What do you think?
Rate this book
Dämonium - Thriller
7 Aufgaben. 7 Schlüssel. 7 Tage. Nur 1 Chance, die Welt zu retten …
Ein einmaliger Mystery-Thriller! - Irrwitzig spannend, faszinierend unheimlich und hochintelligent konstruiert.
Eine mysteriöse antike Kupferdose enthält den ersten verstörenden Hinweis – einen kurzen und verzweifelten Hilferuf. Zunächst ahnt der englische Journalist Robert Reckliss noch nicht, welch schreckliche Verantwortung ihm damit auferlegt wird. Doch dann enthüllt ein alter Freund das ganze unfassbare Geheimnis: Irgendwo in New York liegt eine uralte Waffe verborgen, die in nur sieben Tagen die Welt zerstören könnte. Und allein Robert ist imstande, die Katastrophe jetzt noch abzuwenden. Doch dazu muss er zunächst sieben Rätselaufgaben lösen – in einer atemlosen Hetzjagd quer durch Manhattan, die Robert weit über die Grenzen des menschlichen Verstandes hinaus fordern wird …
Ein einmaliger Mystery-Thriller! - Irrwitzig spannend, faszinierend unheimlich und hochintelligent konstruiert.
Eine mysteriöse antike Kupferdose enthält den ersten verstörenden Hinweis – einen kurzen und verzweifelten Hilferuf. Zunächst ahnt der englische Journalist Robert Reckliss noch nicht, welch schreckliche Verantwortung ihm damit auferlegt wird. Doch dann enthüllt ein alter Freund das ganze unfassbare Geheimnis: Irgendwo in New York liegt eine uralte Waffe verborgen, die in nur sieben Tagen die Welt zerstören könnte. Und allein Robert ist imstande, die Katastrophe jetzt noch abzuwenden. Doch dazu muss er zunächst sieben Rätselaufgaben lösen – in einer atemlosen Hetzjagd quer durch Manhattan, die Robert weit über die Grenzen des menschlichen Verstandes hinaus fordern wird …
576 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
25 people are currently reading
381 people want to read
About the author
Martin Langfield
2 books39 followersMartin Langfield is a writer and journalist. He was a foreign correspondent, bureau chief and editor for Reuters from 1987 to 2019, working mostly in the Americas. He reported mainly from El Salvador, Mexico, Madrid, Miami, Peru, Cuba, Nicaragua, London and New York. He later worked with the company's Breakingviews commentary team. Martin studied French and Spanish languages and literature at Trinity Hall, Cambridge University in England. He has also worked as an English teacher in Paris and studied indigenous literature in Mexico. He lives in New York.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
May 27, 2010
I only give the book one star because no matter how I tried I can't bring myself to finish the book... the book is so confusing and long and make me frown all the time... maybe I'm harsh but I rather read a dictionary than read this book...
November 18, 2021
I really struggled to finish this book. The characters are just uninteresting, and the author's rather florid attempts to turn a potentially decent thriller into a supernatural journey of spiritual awakening are ham-fisted at best.
Also, Robert Reckliss is a really stupid name.
Also, Robert Reckliss is a really stupid name.
June 2, 2012
I went into this book with high hopes, ready for adventure, full of history, mystery and intrigue. The Malice Box had quite a few of these elements, but there was one other massive element, the supernatural.
Maybe I've been a bit harsh on this book simply because it's not was I was expecting but in the end it didn't keep me very interested. I didn't like the characters of Adam Hale, or Katherine and I was pretty much indifferent to the main character Robert Reckliss (which is such an utterly stupid name). I loved Terri and Horace and would have been quite happy if it was just the two of them running around New York.
Here's the point where I will give credit where credit's due. The author describes New York like a person, the buildings, parks, monuments. It made we want to go and see it, taking the book as a guide.
However, for the main part of the books, I was disappointed. I wanted Robert to follow clues to historical places and have to push letters in a certain order for a drawer to pop out and give him a piece of the puzzle. Really I wanted The Crystal Maze in a book. Instead, to pass one trial he had to sleep with someone and by the end I really didn't care if he saved the world or not.
Maybe I've been a bit harsh on this book simply because it's not was I was expecting but in the end it didn't keep me very interested. I didn't like the characters of Adam Hale, or Katherine and I was pretty much indifferent to the main character Robert Reckliss (which is such an utterly stupid name). I loved Terri and Horace and would have been quite happy if it was just the two of them running around New York.
Here's the point where I will give credit where credit's due. The author describes New York like a person, the buildings, parks, monuments. It made we want to go and see it, taking the book as a guide.
However, for the main part of the books, I was disappointed. I wanted Robert to follow clues to historical places and have to push letters in a certain order for a drawer to pop out and give him a piece of the puzzle. Really I wanted The Crystal Maze in a book. Instead, to pass one trial he had to sleep with someone and by the end I really didn't care if he saved the world or not.
July 10, 2015
I wanted to like this book, and the story idea itself was great. So what's the problem? I hate the author's voice honestly and the characters annoyed me so much,they weren't that interesting and I really didn't care what happened to them. I kept soldiering on but honestly the characters just got worse and worse, the authors voice grated on me more and more until it felt like a chore trying to read this book.
October 1, 2009
First of all, can I make something clear to the negative reviewers (and others): this is NOT a Da Vinci Code clone. What Martin Langfield has written is a fast-paced, intelligent, supernatural thriller, predominantly set in New York with flashbacks to Cambridge and London. It weaves occult philosophy and esoteric religious practices into the narrative of a tightly written novel that will keep you in suspense, forever guessing what will happen next.
The so-called "puzzles" which people have called into question are not meant to be on the same level as the Times cryptic crossword, and they work best when you just accept them for what they are and read on to see them revealed. In any case, the climax of the novel explains why the puzzles themselves are not painfully difficult to unravel; they aren't meant to be.
Langfield successfully blends occultism, history, religion, mythology and a commendable grasp of Manhattan's architecture and geography to produce something very different from the average "race against time to stop the serial killer" plot. Indeed, the ambiguities and continual upsets that run throughout the novel often make it difficult to know whose side you, the reader, are meant to be on from one moment to the next. This all adds up to what makes it so compelling. I read the book over four evenings, but agree with other (positive) reviewers that it would work best if read in one sitting.
For those who claim to have found it "difficult" or even "boring", I can only wonder if they approached the novel with the wrong expectations. Forget how the book may have been marketed, this is not the Da Vinci Code. And it's all the better for it.
The so-called "puzzles" which people have called into question are not meant to be on the same level as the Times cryptic crossword, and they work best when you just accept them for what they are and read on to see them revealed. In any case, the climax of the novel explains why the puzzles themselves are not painfully difficult to unravel; they aren't meant to be.
Langfield successfully blends occultism, history, religion, mythology and a commendable grasp of Manhattan's architecture and geography to produce something very different from the average "race against time to stop the serial killer" plot. Indeed, the ambiguities and continual upsets that run throughout the novel often make it difficult to know whose side you, the reader, are meant to be on from one moment to the next. This all adds up to what makes it so compelling. I read the book over four evenings, but agree with other (positive) reviewers that it would work best if read in one sitting.
For those who claim to have found it "difficult" or even "boring", I can only wonder if they approached the novel with the wrong expectations. Forget how the book may have been marketed, this is not the Da Vinci Code. And it's all the better for it.
March 25, 2012
What an amazing book - I would really love to visit New York after reading this - I've always thought the architecture looks stupendoous and a large part of it comes into focus in this book as the clues in the plot take you from location to location. Fast paced, thrilling - great read.
August 1, 2009
A twisting , turning, complex race against time and around Manhattan. It was an engaging read, lots of changes in direction for both the main character, Robert, and the reader. I loved the descriptions of the buildings and the articfacts, despite never having been to Manhattan I finished the book feeling as though i'd just had a personal tour with an authortive guide! I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good mystery and likes to try and solve the puzzle as they read, as I do.. I even enjoyed it when my guesses as to what would happen next were wrong..as the author's direction was always better!
September 4, 2020
Mi-a plăcut și nu mi-a plăcut, am sentimente contradictorii în ceea ce o privește 😕. Mi-a plăcut faptul că au fost împletite mai multe genuri, a fost și paranormal, thriller, mister, dar și acțiune și mici dovezi de iubire, pe alocuri. Începutul mi s-a părut puțin greoi, am avut ceva dificultăți în a urmări planurile temporare, eram când în trecut, ca apoi să sar în prezent, paragrafele cu detalii mi-au dat fatala de multe ori, am simtit că mă pierd în ele și pe cât de repede mi-a trezit interesul, pe atât de repede am început să-l pierd dintr-un anumit punct, fonturile de scriere m-au surprins (e prima carte în care am întâlnit cinci fonturi de scriere, până acum erau limitate la 2, maxim 3, ei bine, de data asta au fost cinci...), n-am reușit să leg niciun fel de conexiune cu personajele, am avut chiar momente când nu înțelegeam unele acțiuni ale lor...A fost o lectură cu multe suișuri și coborâșuri, sunt încă puțin confuză în privința cărții...
December 28, 2023
7 trials, 7 days, 1 chance to save the world.
Robert Reckliss has always felt like he was part of Adam’s games. Tied to him ways that he couldn’t quite explain, after all they married the same woman years apart. They would be together forever connected in mind, body and spirit. Only the games weren’t for fun, and something deadly is afoot. Adam is in trouble and only Robert can withstand the trials and free them all. If he fails, the entire city of Manhattan will be destroyed.
The Malice box was a bit of action, mystery, underlying and unexplained magical realism with a splash of relationship drama for good measure. If you like Matthew Riley’s standalones, chances are you’ll have a good time here.
For my personal tastes the 7 trials lulled in the middle making the book feel longer than it needed to be, and there was some repetition of relationship drama I didn’t feel needed to be relived over and over, but overall an entertaining read.
Robert Reckliss has always felt like he was part of Adam’s games. Tied to him ways that he couldn’t quite explain, after all they married the same woman years apart. They would be together forever connected in mind, body and spirit. Only the games weren’t for fun, and something deadly is afoot. Adam is in trouble and only Robert can withstand the trials and free them all. If he fails, the entire city of Manhattan will be destroyed.
The Malice box was a bit of action, mystery, underlying and unexplained magical realism with a splash of relationship drama for good measure. If you like Matthew Riley’s standalones, chances are you’ll have a good time here.
For my personal tastes the 7 trials lulled in the middle making the book feel longer than it needed to be, and there was some repetition of relationship drama I didn’t feel needed to be relived over and over, but overall an entertaining read.
June 17, 2017
The Malice Box sounds like a novel hanging on the coattails of the recent explosion of religious thrillers. However, Martin Langfield's début read is like Clive Barker collaborating with Dan Brown. Although grounded in that current popular genre of running around solving riddles, The Malice Box is heavily laced with a supernatural/mythological slant. This fresh angle should deliver a more engaging read than Langfield delivers. The Malice Box jumps back and forth with flashbacks, never creates characters that are particularly likeable, for they are all flawed, and most importantly the writing style creates frustration. Throughout the book, in an effort to create mystery, narrative stalls the reader with frequent efforts at halting converstaion with clumsy results. Almost at every turn Langfield answers questions with questions, or characters simply refuse to discuss critical plot elements. Overall, a good effort for a first novel, marred by sloppy attempts to create tension.
August 10, 2009
"Flamma Unica Clavis Mundi!" Seru Horace
"Omnia Vinat Amor" Jawab Katherin dan Robert bersamaan
14 Agustus 2003, seluruh kawasan Amerika padam total!
Mereka menyebutnya dengan istilah Great Blackout
Tidak ada yang bisa menjelaskan mengapa hal itu terjadi
Persaudaraan IWNW adalah nama sebuah tempat suci.Sebuah pusat kekuasaan yang senantiasa diperebutkan oleh nenek moyang anggota IWNW dengan nenek moyang mereka yang berada di Cahaya Sempurna.
Makhluk yang tinggal di dunia kita, tidak hadir secara nyata tapi terus mencari kesempatan untuk menunjukkan kehadirannya. Makhluk yang bersaksi ketika seseorang mengalami kepedihan, kebingungan, ketakutan. Makhluk yang terkadang seperti terkait dengan kehendak bebas
Ketika seseorang memilih mengerjakan sesuatu yang jahat, atau mempunyai peluang untuk melakukannya, makhluk itu mendekat. Ketika orang mencoba menggunakan kekuatan cenayang namun tidak cukup bekal untuk mengendalikannya, makhluk itu merasa mempunyai peluang
Robert Recklis, seorang wartawan, tidak tahu harus berbuat apa, saat sahabatnya Adam Hale-Devereaux meminta bantuannya. Adam sering kali melakukan permainan dengan menggunakan teka-teki. Lewat permainan itulah Robert pertama kali bertemu dan berkenalan dengan Katherin
Robert menerima sebuah kiriman yang dialamatkan untuk dirinya. Saat dibuka isinya sebuah tabung metalik berwarna emas-platinum dan berdiameter sekitar 2,5 inci. Pinggiran atasnya berhias beberapa buah cincin sepusat.
Selembar kertas yang menyertainya bertulikan "TOLONG AKU",di bagian belakang tampak tulisan yang lebih acak-acakan: “Kehabisan waktu” Walau tidak ada tanda tangan, tapi Robert mengenalinya sebagai tulisan tangan Adam.
Benda tersebut oleh Katherine diberi nama Malice Box yang merupakan campur aduk dari Bahasa Perancis dan Inggris, secara harafiah iartikan sebagai kotak muslihat.
Saat Robert berhasil membuka, isinya hanya sebuah alamat! Robert, Katherin, Adam dan seorang cenayang bersama Terri harus berjuang menyelamatkam bumi dari sebuah bom misterius yang jika meledak mampu menyapu habis peradaban baat dari muka bumi.
Dengan mengambil setting Kota Manhattan buku ini benar-benar menegangkan!
"Omnia Vinat Amor" Jawab Katherin dan Robert bersamaan
14 Agustus 2003, seluruh kawasan Amerika padam total!
Mereka menyebutnya dengan istilah Great Blackout
Tidak ada yang bisa menjelaskan mengapa hal itu terjadi
Persaudaraan IWNW adalah nama sebuah tempat suci.Sebuah pusat kekuasaan yang senantiasa diperebutkan oleh nenek moyang anggota IWNW dengan nenek moyang mereka yang berada di Cahaya Sempurna.
Makhluk yang tinggal di dunia kita, tidak hadir secara nyata tapi terus mencari kesempatan untuk menunjukkan kehadirannya. Makhluk yang bersaksi ketika seseorang mengalami kepedihan, kebingungan, ketakutan. Makhluk yang terkadang seperti terkait dengan kehendak bebas
Ketika seseorang memilih mengerjakan sesuatu yang jahat, atau mempunyai peluang untuk melakukannya, makhluk itu mendekat. Ketika orang mencoba menggunakan kekuatan cenayang namun tidak cukup bekal untuk mengendalikannya, makhluk itu merasa mempunyai peluang
Robert Recklis, seorang wartawan, tidak tahu harus berbuat apa, saat sahabatnya Adam Hale-Devereaux meminta bantuannya. Adam sering kali melakukan permainan dengan menggunakan teka-teki. Lewat permainan itulah Robert pertama kali bertemu dan berkenalan dengan Katherin
Robert menerima sebuah kiriman yang dialamatkan untuk dirinya. Saat dibuka isinya sebuah tabung metalik berwarna emas-platinum dan berdiameter sekitar 2,5 inci. Pinggiran atasnya berhias beberapa buah cincin sepusat.
Selembar kertas yang menyertainya bertulikan "TOLONG AKU",di bagian belakang tampak tulisan yang lebih acak-acakan: “Kehabisan waktu” Walau tidak ada tanda tangan, tapi Robert mengenalinya sebagai tulisan tangan Adam.
Benda tersebut oleh Katherine diberi nama Malice Box yang merupakan campur aduk dari Bahasa Perancis dan Inggris, secara harafiah iartikan sebagai kotak muslihat.
Saat Robert berhasil membuka, isinya hanya sebuah alamat! Robert, Katherin, Adam dan seorang cenayang bersama Terri harus berjuang menyelamatkam bumi dari sebuah bom misterius yang jika meledak mampu menyapu habis peradaban baat dari muka bumi.
Dengan mengambil setting Kota Manhattan buku ini benar-benar menegangkan!
February 18, 2012
Interesting. This was a love affair with Manhattan - so much about the buildings, monuments and other areas turned up it was almost like a guidebook in places. The author seemed to know the area, including little bits and pieces that most people probably wouldn't know about, or even notice. It was kind of fascinating, and I kept wanting to hit Google Earth and find these places. If I ever go back and read this again, I just might do that next time. It was almost like Manhattan was one of the characters. And that was the problem for me. The setting, in places, seemed more real than the people in it. I couldn't honestly describe the physical appearance of any of the main characters and they seemed to lack a certain depth. I know the book is set over the course of just a week (with occasional flashbacks to three or four other times), but even so it seemed like there should have been something more to the people within the story. I didn't particularly dislike any of the 'good guys', but I didn't particularly like them either. They were just kind of there, which was a shame, because the plot was a fascinating idea. The pace was very occasionally a bit hit and miss, as sometimes the wandering off into esoterica was a bit boggy, but it was enjoyable all in all. It seems there's a sequel. I may just have to read it some time.
January 4, 2017
I can agree with most of the reviews that were written already. Funny thing is, I really loved the book because of the description of Manhattan, a place I've never visited and thought I would never like to. After reading this book for the first time, I immediately wanted to book a trip... But I didn't, because I went other places.
After rereading the book, I still feel the same about the description of the city, but not so much more interested in the story. I can see the flaws now, where every time you think you understand who is fighting who and why, someone comes up with another explanation.
Still an enjoyable read though.
After rereading the book, I still feel the same about the description of the city, but not so much more interested in the story. I can see the flaws now, where every time you think you understand who is fighting who and why, someone comes up with another explanation.
Still an enjoyable read though.
March 12, 2012
I imagined this more like a Matthew Reilly thriller, with challenges to be completed, and ancient artefacts gained. But no aan intriguing tale of the challenges within each one of us. Fascinating and mindboggling at times, with the element of a race against time to save the world, or at least a small part of it in Manhattan
April 29, 2012
Wer anhand des Klappentextes einen Dan-Brown-Thriller erwartet, der wird enttäuscht. Trotz dessen ist die Story innerhalb ihrer vielen verschiedenen zeitlichen Etappen recht spannend, einzig die örtliche Detailverliebtheit zieht sich stellenweise scheinbar endlos in die Länge. Fazit: Im Ansatz gut, nur leider oftmals viel zu ausführlich.
June 15, 2014
The Malice Box was everything but what I expected. You follow Robert, the main character through his spiritual awakening in an attempt to stop a spiritual bomb from detonating in Manhattan. However, for every weird new information, there is a greate story behind. All in all, it was an interesting read.
December 27, 2007
I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was better than the DaVinci Code
January 8, 2008
A complex mystery drawing on cityscape of Manhattan.
March 1, 2009
That I am looking forward to the next book by Martin :)
August 18, 2009
cool..
fantastic...
fantastic...
February 26, 2016
It turned out kind of boring. While it was an interesting story, it's very repetitive and the author just can't develop the characters enough to make any of them memorable. A one time reading.
March 12, 2018
I must say I was expecting a lot of this book, but what I encountered was an unintelligible translation and a writing I didn't enjoy at all.
I giving one star because I couldn't even finish it.
I giving one star because I couldn't even finish it.
February 23, 2016
A struggle to get through , basic plot with no suprises a bit bland really
February 5, 2017
„Sekretna szkatuła” to kolejny trup z półki. Mam ją od czterech lata. Skusiła mnie okładka. No i na dodatek jest to thriller, wiec wtedy miałam na nią ogromną ochotę. Opis również zachęcał, ale na dobrych chęciach wydawnictwa Sonia Draga się skończyło. Egzemplarz przeleżał kilkadziesiąt miesięcy, a oceny na lubimyczytac.pl oraz na goodread.com nie wskazują na dobrą literaturę. Postanowiłam jednak sprawdzić sama, czy jest to coś warte.
Głównym bohaterem jest Robert Reckliss, który pracuje w agencji informacyjnej GBN. Ma żonę Katherine, którą poznał poprzez grę zorganizowaną w czasach studiów przez Adama Hale’a. Warto zaznaczyć, że Kate wcześniej była żoną Adama. Robert i jego żona osiem miesięcy wcześniej stracili dziecko. Jadąc do pracy Reckliss dowiaduje się, że zmarł prezes Hencott Inc., a on jest tym, który jako jedyny z prasy namówił go na wywiad. W wyniku splotu różnych sytuacji Robert zostaje wysłany na urlop, a podczas spotkania z bratem prezesa Hencott Inc. dowiaduje się, że Adam jest w niebezpieczeństwie i nie bez powodu wysłał mu poprzedniego wieczora tajemniczą szkatułę i ma tylko siedem dni, aby uratować ludzkość przed zagładą…
Mój pierwszy zarzut to zbyt powolna akcja w pierwszej części. Ja rozumiem budowanie napięcia, ale tu było tego za dużo. Ja czułam się znudzona tymi wszystkimi przemyśleniami i wspomnieniami. Robert też nie jest postacią działającą pod wpływem emocji. Co przynosi mi na myśl Roberta Langdona, który jest bohaterem stworzonym przez Dana Browna. I w sumie na tym kończą się podobieństwa między tymi dwoma autorami. Brown tworzy swoje łamigłówki z głową i zachęca czytelnika do tego, aby razem z Langdonem czy inną postacią je rozwiązywał. U Langfielda po prostu czekałam na podanie mi odpowiedzi na tacy.
Thriller Naw Age… Pytanie, co to jest? Ja nie mam pojęcia. Wujek Google pod tym pojęciem widział tylko piosenkę jakiegoś zespołu… Jednak, jeśli definicją ma być „Sekretna szkatuła” to ja zdecydowanie jestem przeciwna takim thrillerom. Miałam wrażenie, że czytam jeden wielki bełkot wariata, który powiększa się z każdą kolejną stroną. Tego nie dało się czytać. Skończyłam tylko, dlatego, ponieważ oprócz bycia okładkową sroką to jestem również książkową masochistką i zawsze kończę zaczętą książkę.
Jeśli chociaż w jednym procencie słuchacie tego czy polecam lub odradzam pewne książki to w tym wypadku posłuchajcie tego jednego procenta i nie tykajcie „Sekretnej szkatuły”. Chyba, że cierpicie na bezsenność. To po dwóch stronach śpicie niczym niemowlę.
Pod koniec książka zaczynała mieć nawet pewien sens, ale bardzo niewielki trzeba to przyznać. Jednak przez 4/5 książki miałam wrażenie, że czytam jakieś urwane w połowie myśli, nieprzemyślane zdania. Po prostu bełkot, z którego nic nie wiem. Wstyd przyznać, ale już wszystko w niej zapomniałam. To była tragedia i nawet, gdyby nakręcili film na podstawie tej książki to przypuszczam, że byłby jedną wielką katastrofą. Dlatego nikt przy zdrowych zmysłach tego nie zrobi. Ja osobiście książkę odradzam i smuci mnie fakt, że na tego gniota życie zmarnowało tyle tysięcy drzew…
"Wszyscy jesteśmy rozsądnymi, cywilizowanymi ludźmi, dopóki ktoś nie zrani naszego plemiennego instynktu. Wtedy zmieniamy się, a może budzi się nasza pamięć. Gotowi jesteśmy zabijać, gotowi jesteśmy na wszystko dla naszego plemienia. Wszyscy mam w sobie potencjalnego kata. Pewnych rzeczy nie da się zapomnieć." ~ Sekretna szkatuła, Martin Langfield, Katowice 2009, s. 135-136.
Głównym bohaterem jest Robert Reckliss, który pracuje w agencji informacyjnej GBN. Ma żonę Katherine, którą poznał poprzez grę zorganizowaną w czasach studiów przez Adama Hale’a. Warto zaznaczyć, że Kate wcześniej była żoną Adama. Robert i jego żona osiem miesięcy wcześniej stracili dziecko. Jadąc do pracy Reckliss dowiaduje się, że zmarł prezes Hencott Inc., a on jest tym, który jako jedyny z prasy namówił go na wywiad. W wyniku splotu różnych sytuacji Robert zostaje wysłany na urlop, a podczas spotkania z bratem prezesa Hencott Inc. dowiaduje się, że Adam jest w niebezpieczeństwie i nie bez powodu wysłał mu poprzedniego wieczora tajemniczą szkatułę i ma tylko siedem dni, aby uratować ludzkość przed zagładą…
Mój pierwszy zarzut to zbyt powolna akcja w pierwszej części. Ja rozumiem budowanie napięcia, ale tu było tego za dużo. Ja czułam się znudzona tymi wszystkimi przemyśleniami i wspomnieniami. Robert też nie jest postacią działającą pod wpływem emocji. Co przynosi mi na myśl Roberta Langdona, który jest bohaterem stworzonym przez Dana Browna. I w sumie na tym kończą się podobieństwa między tymi dwoma autorami. Brown tworzy swoje łamigłówki z głową i zachęca czytelnika do tego, aby razem z Langdonem czy inną postacią je rozwiązywał. U Langfielda po prostu czekałam na podanie mi odpowiedzi na tacy.
Thriller Naw Age… Pytanie, co to jest? Ja nie mam pojęcia. Wujek Google pod tym pojęciem widział tylko piosenkę jakiegoś zespołu… Jednak, jeśli definicją ma być „Sekretna szkatuła” to ja zdecydowanie jestem przeciwna takim thrillerom. Miałam wrażenie, że czytam jeden wielki bełkot wariata, który powiększa się z każdą kolejną stroną. Tego nie dało się czytać. Skończyłam tylko, dlatego, ponieważ oprócz bycia okładkową sroką to jestem również książkową masochistką i zawsze kończę zaczętą książkę.
Jeśli chociaż w jednym procencie słuchacie tego czy polecam lub odradzam pewne książki to w tym wypadku posłuchajcie tego jednego procenta i nie tykajcie „Sekretnej szkatuły”. Chyba, że cierpicie na bezsenność. To po dwóch stronach śpicie niczym niemowlę.
Pod koniec książka zaczynała mieć nawet pewien sens, ale bardzo niewielki trzeba to przyznać. Jednak przez 4/5 książki miałam wrażenie, że czytam jakieś urwane w połowie myśli, nieprzemyślane zdania. Po prostu bełkot, z którego nic nie wiem. Wstyd przyznać, ale już wszystko w niej zapomniałam. To była tragedia i nawet, gdyby nakręcili film na podstawie tej książki to przypuszczam, że byłby jedną wielką katastrofą. Dlatego nikt przy zdrowych zmysłach tego nie zrobi. Ja osobiście książkę odradzam i smuci mnie fakt, że na tego gniota życie zmarnowało tyle tysięcy drzew…
"Wszyscy jesteśmy rozsądnymi, cywilizowanymi ludźmi, dopóki ktoś nie zrani naszego plemiennego instynktu. Wtedy zmieniamy się, a może budzi się nasza pamięć. Gotowi jesteśmy zabijać, gotowi jesteśmy na wszystko dla naszego plemienia. Wszyscy mam w sobie potencjalnego kata. Pewnych rzeczy nie da się zapomnieć." ~ Sekretna szkatuła, Martin Langfield, Katowice 2009, s. 135-136.
January 8, 2025
Een collega jurylid voor spannende boek heeft als mantra, dat als een boek begint met een kaartje, je het beter meteen kan wegleggen. Natuurlijk zijn er uitzonderingen, maar Duister Ultimatum bevestigt deze stelling weer maar eens.
Dit is een relithriller zonder het religieuze aspect en dan blijft er dus niet veel meer over dan dat waarvan de auteur ons wil laten geloven dat het verhaal een spirituele zoektocht is naar het goede, maar wat niet meer om het lijf heeft dan een zevendaagse geocache wandeling door New York.
De enige meerwaarde wan dit boek is dat het een mooie wandeling langs allerlei bizarre reliefs in gebouwen, kunst enz, presenteert door lower Manhattan. In die mate zelfs dat ik best diet boek nog eens will doorworstelen als ik ooit het plan opvat de big apple te bezoeken.
Ik ben er vrij zeker van dat het volhouden met lezen tot op een eind van dit verhaal veel spiritueler was dan de avonturen van het hoofdpersonage. Nu maar hopen dat ik er ook uitgekomen ben als een beter mens.... maar ik vrees eerder het tegendeel.
Dit is een relithriller zonder het religieuze aspect en dan blijft er dus niet veel meer over dan dat waarvan de auteur ons wil laten geloven dat het verhaal een spirituele zoektocht is naar het goede, maar wat niet meer om het lijf heeft dan een zevendaagse geocache wandeling door New York.
De enige meerwaarde wan dit boek is dat het een mooie wandeling langs allerlei bizarre reliefs in gebouwen, kunst enz, presenteert door lower Manhattan. In die mate zelfs dat ik best diet boek nog eens will doorworstelen als ik ooit het plan opvat de big apple te bezoeken.
Ik ben er vrij zeker van dat het volhouden met lezen tot op een eind van dit verhaal veel spiritueler was dan de avonturen van het hoofdpersonage. Nu maar hopen dat ik er ook uitgekomen ben als een beter mens.... maar ik vrees eerder het tegendeel.
May 13, 2020
Brought this as the gold cover in ancient script (my cover is far more ornate than the pix shown here) , book name and talk of trials, keys, saving the world from disaster is my cup of tea. And overall not bad, kept me happy. Lovely descriptions of New York deco architecture which makes me want to visit and follow the “path” to spot the clues. (Dan brown did that too with Rome). Only dropped a star as something was missing I can’t quite put my finger on, I just didn’t care about the main character enough, I think he needed more backstory of how his talents were surpressed, why him .... it was mentioned but didn’t round him enough to make me care if he won or lost.. A good one to discuss at book club I would suggest both in writing, and the subject matter.
January 13, 2023
In primul rand vreau sa va atrag atentia ca nu este Codul lui Da Vinci si nici Dan Brown. Nu faceti greseala mea, nu o incepeti cu anumite asteptari deoarece o sa fiti dezamagiti. Trebuie luata ca atare, nu prin comparatie.
Ideea in sine este interesanta. Totul porneste cand Robert Reckliss primeste aparent o cutie puzzle din cupru, dar aceasta se dovedeste a fi o arma mortala programata sa explodeze in 7 zile si ar putea distruge tot New York-ul. Alaturi de frumoasa Terri o sa porneasca intr-o cursa nebuna, contracronometru, pentru a salva marele oras.
Comploturi, mister, filosofie oculta, crime, practici religioase, suspans... cartea are potential daca ai suficienta rabdare. Eu, recunosc ca nu am avut 🙈.
Ideea in sine este interesanta. Totul porneste cand Robert Reckliss primeste aparent o cutie puzzle din cupru, dar aceasta se dovedeste a fi o arma mortala programata sa explodeze in 7 zile si ar putea distruge tot New York-ul. Alaturi de frumoasa Terri o sa porneasca intr-o cursa nebuna, contracronometru, pentru a salva marele oras.
Comploturi, mister, filosofie oculta, crime, practici religioase, suspans... cartea are potential daca ai suficienta rabdare. Eu, recunosc ca nu am avut 🙈.
August 6, 2018
How did people get this book so so wrong, 2.7 stars is miles away from this super novel. Five stars does not do this book justice, yes it's plot is complex and covers many genres, but wow does it make good reading. I don't know what others read but I read every word and this book is definitely not as complex as other readers have made out. I cannot congratulate this author enough on an absolutely outstanding read. Don't be put off by ratings you will regret not reading this book. Well done to Martin Langfield for thinking outside the box and bring to me a truly original book. Fantastic and loved it.
June 15, 2021
A thriller adventure involving an alchemical weapon hidden somewhere in Manhattan. This follows the character of Robert who receives a mysterious mission to unlock seven hidden keys throughout the city before the evil secret society of Iwnw (yoonu) remakes the world.
Some contrived plot holes and way more like The DaVinci Code than I think the author wanted. This could have been really good but the characters didn't develop and weren't too interesting. This focuses on a lot of conspiracy and banks on the reader's ignorance of world cultures and events; playing on Islamophobia in some aspects as well as mysticism from both Islam and Christianity.
Some contrived plot holes and way more like The DaVinci Code than I think the author wanted. This could have been really good but the characters didn't develop and weren't too interesting. This focuses on a lot of conspiracy and banks on the reader's ignorance of world cultures and events; playing on Islamophobia in some aspects as well as mysticism from both Islam and Christianity.
May 31, 2017
Che noia!
Questo libro non mi è piaciuto molto, pagine e pagine di descrizioni di Manhattan dove si svolgono le 7 prove via GPS e quest'ultime che, a parer mio, sono ridicole. Si riprende un po' verso la fine, quando si sbroglia il mistero, ma non è niente di eccezionale. Bello però l'aver fatto entrare nella spiegazione legata al congegno misterioso, l'antico Egitto, i presunti scritti alchemici di Newton e perfino la pietra filosofale.
Questo libro non mi è piaciuto molto, pagine e pagine di descrizioni di Manhattan dove si svolgono le 7 prove via GPS e quest'ultime che, a parer mio, sono ridicole. Si riprende un po' verso la fine, quando si sbroglia il mistero, ma non è niente di eccezionale. Bello però l'aver fatto entrare nella spiegazione legata al congegno misterioso, l'antico Egitto, i presunti scritti alchemici di Newton e perfino la pietra filosofale.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews