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Plaza
THEIR FIRST MISTAKE was ever telling the world about the wonders they had found.
They should have kept it all a secret. If they’d kept it a secret, fewer people would have died. When archaeologists uncover the largest ancient safe in the world, the wrong kinds of people will show up: criminals, mercenaries, treasure hunters.
THEIR SECOND MISTAKE was opening it.
Why would an ancient culture devote three generations to build a giant stone safe? Why would they bury it so the jungle could hide it from the world? Why ritually sacrifice one hundred thousand people to ensure its secrecy?
THEIR LAST MISTAKE proved the biggest.
This last mistake hurt the most. Their last mistake was to assume that nothing had been left behind to keep guard….
Special note for Kindle format: PLAZA has an active table of contents, is approximately 90,000 words, and displays seamlessly with Kindles and all other eBook reading devices.
They should have kept it all a secret. If they’d kept it a secret, fewer people would have died. When archaeologists uncover the largest ancient safe in the world, the wrong kinds of people will show up: criminals, mercenaries, treasure hunters.
THEIR SECOND MISTAKE was opening it.
Why would an ancient culture devote three generations to build a giant stone safe? Why would they bury it so the jungle could hide it from the world? Why ritually sacrifice one hundred thousand people to ensure its secrecy?
THEIR LAST MISTAKE proved the biggest.
This last mistake hurt the most. Their last mistake was to assume that nothing had been left behind to keep guard….
Special note for Kindle format: PLAZA has an active table of contents, is approximately 90,000 words, and displays seamlessly with Kindles and all other eBook reading devices.
317 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 4, 2012
117 people are currently reading
766 people want to read
About the author
Shane M. Brown
14 books28 followersSHANE M BROWN was born in 1974 and writes from Brisbane, Australia. He attended James Cook University, graduating with a First Class Honors Degree in Biological Science and a Masters Degree in Underwater Archaeology. Shane has published multiple short stories and recently signed a contract selling the rights for a feature film to be based on one of his stories. His other novels are titled FAST and PLAZA. His collection of short stories is titled AFTER.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
January 23, 2015
Oh. My. God. Becky. Look at this book!!
I feel that is the necessary way to start talking about this dirt-cheap, wild ride, couldn't put it down, Kindle find.
Author: Unknown to me.
Cover Art: shrug
Title: generic
The only thing that drew me in was the mention of old gods, jungle, and archeology...oh and did I mention the cheap price? Homegirl's on a book budget so I figured I would give it a whirl.
PLAZA An Archaeological Thriller was a highly enjoyable, page turning, "shut the front door...what just happened?!" read. I enjoyed it so much that I have given this "beach read" book a five star rating...and don't feel the least bit bad about it. You are sucked in right from the first chapter and the action just. does. not. stop. There's a little science thrown in there, a smidge of history, and a dash of fantasy and theology. Just enough so that you can plausibly frame the motivations for all the people running through the jungle on the hunt for...not giving it away, you gotta read it to find that out
This book is along the lines of Clive Cussler's books in terms of pace, action, and writing style. So if you are a Cussler fan add this one to your queue.
I'm off to add Melt and Haywire to my reading list now...Brown just got added to my list of Fun Reads.
Happy Reading!
I feel that is the necessary way to start talking about this dirt-cheap, wild ride, couldn't put it down, Kindle find.
Author: Unknown to me.
Cover Art: shrug
Title: generic
The only thing that drew me in was the mention of old gods, jungle, and archeology...oh and did I mention the cheap price? Homegirl's on a book budget so I figured I would give it a whirl.
PLAZA An Archaeological Thriller was a highly enjoyable, page turning, "shut the front door...what just happened?!" read. I enjoyed it so much that I have given this "beach read" book a five star rating...and don't feel the least bit bad about it. You are sucked in right from the first chapter and the action just. does. not. stop. There's a little science thrown in there, a smidge of history, and a dash of fantasy and theology. Just enough so that you can plausibly frame the motivations for all the people running through the jungle on the hunt for...not giving it away, you gotta read it to find that out
This book is along the lines of Clive Cussler's books in terms of pace, action, and writing style. So if you are a Cussler fan add this one to your queue.
I'm off to add Melt and Haywire to my reading list now...Brown just got added to my list of Fun Reads.
Happy Reading!
November 26, 2012
I am a fan of the archeological dig - ancient secret - treasure hunt - secret code genre. But not a fan of heavy action that needs a lot of description. This story jump starts quite early and the action rolls in thick. But too many pages are wasted in describing the action happening on the scene - without really moving the plot forward.
Started well, dragged in the middle, ended quite timidly. 3 on 5.
Started well, dragged in the middle, ended quite timidly. 3 on 5.
July 12, 2018
I enjoyed the first 50% or so of this book. It was fast-paced, full of action, and held my interest by dangling the mystery of the "Plaza" in front of my face... But then it kind of slowed down. The ending was a real disappointment with the mystery being more "Umm, okay then" than "Oh! So that's the answer".
A shame.
A shame.
December 19, 2013
Wow...I really liked this a lot. Lots of action and a great story line. I'd love to see these characters in another one. Will definitely be reading more of Shane Brown's work.
August 1, 2014
I picked this novel up on a recommendation. Reading through the first few pages, I began to have my doubts as I found the sentences to be short and choppy and instead of the typical quotation marks around sentences, single quotation marks were used (' instead of "). The writing quickly smoothed out with likable characters and a captivating story. Some elements of the story jolted me back to real life when EVERYTHING that was happening had to come together perfectly with a healthy dose of luck for the story to proceed though. And whats the deal with only one trap? i know it had to happen for a few events but only one trap?! All in all, an exciting, quality read.
May 6, 2012
Absolutely classic action/adventure. South American jungle-based archaeological dig, atypical underground ruins, the archaeology people vs. two lots of bad guys, almost-invisible monsters and non-stop action.
The characterization was, overall, excellent and not totally stereotyped, the monsters and the reason for the underground site reasonably rational, high body count. This is one that compares well with some of my long-held favorite adventure authors and I could certainly see it translating into a great Indiana Jones type movie as well.
The characterization was, overall, excellent and not totally stereotyped, the monsters and the reason for the underground site reasonably rational, high body count. This is one that compares well with some of my long-held favorite adventure authors and I could certainly see it translating into a great Indiana Jones type movie as well.
December 28, 2013
Ahhh...not terrible, not terrific...
It was not bad, I just wish more info had been given at the end. it seemed rushed at the end...
It was not bad, I just wish more info had been given at the end. it seemed rushed at the end...
February 21, 2017
A great read although I did find a couple of holes in the story that I would have liked filling. But an interesting and original and gripping idea.
September 1, 2013
A fast read. Enjoyable if you don't mind the goofy plot.
First paragraphs
Libby blamed her father. His love of nature and the endless camping trips with her sister when they were kids. Butterfly nets, ant farms, insect catchers, kiddie microscopes, television documentaries after bedtime when her mother thought she was asleep. Bug books with stickers for every species they found on their daily insect hunts. From a young age Libby proudly presented strange specimens to her mother for the shrieks they would invariably elicit. Then her father would dash out, wonder in his eyes. 'Whatcha got, Libster?' She'd sit beside him on the couch watching wildlife shows, absorbing his awe about the wonder of nature and the variation in life. Twenty-five years later, it was a rare month that passed when they didn't find time to continue the tradition. Not this month, though. Her sister Deborah, two years younger, hadn't shared Libby's enthusiasm. Life led them in different directions, and today they couldn't possibly be more different. While her sister was at home, pregnant with her first kid, Libby was preparing to land a hot air balloon onto some of the most isolated jungle canopy in the world. This was where the best insects were to be found, and Libby was an entomologist. Hot air ballooning was the easiest way to get here. It proved close to impossible on foot. The inflatable raft hanging under the balloon gave her three-person team access to some of the most wonderful places in the world. The best way to describe the balloon-raft was to imagine a large white water raft hanging under the balloon in place of the traditional passenger basket. The balloon itself was elongated like a football. The raft could settle onto the jungle canopy, providing them a large trampoline-like platform to work from. Right now, from where she was sitting, Libby stared over the raft’s edge. She scanned for gaps in the jungle canopy. It was too dark to see the jungle floor. About seventy feet down, she estimated.
Brown, Shane M (2012-03-04). PLAZA (Kindle Locations 77-98). . Kindle Edition.
First paragraphs
Libby blamed her father. His love of nature and the endless camping trips with her sister when they were kids. Butterfly nets, ant farms, insect catchers, kiddie microscopes, television documentaries after bedtime when her mother thought she was asleep. Bug books with stickers for every species they found on their daily insect hunts. From a young age Libby proudly presented strange specimens to her mother for the shrieks they would invariably elicit. Then her father would dash out, wonder in his eyes. 'Whatcha got, Libster?' She'd sit beside him on the couch watching wildlife shows, absorbing his awe about the wonder of nature and the variation in life. Twenty-five years later, it was a rare month that passed when they didn't find time to continue the tradition. Not this month, though. Her sister Deborah, two years younger, hadn't shared Libby's enthusiasm. Life led them in different directions, and today they couldn't possibly be more different. While her sister was at home, pregnant with her first kid, Libby was preparing to land a hot air balloon onto some of the most isolated jungle canopy in the world. This was where the best insects were to be found, and Libby was an entomologist. Hot air ballooning was the easiest way to get here. It proved close to impossible on foot. The inflatable raft hanging under the balloon gave her three-person team access to some of the most wonderful places in the world. The best way to describe the balloon-raft was to imagine a large white water raft hanging under the balloon in place of the traditional passenger basket. The balloon itself was elongated like a football. The raft could settle onto the jungle canopy, providing them a large trampoline-like platform to work from. Right now, from where she was sitting, Libby stared over the raft’s edge. She scanned for gaps in the jungle canopy. It was too dark to see the jungle floor. About seventy feet down, she estimated.
Brown, Shane M (2012-03-04). PLAZA (Kindle Locations 77-98). . Kindle Edition.
November 21, 2018
The story was pretty original, and the plot was decent.
It read a bit like one of those low-budget action flicks that were so prolific in the 80s and early 90s (you know, the kind starring Jean Claude Van Damme or Steven Seagal), even including the obligatory scene where the protagonist performs field surgery on himself to remove a piece of steel cable that's pierced both his legs and is pinning them together.
As such, the action's about as believable as it was in those old movies. The heroes never (or hardly ever) miss, the baddies never (or hardly ever) hit, and people can go through amazing experiences with nary any negative physical or mental effects.
The book was okay, but nothing groundbreaking. A nice way to kill time and escape the mundane for a bit.
On the editing side, it was fairly consistent, although I noticed quite a few places where it was missing opening quotation marks, or when internal thoughts (in italics) were sometimes written in the past tense, and other times in the present.
Two personal bugbears of mine, though, in terms of writing style: firstly, I've never been a huge fan of attributing dialogue with anything other than "said", but there are barely any "said"s anywhere in the writing. Characters enthuse, agree, question, confirm, deny.... It all leads to way too much telling and not enough showing, if you ask me. Rather leave the attributions off entirely and use action beats instead.
The second thing that kept niggling at me is that, personally, I prefer irregular verbs for past tense, where available (I'd use "dove" instead of "dived", for example, or "snuck" instead of "sneaked"). The author uses regular forms everywhere. It's not a big deal, because I acknowledge my way has been called old-fashioned at times; it's just something that I noticed.
It read a bit like one of those low-budget action flicks that were so prolific in the 80s and early 90s (you know, the kind starring Jean Claude Van Damme or Steven Seagal), even including the obligatory scene where the protagonist performs field surgery on himself to remove a piece of steel cable that's pierced both his legs and is pinning them together.
As such, the action's about as believable as it was in those old movies. The heroes never (or hardly ever) miss, the baddies never (or hardly ever) hit, and people can go through amazing experiences with nary any negative physical or mental effects.
The book was okay, but nothing groundbreaking. A nice way to kill time and escape the mundane for a bit.
On the editing side, it was fairly consistent, although I noticed quite a few places where it was missing opening quotation marks, or when internal thoughts (in italics) were sometimes written in the past tense, and other times in the present.
Two personal bugbears of mine, though, in terms of writing style: firstly, I've never been a huge fan of attributing dialogue with anything other than "said", but there are barely any "said"s anywhere in the writing. Characters enthuse, agree, question, confirm, deny.... It all leads to way too much telling and not enough showing, if you ask me. Rather leave the attributions off entirely and use action beats instead.
The second thing that kept niggling at me is that, personally, I prefer irregular verbs for past tense, where available (I'd use "dove" instead of "dived", for example, or "snuck" instead of "sneaked"). The author uses regular forms everywhere. It's not a big deal, because I acknowledge my way has been called old-fashioned at times; it's just something that I noticed.
July 17, 2013
This is my 2nd book by Shane Brown and I loved it! Shane Brown is 2 for 2 in the action-thriller department as far as I am concerned. I loved (FAST II?).
, and I loved Plaza just as much.
The action for FAST was fantastic and it fit that type of book. FAST was a military action thriller all the way.......While Plaza is an exciting combination of archaeology and all-out action. And of course, once again, Shane tossed in some strange monsters/creatures and the story took place in an isolated location. A different kind of action then what was featured in FAST. PLAZA is more along the lines of Amazonia, with maybe a tad more action. I loved Amazonia as well, and consider it one of my favorite James Rollins books. I think FAST will be favorably compared to books like Matthew Reilly's Ice Station, while PLAZA will be compared to Amazonia and another Reilly thriller: Temple.
I normally do not read two books by the same author so close together as I did FAST and PLAZA, but I could not wait once I found out Shane Brown had a 2nd book avaiable.
, and I loved Plaza just as much. The action for FAST was fantastic and it fit that type of book. FAST was a military action thriller all the way.......While Plaza is an exciting combination of archaeology and all-out action. And of course, once again, Shane tossed in some strange monsters/creatures and the story took place in an isolated location. A different kind of action then what was featured in FAST. PLAZA is more along the lines of Amazonia, with maybe a tad more action. I loved Amazonia as well, and consider it one of my favorite James Rollins books. I think FAST will be favorably compared to books like Matthew Reilly's Ice Station, while PLAZA will be compared to Amazonia and another Reilly thriller: Temple.
I normally do not read two books by the same author so close together as I did FAST and PLAZA, but I could not wait once I found out Shane Brown had a 2nd book avaiable.
May 9, 2014
Yeah, kind of far-fetched and even a little corny in spots. But hey, it's a thriller, so that's to be expected. The first few chapters are slow going, but it gets absorbing at about the 33% mark and from roughly 75% it's a wild ride. There's a moment at 81% that approaches literary perfection: "Where did that come from?"
Characters are categoric. There's the one who stretches and grows while confronting the danger, the ones who just manage to survive, the ones who survive due to muscle and prep, the one who survives with flair, and the ones you just know are going down (and do, very satisfactorily). The plot has more kinks and turns than an oxbow-forming river; the author spent hours sorting through the timeline and correlating events. Little moments that seemed trivial mattered in the end, and while I could have lived without some of the gore, again, that's part of the genre. We'll call it a solid four stars.
Characters are categoric. There's the one who stretches and grows while confronting the danger, the ones who just manage to survive, the ones who survive due to muscle and prep, the one who survives with flair, and the ones you just know are going down (and do, very satisfactorily). The plot has more kinks and turns than an oxbow-forming river; the author spent hours sorting through the timeline and correlating events. Little moments that seemed trivial mattered in the end, and while I could have lived without some of the gore, again, that's part of the genre. We'll call it a solid four stars.
May 24, 2012
There is too much of blood and gore in this for my liking. I was attracted to it by its description of being an 'archeological adventure', which it is in all fairness, but somewhere I was left confounded. It's like Indian Jones meets Lake Placid meets Predator. To be fair to the author, it does take a lot of imagination to even contemplate a plot like this, and then to convert it into a coherent narrative is surely commendable. Further, the novel does make you feel turn the page, and to that extent it accomplishes its job to entertain. But, the mystery of the archeological finds when finally revealed left me disappointed; after building a crescendo, the revelation ends on slight whimper. Overall, an okay read.
April 21, 2012
The beginning felt a little like someone took scissors to parts of the story but it evened out well by the first third. Well-written, a few homonym problems (damn for dam comes to mind), but nothing that took me out of the story.
And what a story... The archaeology angle was great and sounded completely believable to me. I ripped through this book pretty much in one sitting and am glad I did. I hope that the author feels there's enough words left in the world he's created here to pick up a sequel or even to jaunt out in a new direction to explore some of what he touched on but didn't go into detail.
And what a story... The archaeology angle was great and sounded completely believable to me. I ripped through this book pretty much in one sitting and am glad I did. I hope that the author feels there's enough words left in the world he's created here to pick up a sequel or even to jaunt out in a new direction to explore some of what he touched on but didn't go into detail.
August 31, 2012
Another good one from Shane M Brown. As I compared Fast to Matthew Reilly's writing, I think that PLAZA falls more along the lines of James Rollins' and even some of Michael Crichton's stuff. Not fair to just say that though, as it's all original and very entertaining.
I want more. I want to know the unexplained mystery behind the thing on the trolley (I'm going to try to avoid spoilers). I want to know more about the team sent in to retrieve that object. Where they come from & what their goals are. I want their story (stories).
I want more. I want to know the unexplained mystery behind the thing on the trolley (I'm going to try to avoid spoilers). I want to know more about the team sent in to retrieve that object. Where they come from & what their goals are. I want their story (stories).
August 19, 2014
If you like the writings of James Rollins, Michael Crichton, and Matthew Reilly, then you are sure to enjoy PLAZA by Shane M. Brown. It contains all the ingredients of a “can’t put down” action/adventure story…Ancient ruins, exotic locations, courageous archeologists, unsolved mysteries, hidden treasures, , cool gadgets, scary creatures, evildoers with guns, and lots of non-stop action. I’m sure I missed something, but you get the picture! Highly enjoyable page-turner!
May 19, 2012
Action, suspense, action, interesting characters, really frightening monsters, more action makes for a page turner perfect to take on a plane. I became so engrossed in this book I lost sleep over it. I highly recommend it.
February 6, 2018
Rather weird and a bit too fantastic.
I read it and the action was ok, but it was highly unbelievable.
I know it is fiction, but still.
I may try a sample of another of his books. There is something there that apeals. Perhaps it also depends on the reader's mood.
I read it and the action was ok, but it was highly unbelievable.
I know it is fiction, but still.
I may try a sample of another of his books. There is something there that apeals. Perhaps it also depends on the reader's mood.
January 21, 2016
This book was right up my ally. A cracking tale of an archaeological dig full of thrills, spills and twists where the hunters become the hunted. This author is one to watch.
May 11, 2017
Not at all what I expected and it was the most fun I've had in a while. I read it in 2 days because I couldn't put it down. From the first Chapter, when Libby flips off the air raft and hits the ground, this story is running at a breakneck speed. There is something in the jungle that eats people. Something big.
Then, there is this weird archeological site, a pyramid in reverse kind of thing. The problem is the archeologists aren't the only ones interested in what lies at the bottom. There is something down there that everyone seems to know about... except the guy in charge.
This was a roller coaster story. It is very graphic in regards to the violence. There is a lot of bone crunching. There are secret tunnels, traps, underwater passages, and dangerous portals. There are guns, explosions, floods, and a double dose of bad guys, some of whom I found myself rooting for. Everything a good adventure should have and nonstop excitement encompasses it all.
I loved this story. There were a few, very few, typos but I didn't really have time to stop and note them. I was afraid something might catch me.
I'll be looking for another of this author's books.
Then, there is this weird archeological site, a pyramid in reverse kind of thing. The problem is the archeologists aren't the only ones interested in what lies at the bottom. There is something down there that everyone seems to know about... except the guy in charge.
This was a roller coaster story. It is very graphic in regards to the violence. There is a lot of bone crunching. There are secret tunnels, traps, underwater passages, and dangerous portals. There are guns, explosions, floods, and a double dose of bad guys, some of whom I found myself rooting for. Everything a good adventure should have and nonstop excitement encompasses it all.
I loved this story. There were a few, very few, typos but I didn't really have time to stop and note them. I was afraid something might catch me.
I'll be looking for another of this author's books.
November 20, 2018
This is the best archaeological thriller I've read in years. I got that old adventure feeling I hadn't had in many years. The feeling I've gotten when reading novels like "Amazonia" and "Excavation" by Rollins; "The Amber Room," by Steve Berry, "Black Rain" from Graham Brown and "Temple" from Matthew Reilly. I missed that feeling.
"Plaza was excellent and had me engaged from the start. I was enjoying the story early on and was disappointed when the mercenaries showed up. I thought that would ruin it, but they just increased the action factor. This was my first, but hopefully not my last, Shane M. Brown novel. As others have said a cross between Reilly and Rollins. Don't miss this treasure.
"Plaza was excellent and had me engaged from the start. I was enjoying the story early on and was disappointed when the mercenaries showed up. I thought that would ruin it, but they just increased the action factor. This was my first, but hopefully not my last, Shane M. Brown novel. As others have said a cross between Reilly and Rollins. Don't miss this treasure.
December 1, 2016
I don't remember how or why I picked up PLAZA, but I'm glad I did. It was on my kindle, so I read it. I won't lie: the first third or so of it was sort of confusing and draggy. I didn't know what was going on or why I should care about these people or the situation they were in.
And then everything exploded. Once the real action started, I hated putting the book down. It carried me all the way to the end, and I'm glad I stuck it out through the beginning. Once I finally got all the characters sorted out, things fell into place. Brown masterfully wove everything together into an ending that had me super intrigued and wondering what was going to happen next.
Bravo!
And then everything exploded. Once the real action started, I hated putting the book down. It carried me all the way to the end, and I'm glad I stuck it out through the beginning. Once I finally got all the characters sorted out, things fell into place. Brown masterfully wove everything together into an ending that had me super intrigued and wondering what was going to happen next.
Bravo!
September 13, 2020
Megafauna
Deep in the heart of the Mexican jungle, an archaeological excavation is winding down for the season. Unbeknownst to the researchers, they are about to discover firsthand the mysterious purpose the site was built for. Other interested parties believe they have already cracked the riddle and attempt to claim the prize while the place is empty. The problem is, it’s about to get quite crowded.
This story is action packed from start to finish, totally engrossing edge of your seat excitement. It is a mix of Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park, and Ocean’s 11. I could nitpick a few things but why bother. Buckle up, hold on tight, and enjoy the ride!
Deep in the heart of the Mexican jungle, an archaeological excavation is winding down for the season. Unbeknownst to the researchers, they are about to discover firsthand the mysterious purpose the site was built for. Other interested parties believe they have already cracked the riddle and attempt to claim the prize while the place is empty. The problem is, it’s about to get quite crowded.
This story is action packed from start to finish, totally engrossing edge of your seat excitement. It is a mix of Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park, and Ocean’s 11. I could nitpick a few things but why bother. Buckle up, hold on tight, and enjoy the ride!
February 18, 2018
First rate action. Couldn't put it down
Fast-paced and exciting. Definitely action/adventure reading. I really enjoyed the book. It kept me entertained until the end. Hoping for more like this from the author
Fast-paced and exciting. Definitely action/adventure reading. I really enjoyed the book. It kept me entertained until the end. Hoping for more like this from the author
January 21, 2020
Exciting
This book was hard to put down. It started as an archeological story and turned into a life and death fight quickly. It was wonderful watching Ethan's growth. Love watching people become more than they think they are.
This book was hard to put down. It started as an archeological story and turned into a life and death fight quickly. It was wonderful watching Ethan's growth. Love watching people become more than they think they are.
September 21, 2017
Wow, action aplenty a la Matthew Reilly. A fun read.
January 29, 2018
Good read....Will definitely read more by Shane Brown.....
March 20, 2018
Thrilling
It keep me reading. Started out jumping. Then the story really starts. A good read. Keeps you going. Thank you.
It keep me reading. Started out jumping. Then the story really starts. A good read. Keeps you going. Thank you.
June 12, 2018
Amazing
Wow! What a page turner. A different and unique story about archaeology and the people who work and control the sites. A book that is hard to put down!
Wow! What a page turner. A different and unique story about archaeology and the people who work and control the sites. A book that is hard to put down!
September 12, 2020
High octane. Reminds me of Matt Reilly's Temple and Michael Crichton's Micro.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews