The Jerusalem Puzzle

Puzzle #2

by Laurence O'Bryan

An archaic manuscript contains a secret, one that could change the world …The second in the series, from the author of The Istanbul Puzzle.

Behind Lady Tunshuq’s Palace in the Muslim quarter of Jerusalem, archaeologist, Max Keiser, has been found dead.

In the same city, Doctor Susan Hunter who was translating an ancient script discovered in Istanbul, is missing.

With his girlfriend Isabel Sharp, Sean Ryan is about to piece together the mystery of his colleague Max’s death and Susan’s disappearance. But as they explore the ancient and troubled city, they soon find themselves drawn into a dangerous and deadly game of fire.

A taut thriller in the tradition of Dan Brown and Robert Harris.

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

400 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

There are five novels in my Puzzle thriller series, three in my series about the life of Constantine the Great and three in my Conspiracy thriller series.

My roots go back to a small estate deep in the Mountains of Mourne, near the Silent Valley, in County Down, Northern Ireland.

I went to school in Dublin, drank way too much, studied English and history, then business, then IT at Oxford University. While a student, I worked as a kitchen porter in a club near the Bank of England.

After that I spent ten years working in the City of London, the creaking hub of world finance.

Now I have three kids and a day job helping writers & publishing companies with their social media and digital marketing.

In 2007 I won the Outstanding Novel Submitted award at the Southern California writer’s conference. That helped.

I founded the Dublin Writers Conference in 2015. My research has taken me all over the world, from San Francisco to deep in the Arab world. I like looking at the stars and listening to the stories of strangers.

Reviews

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

I may have given this book a 3- or a 4-stars twenty years ago when I used to read thrillers. Had picked this up as a break between novels of contemplative content, and thought perhaps because the story is based in Jerusalem that I may enjoy it. But alas, it just did not. The prose in a thriller itself is the thing that irritates me somehow, because absolutely nothing seems to be of the essence after the reading of such a book.

[L · Rating 4 out of 5]

This cleverly crafted historical masterpiece is shockingly spectacular - exemplifying the intensity of a cracking, spine-chilling thriller!

This exquisite novel with its dazzling cover is something to treasure, for it contains such intricate detail as to take your breath away. The electrifying tension radiates off the pages as this thrilling, mesmerizing tale is as gripping as Dan Brown’s ‘The Da Vinci Code’ if not more so. I was swept into a mysterious world shrouded in conspiracy theories, deep-rooted history and ancient prophecies. The fast-paced, layered plot is something to loose yourself within as you unravel the truth bit-by-bit, reveling in the delights of the perilous backdrop that is so atmospheric. I was taken on the most thrilling journey to the exotic, piquant and vibrant Jerusalem where an ancient evil lies waiting hidden beneath a troubled, divergent civilization.

There is a single manuscript nearly all but forgotten, which contains the key to the greatest, shocking historical secret of all-time…

Sean Ryan and his girlfriend Isabel Sharp are exploring the ancient, mysterious city of Jerusalem when they find themselves drawn into a dangerous game with deadly consequences. Meanwhile in the same city Doctor Susan Hunter was translating an ancient manuscript, until it suddenly disappears without a trace. Behind Lady Tunshuq’s Palace in the Muslim quarter of Jerusalem the archeologist Max Kaiser is found dead, with murder on the cards now no one is safe…

The sequel to ‘the Istanbul puzzle’ (shortlisted for the Irish crime novel of the year 2012) continues the story from where it left off, by including the square and arrow symbol (that Sean and Isabel discovered within the Museum of Antiquities), in central Cairo near Tahrir square. Against the backdrop of the many Pharaohs, including notably King Tutankhamun’s mask, this beautiful story is something that will delight those who enjoy exploration and adventure. The intriguing, fascinating historical elements are wonderful that combined with exciting action for a rollercoaster of a ride make this a splendid story and page-turner. Complete with photographs and information about Jerusalem this is a book dedicated to the city, its culture and is a testimony of the author’s accomplished writing ability for he allows you to glimpse beneath the shiny surface and explore the unexpected!

This confident, convincing strong thriller is an undeniably remarkable piece of great writing, that is perfection itself and which I highly recommend. To find the answers to all the secrets and unravel the riddles one must delve deeper into the complexity of the plot, remicent of the detective /archeologist that is longing to explore and uncover so much. This fantastic book is a must-read and one that I cannot praise highly enough, for it unexpectedly surprised and overwhelmed me!

*I won a copy through a ‘GoodReads, First-Read’ giveaway. I would like to thank the author, as I concider myself to be extremely privileged to have had this opportunity*

[Jayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book because I was curious. The international intrigue/politics/ancient history genre is not one I would naturally gravitate towards, but I wanted to see what other indie authors were up to and whether Lawrence O'Bryan was one of the good ones. Basically, it is the second book (after the Instanbul Puzzle) but I found it was not necessary to read the first one, as this one stands on its own. The link between the two books was explained clearly, without banging on about it. It starts with a woman going missing, and the protagonist (Sean) and his lady (Isabel) going off to Jerusalem to find her and find out who was behind the horrible death of Sean's colleague. Soon they are involved in a plot involving gruesome death by fire and witchcraft. There was a lot of weaving about through dusty streets and run-ins with unfriendly Arabs, before the whole thing was concluded in a very satisfactory and somewhat bloody way, which is why I liked it.

There were a few niggles and I'll start with those. The biggest one for me was the convolutions of the plot. There were at least two characters too many and the story line could have been tightened up a bit, which would have made the whole thing sound a lot more coherent. Then there was the habit, a big one amongst indies, of putting an exclamation mark at the end of sentences! It's very distracting and not that necessary! Those aside, I really felt as if the writer knew his subject, or if he didn't, he pulled it off really convincingly. I could smell the dust and feel the heat, and the paranoia and wariness of moving about in the Middle East. I've never been there, but was utterly convinced that it is how it was portrayed in the book.

I was confused by some of the plot, namely the Lord Bidenor and his penchant for snuff films. Is this something that is going to be explored in his next book? It's an intriguing premise on its own. Also, the dialogue between Sean and Isabel did not convince me that theirs was a passionate relationship. I felt as if the intimacy between them was too delicately implied, which was at odds with such a thundering story in such vibrant surroundings.

This all sounds as if I hated it. I didn't. I struggled slightly at the beginning, but persevered and I'm glad I did because it was a great holiday read. A lot of readers don't realise it but they actually want to feel safe in the hands of a storyteller. They don't want them to fade halfway through, or throw in a desperate plot line that doesn't mean anything. O'Bryan is a great story teller, and he knows the value of cliffhanger chapter endings, explosive scenes to jolt things up and a satisfyingly crunchy ending. As I said, it wasn't a genre I was familiar or comfortable with, but I felt safe, and the ending felt good. All in all, a great read.

[Alen Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's been a long time since I read a conspiracy thriller the last one was Inferno which causes me to hate conspiracy thrillers. When I took The Jerusalem Puzzle I thought it will change my mind on conspiracy thrillers but unfortunately, it made the opposite effect. The plot and characters are okay but storytelling is a little bit longer for me. The story is not much believable I mean when does embassy employees start secret missions. Also in the last chapters, I can see 'where is she' in every sentence. I mean I got it the heroine is missing but you don't have to shout every time that when you start a conversation. The story is not that much breathtaking for me sometimes the way of storytelling forces me to put down the book. Anyway I didn't find anything interesting in this book it's just a b-grade novel like The Hunter

[Jemima Pett]

I gave this 50 pages to decide whether the violence would continue or whether it was a feature of the story set up. It seems to be continuing and I do not wish to read about torture by fire every few pages. This author enjoys graphic description of violently dead bodies, but is coy about sex "We went to bed and got to sleep about an hour later." I suspect many of my bookclub will feel the same way as me*.
I haven't completed it, so no rating given.

* I was right: 3 refused to read further than I did; two gave it 5/10 and disliked it, two gave it 7/10 (including the person who recommended it)

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laurence o'Bryan has done it again!

In January 2012 I read The Istanbul Puzzle and found it impossible to read 'just one more chapter' as each chapter made me want to carry on reading. There haven't been any books that have managed to do that since .......

.... until now!

The Jerusalem Puzzle has managed to do the same. Laurence has the ability to make his locations come to life, such is the accuracy and detail within his writing.

The only downside is that I will now have to wait until The New York Puzzle arrives before I get that feeling again.

[Ellis Shuman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Jerusalem Puzzle gives one a very strong sense of the uniqueness of Jerusalem. The book’s plot is very fast-paced, taking readers to a volatile Cairo still reeling from the aftermath of the Arab Spring, and to the contentious Palestinian territories near Hebron. There is a criminally-insane arch-villain, as well as a call-up of IDF reserves, narrow escapes, and dramatic rescues. The book will leave you asking for more, which you will get in the next book in the series = The Manhattan Puzzle.

[Rick Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a bit biased since I went through fiction-writing training with the author, Laurence O'Bryan, many years ago. I lost momentum for my nascent international thrillers as I became further immersed in entrepreneurial ventures with China. Laurence went on to be a successful author via traditional and indie publishing. We reconnected last year and he's graciously enabled me to access resources at his Books Go Social company, which positively impacted the recent launch of my first writing-with-grandkids SSF novel (Star Life Keepers). I've gone back to read Laurence's The Istanbul Puzzle and, most recently, The Jerusalem Puzzle. Both are excellent thriller books with historical research tied to modern day crises. They remind me of bestsellers by Steve Berry and Jim Rollins who helped to train us when they were emerging authors. IMO, Laurence's novels have remained fresh and should be considered evergreen. The Jerusalem Puzzle weaves a tale centered on historical landmarks that he visited. Sean Ryan, the main character, is like Kim in the 24 TV series whose impulsiveness always got her into trouble, which provides fresh insights for my books about teenagers...since characters getting into trouble can apply to all ages!

[Nathaniel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wasn't entirely sure what to make of this.  I thought it would be a sort of Dan Brown-type thriller with hidden clue and puzzles etc but it's not like that at all which is a disappointment.  The puzzle in the title is a complete red herring!  I also thought I'd read the previous book but I must have confused it with something else.  This book is a bit gruesome, there's several descriptions of injuries and how people were killed which does make for slightly uncomfortable reading.  I found the writing to be quite clumsy in some places and there were parts with descriptions that were not really needed and detracted from what was actually happening.  Does the reader really need to know that a non-important door was green?  Considering it's supposed to be a thriller, the pacing is slower than I would have expected and there doesn't seem to be much sense of urgency.  Part of the plot revolves around the discovery of a document in the previous book but the murders and events in this book don't really seem to be connected to it, so that was rather confusing.  The ending was rather meh and didn't come with any sense that it was completed, rather that it would be continued in the next book(s).  Overall, it was a little disappointing and I don't think I'll read any more in the series.  

[Dan Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed Laurence O’Bryan’s debut historical thriller, The Istanbul Puzzle, but there were issues that stopped it from becoming brilliant. His sequel, The Jerusalem Puzzle promised to carry on the story, with increased action, increased tension and a revelation that would shock the religious community. I got stuck into this straight after finishing its predecessor, and I was left pleasantly surprised by the fast pace and addictive relationships within.

It may sound exceptionally unoriginal when I say it hides a secret that will shock the religious community, especially as over the past five years or so, we’ve been inundated with similar works of fiction that offers the same. However, I’ve got to admit that The Jerusalem Puzzle does so with ounces of authenticity and a respect for the religions of today. As it is mostly set inside Jerusalem, O’Bryan does a wonderful job at setting the religious and political scene; two religions, Christianity and Islam, living side by side amongst a backdrop of tension and suspicion. It must take a great insight and understanding to portray, and so it becomes so evident of the author’s insightful research.

Within the pages, we are reacquainted with Sean Ryan and his girlfriend, Isabel Sharp as they continue the quest to understand and unravel the mysterious manuscript they unearthed in the first book. Flamboyant archaeologist, Max Kaiser, is found burnt to death and so sets of a series of catastrophic and sinister events that draws the pair to the ancient city. Doctor Susan Hunter, who was working and translating on the manuscript, is missing and our protagonists are stuck for ideas. What they do know however, is that it is up to them to play detectives to discover the truth. And just maybe, they may find out more about this manuscript than they bargained for.

As O’Bryan did such a wonderful job at building up both Sean and Isabel’s character in the previous novel, we are drawn to them so naturally here. Sean is a great lead character as he knows enough knowledge to get him by, and has undergone a series of stressful past events to make him slightly unpredictable. He’s stared death in the face before, and so he isn’t afraid to stick his nose in to find out the truth. Isabel is also a great character. She’s not afraid to back her man up and never plays second best to Sean; they are almost equally important.

We also get to know more of the evil antagonist here too; Arap Anach is one malicious and possessed bad guy! It’s great to be able to get into his psyche here and see things from his point of view. This as a result helps makes him more rounded and well developed. Teamed up with a secretive English lord, we get to see that their plan is well thought out and wonderfully macabre too. It’s enticing and addictive reading, and you can’t help but read more to find out how far they are willing to go to create a war in Europe. It’s interesting, because what O’Bryan does here is create a fictitious scenario, but one based on today’s current state of affairs. The political and sociological stance on the ever increasing Islam religion is one that both believable yet daunting.

It’s hard to say exactly why without giving away plot arcs, but believe me when I say that the action is always regular and intense. There is a section towards the end of the book where Sean and friends are sat around a camp fire with some Palestinians. They are talking about their situation and what must be done next, when suddenly, when you least except it, O’Bryan writes an action packed surprise. It came out of nowhere! I couldn’t believe it, and I had no choice but to keep my bedroom lamp on reading further into the night.

When we do learn more about the manuscript and this religious secret, it serves as a catalyst to read the next book that follows. Whereas the likes of Dan Brown and Raymond Khoury reach a climax in their books, O’Bryan decides to tease you by carrying the puzzle on into subsequent books. It really is a true adventurous series, and you have to wonder what’s next for Sean and Isabel.

If you have read my review for The Istanbul Puzzle, you would remember that I found the short sentences and odd structure a little off-putting, but thankfully the writing is much more evolved here. Yes there are still short paragraphs, exceptionally so sometimes, but the writing is more flowing and deserving of the story they tell. The sights and smells of Jerusalem also bring this oddly misunderstood city to life too.

But again, there were times when I found the book a little disappointing. One stand out moment, was when a certain chapter starts, it is written in the present tense and suddenly, abruptly changes midway through to the past tense – and I can’t figure out why? I found this confusing and a little pointless. It almost seemed like it was a mistake rather than used for a specific reason. Another point I didn’t like, which I must confess first is more personal than anything else, is that one of the characters we are introduced to is Xena. It’s an infamous name, remembered to many for portraying a certain warrior princess. It’s hard to expel the image of Lucy Lawless when you are reading her. I would have also liked her to get involved in the action a bit more, but sadly I found her character to be quite weak.

It has to be said though that The Jerusalem Puzzle is a tense, action-fuelled roller-coaster ride, especially if you love these historical thrillers. Is has a believable plot, with terrorism and political war overlapping the long-lost manuscript search. The characters are as ordinary as you or I, which is a brilliant thing because it creates ounces of respect for them. You also want them to succeed too, caring what happens to them. You do need to read the first in the Puzzle series to get along better with this, but with supreme intrigue and a conspiratorial rapport hiding in the background, The Jerusalem Puzzle is a clever, well-structured and intimate novel. Now we just have to wait until its sequel, The Manhattan Puzzle, is released later in the year.

[Mohamed Metwally · Rating 3 out of 5]

Continuing with my review of the last book, the second part in the trilogy picks up after six months from the final events of the Istanbul events, which is not convincing to me as an adequate amount of time for the conspirators to devise a new complete plan to achieve their objective it couldn't have hurt to put it after a much longer and reasonable period.

'Sean' the main character maintains his profile portrait that was established in part one, as hungry for knowledge, persistently devoted to his cause (even to the point of carelessness) and brave. yet, while being consistent on the character development part, the story itself has strayed a bit from the thriller/ adventure plot focus more in this part by giving much attention to the relationship between him and Isabel which definitely adds a romantic and real feel to the story but does not make the transitional flow of the story seemless as if they were one story written with a single author. I didn't like this change in style and would have liked it more balanced towards adventure like the first part.

Let's see how the third part will look...

MiM

[Begoña Gallego · Rating 2 out of 5]

Realmente me estaba gustando mucho la propuesta. Se descubre un manuscrito y se desatan unas oleadas de asesinatos que parecen sacrificios. El inicio es trepidante, inquietante, incluso se van planteando los capítulos como piezas de un puzle que muestran diferentes ángulos de la trama que hay que encajar haciendo honor al título del libro.
Según avanzamos el misterio del manuscrito se va diluyendo para centrarse en la búsqueda de personas desaparecidas y la trama gira entorno a este hilo conductor a partir de ahí.

En el desenlace intentan explicar a que vino lo del manuscrito, pero lo hacen sin demasiada profundidad y sin dar importancia al hecho que desencadenó todo. Incluso la conspiración mundial que parece se hurde en un principio a causa de él bajo mi punto de vista tiene poco con dicho manuscrito. La persona que lo origina todo tiene un móvil económico que también se pasa de puntillas en el desenlace de la trama.

Bajo mi punto de vista un planteamiento interesante que se difumina a lo largo de las páginas por proponer tres tramas o temas sobre los que versa todo que no están suficientemente bien enlazados.

Prescindible.

[SusanwithaGoodBook · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this continuation of the story begun in The Istanbul Puzzle more than I thought I would. It followed the same pattern as the first book, with alternating chapters between good guys/bad guys/unknown guys, and bits of tourist info thrown into the mix. Sometimes the tourist info is a little jarring, though. Sure, you're driving down the road in a hurry to rescue someone when the driver says, "over there is where David fought Goliath" or something. It's kind of funny, actually. Anyway, the action kept up a pretty relentless pace, especially in the second half, and I like the main two characters though the woman isn't very well developed. I can recommend it if you like Dan Brown-type action stories. I'm off to get the third book in the series, now.

[Teodora Toncheva · Rating 2 out of 5]

This wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either. I know that technically this is a part 2 of a series and I haven't read part one, but I don't think that having read the first book would've changed my mind about this one. Overall I needed so much more. I didn't care about the main character at all, most of the time I was annoyed with how stupid and careless he acts. The story was kind of slow and.. let's say it boring. And last but not least I didn't like the writing. Granted, I've read this translated in my first language so it might be that but I'm still a bit skeptical. I don't think I'll be reading the rest of the series.

[Itzel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Este libro lo leí porque me metí a círculo de lectura en la escuela, me sonaba muy interesante el título y cuando lo empecé a leer no lo podía dejar, me lo termine super rápido, me gustó mucho la forma en como estaba narrado, y me encantó que se metió con temas que son un tanto delicados, como lo es la religión, que en muchos casos llega a ser fanatismo.
De verdad que desde mi punto de vista manejo todo muy bien y me encantaron todos los personajes y es que hasta su antagonista era realmente bueno, con un muy buen desarrollo de personaje.
Sinceramente me gusto mucho esta lectura.

[Liese · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is a definite improvement in writing style from the first book. The premise of what Sean Ryan, the main character, gets involved in and overcomes is a bit farfetched at times, but the story is strong. It does have a lot of moving parts though, and feels to drag on at times a bit. I did like the story wasn't overly predictable, it kept me guessing for how it may turn out. I did enjoy this one more.

[Dave K · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book that gripped from the start! If you like Dan Brown or Wilbur Smith, or books with plenty of action, corrupt officials and historical details - this book will likely appeal. A very good level of well researched location detail and very believable characters make this a real page turner. The believability of the cover ups in high places alongside the religious interest are a great combination. I'll be looking out for Laurence O'Bryan for future reads!

[Sandy Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit slow in parts.

Started out okay but instead of building, the story kind of slogged along toward the middle. I almost stopped reading it then as I had a hard time finding anything to hold my interest....but hating to not finish a book, I struggled on. Then the story took off and ended well hence the three stars.

[Natasha du Plessis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fast paced roller coaster ride of a book. You're actually scared of what Sean and Isabel will get into next but you just can't stop reading. I really enjoyed reading the Jerusalem Puzzle. Great writing with great believable scenarios and characters.

[Stig Ellingsen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Terribly written thriller in which the hero seems to be immature like a 14 year old boy🤣

[Unmondedepapier · Rating 1 out of 5]

http://un-monde-de-papier.blogspot.fr...

La tristesse de ne pas réussir à terminer un livre…
(...)
Le speech de base est sympa, quelque chose de mi policier mi historique, cela annonce plein d’éléments à apprendre.
J’ai été déçue par beaucoup d’éléments dans ce livre, c’est difficile de savoir par quoi commencer (...)

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

FANTASTIC THRILLER!! UNPUTDOWNABLE!!

THE JERUSALEM PUZZLE
By
Laurence O’Bryan

This book is a continuation of the Istanbul Puzzle which I absolutely loved and could not put down. The transition is seamless and Mr. O’Bryan’s main character, Sean Ryan, remains a well drafted hero. I love the author’s intense descriptions of all the Holy Places. Unlike Istanbul, I have visited Jerusalem, and I know the atmosphere in this city is unlike any other in the world. Mr. O’Bryan has captured the very essence of this Holy City, where the tangled web of Religious Beliefs literally thickens the air. When Max Kaiser, archeologist and rival associate of Ryan’s, is found murdered; and Dr. Susan Hunter, who was translating an ancient Manuscript, disappears, Sean goes on the hunt. This long lost Manuscript could change the world as we know it, and he is determined to uncover its mysteries. If you love the rip-roaring thrill of Indiana Jones, and the scientific exploration of ancient cultures, you will love this book. Dan Brown has some serious competition from this brilliant Irish author, Laurence O’Bryan, whose writing is impeccable. As you read, you find yourself absorbing complicated facts and theories, almost by osmosis, as if you yourself were a seasoned scientist. This is a gift belonging to few writers and I salute you Mr. O’Bryan. I have already ordered my copy of The Manhattan Puzzle, due out in October, and I cannot wait for it to arrive. You who have not read either The Istanbul Puzzle or The Jerusalem Puzzle have some happy hours ahead of you. Both of these books are a must read. And then, there's The Manhattan Puzzle!
Mary Firmin, author Deadly Pleasures.

Amazon Books: http://goo.gl/nadc28
Web Site: http://lpobryan.com/

[Kathleen Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just finished reading The Jerusalem Puzzle. It's a fast-paced, dark thriller which stretched my credibility a little at times (the Bond-like hero is beaten up, slow-roasted and shot at, but still has the energy for rock-climbing and sex). But if you like middle-eastern mysteries in the Dan Brown tradition, this will definitely do it for you. Well written, with an amazing backdrop from Israel to Cairo, it's thoroughly researched for authenticity. It's a very filmic novel - paced and written like a film script and the scenes roll in front of your eyes like video clips - it's incredibly visual.

The novel begins with a news item. Fresh from their adventures in Turkey (The Istanbul Puzzle), Sean Ryan and Isabel >>> are upset to discover that their colleague Max Keiser has been murdered in Jerusalem. They believe it possible that it may have something to do with a manuscript they found in Istanbul. When another colleague, Dr Susan Hunter, goes missing and her house in England is burned down, they are sure that something extraordinary is happening. They decide to go to Jerusalem to discover what Max had been working on there and to see if they can find any trace of Susan. Meanwhile, the political situation between Israel and Egypt becomes increasingly fragile and there are vested interests in Europe who would benefit from a border war.

A quick enjoyable read.

[Paula Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Jerusalem Puzzle by Laurence O'Bryan was non-stop action and intrigue. Sean and Isabel are once again involved in a religious mystery where their survival is in question.
An ancient religious manuscript has been found and once translated it could change the course of Christianity.

In the Muslim quarter of Jerusalem, a colleague of Sean is found dead. Sean and Isabel are intent on finding out those responsible for Max's death.

Dr. Susan Hunter is in Jerusalem to translate the ancient manuscript found in Istanbul goes missing. Isabel also disappears. Sean is determined to get both women back safely.

Mr O'Bryan did a wonderful job of working accurate religious information into the story. He gives the reader an insight into the age old conflict between the Jews and Muslims for control of Jerusalem.

The Jerusalem Puzzle grabs from the 1st page and doesn't slow down until the end.

[Eileen Thornton · Rating 5 out of 5]

AN EXCITING READ

Already horrified at the news of Max Keiser's terrifying murder, Sean Ryan and Isabel Sharp are equally alarmed to learn that their friend, Dr Susan Hunter has gone missing in Jerusalem. Dr Hunter, of Cambridge University, had been translating an ancient manuscript, which Sean and Isabel brought back from Istanbul. Was there a connection? Both Sean and Isabel feel they must go to Jerusalem to help find their friend. However, once there, they are thwarted at every turn. Will they find their friend before it is too late?

This is a very exciting novel and certainly keeps the reader on their toes. I also enjoyed reading the vivid descriptions of the city of Jerusalem

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable follow up to The Istanbul Puzzle (which you need to have read) and it certainly knows its way around Jerusalem. Good characters and well-written but it adds only a small number of pieces to the puzzle and has very little to do with the mystery itself, focusing instead on the disappearances of people connected to it. It therefore has very much the feel of a 'middle novel'.

proper review to follow shortly on http://forwinternights.wordpress.com/

[Leen Albejawi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Im not personally into these kinds of book. That being said, the book was pleasant although some phrases were too repetitive and the plot was very predictive. The research that went to makeing it is a lot and should be given credit for.

The book is very fast paced and the story was dark in a manner that scared me which was nice!

Side note: I thought Ariel was a female name so I was a bit confused when we met Ariel and he was a male.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked the First Book Better

I loved the first book in this series. It seems, looking back that there was adventure and suspense from the start. This book, not so much. Once it got interesting the book was really good, but it took me awhile to get into it. One thing I do like about this author's books. He writes about the towns, people and areas as much as the main story line. And I plan on reading the next book as soon as I g t it downloaded.

[Shawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Jerusalem Puzzle the sequel to The Istanbul Puzzle. I enjoyed this book much more than the first. The plot was tighter and the writing was cleaner; less errors.

I am actually looking forward to the next book, The New York Puzzle, to find out the rest of the story.

A definite improvement, O'Bryan shows promise.

[Nigel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read and really enjoyed the Istanbul Puzzle and was looking forward to this sequel, unfortunately it did not live up to its predicessors standards. It was still a good well crafted story but seemed to take to long to get going and if anything a bit predictable towards the end, having said that I will still be reading the next installment and hope it will be back to the standard of the first.