Sandustee: The Search for the Nazarene's Code

by Bob Adamov

If you liked National Treasure and The DaVinci Code, you'll love Sandustee. It's a worldwide chase for clues to finding a lost biblical scroll, the Nazarene's Code, which gives the holder the power to control nations. Running through the novel is a thread that links Osama Bin Laden to Jesus and the twelve disciples to Abraham Lincoln to Lincoln's assassination to Booth's escape to Dr. Samuel Mudd's house to Mudd's imprisonment in the Dry Tortugas. The thread is the Legend of 13”words with thirteen letters have stunning implications in the plotline. This action-packed novel is filled with murder, cross and double-cross, scuba action, a touch of Knights Templar, Masonic symbolism, and political intrigue in DC and the world intelligence community.

351 pages, Hardcover

First published February 28, 2013

About the author

Bob Adamov is an Ohio-based mystery adventure writer whose stories are based in the Lake Erie South Bass Island resort town of Put-in-Bay, the “Key West of the Midwest.” His novels follow the adventures of Washington Post investigative reporter, Emerson Moore, and are written in the style of Adamov’s favorite author, Clive Cussler.

Adamov was the featured author at the 2006 Ernest Hemingway Days’ Literary Festival in Key West and named 2010’s Writer of the Year by the University of Akron’s Wayne College.

His first novel, Rainbow’s End, was a finalist as the top fiction novel for the 2003 Great Lakes Book Award competition that was won by the Pulitzer Prize-winner, Middlesex.

All of his novels were rated “5 Stars” by the Midwest Book Review and named as top novels in northeast Ohio by the Akron Beacon Journal. His novels have won awards at the Hollywood Book Festival, London Book Festival, New York Book Festival, Florida Book Festival and the Indie Awards.

He was a guest author at the 2008, 2010, 2015 & 2017 Clive Cussler Collectors Society Convention where he met his hero, Clive Cussler, and toured his car collection. Mr. Cussler endorsed Adamov’s fifth book - “The Other Side of Hell is a great read!”

“Bob Adamov is a superb craftsman of hanging-on-the-edge-of-your-seat mystery adventures…” - Midwest Book Review

Adamov’s favorite authors include Brad Thor, Mark Twain, Ian Fleming, Jack Higgins, and Alistair MacLean. He strives to emulate his favorite author, Clive Cussler, and created a character similar to Cussler’s Dirk Pitt.

His latest novel, Golden Torpedo, was released in July 2017. It continues the popular Emerson Moore series and Adamov’s string of island best sellers which include Rainbow’s End, Pierce the Veil, When Rainbows Walk, Promised Land, The Other Side of Hell, Tan Lines, Sandustee, Zenobia and Missing.

A Kent State University graduate, Adamov resides in Wooster, Ohio. He often can be seen in Put-in-Bay, Key West and the Cayman Islands with his scuba diving, boating and treasure hunting friends. He had worked for an Arlington, Virginia-based defense contractor in the intelligence sector.

Adamov is drafting the next novel in the series – Chincoteague Calm involving mysterious NASA rocket explosions and covert Russian and Chinese saboteurs on Chincoteague Island in Virginia. He is also working on Flight, which deals with a mystery surrounding former Bellevue resident and railroad tycoon Henry Flager and a train to Key West.

Reviews

[Sheila · Rating 1 out of 5]

I won a copy of this in a First Reads giveaway and was looking forward to reading it based on the great description: "If you liked National Treasure and The DaVinci Code, you’ll love Sandustee. It’s a worldwide chase for clues to finding a lost biblical scroll, the Nazarene’s Code, which gives the holder the power to control nations."

Sounds great, right. I liked both the movie National Treasure and the book The DaVinci Code. So this should be right up my alley. But sadly, disappointingly, it was not.

This book is poorly formatted and edited, if it was even professionally edited at all. It reads as if it were self published. The plot is idiotic and completely unrealistic. The dialogue was laughable, and often chauvinistic. The main character often showed absolutely no emotional reaction when people were getting murdered repeatedly all around him. He even smiled to himself while being tortured.

The book made me roll my eyes repeatedly with its stupidity. There was a lot of name and place dropping, apparently people and locations the author knows, so I would imagine that this book might be cute to those in the know, or from those locations. But for the general reader, me, who is just looking for a great, fun, action adventure romp, this book was just dumb.

Sorry, Mr. Adamov. Thanks for the autographed copy.

[Gina Hanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Have read a lot of Clive Cussler and enjoy his books. Had hoped this to be along the same lines, but it weakly followed his lead. It had some historical threads, but they didn't seem fleshed out. I wanted to smack the 'hero' upside the head more than once for being so dumb; how many times do you have to get kidnapped before you start to watch your surroundings?
I finished it because I felt I should, not because I was so enthralled.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 1781 a young man, student of L’Enfant takes something wrapped in oilskin from the home he was boarding in and hide it – like any Freemason would. 1865, Lincoln changes the plans for the Washington Monument just before leaving for Ford’s Theater. Present Day: Emerson Moore, journalist, is about to leave to investigate something in Germany. What he finds is mind boggling.
Take a manic pilot, an investigative journalist and some very unpleasant baddies throw in humor and murder and you’ve got the recipe for a great day of reading. Add in Lincoln’s assassination, Knights both Templar and Hospitaller and you’ve definitely got a winner.
This is book seven in a series which I haven’t read but am going to as soon as I can get the others. What a fast paced thriller! It drew me in and held me throughout the day (which is why a wall-hanging is still on my sewing machine and not on the wall!). This is a definite “must-read” for all lovers of mystery and great characters.
PS: Does your name have thirteen letters??

[Stephen Rasmussen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read all seven Bob Adamov books beginning with Rainbow’s End, Pierce the Veil, When Rainbows Walk, Promised Land, The Other Side of Hell, Tan Lines and his latest e-book Sandustee. I was hooked after reading Rainbow’s End and anxiously await the next Emerson Moore adventure. I love the way Bob blends fiction with real life locations and the investigative research Bob undertakes while researching material for his books.
In Sandustee Bob provides several clues which will keep you on your toes trying to figure out what is happening next. Sandustee starts out with Emerson Moore in Bodrum, Turkey and from there the adventure begins as he travels around the world looking for answers to the Nazarene’s code.
If you like fiction, adventure and some genuine facts sprinkled throughout his books you will become a fan of Bob Adamov as I have.

[D.j. · Rating 3 out of 5]

The basis of the story - a reporter in search of an ancient scroll that has the potential to change the world - is interesting and creates a good story line. However, I found that the author often time went into too much detail regarding information that was not very important to the story (geography) and often times rushed through important parts of the story (e.g., how does someone working for a foreign government manage to infiltrate a black ops flight as a pilot in a couple of hour timeframe?). I frequently found myself getting frustrated over the lack of important details or unrealistic nature (I know, it's fiction, but it's not science fiction...) of some of the situations.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having recently completed Rainbow's End, the 1st book in Adamov's Emerson Moore series, I have now finished the most recent in the series, Sandustee. The historical stuff about the Sandusky area is interesting, and the globe-trotting locations are neat, but the plot really peters out at the end. Felt like the author got to a point where he didn't know how to get out, so he settled for a very unsatisfying ending that really wasn't believable for the characters. I thought Rainbow's End was much better.

[Drew · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as part of the Goodreads first reads program. Overall, I liked the book however I had some trouble following it because some of the chapters jumped around in terms of locations and times. Also, I felt like there were times when irrelevant details were included that made the story hard to follow. I feel like part of that comes from the fact that I believe there are more books involving this character that I haven't read. I would suggest taking a look at this book if you are looking for a good read.

[Phyllis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the best mystery novel that Bob Adamov has written yet. I could not put the book down, keeps your interest up. Pink lipstick, beware of ladies wearing pink lipstick. Love how the story line involves the number 13. This is a must read mystery. Can't wait for your next book to be printed and on shelves and ready for buying. All of Bob Adamov's novels are intriguing. All of Bob's books should be on your book shelf.
Phyllis

[Harold · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won a copy of this in a First Reads giveaway. The book was entertaining and an enjoyable read. It was the first book by the author and in the series I have read. Emerson Moore is an intriguing character. The story moved along at a good pace without a myriad of details bogging down the reader. The plot-line was well-crafted and generally avoided going down the most obvious path. I would recommend this for younger readers.

[Karin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt the dialogue in this book was silly at times. The main character was pretty careless and stupid. He never took any precautions even though he had been tortured and people kept trying to kill him at every turn. He even sounded disinterested when his friend suggested his phone might be tapped. However, I thought the story was interesting and actually made better by the ending.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won a copy, a signed hardback copy. So i think that's pretty great already. I have been reading on kindle so much (which i love) that the real book pages felt so soft and smooth and there were paragraphs.

As for the story....I liked most of it, some things seemed odd but i did not let them bother me. It was a fast read and i will check out another in the series. Thank you.

[Christa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved it. It was so addicting, history and twists and never a dull or predictable moment. I got it in a goodreads first reads giveaway and now it's one of my favorite books. If you love suspense and twists you never saw coming then you'll love this book too. I enjoyed every minute I spent reading it and would highly recomend it to anyone.

[Moon · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great story! A reporter is on the search for a very important scroll... which leads to a wonderful adventure that was a joy to read. I LOVE the way he combined fact and fiction! Now I have to find more books by Bob Adamov, because this was a page turner :)

I am so happy to have won this on goodreads! :)

[Nanci Konsavage · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written with well rounded characters. Awesome plot. Wicked ending.

[Debbie Prichard · Rating 3 out of 5]

a little unbelievable thru most of the book, but a good ending.

[Joseph Britton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun mystery with a surprise ending that included many international locations as well as some local ones like Put-in-Bay and Sandusky Ohio.