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The Apocalypse Mechanism
Brilliant New Orleans Professor James Beauregard's life is spiraling into complete despair when a startling discovery is made halfway across the globe that requires his expertise. Is there really an ancient machine that could push civilization into the throes of oblivion? As he attempts to unlock the secrets of this waiting apocalypse, Professor Beauregard is hunted by an archaic fundamentalist cult determined to bring about humanity's end-of-days. Will he find the key to stopping the world's oldest weapon of mass destruction, or will the Cult's wish to purge all evil be the Earth's demise?
258 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2012
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5 people want to read
About the author
J.M. Richardson
6 books11 followersJ. M. Richardson was raised in the small town of Franklinton in southeastern Louisiana. His upbringing was one of close-knit family and community. He attended Bowling Green School, a small K-12 private school. In his early years, Richardson nurtured an interest in the arts, history, geography, writing poetry, writing competitively, and developing talents in vocals, guitar, and musical arrangement.
In 1998, he graduated from high school and enrolled in Louisiana State University, where he began course work toward a degree in secondary education with a concentration in social studies. He joined the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity and took many courses in composition, history, sociology, and other forms of social sciences before graduating in 2003.
Richardson immediately began teaching history and sociology in Baton Rouge, LA high schools. In 2005, he married his college sweetheart, Melissa Ware, a literature major and native of Baton Rouge. They moved to the Fort Worth, TX area largely to be closer to Melissa's ALS-stricken mother and for better economic conditions. Richardson began teaching in Keller, TX where they still reside today raising their two daughters Audrey and Elle. He still teaches in Keller where he writes his novels and enjoys the love and support of his wife and family.
In 1998, he graduated from high school and enrolled in Louisiana State University, where he began course work toward a degree in secondary education with a concentration in social studies. He joined the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity and took many courses in composition, history, sociology, and other forms of social sciences before graduating in 2003.
Richardson immediately began teaching history and sociology in Baton Rouge, LA high schools. In 2005, he married his college sweetheart, Melissa Ware, a literature major and native of Baton Rouge. They moved to the Fort Worth, TX area largely to be closer to Melissa's ALS-stricken mother and for better economic conditions. Richardson began teaching in Keller, TX where they still reside today raising their two daughters Audrey and Elle. He still teaches in Keller where he writes his novels and enjoys the love and support of his wife and family.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 26, 2017
So I met this unlikely hero of this novel on the day he wished to die, not that he didn't wish to die every day, because all he seemed to live for these days was the thought of ending it all. He owned a magnificent house and a family business both left to him from his father in his Will, as well as following his dream into a career that he loved, but it wasn't enough. Not after a terrible accident had robbed him of his wife and child the year before. So gun in hand and a belly full of whisky he would end it all, but the phone rang. Would you just pull the trigger or even when you were going to end it all wouldn't your curiosity just get the better of you? It did for Dr. James Beauregard too, a professor of ancient history. Well there is nothing like dangling a fish to raise your interest so when the most annoying acquaintance from his college days, Professor Timothy Horn, tells him about an historical find that will change the history books, he just has to jump on a plane, although he detests flying, and see for himself!
This is quite an awesome adventure, I just kept getting visions of Harrison Ford and Karen Allen, from Raiders of the Lost Arc, taking the lead roles in my mind. This book is steeped in history and ancient religious sects, well a particular one but Joshua Richardson makes it all so very fascinating that I hung on to every word. The good guys are amazing and the bad guys are frighteningly believable. This is a story of ancient tombs and prophecies that are about to be enforced on an unsuspecting world. A race against time to prevent actions being put into motion that will result in the end of the world as we know it.
This is quite an awesome adventure, I just kept getting visions of Harrison Ford and Karen Allen, from Raiders of the Lost Arc, taking the lead roles in my mind. This book is steeped in history and ancient religious sects, well a particular one but Joshua Richardson makes it all so very fascinating that I hung on to every word. The good guys are amazing and the bad guys are frighteningly believable. This is a story of ancient tombs and prophecies that are about to be enforced on an unsuspecting world. A race against time to prevent actions being put into motion that will result in the end of the world as we know it.
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November 28, 2016A short while ago J.M. Richardson contacted me through the blog, asking if I would like to read and review his latest book, The Barataria Key which is published on December 21st. In chatting with him, I discovered it was the second book of a series featuring the main character. And while the books are to some extent stand alone, I had to purchase and read the first in the series.
I am so happy that I was contacted, as The Apocalypse Mechanism did not disappoint. I would say this book felt very much like Dan Brown’s Robert Langdon work, which I enjoyed very much. But I think I preferred this book! I found the lead, Dr James Beauregard was more real - a man with a personality, plagued with his own demons that we get to know throughout the book. Robert Langdon in Brown’s works feels a little wooden.
Early on Richardson introduces the mystery that unravels throughout the book. It’s a complex, but not unnecessarily complicated mystery that couples with it plenty of suspense and tension as the story, and the main characters travel the world to uncover a sinister, centuries old plot and ultimately bring it to an end.
The core characters are introduced and built upon cleverly, slowly layering up their subtle intricacies allowing the reader the chance to feel like they really get to know the characters. This really hit home when I found myself rooting for them when things really went against them. The mystery that they unravel was made more plausible because it is rooted in history, and the author went to good length to explain the history well enough to build a good level of context to things. However accurate or embellished the history may be, Richardson presented it witch such confidence as to imply a great amount of research had been done in the writing of the book.
The action was intense without being overly gratuitous, the characters were engaging and human, and the the “villains” were believable. As an overly devout religious cult, they weren’t portrayed as they so often are in Western media, Rather, they seemed deeply pious, courteous even and most importantly, it was clear they truly believed in what they were doing. This, in some respects, made them even more unnerving.
The book is well paced, and although it involves a bit of globetrotting, nothing feels forced or rushed making for a fun, action-packed book that while initially feeling like a Dan Brown novel, in my opinion The Apocalypse Mechanism actually outdoes them!
I am so happy that I was contacted, as The Apocalypse Mechanism did not disappoint. I would say this book felt very much like Dan Brown’s Robert Langdon work, which I enjoyed very much. But I think I preferred this book! I found the lead, Dr James Beauregard was more real - a man with a personality, plagued with his own demons that we get to know throughout the book. Robert Langdon in Brown’s works feels a little wooden.
Early on Richardson introduces the mystery that unravels throughout the book. It’s a complex, but not unnecessarily complicated mystery that couples with it plenty of suspense and tension as the story, and the main characters travel the world to uncover a sinister, centuries old plot and ultimately bring it to an end.
The core characters are introduced and built upon cleverly, slowly layering up their subtle intricacies allowing the reader the chance to feel like they really get to know the characters. This really hit home when I found myself rooting for them when things really went against them. The mystery that they unravel was made more plausible because it is rooted in history, and the author went to good length to explain the history well enough to build a good level of context to things. However accurate or embellished the history may be, Richardson presented it witch such confidence as to imply a great amount of research had been done in the writing of the book.
The action was intense without being overly gratuitous, the characters were engaging and human, and the the “villains” were believable. As an overly devout religious cult, they weren’t portrayed as they so often are in Western media, Rather, they seemed deeply pious, courteous even and most importantly, it was clear they truly believed in what they were doing. This, in some respects, made them even more unnerving.
The book is well paced, and although it involves a bit of globetrotting, nothing feels forced or rushed making for a fun, action-packed book that while initially feeling like a Dan Brown novel, in my opinion The Apocalypse Mechanism actually outdoes them!
September 1, 2012
The Apocalypse Mechanism follows two college professors (one a historian, the other a geologist) on their race to stop a religious zealot in the Middle East from activating an ancient machine designed to start world wide chaos through natural disasters and mass destruction.
This modern-day Indiana Jones tale is steep in research on the history of Egypt, Alexander the Great, Zoroastrianism, as well as Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Although not a historical novel, I found the history supporting the story very interesting and enjoyable. I did some further research on some of the topics because the novel piqued my interest.
This modern-day Indiana Jones tale is steep in research on the history of Egypt, Alexander the Great, Zoroastrianism, as well as Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Although not a historical novel, I found the history supporting the story very interesting and enjoyable. I did some further research on some of the topics because the novel piqued my interest.
October 31, 2012
This fantastic read grabbed me from page one and didn't let go until its end. Rich in its imagery, with fresh dialogue and fascinating characters, this world tour has you globetrotting and mystery solving up to its conclusion. Leading character James Beauregard is colorful and intriguing, with wit to spare and I am hoping this will not be the last we see of him. JM Richardson is a gifted storyteller, that treats his reader with respect. Despite the weighty history, The Apocalypse Mechanism does not sacrifice its smooth reading to wander down textbook styled hallways like many novel of this caliber resort to. I look forward to seeing much more from this author.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews