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The Hunters #2
The Forbidden Tomb
THE TREASURE:
For nearly two thousand years, the legendary tomb of Alexander the Great—and the extraordinary riches concealed within—has remained undiscovered, but recent events may hold the key to locating the fabled vault. Only one team has what it takes to solve the mystery that has plagued historians for centuries.
THE MISSION:
The Hunters—an elite group assembled by an enigmatic billionaire to locate the world’s greatest treasures—are tasked with finding the tomb. Following clues to Alexandria, they encounter hostile forces that will do anything to stop them. Before long, the treasure hunt becomes a deadly rescue mission that will take the lives of hundreds and leave a city in ruins.
THE PRIZE:
As the danger continues to mount, will they rise to the challenge? Or will the team be killed before they find the ultimate prize?
For nearly two thousand years, the legendary tomb of Alexander the Great—and the extraordinary riches concealed within—has remained undiscovered, but recent events may hold the key to locating the fabled vault. Only one team has what it takes to solve the mystery that has plagued historians for centuries.
THE MISSION:
The Hunters—an elite group assembled by an enigmatic billionaire to locate the world’s greatest treasures—are tasked with finding the tomb. Following clues to Alexandria, they encounter hostile forces that will do anything to stop them. Before long, the treasure hunt becomes a deadly rescue mission that will take the lives of hundreds and leave a city in ruins.
THE PRIZE:
As the danger continues to mount, will they rise to the challenge? Or will the team be killed before they find the ultimate prize?
434 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 24, 2014
138 people are currently reading
1184 people want to read
About the author
Chris Kuzneski
25 books1,215 followersChris Kuzneski is the #1 international bestselling & New York Times bestselling author of twelve novels and one novella. His thrillers have been translated into more than twenty languages and have sold millions of copies worldwide. One of his books (THE HUNTERS) is currently being made into a major motion picture, and another (THE PRISONER’S GOLD) won an ITW Thriller Award for Book of the Year.
Armed with witty prose, a unique narrative voice, and a penchant for blackmail, Kuzneski has garnered praise from many of the top authors in the world: James Patterson, Nelson DeMille, Lee Child, Vince Flynn, James Rollins, Tess Gerritsen, Douglas Preston, Lisa Gardner, Steve Berry, Scott Mariani, Allison Brennan, W.E.B. Griffin, Graham Brown, Boyd Morrison, John Gilstrap, Raymond Khoury, David Morrell, Andrew Gross, Joseph Finder, Jeremy Robinson, and his writing idol, Clive Cussler.
Simply put, his books are awesome.
A former football player at the University of Pittsburgh, Kuzneski worked as a journalist until he realized it was easier to make stuff up in the comfort of his own home. He has been writing fiction and sleeping in ever since. The only thing that has slowed him down is his obvious need for a pen name, since most people don't know how to spell or pronounce 'Kuzneski'. [Hint: Seven of the letters are silent.]
Armed with witty prose, a unique narrative voice, and a penchant for blackmail, Kuzneski has garnered praise from many of the top authors in the world: James Patterson, Nelson DeMille, Lee Child, Vince Flynn, James Rollins, Tess Gerritsen, Douglas Preston, Lisa Gardner, Steve Berry, Scott Mariani, Allison Brennan, W.E.B. Griffin, Graham Brown, Boyd Morrison, John Gilstrap, Raymond Khoury, David Morrell, Andrew Gross, Joseph Finder, Jeremy Robinson, and his writing idol, Clive Cussler.
Simply put, his books are awesome.
A former football player at the University of Pittsburgh, Kuzneski worked as a journalist until he realized it was easier to make stuff up in the comfort of his own home. He has been writing fiction and sleeping in ever since. The only thing that has slowed him down is his obvious need for a pen name, since most people don't know how to spell or pronounce 'Kuzneski'. [Hint: Seven of the letters are silent.]
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 151 reviews
May 4, 2014
Review
My first taste of Chris Kuzneski’s work was last years The Hunters , I’m always on the lookout for another great thriller writer, James Rollins, Andy McDermott and co can only turn out so many books a year, after that its the cheesy end of the market, the Dan Brows etc. So finding that the Hunters was not just good, but brilliant was as much a relief as it was a revelation.
In book two “The Forbidden Tomb” we see the return of the excellent, multi-layered and utterly human characters created in book one. A complex team, compiled from each needed skill set for the first mission, and just as apt for this new mission. As such we are treated to another search for the impossible, a hunt to find something lost and no real clues to its location, in this case the Tomb of Alexander the Great. But as i have come to expect in any book of this type, all is not what it seems. Why has the tomb never been found? Why are there so few clues? Is someone protecting the history of Alexander and his Tomb? Who? What? Why? I love the stream of unknown. Read the book and find out! (i cannot give any more away)
For me i found the story breathtaking (i’m a huge fan of Alexander the great and stories about him). The plot isn’t just a balls out action thriller, it has more intelligence than that, it has the ability to keep you guessing all the way to the end. This book has so many twists and turns you just don’t want to put the book down. I think this is the first book in years that has made me physically sit bolt upright and exclaim out loud “No F….ing way!” I take my hat off to you sir, that part of the plot took real balls, i was shocked, surprised, amazed, appalled and yet transfixed by the incident with Jasmine.
This book is truly an action packed thinking man (or woman)'s thriller, with a plot that spans the centuries and is packed with more surprises than is good for the heart. Loved it, and already cannot wait for the next one. I really do promise to make time to read the Payne and Jones series, which if its even half as good, is going to be worth making the time to read.
Highly recommended
(Parm)
My first taste of Chris Kuzneski’s work was last years The Hunters , I’m always on the lookout for another great thriller writer, James Rollins, Andy McDermott and co can only turn out so many books a year, after that its the cheesy end of the market, the Dan Brows etc. So finding that the Hunters was not just good, but brilliant was as much a relief as it was a revelation.
In book two “The Forbidden Tomb” we see the return of the excellent, multi-layered and utterly human characters created in book one. A complex team, compiled from each needed skill set for the first mission, and just as apt for this new mission. As such we are treated to another search for the impossible, a hunt to find something lost and no real clues to its location, in this case the Tomb of Alexander the Great. But as i have come to expect in any book of this type, all is not what it seems. Why has the tomb never been found? Why are there so few clues? Is someone protecting the history of Alexander and his Tomb? Who? What? Why? I love the stream of unknown. Read the book and find out! (i cannot give any more away)
For me i found the story breathtaking (i’m a huge fan of Alexander the great and stories about him). The plot isn’t just a balls out action thriller, it has more intelligence than that, it has the ability to keep you guessing all the way to the end. This book has so many twists and turns you just don’t want to put the book down. I think this is the first book in years that has made me physically sit bolt upright and exclaim out loud “No F….ing way!” I take my hat off to you sir, that part of the plot took real balls, i was shocked, surprised, amazed, appalled and yet transfixed by the incident with Jasmine.
This book is truly an action packed thinking man (or woman)'s thriller, with a plot that spans the centuries and is packed with more surprises than is good for the heart. Loved it, and already cannot wait for the next one. I really do promise to make time to read the Payne and Jones series, which if its even half as good, is going to be worth making the time to read.
Highly recommended
(Parm)
March 30, 2017
The Forbidden Tomb by Chris Kuzneski
The Hunters series Book #2
4 stars
From The Book:
For nearly two thousand years, the legendary tomb of Alexander the Great—and the extraordinary riches concealed within—has remained undiscovered, but recent events may hold the key to locating the fabled vault. Only one team has what it takes to solve the mystery that has plagued historians for centuries. he Hunters—an elite group assembled by an enigmatic billionaire to locate the world’s greatest treasures—are tasked with finding the tomb. Following clues to Alexandria, they encounter hostile forces that will do anything to stop them. Before long, the treasure hunt becomes a deadly rescue mission that will take the lives of hundreds and leave a city in ruins. As the danger continues to mount, will they rise to the challenge? Or will the team be killed before they find the ultimate prize?
My Thoughts:
This is an exceptional series with true to life, believable characters and more action and adventure than anyone could possibly ask for. You won't always like the decisions that are made...you may become frustrated with some of the actions...but you will always be amazed at their individual abilities and skills. This one was headed for another half star at least...until the end. Sorry, Chris...but that was disappointing on so many levels.
The Hunters series Book #2
4 stars
From The Book:
For nearly two thousand years, the legendary tomb of Alexander the Great—and the extraordinary riches concealed within—has remained undiscovered, but recent events may hold the key to locating the fabled vault. Only one team has what it takes to solve the mystery that has plagued historians for centuries. he Hunters—an elite group assembled by an enigmatic billionaire to locate the world’s greatest treasures—are tasked with finding the tomb. Following clues to Alexandria, they encounter hostile forces that will do anything to stop them. Before long, the treasure hunt becomes a deadly rescue mission that will take the lives of hundreds and leave a city in ruins. As the danger continues to mount, will they rise to the challenge? Or will the team be killed before they find the ultimate prize?
My Thoughts:
This is an exceptional series with true to life, believable characters and more action and adventure than anyone could possibly ask for. You won't always like the decisions that are made...you may become frustrated with some of the actions...but you will always be amazed at their individual abilities and skills. This one was headed for another half star at least...until the end. Sorry, Chris...but that was disappointing on so many levels.
March 31, 2017
The Forbidden Tomb is the second book in The Hunters, a series featuring an elite group of people with special skills. We have the leader, Jack Cobb; Josh McNutt, former Marine sniper; ex-CIA spy, Sarah Ellis; computer specialist and renowned hacker, Hector Garcia; and historian, Jasmine Park. People have searched for the legendary tomb of Alexander the Great for centuries but the Hunters are hired by someone who believes they have a real chance of solving the mystery. They base themselves in Alexandria, where intrigue and hostile forces will do anything they can to stop them and get to the tomb first.
After a bit of a slow start I thought the action ramped right up and the hunt for the tomb became very suspenseful. The characters are interesting and they have developed quite a bit from the first book. If you enjoy reading an action filled story combined with a historical mystery then you may enjoy this series. While I preferred the second book in the series to the first, I recommend reading The Hunters first, if you want to get to know the characters who reprise themselves in Forbidden Tomb.
After a bit of a slow start I thought the action ramped right up and the hunt for the tomb became very suspenseful. The characters are interesting and they have developed quite a bit from the first book. If you enjoy reading an action filled story combined with a historical mystery then you may enjoy this series. While I preferred the second book in the series to the first, I recommend reading The Hunters first, if you want to get to know the characters who reprise themselves in Forbidden Tomb.
June 27, 2025
Book two in this series is an improvement from the first one. Character development and dialogue are all upgraded, and the cast of this book is starting to gel.
August 30, 2020
Non stop packed action... second book in The Hunters series. This time Cobb and the team are on the hunt for Alexander the Great Tomb.
April 5, 2019
the first book was great this just moved on and into the next level. Full of brilliant historical and archaeological facts fast paced and subtle references to the other series of books Payne and Jones by the same author the linking factor Petr Ulster and the Ulster archives.
Waiting for book 3 and then will be keeping a good check on when the next one will be written.
Really enjoy this author
Waiting for book 3 and then will be keeping a good check on when the next one will be written.
Really enjoy this author
March 31, 2017
This book was about the search for the tomb of Alexander the Great. It was packed with action, history, mystery and suspense. Although the book started out slowly, it turned into a fast-paced story that was hard-to-put-down. The characters were engaging and very relatable. The tension kept building and the pages kept turning until a cliffhanger of an ending which makes you crave the next in the series. This was the second book and I liked it better then the first. Hopefully, the third will be even better. I would highly recommend this series to those who like action-packed adventure/historical thrillers.
4.5 stars
4.5 stars
May 26, 2014
Couldn't finish this book. I like the Payne and Jones characters in his other books but have struggled to get into the Hunter series characters. The blurb on the cover sounds like I should like the book but I find the characters too irritating.
December 1, 2014
Another of those American A team types go to a foreign country, blow up lots of things and kill lots of people and find valuable relic that no-one else in the whole world can find. Stock characters, including the computer geek, ex-marine, ex-CIA agent, and father figure who knows everything.
March 30, 2017
In this 2nd book in The Hunters series by Chris Kuzneski, we return to the team of treasure hunters preparing for another mission...this time they are hunting for Alexander the Great's Tomb.
The story takes us from Florida (the home base) to Egypt, specifically Alexandria, as the team follows the clues obtained from an ancient map that Cobb received at the end of the first book. During the hunt, the team acquires new allies (and loses some) as they battle a very formidable foe who will stop at nothing to protect their secrets.
This book is a definite improvement over the first book in the series. The characters are better developed, the storyline is tighter and the hunt more interesting. While there's still room for improvement in the dialogue and the pacing, the obvious improvement from book 1 to book 2 will definitely keep me reading the series.
Rating: 4 stars
The story takes us from Florida (the home base) to Egypt, specifically Alexandria, as the team follows the clues obtained from an ancient map that Cobb received at the end of the first book. During the hunt, the team acquires new allies (and loses some) as they battle a very formidable foe who will stop at nothing to protect their secrets.
This book is a definite improvement over the first book in the series. The characters are better developed, the storyline is tighter and the hunt more interesting. While there's still room for improvement in the dialogue and the pacing, the obvious improvement from book 1 to book 2 will definitely keep me reading the series.
Rating: 4 stars
December 22, 2014
The Forbidden Tomb, by Chris Kuzneski, is an all action adventure thriller that takes the ancient mysteries, humour and daring of Indiana Jones and combines them with the futuristic gadgetary of Mission Impossible. Instead of one intrepid hero there is a team, each member of which possesses a plethora of implausible skills. Money is no object as shady overlords with limitless wealth bankroll the mercenaries to satisfy their own secretive desires.
I enjoy complex thrillers and appreciate well researched history but too much trampling on other cultures grates. If chick lit is designed to appeal to women who want to escape into an easy, feel good romance then this style of story seems to be aimed at the men who wish to live out their dreams of being some sort of action hero. There is certainly plenty of action.
Set in the middle east the team go in search of Alexander the Great’s tomb. Armed with newly discovered maps they search underground tunnels and uncover secrets in hieroglyphs that have remained hidden for centuries. They also unleash the wrath of a secretive organisation tasked with protecting the tomb. Throughout the story an American life is worth risking everything for whilst foreigners dying in their hundreds if not thousands is seen as collateral damage, unfortunate but not something to lose sleep over. I found that hard to stomach.
It took me some time to get used to the style of writing. The short chapters, clipped sentences and humorous references kept the plot light and moving along despite the challenges and bloodshed. I did not appreciate the ease with which the team justified the invasion and destruction of other ways of life. I suspect that these things are not supposed to be taken too seriously but rather glossed over so as to enjoy the excitement, adventure and unleashing of superior firepower and technology.
Naturally the team had access to every type of technology they required, from weaponry to satellites to experts in particular fields. I wonder why countries go to war when they could just phone up half a dozen or so people and sort out their issues with a few well placed strikes before walking away apparently blameless. I guess I’m taking things too seriously again…
The book is easy to read and the plot is no more implausible than the many other action thrillers from which many popular films are made (a fair few of which are referenced). If you enjoy that type of story then give this one a read. It is slick and neatly put together. It’s just not my sort of thing.
My copy of this book was provided gratis by the publisher, Headline.
I enjoy complex thrillers and appreciate well researched history but too much trampling on other cultures grates. If chick lit is designed to appeal to women who want to escape into an easy, feel good romance then this style of story seems to be aimed at the men who wish to live out their dreams of being some sort of action hero. There is certainly plenty of action.
Set in the middle east the team go in search of Alexander the Great’s tomb. Armed with newly discovered maps they search underground tunnels and uncover secrets in hieroglyphs that have remained hidden for centuries. They also unleash the wrath of a secretive organisation tasked with protecting the tomb. Throughout the story an American life is worth risking everything for whilst foreigners dying in their hundreds if not thousands is seen as collateral damage, unfortunate but not something to lose sleep over. I found that hard to stomach.
It took me some time to get used to the style of writing. The short chapters, clipped sentences and humorous references kept the plot light and moving along despite the challenges and bloodshed. I did not appreciate the ease with which the team justified the invasion and destruction of other ways of life. I suspect that these things are not supposed to be taken too seriously but rather glossed over so as to enjoy the excitement, adventure and unleashing of superior firepower and technology.
Naturally the team had access to every type of technology they required, from weaponry to satellites to experts in particular fields. I wonder why countries go to war when they could just phone up half a dozen or so people and sort out their issues with a few well placed strikes before walking away apparently blameless. I guess I’m taking things too seriously again…
The book is easy to read and the plot is no more implausible than the many other action thrillers from which many popular films are made (a fair few of which are referenced). If you enjoy that type of story then give this one a read. It is slick and neatly put together. It’s just not my sort of thing.
My copy of this book was provided gratis by the publisher, Headline.
July 25, 2017
Chris Kuzneski has written another action-packed, fast-paced treasure hunting thriller that will keep you reading all night. There was one moment that I didn't see coming, and I'm still not sure how I feel about it, but needless to say, it was a surprise. The epilogue really makes you wonder what the heck is really going on.
A great read and I look forward to the further adventures of The Hunters, and am excited to see where they end up.
Originally read 5 May 2014; re-read 23 July 2017
A great read and I look forward to the further adventures of The Hunters, and am excited to see where they end up.
Originally read 5 May 2014; re-read 23 July 2017
May 28, 2015
This is the second book of the series and it does not disappoint the reader. This particular story line covers a lot of history on Alexander the Great and it is composed in the story very well. There is one issue that I did not like and that is that one of the main characters is no longer with the team.
January 3, 2018
I do enjoy this series! For much of the novel, it proceeds just as you'd expect from a mystery thriller but there are surprises in store, not only for the characters but also for the reader.
September 23, 2023
I read the first book in this series ages ago and having just re-read my review, it seems I liked this one more but only just. There are numerous problems with this book but I'll start with the things that made me give it three stars; it's easy to read, the chapters are short, and unlike the first book there wasn't so much hitting you over the head with the plot, but more giving you a chance to work it out for yourself. I enjoyed the action and the description of different weapons and the science behind everything they were doing.
As for the bad things... This book is an American action fan's wet dream, but for those who are not from the US, it demonstrates the absolute disregard for lives if they are not American. It's okay for Americans to commit all kinds of atrocities and yet somehow remain completely blameless and yet when other people from different countries and cultures kill an American, it's an act of war. There is absolutely no irony in those two things and at no point in the book is it pointed out that the 'enemy' have killed a hell of a lot less people to protect their culture than this American team has to find and loot other countries' treasures for money. Add to that the fact that some of these characters are just a bunch of walking stereotypes and you have a generic, action fuelled romp. It's almost totally irrelevant what they're trying to find and why, the story is more about the journey. I was surprised by one of the people killed but that was the only surprising thing about this book.
I have the next book in the series which is I believe the last one. I think if it wasn't I'd be giving this series up.
As for the bad things... This book is an American action fan's wet dream, but for those who are not from the US, it demonstrates the absolute disregard for lives if they are not American. It's okay for Americans to commit all kinds of atrocities and yet somehow remain completely blameless and yet when other people from different countries and cultures kill an American, it's an act of war. There is absolutely no irony in those two things and at no point in the book is it pointed out that the 'enemy' have killed a hell of a lot less people to protect their culture than this American team has to find and loot other countries' treasures for money. Add to that the fact that some of these characters are just a bunch of walking stereotypes and you have a generic, action fuelled romp. It's almost totally irrelevant what they're trying to find and why, the story is more about the journey. I was surprised by one of the people killed but that was the only surprising thing about this book.
I have the next book in the series which is I believe the last one. I think if it wasn't I'd be giving this series up.
Read
March 29, 20174.25 Stars. This is the second book in the Hunters series and was much better than the first, and the overarching theme across the series became clearer! The Group grew on me more in this one, and the humour was less in your face. If you like historical action books (set here and now) I think you will enjoy these. The author certainly pulled no punches in one or two places, and there was some shocks that I didn't see coming. I am keen to continue this series.
June 17, 2020
I need more of Chris Kuzneski! As Sword of God, there were so much amazing facts in this book about Alexander the Great. It didn't read at all like a history book but so fascinating that it kept me gripped throughout the book! Aaaargh. Where to find his other books?
May 20, 2016
It's one of the worlds biggest mysteries, where is Alexander the Great's tomb located? For two thousand years his tomb's location has remained unknown, many have looked, but none have found it, there's many a theory but none have been proven right. Now, there's new information, information that has given a huge lead on the location of the tomb. There's only one team that can follow the clues and find the location of the tomb, solving the mystery that has plagued Historians and History buffs for centuries.
The Hunters, our favourite elite group of many talents, assembled by an enigmatic billionaire to locate the worlds greatest treasures, are tasked with finding the tomb. They follow the clues to Egypt, and from then on...it's not exactly smooth sailing. There's a hostile group of...well....ninja's, determined to stop them, and they're not above destroying all the evidence linked to the tomb....or kidnapping a team member. Not to mention Sarah's contact in Egypt has an enemy who has decided that Sarah is the perfect way to get to him.
It all started as a treasure hunt, but it quickly becomes a rescue mission when hundreds are killed, a city is left in ruins and in all the chaos a team member is kidnapped, it's a race against time to save said member, before tragic consequences ensue.
*squeeeee* I LOVE THIS BOOK! Okay, when I was younger, I loved Alpha Force, and I know they where totally different to the Hunters, but this series really reminds me of an adult Alpha Force, but with treasure instead of random missions, you know? I seriously can't get enough of this series. It's everything I love, there's humour, action, adventure, quests, clues, history, ancient treasures, banter and everything that makes a book so fantastic. This is really a series that can be read again and again.
Although, I'm kind of pissed at the author for a certain event. And I know he knows what event I'm talking about! HOW COULD YOU!? *ugly sobbing* damn I didn't see it coming. Because you know, I was all "it'll be fine, it'll be aaaalll fine" and I really wasn't expecting it to be honest. That's the beauty of this book, the plot is nice and complex, there's lots of different threads, there's the whole thing with Simon, then the expedition in April, then our team following the clues and the rescue mission and so on, all woven in to one story so expertly that there's plenty of intrigue and you can't put the book down! There's loads of plot twists that I, for one, couldn't work out, so I found myself being pleasantly surprised, or totally shocked, or kicking myself for not realizing something.
I was trying to follow the clues, but I was in the same boat as the team, whatever they knew or thought, so did I, I had theories, but all where proven wrong. Which I actually enjoyed, because I hate being right when it comes to books and what's going to happen next! I myself don't know much about Alexander the Great and his tomb, and the book has clearly been well researched, I learned all about Alexander and his achievements and what happened when he died, and how the tomb became lost and the author presents a believable theory for the location of the tomb. Yes I did google after I finished reading, and I did learn it's thought the tomb is in a couple of locations, one of the front runners being the one the author mentions.
All this information is relayed to you in the right places in the story, at the right time, concisely, there's such a lot of information but it's included in the narrative so well, that it doesn't drag the fast pace down and while all of the information is relevant, it's actually interesting as well and not just there for the sake of it.
The setting was very vivid, I've never been to Egypt, it's on my to do list, but after reading this, I really got a feel for the place, and it's almost like I've been there, I could picture everything so clearly, and it was like I was there with the team, tagging along behind them! Everything is described so concisely, yet with enough detail to give you a mental snapshot, not to mention the atmosphere generated by the prose. It's a world you can really sink in to, and get wrapped up in the tension and the action and you don't want to leave the team at the end of it.
I love all the characters equally. Really. Seriously....I do....okay. So, MAYBE I might love Sarah a SMIDGE more than the others. Maybe. All of the characters are so colourful and full of depth, and each brings something different to the team, but they all work so well together despite the banter, which had me chuckling like a mad woman!
So basically, I really love this series, this book is perfection, history geeks are gonna love it, as are people who love a good clue trail, I mean Indiana Jones fans.....Alpha Force fans who are now older and historically inclined are gonna love this, I'd be here all day essaying why I love this book to be honest! I really can't wait for the next book, well I'm hoping there's a next book! I NEED MOOORRREE! ;)
The Hunters, our favourite elite group of many talents, assembled by an enigmatic billionaire to locate the worlds greatest treasures, are tasked with finding the tomb. They follow the clues to Egypt, and from then on...it's not exactly smooth sailing. There's a hostile group of...well....ninja's, determined to stop them, and they're not above destroying all the evidence linked to the tomb....or kidnapping a team member. Not to mention Sarah's contact in Egypt has an enemy who has decided that Sarah is the perfect way to get to him.
It all started as a treasure hunt, but it quickly becomes a rescue mission when hundreds are killed, a city is left in ruins and in all the chaos a team member is kidnapped, it's a race against time to save said member, before tragic consequences ensue.
*squeeeee* I LOVE THIS BOOK! Okay, when I was younger, I loved Alpha Force, and I know they where totally different to the Hunters, but this series really reminds me of an adult Alpha Force, but with treasure instead of random missions, you know? I seriously can't get enough of this series. It's everything I love, there's humour, action, adventure, quests, clues, history, ancient treasures, banter and everything that makes a book so fantastic. This is really a series that can be read again and again.
Although, I'm kind of pissed at the author for a certain event. And I know he knows what event I'm talking about! HOW COULD YOU!? *ugly sobbing* damn I didn't see it coming. Because you know, I was all "it'll be fine, it'll be aaaalll fine" and I really wasn't expecting it to be honest. That's the beauty of this book, the plot is nice and complex, there's lots of different threads, there's the whole thing with Simon, then the expedition in April, then our team following the clues and the rescue mission and so on, all woven in to one story so expertly that there's plenty of intrigue and you can't put the book down! There's loads of plot twists that I, for one, couldn't work out, so I found myself being pleasantly surprised, or totally shocked, or kicking myself for not realizing something.
I was trying to follow the clues, but I was in the same boat as the team, whatever they knew or thought, so did I, I had theories, but all where proven wrong. Which I actually enjoyed, because I hate being right when it comes to books and what's going to happen next! I myself don't know much about Alexander the Great and his tomb, and the book has clearly been well researched, I learned all about Alexander and his achievements and what happened when he died, and how the tomb became lost and the author presents a believable theory for the location of the tomb. Yes I did google after I finished reading, and I did learn it's thought the tomb is in a couple of locations, one of the front runners being the one the author mentions.
All this information is relayed to you in the right places in the story, at the right time, concisely, there's such a lot of information but it's included in the narrative so well, that it doesn't drag the fast pace down and while all of the information is relevant, it's actually interesting as well and not just there for the sake of it.
The setting was very vivid, I've never been to Egypt, it's on my to do list, but after reading this, I really got a feel for the place, and it's almost like I've been there, I could picture everything so clearly, and it was like I was there with the team, tagging along behind them! Everything is described so concisely, yet with enough detail to give you a mental snapshot, not to mention the atmosphere generated by the prose. It's a world you can really sink in to, and get wrapped up in the tension and the action and you don't want to leave the team at the end of it.
I love all the characters equally. Really. Seriously....I do....okay. So, MAYBE I might love Sarah a SMIDGE more than the others. Maybe. All of the characters are so colourful and full of depth, and each brings something different to the team, but they all work so well together despite the banter, which had me chuckling like a mad woman!
So basically, I really love this series, this book is perfection, history geeks are gonna love it, as are people who love a good clue trail, I mean Indiana Jones fans.....Alpha Force fans who are now older and historically inclined are gonna love this, I'd be here all day essaying why I love this book to be honest! I really can't wait for the next book, well I'm hoping there's a next book! I NEED MOOORRREE! ;)
December 16, 2025
AUTHOR:
CHRIS KUZNESKI
CHARACTERS :
JACK COBB, JOSH MCNUTT, JASMINE, SARAH, , CYRIL MANJANI,GARCIA HECTOR ,PAPINEAU and others.
LOCATION:
ALEXANDRIA, SIWA OASIS and BAHARIYA OASIS ----EGYPT.
GENER:THRILLER
TOTAL PAGES:548.
SYNOPSIS :
THE TOMB OF ALEXANDER.
Alexander the Great controled more than two million square miles in total. It was one of the largest empires in history.He was trained by generals and tutored by none other than Aristotle himself. Their combined efforts resulted in the most brilliant military mind in history.
Upon his death, Alexander was placed inside a coffin of hammered gold. It was then placed inside a magnificent funerary hearse that was twenty feet tall. According to legend the hearse was lined with a collection of golden bells to announce Alexandar's arrival.
His body was to be taken from Babylon -where he died- to Macedon, the place of his birth. Unfortunately the body never made it home. A Macedonian general named Ptolemy Soter directed the hearse to Egyptian city of Memphis. By seizing the body of the dead king he could legally claim rule over bulk of Alexander's empire. Many years later Potlemy's son moved the remains of Alexander to the north where he was entombed in the coastal city of Alexandria, a city named after ruler himself.
During the past two thousand years control of Alexandria has changed hands from Greeks and the Romans to the Christians and the Arabs, the city has been built and rebuilt more times in the past.
For two thousand years Alexander the Great's legendary tomb, and the extraordinary valuables within had remained hidden without any clues to locate the fabled vault.
KING ALEXANDER AS SON OF GOD.
Long before the arrival of Romans, the high priests of Amun-Ra, the almighty sun God in the Egyptian Pantheon wielded great influence in Egypt. The priests used their connection to god for much more than the spiritual growth. The Priesthood controlled areas of land as well as all of the countries ships.
After Egypt was conquered by Romans,the popularity of Christianity increased. The Egyptian priests royal life almost came to an end.They believed that only way to survive in Roman occupied Egypt, was to convert themselves to Christianity as per the wishes of Roman Emperor Severus.Though the Egyptian priests adopted themselves to Roman standards of Christian priesthood, they never lost their true identity.They continued worshipping Amun-Ra the Sun god secretly. For Emperor Severus,Alexander was nothing more than a conqueror. To the high priests of Amun he was actual son of god. When Emperor Severus ordered the tomb to be hidden from public view,the priests removed the body from Alexandria to an unknown place, and carved its whereabouts like an embedded code-a form of communication meant only for those who were familiar with it.
THE MISSION.
THE HUNTERS,was an elite group assembled by an enigmatic billionaire philanthropist Maurice Copeland as the main sponsor. The team consisted of Jack Cobb an ex-soldier; Josh McNutt the weapons expert; Jasmine-the Historian,; Garcia Hector -computer nerd Sara-a petty thief;and Jean-Marc Papineau acting as the intermediary between the billionaire and the hunters team. Together they were tasked with finding the tomb of Alexander.
The Hunters group learned a shocking fact that a veteran explorer and an expert in Egyptology,named Cyril Manjani, went to Bahariya Oasis,((located 180 miles southwest of Cairo-Egypt)) with his handpicked team of graduate students,searching for the hidden Alexandar's tomb in the desert.While searching for the tomb they made a remarkable discovery of an ancient settlement. When Manjani went alone to ponder the significance of the team's discovery, his team was attacked by some Cloaked men looking like shadows . These men set upon his team like bloodthirsty butchers all of a sudden and everybody was slaughtered .Cyril Manjani was the lone survivor after the murderous rampage happened to his team.
After this tragedy, Cyril Manjani sent his map of ancient Alexandria containing clues about the hidden tomb, to Petr Ulster's Archives,located at Kusendorf,Switzerland, hoping that someone might pickup the trail where Manjani left off. Jack Cobb, an ex-soldier and leader of the Hunter group, got this map from Petr during his trip to Switzerland.
The Hunters team,after their arrival in Alexandria,,set up their command center in a seventy foot, tri-level yacht which was tied offshore of the Mediterranean sea. The yacht had four stateroom, gallery and spacious lounges.The satellite and state-of-the-art communication center connected them to WWW.
Jasmine, the lone historian in the Hunters group, discovered that the ancient map of Alexandria, made note of "the gift of Neptune"which she believed,that it
referred to a well that Julius Caeser had dug into the bowels of Alexandria to ensure that his drinking water couldn't be poisoned during the Battle of Nile, by his enemies.
The need for fresh water has always been a vital concern for the people of Alexandria. Most of Egypt is a barren desert with few natural springs and the ancient inhabitants of the city had no means of utilizing the salt water of the Mediterranean sea.Fortunately, the Nile river had provided an inexhaustible source of drinking water.With the help of man made canals, the waters of Nile were diverted into cisterns located throughout ancient Alexandria. There the sediments slowly sank into the bottom leaving clean water that could sustain the entire population.
Based on the Manjani's map, Cobb and Sarah searched the entire city for a non-traditional access point to the tunnel system, which would lead them towards Julius Caeser's mysterious well, and after a long search they found one in the sub basement of an apartment building.
Jasmine firmly believed that a fortess was built to protect the well, which eventually became a Roman Temple.She also believed that the priests used the temple to hide evidence of Alexander's tomb,when the Roman emperor Severus
demanded that the records about Alexander must be destroyed because of the Emperor's loyalty towards Christianity .
Based on Jasmine's findings from the map, the Hunters group thoroughly explored the water cisterns and tunnels situated beneath the city, searching for Julius Ceaser's mysterious well and the Temple.but they didn't find any evidence of tomb's location. The Hunters team found some ancient symbols on a wall and a secret grotto nearby. Jasmine discovered that the ancient symbols indicated that Alexander's tomb was taken away from Alexandria by the priests and was hidden somewhere in the Sahara desert.
While the hunters team were exploring the tunnels under the city of Alexandria, the team's historian Jasmine was abducted by the same cloaked -shadowy men who attacked and slaughtered the Manjani's team, and entire cisterns and tunnels beneath Alaxandria was bombed and destroyed.What started as a treasure hunt quickly became a rescue mission.Jack Cobb, learned from Petr Ulster, that Cyril Manjani was hiding in Amorgas island, located 140 miles southeast of Athens, Greece, after the tragedy happened to his team.
Jack Cobb and Sarah went to the island,met Cyril Manjani personally, and asked his favour in rescuing the abducted historian Jasmine, from cloaked assassins. Cyril Manjani gladly agreed to help them. Back in Alexandria, Manjani along with Jack Cobb and Sarah,watched the video clip of the ancient wall, Jasmine took minutes before her abduction, and decoded an vital information about Alexander.
After establishing his empire,and sorting out his plans about Alexandria, King Alexander travelled to the Siwa oasis, where he visited the Temple of Oracle and learned from the priests that he himself was a god, and his father was son god Amun.Since the city of Alexandria became the target of constant natural calamities like Tsunami, and the Roman Emperors continues threat to destroy king Alexander's tomb from public view, Siwa oasis became a logical spot to hide Alexander's tomb.
After this vital information was shared by Manjani,the Hunters team now clearly understood, the real reason behind Manjani and his team searching for
Alexander's tomb in the desert instead of Alexandria city. The Hunters team fully equipped with weapons and digging equipment arrived at Siwa Oasis in Sahara desert for their final search of the Tomb.
For the past two thousand years, the desert warriors called MUHARIBS were guarding Alexander's tomb in the desert. Their devotion to King Alexander never faltered even when their city was overrun by Romans, Christians and Arabs. They had no qurrel with those who mean no harm to them. But when any outsider seek to desecrate their lands and their ancient relics in the name of "Treasure hunt"they will be met full force of their power and wiped out completely.
It was these "Muharibs" who abducted Jasmine from the water tunnels, it was them who bombed the cisterns beneath Alexandria city. It was these cloaked assassins who brutally murdered students of Manjani's team. The hunters team, in order to find the exact location of the tomb in the desert had to tackle these assassins, who were operating in large numbers in a huge bunker underneath the desert with large quantities of stored explosives.
With the help of computer nerd Garcia Hector's high-tech survelliance camera, the team found their historian Jasmine kept handcuffed at the bunker. Sarah's gallant effort to rescue Jasmine from the desert warriors ended in abrupt failure. Sarah was just a second late to enter the bunker where Jasmine was kept , resulting in her brutal death before Sarah's eyes. Jasmine was beheaded by the senior leader of the Muharib warriors.
The rage, sorrow, and the anger in losing one of their members made the hunters team, especially Sarah,to do the unthinkable. She prepared herself to kill every single assassin in the bunker. By using their own explosive semtex,Sarah blasted the foundation of the bunker. As the fire consumed the Muharibs-warriors-assassins, everyone was buried, crushed,swallowed and scorched by the collapsing terrain. Finally there was only death.
When the ambush was over, the hunters team found the tomb of Alexander the great ,in Sahara desert, at southeast of Siwa oasis. The hunters'team attributed their missions success to their dead historian Jasmine, since this significant historical achievement was possible only because of her dedication and involvement in the project.
MY COMMENT.
Riverting and relentlessly paced novel.
The author makes the readers travel towards ancient Egypt, the city of Alexandria with his fast narration and through his vibrant characters.
MY RATING : 3.5//5.
MY FAVORITE LINE FROM THE NOVEL.
Cobb knew from his experience that the wrost thing that could happen on a battlefield wasn't death;it was watching someone you cared about suffer.
CHRIS KUZNESKI
CHARACTERS :
JACK COBB, JOSH MCNUTT, JASMINE, SARAH, , CYRIL MANJANI,GARCIA HECTOR ,PAPINEAU and others.
LOCATION:
ALEXANDRIA, SIWA OASIS and BAHARIYA OASIS ----EGYPT.
GENER:THRILLER
TOTAL PAGES:548.
SYNOPSIS :
THE TOMB OF ALEXANDER.
Alexander the Great controled more than two million square miles in total. It was one of the largest empires in history.He was trained by generals and tutored by none other than Aristotle himself. Their combined efforts resulted in the most brilliant military mind in history.
Upon his death, Alexander was placed inside a coffin of hammered gold. It was then placed inside a magnificent funerary hearse that was twenty feet tall. According to legend the hearse was lined with a collection of golden bells to announce Alexandar's arrival.
His body was to be taken from Babylon -where he died- to Macedon, the place of his birth. Unfortunately the body never made it home. A Macedonian general named Ptolemy Soter directed the hearse to Egyptian city of Memphis. By seizing the body of the dead king he could legally claim rule over bulk of Alexander's empire. Many years later Potlemy's son moved the remains of Alexander to the north where he was entombed in the coastal city of Alexandria, a city named after ruler himself.
During the past two thousand years control of Alexandria has changed hands from Greeks and the Romans to the Christians and the Arabs, the city has been built and rebuilt more times in the past.
For two thousand years Alexander the Great's legendary tomb, and the extraordinary valuables within had remained hidden without any clues to locate the fabled vault.
KING ALEXANDER AS SON OF GOD.
Long before the arrival of Romans, the high priests of Amun-Ra, the almighty sun God in the Egyptian Pantheon wielded great influence in Egypt. The priests used their connection to god for much more than the spiritual growth. The Priesthood controlled areas of land as well as all of the countries ships.
After Egypt was conquered by Romans,the popularity of Christianity increased. The Egyptian priests royal life almost came to an end.They believed that only way to survive in Roman occupied Egypt, was to convert themselves to Christianity as per the wishes of Roman Emperor Severus.Though the Egyptian priests adopted themselves to Roman standards of Christian priesthood, they never lost their true identity.They continued worshipping Amun-Ra the Sun god secretly. For Emperor Severus,Alexander was nothing more than a conqueror. To the high priests of Amun he was actual son of god. When Emperor Severus ordered the tomb to be hidden from public view,the priests removed the body from Alexandria to an unknown place, and carved its whereabouts like an embedded code-a form of communication meant only for those who were familiar with it.
THE MISSION.
THE HUNTERS,was an elite group assembled by an enigmatic billionaire philanthropist Maurice Copeland as the main sponsor. The team consisted of Jack Cobb an ex-soldier; Josh McNutt the weapons expert; Jasmine-the Historian,; Garcia Hector -computer nerd Sara-a petty thief;and Jean-Marc Papineau acting as the intermediary between the billionaire and the hunters team. Together they were tasked with finding the tomb of Alexander.
The Hunters group learned a shocking fact that a veteran explorer and an expert in Egyptology,named Cyril Manjani, went to Bahariya Oasis,((located 180 miles southwest of Cairo-Egypt)) with his handpicked team of graduate students,searching for the hidden Alexandar's tomb in the desert.While searching for the tomb they made a remarkable discovery of an ancient settlement. When Manjani went alone to ponder the significance of the team's discovery, his team was attacked by some Cloaked men looking like shadows . These men set upon his team like bloodthirsty butchers all of a sudden and everybody was slaughtered .Cyril Manjani was the lone survivor after the murderous rampage happened to his team.
After this tragedy, Cyril Manjani sent his map of ancient Alexandria containing clues about the hidden tomb, to Petr Ulster's Archives,located at Kusendorf,Switzerland, hoping that someone might pickup the trail where Manjani left off. Jack Cobb, an ex-soldier and leader of the Hunter group, got this map from Petr during his trip to Switzerland.
The Hunters team,after their arrival in Alexandria,,set up their command center in a seventy foot, tri-level yacht which was tied offshore of the Mediterranean sea. The yacht had four stateroom, gallery and spacious lounges.The satellite and state-of-the-art communication center connected them to WWW.
Jasmine, the lone historian in the Hunters group, discovered that the ancient map of Alexandria, made note of "the gift of Neptune"which she believed,that it
referred to a well that Julius Caeser had dug into the bowels of Alexandria to ensure that his drinking water couldn't be poisoned during the Battle of Nile, by his enemies.
The need for fresh water has always been a vital concern for the people of Alexandria. Most of Egypt is a barren desert with few natural springs and the ancient inhabitants of the city had no means of utilizing the salt water of the Mediterranean sea.Fortunately, the Nile river had provided an inexhaustible source of drinking water.With the help of man made canals, the waters of Nile were diverted into cisterns located throughout ancient Alexandria. There the sediments slowly sank into the bottom leaving clean water that could sustain the entire population.
Based on the Manjani's map, Cobb and Sarah searched the entire city for a non-traditional access point to the tunnel system, which would lead them towards Julius Caeser's mysterious well, and after a long search they found one in the sub basement of an apartment building.
Jasmine firmly believed that a fortess was built to protect the well, which eventually became a Roman Temple.She also believed that the priests used the temple to hide evidence of Alexander's tomb,when the Roman emperor Severus
demanded that the records about Alexander must be destroyed because of the Emperor's loyalty towards Christianity .
Based on Jasmine's findings from the map, the Hunters group thoroughly explored the water cisterns and tunnels situated beneath the city, searching for Julius Ceaser's mysterious well and the Temple.but they didn't find any evidence of tomb's location. The Hunters team found some ancient symbols on a wall and a secret grotto nearby. Jasmine discovered that the ancient symbols indicated that Alexander's tomb was taken away from Alexandria by the priests and was hidden somewhere in the Sahara desert.
While the hunters team were exploring the tunnels under the city of Alexandria, the team's historian Jasmine was abducted by the same cloaked -shadowy men who attacked and slaughtered the Manjani's team, and entire cisterns and tunnels beneath Alaxandria was bombed and destroyed.What started as a treasure hunt quickly became a rescue mission.Jack Cobb, learned from Petr Ulster, that Cyril Manjani was hiding in Amorgas island, located 140 miles southeast of Athens, Greece, after the tragedy happened to his team.
Jack Cobb and Sarah went to the island,met Cyril Manjani personally, and asked his favour in rescuing the abducted historian Jasmine, from cloaked assassins. Cyril Manjani gladly agreed to help them. Back in Alexandria, Manjani along with Jack Cobb and Sarah,watched the video clip of the ancient wall, Jasmine took minutes before her abduction, and decoded an vital information about Alexander.
After establishing his empire,and sorting out his plans about Alexandria, King Alexander travelled to the Siwa oasis, where he visited the Temple of Oracle and learned from the priests that he himself was a god, and his father was son god Amun.Since the city of Alexandria became the target of constant natural calamities like Tsunami, and the Roman Emperors continues threat to destroy king Alexander's tomb from public view, Siwa oasis became a logical spot to hide Alexander's tomb.
After this vital information was shared by Manjani,the Hunters team now clearly understood, the real reason behind Manjani and his team searching for
Alexander's tomb in the desert instead of Alexandria city. The Hunters team fully equipped with weapons and digging equipment arrived at Siwa Oasis in Sahara desert for their final search of the Tomb.
For the past two thousand years, the desert warriors called MUHARIBS were guarding Alexander's tomb in the desert. Their devotion to King Alexander never faltered even when their city was overrun by Romans, Christians and Arabs. They had no qurrel with those who mean no harm to them. But when any outsider seek to desecrate their lands and their ancient relics in the name of "Treasure hunt"they will be met full force of their power and wiped out completely.
It was these "Muharibs" who abducted Jasmine from the water tunnels, it was them who bombed the cisterns beneath Alexandria city. It was these cloaked assassins who brutally murdered students of Manjani's team. The hunters team, in order to find the exact location of the tomb in the desert had to tackle these assassins, who were operating in large numbers in a huge bunker underneath the desert with large quantities of stored explosives.
With the help of computer nerd Garcia Hector's high-tech survelliance camera, the team found their historian Jasmine kept handcuffed at the bunker. Sarah's gallant effort to rescue Jasmine from the desert warriors ended in abrupt failure. Sarah was just a second late to enter the bunker where Jasmine was kept , resulting in her brutal death before Sarah's eyes. Jasmine was beheaded by the senior leader of the Muharib warriors.
The rage, sorrow, and the anger in losing one of their members made the hunters team, especially Sarah,to do the unthinkable. She prepared herself to kill every single assassin in the bunker. By using their own explosive semtex,Sarah blasted the foundation of the bunker. As the fire consumed the Muharibs-warriors-assassins, everyone was buried, crushed,swallowed and scorched by the collapsing terrain. Finally there was only death.
When the ambush was over, the hunters team found the tomb of Alexander the great ,in Sahara desert, at southeast of Siwa oasis. The hunters'team attributed their missions success to their dead historian Jasmine, since this significant historical achievement was possible only because of her dedication and involvement in the project.
MY COMMENT.
Riverting and relentlessly paced novel.
The author makes the readers travel towards ancient Egypt, the city of Alexandria with his fast narration and through his vibrant characters.
MY RATING : 3.5//5.
MY FAVORITE LINE FROM THE NOVEL.
Cobb knew from his experience that the wrost thing that could happen on a battlefield wasn't death;it was watching someone you cared about suffer.
December 1, 2016
The Hunters by Chris Kuzneski
3.5★'s
THE TEAM:
Financed by a billionaire philanthropist, this elite team—a soldier, an historian, a computer whiz, a weapons expert, and a thief—is tasked with finding the world’s most legendary treasures.
THE MISSION:
Fearing a German victory in WWI, the Romanian government signed a deal with Russia to protect the country’s treasures. In 1916, two trains full of gold and the most precious possessions of the Romanian state—paintings, jewelry, and ancient artifacts—were sent to the underground vaults of the Kremlin. But in the turmoil of war, the Romanian treasure was scattered and lost.
THE PRIZE:
The collection is now valued at over $3.5 billion. Despite several attempts to find it, its location has remained a mystery…until now.
From The Book:
THE TEAM:
Financed by a billionaire philanthropist, this elite team—a soldier, an historian, a computer whiz, a weapons expert, and a thief—is tasked with finding the world’s most legendary treasures.
THE MISSION:
Fearing a German victory in WWI, the Romanian government signed a deal with Russia to protect the country’s treasures. In 1916, two trains full of gold and the most precious possessions of the Romanian state—paintings, jewelry, and ancient artifacts—were sent to the underground vaults of the Kremlin. But in the turmoil of war, the Romanian treasure was scattered and lost.
THE PRIZE:
The collection is now valued at over $3.5 billion. Despite several attempts to find it, its location has remained a mystery…until now.
My Thoughts:
In order for a the reader to have a visual in their minds of what is taking place on the page, the author needs to be able to provide enough dialog for this picture to form since there is no wide screen TV. This didn't happen in this book. Lots of action...almost too much if that is possible...but not enough interaction among the characters for the reader to get the "why" this was happening.
The "Team" was composed of a mix of personalities that had never worked together before. This is fine in the office but when you are planning to steal a treasure that more than one group of people are willing to kill you to keep....this is far from ideal. Of course these are strong minded stubborn types for the most part, with a computer nerd and a translator that the author was actually thinking we would buy that she learned to drive a train just from watching the old engineer...who was one of the best characters in the book by the way.
The book received the half-star because I read with a group where we took the book in sections and each person added there comments. Seeing the others perspective on the story let me see the story from a different angle. I really like this author and have read others of his books and enjoyed them immensely. I enjoyed this one more because of the group I read it with. Anyone who likes non-stop action thrillers combined with lots of history will love this book.
3.5★'s
THE TEAM:
Financed by a billionaire philanthropist, this elite team—a soldier, an historian, a computer whiz, a weapons expert, and a thief—is tasked with finding the world’s most legendary treasures.
THE MISSION:
Fearing a German victory in WWI, the Romanian government signed a deal with Russia to protect the country’s treasures. In 1916, two trains full of gold and the most precious possessions of the Romanian state—paintings, jewelry, and ancient artifacts—were sent to the underground vaults of the Kremlin. But in the turmoil of war, the Romanian treasure was scattered and lost.
THE PRIZE:
The collection is now valued at over $3.5 billion. Despite several attempts to find it, its location has remained a mystery…until now.
From The Book:
THE TEAM:
Financed by a billionaire philanthropist, this elite team—a soldier, an historian, a computer whiz, a weapons expert, and a thief—is tasked with finding the world’s most legendary treasures.
THE MISSION:
Fearing a German victory in WWI, the Romanian government signed a deal with Russia to protect the country’s treasures. In 1916, two trains full of gold and the most precious possessions of the Romanian state—paintings, jewelry, and ancient artifacts—were sent to the underground vaults of the Kremlin. But in the turmoil of war, the Romanian treasure was scattered and lost.
THE PRIZE:
The collection is now valued at over $3.5 billion. Despite several attempts to find it, its location has remained a mystery…until now.
My Thoughts:
In order for a the reader to have a visual in their minds of what is taking place on the page, the author needs to be able to provide enough dialog for this picture to form since there is no wide screen TV. This didn't happen in this book. Lots of action...almost too much if that is possible...but not enough interaction among the characters for the reader to get the "why" this was happening.
The "Team" was composed of a mix of personalities that had never worked together before. This is fine in the office but when you are planning to steal a treasure that more than one group of people are willing to kill you to keep....this is far from ideal. Of course these are strong minded stubborn types for the most part, with a computer nerd and a translator that the author was actually thinking we would buy that she learned to drive a train just from watching the old engineer...who was one of the best characters in the book by the way.
The book received the half-star because I read with a group where we took the book in sections and each person added there comments. Seeing the others perspective on the story let me see the story from a different angle. I really like this author and have read others of his books and enjoyed them immensely. I enjoyed this one more because of the group I read it with. Anyone who likes non-stop action thrillers combined with lots of history will love this book.
May 18, 2014
Having read the first in this new series i was really looking forward ti this sequel and I was certainly not disappointed. This time we see the team given a ancient map to enable the search for Alexanders Lost Tomb.The action is non stop with a number of twists and turns and a few shocks on the way. Great to see mention of Payne and Jones and their associates, I have a feeling we could witness a fantastic crossover novel in the future. Please hurry on the next in this fantastic series
June 9, 2014
Second instalment in Chris Kuzneski's "The Hunters" series and this time the team has been set the task of locating the long lost tomb of Alexander the Great. There are a host of bad guys on their tail and one of the hunters will not survive their particularly nasty attentions which was a plot twist that I did not see coming. Overall the book was an enjoyable, fast paced read that will really please Alexander the Great buffs as well as those interested in the tumultuous history of Cairo.
September 11, 2023
For someone who doesn’t usually have much of an interest in history, this book made me REALLY want to continue learning about ancient history.
This book puts you through all the same roller coasters that an adventure novel would normally provide, but gives you a history lesson while doing so, and it’s not boring!!
My previous criticism of the writing style is virtually non-existent in this book as it did not give me any trouble whilst reading through.
I cannot wait to start book #3
This book puts you through all the same roller coasters that an adventure novel would normally provide, but gives you a history lesson while doing so, and it’s not boring!!
My previous criticism of the writing style is virtually non-existent in this book as it did not give me any trouble whilst reading through.
I cannot wait to start book #3
March 9, 2016
The book builds on the first and CK takes a risk at the end. The team grow and shrink at the same time. We learn a little more of the puppet master and the probable sequels. If you enjoy reading some action spun with historical mystery then jump in.
August 22, 2016
Fast paced, funny, thrilling and I did not want to put it down. Can't wait to read the next one.
November 30, 2024
Όσα χρόνια κι αν περάσουν, ο Μέγας Αλέξανδρος (θα) εξακολουθεί εμπνέει εκπροσώπους των τεχνών και των γραμμάτων. Εδώ, εμπνέει τον Chris Kuzneski να γράψει ένα (ακόμα) μυθιστόρημα γεμάτο δράση και περιπέτεια, με μια (ακόμα) ομάδα από ετερόκλητα μέλη, όλοι άψογοι επαγγελματίες στον τομέα τους, με σκοπό την αναζήτηση (για μια ακόμα φορά) του χαμένου τάφου του.
Πολλές παρενθέσεις σε λίγες σειρές, επειδή η ιστορία αυτή έχει (ξανά)ειπωθεί δεν θυμάμαι πόσες φορές. Ειδικά στην ξένη βιβλιογραφία, κάθε συγγραφέας που σέβεται τον εαυτό του και γράφει τέτοιου τύπου περιπετειώδεις ιστορίες, με αναζητήσεις χαμένων θησαυρών, μυθικών αντικειμένων, ιστορικών τοποθεσιών κτλ. πιθανόν να επιχειρήσει να γράψει κάτι και για τον τάφο του Μ. Αλεξάνδρου. Νομίζω πως, μαζί με την αναζήτηση της Ατλαντίδας, είναι στο τοπ των προτιμήσεών τους, μιας και το υλικό που προσφέρεται για να δουλέψει κανείς είναι άπειρο.
Ο Kuzneski εμπνέεται από τον χαμένο τάφο του μεγάλου στρατηλάτη, λοιπόν, και στήνει την ιστορία του με όλα τα κλισέ που θα περίμενε κανείς: ο χαμένος θρυλικός τάφος του Αλέξανδρου, ένας πάμπλουτος επιχειρηματίας/χρηματοδότης, μια ομάδα που αποτελείται από συγκεκριμένες κατηγορίες ατόμων: απαραιτήτως ένας πρώην αξιωματικός του αμερικα��ικού στρατού, μια πρώην πράκτορας της CIA, μια έμπειρη αρχαιολόγος, μια τεχνολογική διάνοια, ένας τύπος εξπέρ στα όπλα, "ψημένος" σε δύσκολες καταστάσεις και με γνωριμίες που κανείς λογικός άνθρωπος δεν θα ήθελε να έχει πάρε-δώσε. Με κίνητρο ξεκάθαρα τα χρήματα, αυτή η ομάδα ακολουθεί τα ιστορικά -και όχι μόνο- ίχνη και μαρτυρίες που θα τους οδηγήσουν στην ανακάλυψη ενός από τα μεγαλύτερα μυστήρια της σύγχρονης -και όχι μόνο, ξανά- αρχαιολογίας: την ακριβή τοποθεσία του τάφου του Μ. Αλεξάνδρου. Φυσικά, η πορεία τους δεν είναι στρωμένη με ροδοπέταλα, αλλά με άπειρα εμπόδια και επικίνδυνους εχθρούς, που θα κάνουν τα πάντα προκειμένου να τους εμποδίσουν...
Με φόντο την Αίγυπτο, και ιδιαίτερα την Αλεξάνδρεια, ο συγγραφέας στήνει τα πιόνια του και το αφηγηματικό παιχνίδι ξεκινά. Ένα παιχνίδι που έχουν παίξει και πολλοί άλλοι ομότεχνοί του, με μεγαλύτερη, μικρότερη ή παρόμοια επιτυχία, και που οι αναγνώστες σίγουρα έχουν ξαναδεί. Επομένως, πώς μπορεί να κερδίσει το στοίχημα των εντυπώσεων και να κρατήσει το ενδιαφέρον των αναγνωστών αμείωτο;
Με μια ικανοποιητικά στημένη πλοκή, με συνεχείς ανατροπές, με ενδιαφέρουσες περιγραφές, με σπιρτόζους διαλόγους, με σωστή και προσεκτική χρήση των ιστορικών πηγών, ώστε από τη μία να τις σέβεται απόλυτα ως προς την ορθότητά τους και από την άλλη να τις εντάσσει στο πλαίσιο του μυθιστορήματος έτσι ώστε να παρατίθενται χωρίς αυτό να θυμίζει πανεπιστημιακή διάλεξη. Μοιραία, θα έλεγα, ο Kuzneski κινείται στον χώρο της Αιγύπτου και της Αλεξάνδρειας, αφού η συντριπτική πλειοψηφία τόσο των πηγών όσο και των αρχαιολόγων τοποθετεί εκεί τον τάφο. Επομένως, στήνει γύρω από τα ιστορικά και μη αμφισβητήσιμα δεδομένα τη φανταστική πλοκή του και ο συνδυασμός είναι επιτυχημένος, από την αρχή ως το τέλος.
Το βιβλίο αυτό είναι το δεύτερο της σειράς με τους συγκεκριμένους ήρωες, αλλά διαβάζεται μια χαρά και αυτόνομο. Είναι ένα απολύτως "τίμιο" ανάγνωσμα και προσφέρει ό,τι ακριβώς υπόσχεται. Να μη νομίσει ο αναγνώστης που θα το επιλέξει πως θα διαβάσει κάτι εξαιρετικά πρωτότυπο, κάτι που δεν έχει δει και σε άλλα βιβλία με παρόμοια υπόθεση. Αλλά να είναι σίγουρος πως θα περάσει εξαιρετικά διαβάζοντάς το, θα ταξιδέψει μαζί με τους ήρωες, θα μοιραστεί τις αγωνίες και τα συναισθήματά τους, θα τους ακολουθήσει βήμα-βήμα στην αναζήτησή τους και θα περάσει μερικές πολύ ωραίες και ευχάριστες ώρες, μέχρι να φτάσει στην τελευταία σελίδα.
Πολλές παρενθέσεις σε λίγες σειρές, επειδή η ιστορία αυτή έχει (ξανά)ειπωθεί δεν θυμάμαι πόσες φορές. Ειδικά στην ξένη βιβλιογραφία, κάθε συγγραφέας που σέβεται τον εαυτό του και γράφει τέτοιου τύπου περιπετειώδεις ιστορίες, με αναζητήσεις χαμένων θησαυρών, μυθικών αντικειμένων, ιστορικών τοποθεσιών κτλ. πιθανόν να επιχειρήσει να γράψει κάτι και για τον τάφο του Μ. Αλεξάνδρου. Νομίζω πως, μαζί με την αναζήτηση της Ατλαντίδας, είναι στο τοπ των προτιμήσεών τους, μιας και το υλικό που προσφέρεται για να δουλέψει κανείς είναι άπειρο.
Ο Kuzneski εμπνέεται από τον χαμένο τάφο του μεγάλου στρατηλάτη, λοιπόν, και στήνει την ιστορία του με όλα τα κλισέ που θα περίμενε κανείς: ο χαμένος θρυλικός τάφος του Αλέξανδρου, ένας πάμπλουτος επιχειρηματίας/χρηματοδότης, μια ομάδα που αποτελείται από συγκεκριμένες κατηγορίες ατόμων: απαραιτήτως ένας πρώην αξιωματικός του αμερικα��ικού στρατού, μια πρώην πράκτορας της CIA, μια έμπειρη αρχαιολόγος, μια τεχνολογική διάνοια, ένας τύπος εξπέρ στα όπλα, "ψημένος" σε δύσκολες καταστάσεις και με γνωριμίες που κανείς λογικός άνθρωπος δεν θα ήθελε να έχει πάρε-δώσε. Με κίνητρο ξεκάθαρα τα χρήματα, αυτή η ομάδα ακολουθεί τα ιστορικά -και όχι μόνο- ίχνη και μαρτυρίες που θα τους οδηγήσουν στην ανακάλυψη ενός από τα μεγαλύτερα μυστήρια της σύγχρονης -και όχι μόνο, ξανά- αρχαιολογίας: την ακριβή τοποθεσία του τάφου του Μ. Αλεξάνδρου. Φυσικά, η πορεία τους δεν είναι στρωμένη με ροδοπέταλα, αλλά με άπειρα εμπόδια και επικίνδυνους εχθρούς, που θα κάνουν τα πάντα προκειμένου να τους εμποδίσουν...
Με φόντο την Αίγυπτο, και ιδιαίτερα την Αλεξάνδρεια, ο συγγραφέας στήνει τα πιόνια του και το αφηγηματικό παιχνίδι ξεκινά. Ένα παιχνίδι που έχουν παίξει και πολλοί άλλοι ομότεχνοί του, με μεγαλύτερη, μικρότερη ή παρόμοια επιτυχία, και που οι αναγνώστες σίγουρα έχουν ξαναδεί. Επομένως, πώς μπορεί να κερδίσει το στοίχημα των εντυπώσεων και να κρατήσει το ενδιαφέρον των αναγνωστών αμείωτο;
Με μια ικανοποιητικά στημένη πλοκή, με συνεχείς ανατροπές, με ενδιαφέρουσες περιγραφές, με σπιρτόζους διαλόγους, με σωστή και προσεκτική χρήση των ιστορικών πηγών, ώστε από τη μία να τις σέβεται απόλυτα ως προς την ορθότητά τους και από την άλλη να τις εντάσσει στο πλαίσιο του μυθιστορήματος έτσι ώστε να παρατίθενται χωρίς αυτό να θυμίζει πανεπιστημιακή διάλεξη. Μοιραία, θα έλεγα, ο Kuzneski κινείται στον χώρο της Αιγύπτου και της Αλεξάνδρειας, αφού η συντριπτική πλειοψηφία τόσο των πηγών όσο και των αρχαιολόγων τοποθετεί εκεί τον τάφο. Επομένως, στήνει γύρω από τα ιστορικά και μη αμφισβητήσιμα δεδομένα τη φανταστική πλοκή του και ο συνδυασμός είναι επιτυχημένος, από την αρχή ως το τέλος.
Το βιβλίο αυτό είναι το δεύτερο της σειράς με τους συγκεκριμένους ήρωες, αλλά διαβάζεται μια χαρά και αυτόνομο. Είναι ένα απολύτως "τίμιο" ανάγνωσμα και προσφέρει ό,τι ακριβώς υπόσχεται. Να μη νομίσει ο αναγνώστης που θα το επιλέξει πως θα διαβάσει κάτι εξαιρετικά πρωτότυπο, κάτι που δεν έχει δει και σε άλλα βιβλία με παρόμοια υπόθεση. Αλλά να είναι σίγουρος πως θα περάσει εξαιρετικά διαβάζοντάς το, θα ταξιδέψει μαζί με τους ήρωες, θα μοιραστεί τις αγωνίες και τα συναισθήματά τους, θα τους ακολουθήσει βήμα-βήμα στην αναζήτησή τους και θα περάσει μερικές πολύ ωραίες και ευχάριστες ώρες, μέχρι να φτάσει στην τελευταία σελίδα.
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September 12, 2021🗡️The tomb of one the most celebrated conquerors in World History, Alexander The Great, laid hidden from the eyes of the World for nearly 2000 years. Every attempt by Historians, archeologists or travellers to find it not only went into vain but their sheer existence was rubbed off by the fellow guardians of tomb. ⚰️
The Hunters, group of 5 eminent and adventure-hungry people all backed up by a billionaire, sets off to discover the Tomb of Alexander for a whooping sum of $5 billion. Careful as to not to become 'Fools of Alexander' , the group fights tooth and nail to get what they seek.
🗝️ From the cisterns in the underground city of Alexandria to the Western Desert of Egypt, from enjoying a leisure time on the yatch to nearing their death by explosives, from the McNutt's enjoyable humour to him open firing on the enemies- the ride surely was an enjoyable and nerve-racking ! 🤩
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The reason I liked this book is same as the first one, McNutt's humor, Cobb's brain behind the operations and thrilling storyline being the gist of it.
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The history of Alexandar, his life and his after-death scenarios has been explained in detail which was totally fun and good-to-know stuff.
💡If you're amidst a reading-slump, I would highly recommend you to pick the book from this series!
The Hunters, group of 5 eminent and adventure-hungry people all backed up by a billionaire, sets off to discover the Tomb of Alexander for a whooping sum of $5 billion. Careful as to not to become 'Fools of Alexander' , the group fights tooth and nail to get what they seek.
🗝️ From the cisterns in the underground city of Alexandria to the Western Desert of Egypt, from enjoying a leisure time on the yatch to nearing their death by explosives, from the McNutt's enjoyable humour to him open firing on the enemies- the ride surely was an enjoyable and nerve-racking ! 🤩
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The reason I liked this book is same as the first one, McNutt's humor, Cobb's brain behind the operations and thrilling storyline being the gist of it.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The history of Alexandar, his life and his after-death scenarios has been explained in detail which was totally fun and good-to-know stuff.
💡If you're amidst a reading-slump, I would highly recommend you to pick the book from this series!
August 22, 2018
I quite enjoy Clive Cussler or Matthew Reilly as an occasional guilty pleasure in between my usual reading style, and started reading this and getting the same vibe (it's the first book I've read by this author). However, soon the characters all seemed criminal and arrogant - they're simply treasure-hunting for monetary reward, not saving the world or otherwise engaging in a noble purpose, and seem to think themselves completely justified to be rampaging, vandalising, destroying and killing a foreign country's treasures and citizens. Imagine the reverse scenario - let's say there's a group of Chinese/Russian/Saudi (take your pick) criminals trying to find an original copy of the US Bill of Rights (or pick whatever treasure is more meaningful to you), destroy historical US buildings/ the Statue of Liberty/ Mount Rushmore in the process, and kill the secret guardians safeguarding this national treasure. Are our Chinese group the heroes of the story? Hell no! So why are the hunters the heroes/ heroines of this story?!
Was only going to go for two stars, not one, until a rather gruesome and unnecessary death took place.
Was only going to go for two stars, not one, until a rather gruesome and unnecessary death took place.
September 29, 2018
Everyone thought the previous task has completed but they were about to go to Egypt for another mission in search of the lost tomb of a great king that has been lost for for two thousand years and people has been looking for the tomb for centuries none came with clues of its location. Cobb once again led the group to find the lost tomb. Using ancient map entrusted to Cobb earlier, with the help of new technology and the helps from suspicious outsiders, the search has begun. What they don’t know is they have alerted a group who has guarded the tomb’s secrecy for thousands of years. The guardian will do anything to protect the tomb and their belief. Slowly the location of the tomb of a great king revealed itself. The mission was only a clue to yet another bigger one.
January 23, 2019
Chris Kuzneski is quickly becoming one of my favorite writers when it comes to adventure stories. This is the second part of the series and it is just as nice to read as the first part was. I really enjoyed how it balanced the different characters and their personalities. It was also very nice to see how everyone fit together nicely as team.
The first few pages were to introduce the story and when chapter 1 started with McNutt i almost could not stop laughing. Of the whole team he is probably the most insane/sane person who loves shooting at things. It is quite impressive how Cobb keeps control of the whole team and is an actual leader as they all are very different.
I was a little upset with the ending but somehow it was needed for the story and development of the characters.
The first few pages were to introduce the story and when chapter 1 started with McNutt i almost could not stop laughing. Of the whole team he is probably the most insane/sane person who loves shooting at things. It is quite impressive how Cobb keeps control of the whole team and is an actual leader as they all are very different.
I was a little upset with the ending but somehow it was needed for the story and development of the characters.
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