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Michael St. Pierre #3
Der Dieb der Finsternis
Michael St. Pierre thinks he has left his days as a master thief behind him. He's just started dating again following the death of his wife and has embarked on a new relationship with a beautiful, smart woman named KC. But then, he gets word that his best friend, Simon, is being held captive in a brutal and isolated middle eastern prison, sentenced to death. For the first time, Michael must break into a prison, this time to rescue his friend. Imagine his surprise when he finds KC in the neighboring cell. After a thrilling rescue, the three journey to Istanbul to complete the mission that led to their incarceration.
Simon and KC are on the trail of a map that holds a secret as ancient as mankind, a secret that has roots in the foundations of Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. In order to get their hands on the map and save Simon's life, Michael and KC must complete an amazing series of stunts and thefts, outwitting the authorities and a ruthless and equally skilled enemy. Old family secrets and loyalties come into play as they race through the secret underground tunnels of Istanbul, and eventually travel deep into the Himalayas to a mysterious land that might be the legendary Shangri-La itself.
Simon and KC are on the trail of a map that holds a secret as ancient as mankind, a secret that has roots in the foundations of Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. In order to get their hands on the map and save Simon's life, Michael and KC must complete an amazing series of stunts and thefts, outwitting the authorities and a ruthless and equally skilled enemy. Old family secrets and loyalties come into play as they race through the secret underground tunnels of Istanbul, and eventually travel deep into the Himalayas to a mysterious land that might be the legendary Shangri-La itself.
641 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 15, 2010
21 people are currently reading
489 people want to read
About the author
Richard Doetsch
14 books301 followersA Mesmerizing Thriller Told in Reverse
(Yep, you start at the last chapter and go backwards)
Richard Doetsch returns with a stand-alone sequel to his international bestseller, The 13th Hour, published in twenty-two countries.
“At long last, Richard Doetsch returns to the clock-spinning world of THE 13TH HOUR. Its ingenious sequel, THE 13TH HOUR: CHAOS, is a jigsaw puzzle in book form—but that’s not all. It’s a love story, a political potboiler, and a thriller that upends expectations with every turn of the page. It carried me from heartbreaking opening to the razor edge of its ending in one sitting. My foot is already tapping as I wait impatiently for a third installment!”
James Rollins, #1 New York Times bestseller of The Last Odyssey
“I haven’t read a race against time this intense… The 13th Hour: Chaos is a time-bending adventure of epic proportions and scary consequences." Best Thriller Books
“Times flies—only backward—in this riveting new thriller! And the pages fly by, too! The story starts with a bang and hurtles in reverse toward a climax as clever as it is shocking.”
Robert Masello, author of The Haunting of H.G. Wells
“A clever story, cleverly told, by a master storyteller.”
Steve Berrry, New York Times Bestselling Author
A surprising and utterly original thriller, The 13th Hour: Chaos delivers pure, page-turning suspense—full of double-crosses, shocking turnabouts, and the inexorable power of love.
"The Thieves of Legend stole my breath with the sheer audacity of its storytelling, proving yet again that this series gets better with every installment. Bold, richly told, and rollicking with adventure, here is a thriller that demands to be read in one tension-wrought sitting. Count me a fan for life!"
James Rollins, New York Times Bestselling author of Bloodline
"The tension leaps off the pages in this classic, ticking-clock thriller. Watch out. You'll grip the pages so tight your knuckles will turn white."
Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author of The Columbus Affair
"Doetsch continues to demonstrate why he's one of the best thriller writers in the business." Booklist - Starred Review
Half-Past Dawn,
"One of the best thrillers of the year," -- ABC News
"A shocking thriller," -- San Francisco Chronicle
"Gut wrenching" -- The Huffington Post
"Half-Past Dawn is a superb character driven suspense tale." SDSR
"As hard as it is to believe, Half-Past Dawn is even better than The 13th Hour." The Journal Review
Jack Keeler has 24 hour to stop fate before it catches up with him... and the rest of the world.
From the international bestselling author of The 13th Hour and The Thieves of Darkness(both soon to be be major motion pictures) comes a "pulse pounding, mind-bending thriller that rewrites the genre"
Awakening to the mistaken headline that he and his wife, Mia, have been killed, District Attorney, Jack Keeler has only until dawn tomorrow to uncover an ancient mystery hidden in the depths of one of the country's most heavily guarded prisons.
A thriller spanning time, an Asian people out of legend, an assassin who will stop at nothing to avenge his death sentence, and a diary who's contents foretells the future, Half-Past Dawn is a race through the boarders of life and death, insanity and reason, and dreams and reality.
Everything else aside, it's a really fun read that will make you think even after the last page.
The Thieves of Darkness,
A bestseller around the world seems a bit strange for someone like me; I barely speak English, yet I’m published in 34 languages.
The 13th Hour (Atria Books;)—described as a cross between “The Bourne Identity” and “The Time Traveler’s Wife”—was acquired by New Line Cinema with Michael De Luca as producer and Michael Brandt and Derek Haas (“Wanted” / “3:10 to Yuma”) as screenwrite
(Yep, you start at the last chapter and go backwards)
Richard Doetsch returns with a stand-alone sequel to his international bestseller, The 13th Hour, published in twenty-two countries.
“At long last, Richard Doetsch returns to the clock-spinning world of THE 13TH HOUR. Its ingenious sequel, THE 13TH HOUR: CHAOS, is a jigsaw puzzle in book form—but that’s not all. It’s a love story, a political potboiler, and a thriller that upends expectations with every turn of the page. It carried me from heartbreaking opening to the razor edge of its ending in one sitting. My foot is already tapping as I wait impatiently for a third installment!”
James Rollins, #1 New York Times bestseller of The Last Odyssey
“I haven’t read a race against time this intense… The 13th Hour: Chaos is a time-bending adventure of epic proportions and scary consequences." Best Thriller Books
“Times flies—only backward—in this riveting new thriller! And the pages fly by, too! The story starts with a bang and hurtles in reverse toward a climax as clever as it is shocking.”
Robert Masello, author of The Haunting of H.G. Wells
“A clever story, cleverly told, by a master storyteller.”
Steve Berrry, New York Times Bestselling Author
A surprising and utterly original thriller, The 13th Hour: Chaos delivers pure, page-turning suspense—full of double-crosses, shocking turnabouts, and the inexorable power of love.
"The Thieves of Legend stole my breath with the sheer audacity of its storytelling, proving yet again that this series gets better with every installment. Bold, richly told, and rollicking with adventure, here is a thriller that demands to be read in one tension-wrought sitting. Count me a fan for life!"
James Rollins, New York Times Bestselling author of Bloodline
"The tension leaps off the pages in this classic, ticking-clock thriller. Watch out. You'll grip the pages so tight your knuckles will turn white."
Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author of The Columbus Affair
"Doetsch continues to demonstrate why he's one of the best thriller writers in the business." Booklist - Starred Review
Half-Past Dawn,
"One of the best thrillers of the year," -- ABC News
"A shocking thriller," -- San Francisco Chronicle
"Gut wrenching" -- The Huffington Post
"Half-Past Dawn is a superb character driven suspense tale." SDSR
"As hard as it is to believe, Half-Past Dawn is even better than The 13th Hour." The Journal Review
Jack Keeler has 24 hour to stop fate before it catches up with him... and the rest of the world.
From the international bestselling author of The 13th Hour and The Thieves of Darkness(both soon to be be major motion pictures) comes a "pulse pounding, mind-bending thriller that rewrites the genre"
Awakening to the mistaken headline that he and his wife, Mia, have been killed, District Attorney, Jack Keeler has only until dawn tomorrow to uncover an ancient mystery hidden in the depths of one of the country's most heavily guarded prisons.
A thriller spanning time, an Asian people out of legend, an assassin who will stop at nothing to avenge his death sentence, and a diary who's contents foretells the future, Half-Past Dawn is a race through the boarders of life and death, insanity and reason, and dreams and reality.
Everything else aside, it's a really fun read that will make you think even after the last page.
The Thieves of Darkness,
A bestseller around the world seems a bit strange for someone like me; I barely speak English, yet I’m published in 34 languages.
The 13th Hour (Atria Books;)—described as a cross between “The Bourne Identity” and “The Time Traveler’s Wife”—was acquired by New Line Cinema with Michael De Luca as producer and Michael Brandt and Derek Haas (“Wanted” / “3:10 to Yuma”) as screenwrite
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
March 26, 2021
I swear, this book tried to kill me. I love a good plot twist as much as the next person, but my god every other page for the last 200 pages?!? Fast paced, clever, engrossing characters and vivid descriptions of Istanbul (I could almost smell the food cooking in the bazaar), this is easily the best book I have read in the last year or so.
December 21, 2010
An amazing thriller and history lesson on Istanbul- Richard Doetsch has shown himself to be that very rare writer- one who can combine a sense of story, character and historical facts and result in a truly original thriller. To label The Thieves of Darkness as simply "a thriller" is short changing it in a very big way! Itis a jouney into present day and past Turkey- accompanied by some of the most unique and engaging characters one has the pleasure to meet. A winner in everyway and a must read!!!
Rick Friedman
Founder
THE JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB
Rick Friedman
Founder
THE JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB
June 30, 2022
When Master-Thief, Michael St. Pierre finds that his friend Simon, is imprisoned in a secluded prison, sentenced to death, he drops everything to spring him and comes face to face with a woman who he has just recently fallen for. Is she a friend or foe? In a duel between thieves, Michael must steal certain artifacts that lead to an ancient temple where the fate of mankind lies in the balance.
This story is a roller coaster of thrills and action. If is my first by Doetsch and will not be my last. Don’t plan on getting anything done over the next few days as you are sucked into this grand adventure.
This story is a roller coaster of thrills and action. If is my first by Doetsch and will not be my last. Don’t plan on getting anything done over the next few days as you are sucked into this grand adventure.
August 6, 2010
I was lucky enough to get an advanced reader copy of this book. The description of James Bond meets the Thomas Crown Affair was dead on. I had not read one of Richard Doetsch books before this one, but I will now go back and read his others.
July 21, 2015
I really liked the story & the Narrator. I didn't want to stop listening to the story!
July 12, 2019
Doetsch seems to pattern his plots and characters after the better known author, Dan Brown. This story has an involved plot involving a search for something valuable and lots of historical references. The story develops with intensity as the main characters visit various well known destinations around the world. It's a fairly fast paced novel....if a little unbelievable at times. The book would have been much smaller if the principals had died terrible deaths early on instead of miraculously surviving their ordeals via ingenuity and unabashed good fortune. This apparently is one of a series, but since I started at #3 without knowing about the series, it isn't necessary to read #1 and 2 first.
October 31, 2017
this book was very good....I enjoyed reading it immensely....have never read this author before and well worth the read.
April 13, 2022
Great start to the series
I love these characters. I can't wait to start on the next book in the series. I highly recommend that you read these. Good plot, good action.
I love these characters. I can't wait to start on the next book in the series. I highly recommend that you read these. Good plot, good action.
September 24, 2025
Quick light read, heists come off too easy, but suspending reality makes it okay. Everything is very convenient and tied together. Not sure it’s worth reading the rest of the series.
September 9, 2010
I would like to do things a bit out of order here. Usually I would say some nice stuff about the novel right away, but I would instead prefer to give that space today to the author. The Thieves of Darkness is my second Richard Doestsch read and I am really enjoying his writing style. He has penned four novels to date and is currently working on his fifth. The novels he has out are: The Thieves Of Heaven, The Thieves of Faith, The Thieves Of Darkness, The 13th Hour (check our archives for this one), and the one he is currently working on Half – Past Dawn. I think I covered the bases on that one. Each one of the covers is below so if you find this post interesting or the one in our archives on The 13th Hour, just click away and add it to your collection. Supporting our authors is something I support.
Now to the novel itself! This is my first Thieves novel and didn’t know what to expect. Was it just a formula or was it the style of Doestsch? I am not going out on a limb here in saying it is the style of his writing that made this novel for me. He has taken the standard thriller and added enough of his own elements to it to make it not just interesting and engaging, but a fast paced read that sprints to the very end. He caught my attention quickly with the novel and didn’t let go. If our daughter’s wedding hadn’t interrupted my reading of the novel, I would have hammered it out rather quickly, putting it down was no fun. Fortunately our daughter won’t be reading this; she is away for the week, haha.
The Thieves of Darkness has all the necessary elements of the classic thriller, plus. This for me is what sets Richard Doetsch apart from some others in the genre; he builds on his characters, and he takes them to the next level. The growth of the characters is evident; the story is compelling, and we can identify with the characters and feel their struggles. I am going to backtrack and take in the first two novels in the series to make sure that I don’t miss any of the history behind Michael St. Pierre and his merry band of “moral” thieves. If you are into stories that involve globe-trotting, action galore, well- constructed bad guys, some history, and as the jacket says, ”the fate of humanity hanging in the balance”, then this is the novel for you. Do yourself a favor and “steal” some time for yourself and give this novel a read, it is too much fun!
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Facebook & Linkedin. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, and the Gelati’s Scoop Facebook Fan Page. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Gelati’s Store Tab on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day
Now to the novel itself! This is my first Thieves novel and didn’t know what to expect. Was it just a formula or was it the style of Doestsch? I am not going out on a limb here in saying it is the style of his writing that made this novel for me. He has taken the standard thriller and added enough of his own elements to it to make it not just interesting and engaging, but a fast paced read that sprints to the very end. He caught my attention quickly with the novel and didn’t let go. If our daughter’s wedding hadn’t interrupted my reading of the novel, I would have hammered it out rather quickly, putting it down was no fun. Fortunately our daughter won’t be reading this; she is away for the week, haha.
The Thieves of Darkness has all the necessary elements of the classic thriller, plus. This for me is what sets Richard Doetsch apart from some others in the genre; he builds on his characters, and he takes them to the next level. The growth of the characters is evident; the story is compelling, and we can identify with the characters and feel their struggles. I am going to backtrack and take in the first two novels in the series to make sure that I don’t miss any of the history behind Michael St. Pierre and his merry band of “moral” thieves. If you are into stories that involve globe-trotting, action galore, well- constructed bad guys, some history, and as the jacket says, ”the fate of humanity hanging in the balance”, then this is the novel for you. Do yourself a favor and “steal” some time for yourself and give this novel a read, it is too much fun!
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Facebook & Linkedin. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, and the Gelati’s Scoop Facebook Fan Page. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Gelati’s Store Tab on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day
February 22, 2011
The Thieves of Darkness is the third book by Richard Doetsch featuring Michael St. Pierre and a novel of fiction from Pocket Star Books.
Book Blurb:
Will A Treacherous Mission Lead Them Into Ancient Paradise...
Reformed master thief Michael St. Pierre thinks his criminal days are behind him when his best friend Simon is sentenced to die in a brutal desert prison. Breaking into jail for the first time in his checkered career, Michael frees his friend only to discover his own girlfriend in the next cell...
Or Straight To A Ruthless Enemy?
With a madman on their heels, the trio plots a series of daring thefts inside the world’s most celebrated and heavily guarded sanctums to find the mysterious artifact that landed them behind bars: a map to a secret holy place predating Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. From the glittering banks of the Bosporus to the highest peaks of the Himalayas, they embark on a globe-trotting adventure to preserve the relics at stake and protect the fate of humanity.
My thoughts:
The Thieves of Darkness is the first book I have read by Richard Doetsch and though this is the third adventure of Michael St. Pierre, I had no trouble at all reading it as a stand alone novel.
Michael is still coming to terms with the death of his wife eighteen months ago. He has finally decided to begin dating again and agrees to a meeting with KC, a mutual friend of Michael’s and Simons.
KC is lovely and she and Michael have so much in common - more than even Michael is aware of.
Michael decides that he is ready to take the next step with KC, and after spending a wonderful evening together KC heads out on a business trip - and Michael does not hear from her again.
And then he receives word that Simon has been imprisoned. Michael heads to one of the most horrible prisons in the world. A prison where people are never heard from again. What he finds when he gets there is unbelievable. Simon is scheduled for execution in the morning - and KC is too.
The Thieves of Darkness is a great read; richly detailed and layered. Just when I thought I had it all figured out another layer was revealed. I couldn’t wait to find out how it was going to end - and then when it did - I was left wanting more.
I give The Thieves of Darkness 4 out of 5 stars.
M
Book Blurb:
Will A Treacherous Mission Lead Them Into Ancient Paradise...
Reformed master thief Michael St. Pierre thinks his criminal days are behind him when his best friend Simon is sentenced to die in a brutal desert prison. Breaking into jail for the first time in his checkered career, Michael frees his friend only to discover his own girlfriend in the next cell...
Or Straight To A Ruthless Enemy?
With a madman on their heels, the trio plots a series of daring thefts inside the world’s most celebrated and heavily guarded sanctums to find the mysterious artifact that landed them behind bars: a map to a secret holy place predating Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. From the glittering banks of the Bosporus to the highest peaks of the Himalayas, they embark on a globe-trotting adventure to preserve the relics at stake and protect the fate of humanity.
My thoughts:
The Thieves of Darkness is the first book I have read by Richard Doetsch and though this is the third adventure of Michael St. Pierre, I had no trouble at all reading it as a stand alone novel.
Michael is still coming to terms with the death of his wife eighteen months ago. He has finally decided to begin dating again and agrees to a meeting with KC, a mutual friend of Michael’s and Simons.
KC is lovely and she and Michael have so much in common - more than even Michael is aware of.
Michael decides that he is ready to take the next step with KC, and after spending a wonderful evening together KC heads out on a business trip - and Michael does not hear from her again.
And then he receives word that Simon has been imprisoned. Michael heads to one of the most horrible prisons in the world. A prison where people are never heard from again. What he finds when he gets there is unbelievable. Simon is scheduled for execution in the morning - and KC is too.
The Thieves of Darkness is a great read; richly detailed and layered. Just when I thought I had it all figured out another layer was revealed. I couldn’t wait to find out how it was going to end - and then when it did - I was left wanting more.
I give The Thieves of Darkness 4 out of 5 stars.
M
April 10, 2011
What do you do when you find out that your best friend is in prison? If you're Michael St. Pierre, you pack your bags and stage a rescue. And when you find out your girlfriend of one month is in the next cell? Why, you rescue her too, of course. And once everyone's safely away from the resulting manhunt, you try to figure out why. Along with wondering who, exactly, you've been dating. Not exactly easy to do when you're running from all manners of bad guys who're right on your heels...
Character: Michael is a bad-guy-gone-good, a complex person who's surprisingly easy to like in this offering from Richard Doetsch. He's had experiences, I guess you could say, but he's trying to stay on the straight and narrow now, with deviations from that path only for a good cause. And that's "good cause" according to his conscience! KC seemed a bit more superficial to me, she's the perfect girlfriend with a past, who's attempting to deal with the boyfriend and sister finding out her truth, while trying to save her sister from kidnappers. The chemistry between KC and Michael is there, but I would quite call it palpable. Rounding out the group are Father Simon Bellatori, the man-of-the-cloth BFF who needed rescuing, and Paul Busch, Michael's former parole officer turned accomplice-in-complicated-rescues.
Pace & Plot: The Thieves of Darkness reads so fast and furious, I could see the action scenes in my head, complete with car chases and things blowing up spectacularly. There are no gaping holes in the plot, and no confusing, over-complicated storylines. And no beating you over the head repeatedly with "see, this is how this relates to that", just in case you missed it or couldn't figure it out (which was one of my peeves with Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons... This doesn't mean there aren't surprises, so don't go thinking this is boring.
A must-read for fans of the mystery/thriller with a historical background.
Character: Michael is a bad-guy-gone-good, a complex person who's surprisingly easy to like in this offering from Richard Doetsch. He's had experiences, I guess you could say, but he's trying to stay on the straight and narrow now, with deviations from that path only for a good cause. And that's "good cause" according to his conscience! KC seemed a bit more superficial to me, she's the perfect girlfriend with a past, who's attempting to deal with the boyfriend and sister finding out her truth, while trying to save her sister from kidnappers. The chemistry between KC and Michael is there, but I would quite call it palpable. Rounding out the group are Father Simon Bellatori, the man-of-the-cloth BFF who needed rescuing, and Paul Busch, Michael's former parole officer turned accomplice-in-complicated-rescues.
Pace & Plot: The Thieves of Darkness reads so fast and furious, I could see the action scenes in my head, complete with car chases and things blowing up spectacularly. There are no gaping holes in the plot, and no confusing, over-complicated storylines. And no beating you over the head repeatedly with "see, this is how this relates to that", just in case you missed it or couldn't figure it out (which was one of my peeves with Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons... This doesn't mean there aren't surprises, so don't go thinking this is boring.
A must-read for fans of the mystery/thriller with a historical background.
February 22, 2011
Let me just say it. This book is a roller coaster ride. It's a thriller mystery and it is written very well. As soon as one part of a mystery is solved, you find yourself a part of another. It is a never ending ride as well as a compelling read. The main characters are likable and even though they are thieves, they only do "moral" thieving. Just this topic alone can make for interesting discussion, but it was in here only so you can like the heroes and heroine, Michael and KC, in the story. I will say, however, I did not always like the relationship between those two. At times, their distrust and bickering got tiring, but it also makes sense as if they were to trust each other too quickly. I feel that could have been worse. This book also has a changing POV, and it works in this book. You get a feel for all the major players in this running mystery.
I can see some might compare it to another book *coughDavinciCodecough* because there is a priest and it deals a bit with religious myths, but it is a book that stands on on it's own. And on top of that, it is well researched. ;) In fact those parts in the book that deal with religious undertones are only there to give the mystery more presence and it does not preach in any way. It does not step on the toes of any religion mentioned in the book.
I give this book 4 1/2 stars. If you like thrillers, I do believe you will like this one. The hardback version of this book has been out since Aug, 2010 and now it is being produced in mass market format starting today!
I'm also having a giveaway of this book on the blog until March 1, 2011 Go HERE.
I can see some might compare it to another book *coughDavinciCodecough* because there is a priest and it deals a bit with religious myths, but it is a book that stands on on it's own. And on top of that, it is well researched. ;) In fact those parts in the book that deal with religious undertones are only there to give the mystery more presence and it does not preach in any way. It does not step on the toes of any religion mentioned in the book.
I give this book 4 1/2 stars. If you like thrillers, I do believe you will like this one. The hardback version of this book has been out since Aug, 2010 and now it is being produced in mass market format starting today!
I'm also having a giveaway of this book on the blog until March 1, 2011 Go HERE.
February 24, 2011
This is the fourth Richard Doetsch novel. "The Thieves of Darkness" is a continuation of "The Thieves of Heaven" and "The Thieves of Faith". Although they do not have to be read in order it is recommended.
Super thief turned good guy, Michael St. Pierre, finds himself in love after his dies from cancer. Michael finds that his new love, KC, may be as good a thief as he was. After a short courtship KC tells Michael that she has to go on a business trip.
Michael is asked to go on a dangerous mission to free his friend, Catholic priest, Simon, from a mountain top fortress. Not only does he find Simon, but KC has also been imprisoned there.
After their escape, they find themselves in Istanbul trying to "steal" two valuable artifacts that could lead them to incalcuable treasure, but they also could be releasing an unheard of terror on the world.
Michael and KC battle amongst themselves to "steal" the artifacts, but they must also battle, Iblis, a man who has no qualms about torturing and killing.
The final battle takes place in a monastery high in the mountainous Kanchenjunga.
"The Thieves of Darkness" is full of action, intrigue, mystery, and adventure. Be warned though, that the characters have a way of getting out of impossible situations, this includes the bad guys.
At the conclusion of the novel when you think everything has been resolved, Richard Doetsch, throws in an epilogue, that definately will have Ibis coming back to haunt KC.
Super thief turned good guy, Michael St. Pierre, finds himself in love after his dies from cancer. Michael finds that his new love, KC, may be as good a thief as he was. After a short courtship KC tells Michael that she has to go on a business trip.
Michael is asked to go on a dangerous mission to free his friend, Catholic priest, Simon, from a mountain top fortress. Not only does he find Simon, but KC has also been imprisoned there.
After their escape, they find themselves in Istanbul trying to "steal" two valuable artifacts that could lead them to incalcuable treasure, but they also could be releasing an unheard of terror on the world.
Michael and KC battle amongst themselves to "steal" the artifacts, but they must also battle, Iblis, a man who has no qualms about torturing and killing.
The final battle takes place in a monastery high in the mountainous Kanchenjunga.
"The Thieves of Darkness" is full of action, intrigue, mystery, and adventure. Be warned though, that the characters have a way of getting out of impossible situations, this includes the bad guys.
At the conclusion of the novel when you think everything has been resolved, Richard Doetsch, throws in an epilogue, that definately will have Ibis coming back to haunt KC.
June 2, 2013
Michael St. Pierre is a reformed thief. He's turned a new leaf, and even has a new squeeze. Her name is KC and she is helping him learn to live again since his wife died. He spends his time now running a respectable security company for high-end clients. It's not as dangerous or has the same adrenaline rush as his thieving days, but he's making progress.
But then Michael learns of his best friend Simon being held prisoner in the Middle East. Simon is a Vatican priest who appropriates art that has been stolen from the church. Michael has been working hard on leaving his thieving days behind him, but he soon finds himself breaking into a prison. When he locates Simon, Michael is astonished to see KC in the cell beside him. It seems the two of them had been on an adventure of their own, looking for a treasure map.
Michael joins with the two and they are soon on a high adventure of secrets, danger, and mystery. Someone thinks that Simon has key information and when he is attacked, Michael and KC to beat the enemy at their own game.
Full of adrenaline powered scenes and fast-paced action, a twisting and thrilling plot, The Thieves of Darkness is a must read for any mystery/thriller lover. It's the first Richard Doetsch book that I have read, but I'm going to visit the backlist. Michael St. Pierre appears in the first two books, The Thieves of Heaven and The Thieves of Faith. Check em out!!
But then Michael learns of his best friend Simon being held prisoner in the Middle East. Simon is a Vatican priest who appropriates art that has been stolen from the church. Michael has been working hard on leaving his thieving days behind him, but he soon finds himself breaking into a prison. When he locates Simon, Michael is astonished to see KC in the cell beside him. It seems the two of them had been on an adventure of their own, looking for a treasure map.
Michael joins with the two and they are soon on a high adventure of secrets, danger, and mystery. Someone thinks that Simon has key information and when he is attacked, Michael and KC to beat the enemy at their own game.
Full of adrenaline powered scenes and fast-paced action, a twisting and thrilling plot, The Thieves of Darkness is a must read for any mystery/thriller lover. It's the first Richard Doetsch book that I have read, but I'm going to visit the backlist. Michael St. Pierre appears in the first two books, The Thieves of Heaven and The Thieves of Faith. Check em out!!
October 10, 2010
The Thieves of Darkness by Richard Doetsch
Move over Cussler, there is a new guy in town. At least new to me, I see that he has quite a few novels under his belt. I will be seeking those out. This is a saga of a “retired” thief, a priest, cop and beautiful woman questing against evil. Sounds more like the beginning of a tired joke but there isn’t anything tiring about this book except you, when you can’t put it down. A classic adventure romp with jailbreaks, legends, evil and mystery, this book is guaranteed entertainment.
I found Michael and KC’s relationship tiring. However since I have known couples who exhibited similar bizarre relational behavior, I did find theirs believable. Busch was a bit more difficult to believe due to his normalcy and supposed stable marital arrangement, great sidekick though.
The sociopathic psychopaths that provided the villainy were sadly believable. I’ve been lucky to have had very limited exposure to that type of distilled evil and those people do exist, dismayingly so.
I’m not sure rollicking adventure actually does justice to this book. It has some mystic and mysterious twists that lift it out of the mire of simple action adventure.
I highly recommend the book.
Move over Cussler, there is a new guy in town. At least new to me, I see that he has quite a few novels under his belt. I will be seeking those out. This is a saga of a “retired” thief, a priest, cop and beautiful woman questing against evil. Sounds more like the beginning of a tired joke but there isn’t anything tiring about this book except you, when you can’t put it down. A classic adventure romp with jailbreaks, legends, evil and mystery, this book is guaranteed entertainment.
I found Michael and KC’s relationship tiring. However since I have known couples who exhibited similar bizarre relational behavior, I did find theirs believable. Busch was a bit more difficult to believe due to his normalcy and supposed stable marital arrangement, great sidekick though.
The sociopathic psychopaths that provided the villainy were sadly believable. I’ve been lucky to have had very limited exposure to that type of distilled evil and those people do exist, dismayingly so.
I’m not sure rollicking adventure actually does justice to this book. It has some mystic and mysterious twists that lift it out of the mire of simple action adventure.
I highly recommend the book.
July 22, 2013
reads well but a bit choppy. The author goes on a bit at the end with the strained and fantastical ending. There is yet another twist and finally the book is over.
Most of the book is decent, reading similar but more deeply than "A theif in venis". I think the number of "sudden twists" was a bit tedious. Although appreciated in most spots; some were just stupid. The part about Venue being KC's Dad was dumb. Not a significant part of the story and so held no real value.
It is also tedious that theives just happen to always be rich, and mobile. I think this part of the book is more the authors fantasy than a crime reality.
I am glad i read this book. I may read another by this author but not for a while.
--Micheal rescues simon and kc. they chase a staff and map. twists reveal revelations. the bad guys (iblis/venue) have the upper hand the whole time. they finally climb a mtn. reach fabled land. darkness is insanity of mind. venue dies. iblis lives. micheal and kc live happily for a while.
Most of the book is decent, reading similar but more deeply than "A theif in venis". I think the number of "sudden twists" was a bit tedious. Although appreciated in most spots; some were just stupid. The part about Venue being KC's Dad was dumb. Not a significant part of the story and so held no real value.
It is also tedious that theives just happen to always be rich, and mobile. I think this part of the book is more the authors fantasy than a crime reality.
I am glad i read this book. I may read another by this author but not for a while.
--Micheal rescues simon and kc. they chase a staff and map. twists reveal revelations. the bad guys (iblis/venue) have the upper hand the whole time. they finally climb a mtn. reach fabled land. darkness is insanity of mind. venue dies. iblis lives. micheal and kc live happily for a while.
March 5, 2014
This is the 3rd book in the series featuring Michael St Pierre.
I really loved this one also as all of Richard Doetsch books. They
always have a surprise twist.
This time Michael finally finds his match in KC. He is set up with a date with her and find that they do have a lot in common. But what he really doesn't know is how much. KC is a master thief also!!!
Michael, Paul, and Simon are back again..This time Simon is in prison,
scheduled to be executed..Michael breaks in the prison set to rescue
Simon and who does he also find - KC!!! From there it is a roller coaster ride of thrills.
After freeing Simon and KC, Michael and Paul are off again to
Istanbul trying to steal two valuable artifacts. KC is there to help, and KC's sister (Cindy) shows up. Simon and Cindy are kidnapped and they want the artifacts in exchange for the two lives.
I am never disappointed in Richard Doetsch books..Michael is the
best and reminds me of a modern day MacGyver!
His books are not to be missed!
I really loved this one also as all of Richard Doetsch books. They
always have a surprise twist.
This time Michael finally finds his match in KC. He is set up with a date with her and find that they do have a lot in common. But what he really doesn't know is how much. KC is a master thief also!!!
Michael, Paul, and Simon are back again..This time Simon is in prison,
scheduled to be executed..Michael breaks in the prison set to rescue
Simon and who does he also find - KC!!! From there it is a roller coaster ride of thrills.
After freeing Simon and KC, Michael and Paul are off again to
Istanbul trying to steal two valuable artifacts. KC is there to help, and KC's sister (Cindy) shows up. Simon and Cindy are kidnapped and they want the artifacts in exchange for the two lives.
I am never disappointed in Richard Doetsch books..Michael is the
best and reminds me of a modern day MacGyver!
His books are not to be missed!
September 25, 2010
Still mourning his wife's death, security consultant and retired art thief Michael St. Pierre is fixed up for a blind date by his friend Father Simon. What Michael doesn't know is that Katherine "K.C." Ryan is also a thief, and not a retired one.
Michael's planned rescue of Simon from a remote prison is complicated when he finds K.C. there, too. As the three flee to Istanbul, they match wits with an evil businessman Phillipe Venue who also wants the fabled Vatican treasure Simon and K.C. were seeking. Now its a race to see who finds the treasure buried deep in the Himalayas.
Third in the Thieves series but can stand alone. Ultra fast-paced and action packed. Some situations and dialog are a little trite, but most readers won't even care.
Michael's planned rescue of Simon from a remote prison is complicated when he finds K.C. there, too. As the three flee to Istanbul, they match wits with an evil businessman Phillipe Venue who also wants the fabled Vatican treasure Simon and K.C. were seeking. Now its a race to see who finds the treasure buried deep in the Himalayas.
Third in the Thieves series but can stand alone. Ultra fast-paced and action packed. Some situations and dialog are a little trite, but most readers won't even care.
November 30, 2013
By accident I read this series out of order. I picked up The Thieves of Darkness first and was about 50 pages from the end when I leaned there were two before it. Nowhere on the cover or inside did it say that it was the third book and so, I gladly read this interesting sounding book I had randomly found at the library.
I was not disappointed.
I really thought that this book was great. Even though Mary's name was mentioned s few times, I was never really confused. This book had a lot of thrill in it and I finished it just wanting to tell people about it. Even though I did like the first two books, this one is my favorite and I personally think it would've done fine as the first to a series. Really looking forward to reading the next one.
I was not disappointed.
I really thought that this book was great. Even though Mary's name was mentioned s few times, I was never really confused. This book had a lot of thrill in it and I finished it just wanting to tell people about it. Even though I did like the first two books, this one is my favorite and I personally think it would've done fine as the first to a series. Really looking forward to reading the next one.
May 21, 2014
I'm not sure why I didn't care for this book. I wish I had seen how it was rated on this web site before I listened to it (I listened to the audiobook, not listed as an edition on this web site). Part of the problem was its length - it seemed to go on and on and I kept thinking, when is this book going to be DONE? Another problem: the characters were a bit over the top. The villains were really villainous and seemingly unstoppable. The heroine was a bit too perfect, the hero ditto. The story veered off into fantasyland. I don't know why I feel like I have to stick with a book to the bitter end. If I'm hoping for a book to be over I ought to just quit. That's what I should have done with this one.
October 15, 2010
I loved this book. Having read Doetsch's 13th Hour I wasn't sure what to expect with this larger more global story. It opens with a prison break in the middle of a desert and never let up. It truly was a tour of so many countries with Doetsch's writing making it feel like I was there. His charachters are very strong, much more realized that most thrillers. Michael St. Pierre, is a great anti-hero, smart but not pretending to be a genious. KC, his love interest, is fantastic. Not a cliche, strong, confident, yet vulnerable, and alos a thief. The scenes in Istanbul were action packed, movie type but had alot of depth. I really loved this book and highly recommened it.
October 15, 2010
I really loved this book. I had read Doestch's last one and it was my favorite book of 2009. I think this will be my overall favorite for 2010-we'll see, with a few months left in the year. His characters are great, he keeps you glued to the page for hours, and i learned so much. Not preachy, just fun. It reads very quickly, but is completly satisfying. Great fun. I'm going back to read the early Thieves book.
And to Mark, the guy that said the dialogue is lame, I thought the dialogue was excellant and real. Doestch's prose and style is very natural, and seeing the ratings and reviews, it seems everyone agrees with me.
I highly recommend this book.
And to Mark, the guy that said the dialogue is lame, I thought the dialogue was excellant and real. Doestch's prose and style is very natural, and seeing the ratings and reviews, it seems everyone agrees with me.
I highly recommend this book.
March 27, 2011
Although I loved this book, I do wish that KC had been selfish enough to leave Cindy to her delusions. The moment that Cindy is introduced and does nothing but whine about her sister being a thieve and does not seem to comprehend that the only reason she has what she has is BECAUSE of her, I wanted to strangle her!!!! Then when she STEALS from KC and joins Iblis, and doesn't want to understand that their father is EVIL just made me want her gone completely. When she says "He's my father, how could he.." I CHEERED! But it was short lived. Even with my annoyance at her, I truly felt I knew the characters and cheered when Michael and KC admit they love each other. Love this book!!!!!
July 20, 2011
Received a free copy via Goodreads First reads.
Reminiscent of the styles of Ludlum and Cussler, this was an interesting action/thriller. There were several twists and turns that I didn't see coming, and every time I was ready for a twist it was there but not the one I was expecting. There were a couple of storylines that were hinted at but never explored. While I would have liked to have seen into those areas more, the book itself wasn't negatively impacted by their exclusion. Would definitely recommend to others.
Reminiscent of the styles of Ludlum and Cussler, this was an interesting action/thriller. There were several twists and turns that I didn't see coming, and every time I was ready for a twist it was there but not the one I was expecting. There were a couple of storylines that were hinted at but never explored. While I would have liked to have seen into those areas more, the book itself wasn't negatively impacted by their exclusion. Would definitely recommend to others.
April 20, 2019
I did not know this was part of a series when I picked it up. I have to say though, this is what a thriller is supposed to be. Intelligent, heart pounding, unexpected plot twists and even a nice layer of romance. This book was so unexpected, and such a fun intense ride. The hunt is on for a mysterious artifact that predates much of history. To find it, and decipher what it means is the goal, before calamitous events occur. Once I finished this book, I loved it so much, I bought the series. Now, to read it from the beginning.
March 7, 2011
This is the first Richard Doetsch novel that I have read. I was not disappointed at all it kept a fast pace from the moment I started reading it. This was a book I didn't want to put down tell it was finished. I really enjoyed it..... Diffidently a must read.
* I have been provided a complimentary copy of The Thieves Of Darkness for review from Gallery Books - Pocket Books.
* I have been provided a complimentary copy of The Thieves Of Darkness for review from Gallery Books - Pocket Books.
April 13, 2018
Adventure plus romantic comedy. Two thieves (who don't know the other is a thief) fall in love and then wind up together in Istanbul chasing after a map and a caduceus. The weak part of the novel is that the map leads them to a paradise in the Himalayas and the caduceus is a key to doors leading to hell. Too silly.
April 21, 2012
I found this book on the discount shelf and it sounded good so I dove in not knowing that I had skipped earlier books in the series(hope to read the first books now). Loved the book! Lots of action, and a very readable writing style. A cast of unlikely characters (a priest in jail for theft) grabbed me from the beginning, and locals that are not common only added to the interest. A good read.
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November 6, 2013This was the first book for me to read by this author. I was not disappointed. It was a great, well thought out story with like-able, believable characters, with the main characters unavoidably drawn to adventure and danger. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes action/adventure/thrillers. Excitement to the very end.
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