Secrets of the Dead: an utterly compelling action-packed thriller – guaranteed to have you hooked…

by Tom Harper

Fans of Dan Brown, Clive Cussler and Scott Mariani will love this high-octane, edge-of-your-seat international thriller from the pen of prizewinning author Tom Harper. It has everything you could great plot, great pace, great suspense and a great twist...'In the tradition of The Da Vinci Code, a page-turner of a novel. Like Dan Brown, Tom Harper knows how to ratchet up the tension.' -- Choice'FANTASTIC FANTASTIC FANTASTIC' -- ***** Reader review'A not a single moment of boredom' -- ***** Reader review'Could not put it down!' -- ***** Reader review**********************************************************************************A BRUTAL MURDER. A DAMAGED SURVIVOR. A RACE AGAINST TIME...In a villa on the coast of Montenegro, Abby Cormac witnesses the brutal murder of her lover, diplomat Michael Lascaris. The last thing she remembers is a gun pointed directly at her and wakes to find herself alone and at the centre of a diplomatic nightmare. Everyone wants an answer but no one wants to listen. Even her employers at the Foreign Office believe she's hiding something.As Abby tries to piece together the last few months of Michael's life in order to get at the truth, she soon realises that he wasn't quite what he seemed. What exactly was his relationship with one of the most ruthless men in the Balkans? And what links Michael's gift to her of a gold necklace, a 4th century manuscript left in the shadow of Emperor Constantine's palace at Trier and an inscription on a tomb in Rome?When Abby investigates further, it becomes clear that someone wants to suppress a secret, one that has been kept hidden for centuries. And they will stop at nothing to do so...

Genres: Thriller, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Crime, Mystery, Audiobook

482 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 2011

About the author

Tom Harper was born in West Germany in 1977 and grew up in Germany, Belgium and America; he now lives in England. He is chair of the Crime Writers' Association and also a member of the Historical Novels Society and the Society of Authors.

Tom Harper also writes historical adventures as Edwin Thomas.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[Γιώτα Παπαδημακοπούλου · Rating 3 out of 5]

Έχοντας ακούσει πάρα πολλά -τα περισσότερα θετικά- σχόλια για τον Tom Harper και το έργο του, αποφάσισα να διαβάσω κι εγώ κάποιο βιβλίο του ώστε να μπορώ να έχω άποψη πάνω στο θέμα. Κάπως έτσι, έφτασε στα χέρια μου το "Τα μυστικά των νεκρών", ο τίτλος του οποίου με ενθουσίασε, και που η περίληψή του ανέβασε τις προσδοκίες μου στα ύψη, κάνοντάς με να περιμένω να διαβάσω μια ιστορία μυστηρίου εντυπωσιακή, ίσως κάπως βίαιη, και κυρίως, απύθμενα σκοτεινή και άγρια, με καλά κρυμμένα μυστικά να βγαίνουν σταδιακά στο φως. Ωστόσο, η πραγματικότητα δεν αποδείχτηκε τόσο εντυπωσιακή όσο αναμενόταν, χωρίς αυτό να σημαίνει φυσικά πως το βιβλίο ήταν κακό. Μάλλον το αντίθετο και ίσως αν εγώ δεν περίμενα τόσα πολλά, η αποδοχή μου να ήταν ακόμα πιο θερμή.

Η Άμπι Κόρμακ, αφού πέρασε δέκα χρόνια της ζωής της στην διάρκεια των οποίων οδήγησε δεκάδες στυγνών εγκληματιών στα χέριατης δικαιοσύνης, και αφού αφοσιώθηκε στον αγώνα αυτό ψυχή και σώμα, αποφασίζει πως ήρθε η ώρα να αποσυρθεί, να χαλαρώσει τους ρυθμούς της και να απολαύσει μια ήρεμη ζωή. Η ηρεμία αυτή, όμως, δεν κρατάει για πολύ, αφού ο εραστής της, Μάικλ, δολοφονείται κατά την διάρκεια της παραμονής τους σε μια βίλα στην Ανδριατική, ενώ εκείνη καταφέρνει να γλιτώσει από τα χέριων των δολοφόνων μόνο από μια σύμπτωση, που στα δικά τους μάτια την θέλει ήδη νεκρή. Αν και τρομοκρατημένη, η Άμπι αποφασίζει να βρει τους δολοφόνους του Μάικλ και να τους οδηγήσει στην δικαιοσύνη, όμως οι έρευνές της την οδηγούν σε δρόμους που δεν φανταζόταν ποτέ, ανακαλύπτοντας μυστικά που δεν τα γνώριζε, όχι μόνο σε σχέση με τον Μάικλ, αλλά και με μια αιματηρή συνωμοσία που κρατάει από παλιά και φτάνει μέχρι το σήμερα.

Ο συγγραφέας χωρίζει την ιστορία του σε δύο μέρη, επί της ουσίας. Το ένα μέρος τοποθετείται στο παρελθόν και το άλλο στο παρόν. Επιπλέον, η αφήγηση της παρελθοντικής ιστορίας γίνεται σε πρώτο πρόσωπο, ενώ εκείνη του παρόντος σε τρίτο. Με πολύ απλά λόγια, και για να μην φλυαρούμε άνευ λόγου και ουσίας, ο Harper έχει συνδυάσει μια πληθώρα αφηγηματικών τεχνικών με αποτέλεσμα να μην μπορεί να διατηρήσει απόλυτα την ισορροπία που απαιτεί το κείμενο στα τεχνικά του σημεία, αλλά και η ίδια η ιστορία ως προς την αφηγηματική της συνέπεια. Ουσιαστικά, μας μεταφέρει απότομα από μία κατάσταση σε μία άλλη, χωρίς να μας δίνει τον απαραίτητο χρόνο προσαρμογής, κάτι που έχει ως αποτέλεσμα ο αναγνωστικός μας ρυθμός να χάνει κάτι από το νεύρο που του προσθέτει έτσι κι αλλιώς η ιστορία ως σύνολο.

Από 'κει κι έπειτα, οφείλω να ομολογήσω πως το παρελθοντικό σκέλος της ιστορίας είναι και πολύ πιο ενδιαφέρον από το σύγχρονο, αλλά και πολύ πιο καλογραμμένο. Επιπλέον, η πρωτοπρόσωπη αφήγηση του προσδίδει άλλη δυναμική, αλλά και δημιουργεί συνάμα την αίσθηση πως βρισκόμαστε εμείς στη θέση του πρωταγωνιστή και πως ζούμε εμείς οι ίδιοι την ιστορία αυτή, που είναι γεμάτη συνωμοσίες, ανατροπές και σκοτεινά μυστικά που συνοδεύονται από τις γοητευτικές και καθηλωτικές εικόνες μιας Κωνσταντινούπολης -κατεξοχήν-, στα τέλη της εποχής της Ρωμαϊκής Αυτοκρατορίας, μιας εποχής πλούσια σε Ιστορία και σημαντικά γεγονότα, αλλά σχεδόν ξεχασμένης στο σήμερα. Και όμως, τα μυστικά της φτάνουν μέχρι το παρόν και αποζητούν να πληρωθεί ο φόρος που χρεώθηκε αιώνες πριν.

Η σύγχρονη ιστορία σαφέστατα και έχει το δική της ενδιαφέρον, αλλά δεν παύει να κλίνει περισσότερο προς το αστυνομικό και όχι το ιστορικό μυθιστόρημα που κακά τα ψέματα, όταν είναι τοποθετημένο σε τέτοιες βάσεις όπως το συγκεκριμένο, είναι καθηλωτικό και κόβει την ανάσα. Βέβαια, όταν τα "κλειδιά" -που αποκαλύπτονται σταδιακά- συγκεντρώνονται στο τέλος, οι δύο αυτές ιστορίες δένουν άρτια μεταξύ τους οδηγώντας σε ένα φινάλε άκρως ικανοποιητικό που αιτιολογεί κι εξηγεί τα πάντα, χωρίς να αφήνει απορίες ή αφηγηματικά κενά. Αν ο Harper είχε επιλέξει την πρωτοπρόσωπη αφήγηση στο σύνολο του βιβλίου, και είχε διατηρήσει καλύτερη χρονική συνέπεια ορισμένες στιγμές, τότε θα μιλούσαμε για ένα άκρως καθηλωτικό βιβλίο. Στην προκειμένη, σίγουρα έχουμε να κάνουμε με ένα πολύ καλό ιστορικό δράμα, που παντρεύει το crime με το αστυνομικό, πασπαλισμένα με μια δόση μυστικιστικού παρελθόντος.

[Miroslav Houska · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author applies the same patterns as in "Book of Secrets" and "Lazarus Vault": Book consists of two parallel stories, one historical and one present. The historical story is narrated in first-person view character voice, the present one in third-person. Historical story introduces real personalities and real key events, but adds imaginary characters and events without distortion of given time spell. The present story is bit exaggerated crime fiction.

The historical takes place in the late Roman empire around 300 - 337 AD mostly in Constantinople (nowadays Istanbul). The present story is situated in former Yugoslavia countries.

The historical story made better impression on me than the present one, specially for rendering of atmosphere of late Roman empire. Some characters in the present story appear as unconvincing. The "resurrection" of key characters in both stories has clumsy effect. I did not like the last part of the book, but the finals of both stories are satisfying.

Book is very captivating. Alternation of two stories gives the reader the rest while maintaining the momentum.

[Raj Chaudhary · Rating 1 out of 5]

Rating - 1.5*

The comments i add here are personal and i respect views of those readers who liked the book. I also appreciate Tom Harper's research and ability to come up with two storylines in the alternate chapters.

Apart from above mentioned pros i never found a single instance where i could say that it was mindblowing, average or even at par. The book is very long and extremely predictable.

Since it had two storylines it was hard for me to connect to the characters. Also, i found the second story line just a drag with writer trying something new. Or may be because i was least interested in Constantine's life struggles. The characters themselves were tired of life and unappealing. The other storyline was better but predictable. It would have been good for those who have never read a similar plot earlier but not for me.

[Adite · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tom Harper is brilliant with historical fiction. And he is no pushover when it comes to writing heart pounding thrillers. Mix the two together and you have Secrets of the Dead. The author delves into two murders--one in Emperor Constantine's time and the other in the present--and the secrets they hide. Loved how the author connects the two murders. Every chapter ends on a cliffhanger and you are loathe to put the book down till you have read the last page! Fantastic read!

[Don · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was two separate stories connected but separated by nearly 1600 years. I think there was some form of explanation of how the stories were connected in the last chapter. I apparently was not listening well enough, and it was not interesting enough to go back to listen again.

[Grw · Rating 1 out of 5]

Have to admit that I found this book rather disappointing, despite, or probably because of the great premise of the stories.

Yes, stories. One modern which had some promise, although that was quickly lost in some poor pacing, that dragged out the first three quarters and then rushed the end.

The second was historical and packed with facts, but yet managed not to draw an interesting enough picture of what was going on, despite it being set in the heart of the Roman Empire at a crucial period as it converted to Christianity.

Also, in both stories, most of the minor and even some of the major characters were poorly drawn, leading to this reader at least, not really caring what happened to them, even when it came as a surprise.

All in all there could have been so much more to this book, especially in the ending, where the two parts don't so much as combine as drift towards each other without really joining, which was a real shame.

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

historical thriller. well researched but somehow it does not work for me

In a villa on the coast of Montenegro, Abby Cormac witnesses the brutal murder of her lover, diplomat Michael Lascaris. The last thing she remembers is a gun pointed directly at her. She wakes to find herself at the centre of a diplomatic nightmare. Everyone wants an answer but no one wants to listen. Even her employers at the Foreign Office believe she's hiding something. She is completely alone.

As Abby tries to piece together the last few months of Michael's life in order to get at the truth, she soon realises that he wasn't quite what he seemed. What exactly was his relationship with one of the most ruthless men in the Balkans - a war criminal who has never been brought to justice? And what links Michael's gift to her of a gold necklace with its Christian monogram, a 4th century manuscript left in the shadow of Emperor Constantine's palace at Trier and an inscription on a tomb in Rome?

[James Casey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Once again a mediocre rating for Tom Harper. I read this book without any real enthusiasm or excitement, I read on waiting for it to get better but really to no avail. As in other Tom Harper novels the book is split into two, the first being a modern day mystery involving Abby Cormac who, while on a short holiday, was witness to her boyfriend being murdered whilst herself being shot and left for dead and in the aftermath discovering that he died because he had discovered an ancient secret.
The other part was a historical story of the period year 337 AD in the time of Constantine The Great’s last days and told by one of his ageing and right hand men, Gaius Valerius.
For me, the two stories had a good connection but didn’t go anywhere at all and left me a little exasperated thinking, what was the point? As I said before a mediocre 3/5.

[ΑΝΝΑ]

🎶Τα ίσια ανάποδα τα βλέπω όπου πάω
Την μια στιγμή κάνω πως όλα τα ξεχνάω
Την άλλη θέλω να φωνάξω να αδειάσω
Να σε ταράξω και τα νεύρα να σου σπάσω 🎶
Κυρίως το τελευταίο.
Ιστορία μου, αμαρτία μου.
Κάτι λίγο από 1984 και Φαρενάιτ 451 κατά την περίοδο της στάσης του Νίκα.
Κάτι ποιήματα σταυρόλεξα, κρυπτόλεξα, sudoku.
Αρχαιοκάπηλοι βεβαίως βεβαίως.
Οικογενειακές ιστορίες.
Δολοπλοκίες? Ε, χέζουν οι αρκούδες στο δάσος?
+Ευλόγηcon+ (Γιατί ποιος κινεί τα νήματα αν όχι αυτοί?)
Μπρος/πίσω, παρελθόν/παρόν (μια δραμαμίνη βρε αδερφέ!)
Όλα μαζί αυτά και πολλά ακόμα θα βρείτε μέσα σε αυτό.
Ανάθεμα και αν κατάλαβα τι διάβασα. Το μυαλό μονίμως πετούσε και δεν μπορούσα να συγκεντρωθώ.
Neeeeeext please! Και όχι Thank you για τον χρόνο που καταναλώθει.....

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

Secrets of the Dead by Tom Harper is another entirely engrossing and action-packed story full of mystery, adventure, dramatic developments, tension, suspense, crime & investigation, a whodunnit feel, murder, a centuries-old secret, high stakes, conspiracy/agendas, a diplomatic nightmare, gripping events, and shocking discoveries.
Another gripping story from Mr. Harper who has a real knack for very vivid and 'visual' storytelling. His words come to life before your eyes, drawing you into all the action and holding you tightly in its grasp, right through till the very end.
Happy Reading.

Thank you, Tom Harper!

[Celeste Zuccherina · Rating 3 out of 5]

2 βιβλία σε 1. Ένα ιστορικό μυθιστόρημα και ένα αστυνομικό. Δεν είμαι οπαδός του ιστορικού μυθιστορηματος, αν και οφείλω να παραδεχτώ ότι είναι πιο προσεγμένη και καλογραμμένη ιστορία σε σύγκριση με τη σύγχρονη. Μετα τα μισά άρχισε κάπως να "τρέχει". Με κούρασε πολύ το μεγάλο μέγεθος κάθε κεφαλαίου και οι ιδιαίτερα λεπτομερείς περιγραφές. Με απογοήτευσε η τελευταία ανατροπή στην ιστορία του παρελθόντος αλλά και πάλι είναι προσωπικό το ζήτημα, αφού δεν είμαι λάτρης του μεταφυσικού. Ωστόσο, ομολογώ ότι έμαθα πάρα πολλά πράγματα για την εποχή του Μ. Κωνσταντίνου.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title of the book made me think of a petty crime novel with an ultimate cliff hanger of no surprise. My mistake, really, since I have learned a lot of history all throughout the novel and the ending is so much better than expected. Though long enough, it is worth the read.

[Penny · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book didn't really work for me. I didn't feel the author had any empathy with any of his characters and there were several loose ends left throughout the book that didn't make sense. Oh well, can't win them all.

[Mark sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book, I love York

I thought the Constantine angle was brilliant, I am a photographer in york, I am the group instructor for York photography group and often meet my groups outside the statue at York minster.

[Lyn Richards · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didnt enjoy this one as much as the other Tom Harper books. I liked the parallel storylines both in the past and in the future, but often the storylines just didnt move fast enough for me.

[adél · Rating 3 out of 5]

3

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not an easy read especially as the two intersected stories run chapter to chapter. Interesting concept

[Karen Field · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve listened to a couple of podcast books in the past, but I don’t think I’ve ever listened to an audio book. To be honest, it was a pleasant experience.

Secrets of the Dead is NOT the type of book, by that I mean paperback or ebook, that I would normally read. It’s too big worded for me, and there are too many foreign words. I’d stumble over the pages and quickly loose interest. However, listening to someone read the book was totally different. The narrator, Francis Greenslade, was excellent. He is easy to listen to and he made those difficult words blend in to the story and brought a complicated plot to life. I was impressed ... and I learned the pronunciation of numerous words from him!

The book itself is actually two stories running parallel to each other -- one historical and one present day. I felt the historical content was well researched and totally convincing. I ‘believed’ in the characters and the events. The only drawback was the flashbacks. After a while I found them a little annoying (even if the content of the flashbacks did move the story forward). The present day storyline was also convincing, although it took me longer to settle into this side of the book. It wasn’t the characters that troubled me (those I accepted straight away), it was the events taking place. Some things seemed too convenient. Anyway, I remember thinking I’d hate to get caught up in anything similar to what was happening to Abby Cormac. I’d be terrified. Both stories were a type of murder mystery and had certain factors that tied them together.

Overall, I’d be more than willing to ‘read’ another audio book. It’s the perfect way of discovering new authors and new genres. I’m glad I gave Secrets of the Dead a chance, and while I know I would never read an actual printed book by the author, I certainly would listen to another audio book written by him.

[Dr. Rossner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Harper ist bekannt für seine gut recherchierten Historien-Thriller, die mir bei weitem mehr zusagen, als die anderer Autoren. Dennoch haben es die "Geheimnisse der Toten" nicht geschafft, mich vollends zu überzeugen: Elektrisiert vom "Buch des Satans", das ich kurze Zeit vorher gelesen hatte, hoffte ich auf eine ebenso spannende, gut gegliederte Erzählung mit historischem Hintergrund - und wurde leider ein wenig enttäuscht. Ironie ist dabei, dass ich - vermutlich ebenso, wie auch der in der fernen Spätantike nach dem Mörder suchende Gaius Valerius - bis zum Ende immer neuen Fährten folgte, die jedoch nicht unbedingt dazu beitrugen, die Erzählung spannender zu machen, sondern sie eher verkomplizierten. Und das, obwohl ich (ähnlich dem Autor) selbst vor einigen Jahren eine Seminararbeit zu Konstantins Vision an der Milvischen Brücke geschrieben habe und daher noch einiges an Vorwissen mitbringen konnte. Es mag daran gelegen haben, dass ich mich die Story nicht recht zu fesseln vermochte, doch hätte sie vermutlich auch auf der Hälfte der Seiten erzählt werden können: Erst gegen Ende nimmt sie die lange erhoffte Fahrt auf, wobei auch dann die beim "Buch des Satans" trefflich geschilderte Jagd entlang historischer Hinweise eher lasch ausfällt. Alles in allem also ein gut recherchiertes Werk, dem es jedoch über die behandelte Begebenheit hinaus an Tiefe fehlt und in dem die Zeitblenden (wiederum mit internen Rückblenden versehen) beinahe ein wenig Überhand nehmen.

[Elle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Intriguing for the most part, but there were points where the story seemed to drag. Harper combines the story of Abby in the modern day trying to unravel the secrets surrounding her boyfriend's death with the story of a Roman trying to unravel the secrets surrounding the death of a Bishop. On a whole, I liked it, but it did feel like there were quite a lot of characters that popped up and then just disappeared, and multiple characters that, to me, felt like they could have merged into one as they seemed to serve the same purpose. Although there was some action in the book it did feel quite slow, whereas the ending felt a little too rushed. I didn't really feel too much for the characters that did die; there wasn't really enough connection to them to feel anything.

The plot itself is enough, in parts, to keep the story moving forward, and the only thing that really lets the book down is the characters themselves. Still, I'm drawn in by the style and the use of historical and modern settings, so I will be checking out his other books.

[Annie Falconer-Gronow · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have listened to other books by Tom, and thoroughly enjoyed them-however, this one didn't quite live up to the others. The way the author weaves a story through two time zones is not uncommon, and with the right sprinkle of intrigue, it works brilliantly. This story, for some reason, just didn't grab me. I found the Roman element tiring and heavy, like wading slowly through an arid desert, weighed down with lots of shopping. In other books, I found the narrator pleasing and likeable, but here, he sounded heavy, the characters sounded tired, almost bored and unwilling to go on with the plot. There was no element of wondering who the older time story was, no wondering how it wove with the present, no element of surprise. Sad to dislike, but it has not dissuaded me from downloading another of his.

[La Espada en la Tinta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Esta semana os traigo un libro que coquetea con dos géneros literarios totalmente distintos: la novela policiaca y la novela histórica. Con Secretos de los muertos, el autor británico Tom Harper nos va a pasear con pulso firme entre las actuales mafias de los Balcanes y las catacumbas cristianas del Emperador Constantino, allá por el siglo IV d.C, con dos historias, dos tramas completamente distintas paralelas en la narración y aparentemente desconectadas, que terminarán confluyendo con alguna que otra sorpresa por el camino, todo de forma muy amena, con un buen ritmo narrativo y haciendo que las más de quinientas páginas vuelen solas.

Sigue leyendo: http://www.laespadaenlatinta.com/2013...

[Monty · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good thriller which finds Abby Cormac, a British Foreign Office employee, witness to the murder of her lover, Michael a diplomat, in a Montenegran villa. All hell breaks loose when it becomes apparent to Abby that Michael was involved in a lot more than legitimate diplomatic behaviour. Furthermore Michael's previous shady associates start taking a more than fleeting interest in her affairs as well.

Hell bent on finding the truth and the murderers, whilst hotly pursued by parties of dubious intent, Abby launches herself on an international fact and manhunt. Clues, stories and events dating back to the times of Constantine (1700 years ago) juxtapose themselves into the plot which adds further interest.

Summer reading on the beach I would say.

[Natty · Rating 1 out of 5]

I highly enjoyed "The Book of Secrets", while this one follows the same method of story-telling, it fell flat. The two storylines were neither interesting nor linked well enough. By the last third of the book I was hoping everyone would die and just get on with it.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comfortable use of parallel stories - current and historical - in alternating chapters to build the story and characters. Once I was hooked it was hard to put down until I got to the conclusion. A good read!

[Betty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listened to this as an audio book and it was well read. The ending is not what you expect which was both a plus and a minus. The location for the plot was interesting and I felt that it broadened my knowledge of the dynamics of that area of the world.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Took a long time to get into this book, but after that it was quite exciting. I enjoyed the two parallel stories - one set in the present and one in the time of Emperor Constantine. Personally, I enjoyed the historical story more but overall quite an entertaining read.

[Charming · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good

[Raju · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good historical mystery, though things start getting muddled up towards the end.

[Winnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Abby Cormac is a brilliant main character - the plot is full of twists and turns and just keeps you riveted - a thoroughly enjoyable read.