And, quite literally, people start dying off.
The race to understand the parchment will take you back centuries to the conflict between Catholic Mary Queen of Scots and Anglican Elizabeth I and the intense competition to plunder the spoils of the new world of the Americas.
I personally loved the decoding of the parchment, which turns out to have been written in an old Elizabethan shorthand. Without giving away too much, the parchment is a record of the journey, fraught with spies, drunken nobleman and their Machiavellian scheming. The twist is that it is from the point of view from a lowly, young Scotsman conscripted for the journey.
If you love history, genealogy and mysteries of biblical era artifacts, Splintered Icon is the book for you. If you love thrillers with a bit of an English tint to them, you will love this book. If you are looking for a quick murder mystery, pass on by. Splintered Icon is for readers who love to sink their teeth into a great read.
The Tebbit family in England receives a cryptic package from Jamaica containing old parchment and a note from a lawyer stating that the Tebbit's are the inheritants of the estate of an unknown, solitary poor man from Jamaica. Thomas Tebbit, knowing nothing about the parchment, contacts an old acquaintance who can value it for him. And, quite literally, people start dying off.
The race to understand the parchment will take you back centuries to the conflict between Catholic Mary Queen of Scots and Anglican Elizabeth I and the intense competition to plunder the spoils of the new world of the Americas.
I personally loved the decoding of the parchment, which turns out to have been written in an old Elizabethan shorthand. Without giving away too much, the parchment is a record of the journey, fraught with spies, drunken nobleman and their Machiavellian scheming. The twist is that it is from the point of view from a lowly, young Scotsman conscripted for the journey.
If you love history, genealogy and mysteries of biblical era artifacts, Splintered Icon is the book for you. If you love thrillers with a bit of an English tint to them, you will love this book. If you are looking for a quick murder mystery, pass on by. Splintered Icon is for readers who love to sink their teeth into a great read.
November 30, 2025
Harry muss eine verschollene Ikone finden, die Holz vom echten Kreuz Jesu beinhaltet. Eine Menge Leute sind hinter der Ikone her. Harry bekommt das Tagebuch eines Seefahrers in die Hände, der dabei war als die Ikone in Jamaika verfrachtet wird. Er entschlüsselt das Tagebuch und findet die Ikone. Sie landet im Museum.
Positives:
- zwei Perspektiven: Harry in der Gegenwart und der Seefahrer in der Vergangenheit. Mir hat die Perspektive aus der Vergangenheit mehr gefallen.
- es ghet viel um Nautic, Sterne, Manövrieren, Karten, Kreuzritter, Religion usw. Ähnlich wie Davinci Code.
- Anspruchsvoll, interessant
- Streitereien zwischen den Charakteren, schnippisch
Negatives:
- manchmal Sexistisch. Manche Sprüche hätten man lassen können. Alle weiblichen Charaktere werden irgendwie aufreizend dargestellt.
Positives:
- zwei Perspektiven: Harry in der Gegenwart und der Seefahrer in der Vergangenheit. Mir hat die Perspektive aus der Vergangenheit mehr gefallen.
- es ghet viel um Nautic, Sterne, Manövrieren, Karten, Kreuzritter, Religion usw. Ähnlich wie Davinci Code.
- Anspruchsvoll, interessant
- Streitereien zwischen den Charakteren, schnippisch
Negatives:
- manchmal Sexistisch. Manche Sprüche hätten man lassen können. Alle weiblichen Charaktere werden irgendwie aufreizend dargestellt.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 29, 2019
This was, quite simply, a really good read. Not the greatest, but excellent nonetheless. I loved how the author interweaved a mysterious historical event with a mysterious modern day treasure hunt. As with all historical fictions, there always seems to be elements of truth in them. Which almost always prods to me read more about the actual historical event. I won't spoil it, but it's about a mysterious colony that disappeared, and an ancient relic lost in the annals of history, only to be recovered in fragment. Lots of action, adventure, and mystique fill the pages of this book. If you're looking for an easy-to-read, page turner, that entertains, try Splintered Icon by Bill Napier. You likely won't be disappointed.
December 18, 2017
You have two stories in the novel. Clearly the best is the old journal that the modern story follows in pursuit of the religious icon. The modern story is basically bad guys chasing the good guys. Nothing really special. An attempt at the genre Dan Brown popularized in the Da Vinci Code . Falls short of Brown's work but still an OK read. Nothing special however.
April 29, 2018
Esta é uma interessante obra de conspirações históricas e maquinações religiosas que se insere na tradição literária de Dan Brown, James Rollins ou José Rodrigues dos Santos. Porém, vale por si, tem ação quanto baste e desenvolve duas intrigas paralelas, separadas por quatrocentos anos, que se conjugam harmoniosamente na parte final. Um livro de leitura bastante aprazível. Li-o num ápice.
October 22, 2019
If you like Dan Brown's books, you will love this story. Bill Napier ties history with a mystery in an action packed story. Easy to read, enough action to keep you interested, and a great ending. Loved the historical facts that made this a plausible work of art.
July 1, 2017
Ein netter Thriller mit historischen Fakten, die allerdings um Verschwörungstheorien erweiter wurden
May 8, 2018
Low rent DaVinci Code.
June 7, 2020
I like historical fiction; you always learn something.
February 18, 2021
It was ok. Couldn't decide whether I wanted to finish it or not.
October 19, 2021
Enjoyed it very much
February 4, 2023
Shades of Dan Brown, a complex tale that goes from ages gone to the present day. I liked the ancient saga the most interesting
April 8, 2025
Murder mystery case auf deutsch is einfach nicht so catchy
September 15, 2025
Began with such promise and faded away into a non-entity of past and present, neither period satisfying the reader's thirst for knowledge and adventure
Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews