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Nina Wilde & Eddie Chase #10
Kingdom of Darkness
The last survivors of history's most evil regime have been hiding out in a remote corner of the globe, waiting for their moment to return. Now it has come, and only Nina Wilde and Eddie Chase can stop them...
In the tenth explosive Wilde/Chase adventure, Nina and Eddie are sought out by a young man, desperate to warn them about a planned raid on the newly-discovered tomb of Alexander the Great in Egypt. But before he can explain more, he is assassinated by a wanted Nazi war criminal - who has barely aged in seventy years.
As Nina and Eddie search for answers, they discover that the followers of Adolf Hitler are threatening to rise again. But the Nazis seek more than just power. They are also hunting for the greatest prize of all - immortality...
In the tenth explosive Wilde/Chase adventure, Nina and Eddie are sought out by a young man, desperate to warn them about a planned raid on the newly-discovered tomb of Alexander the Great in Egypt. But before he can explain more, he is assassinated by a wanted Nazi war criminal - who has barely aged in seventy years.
As Nina and Eddie search for answers, they discover that the followers of Adolf Hitler are threatening to rise again. But the Nazis seek more than just power. They are also hunting for the greatest prize of all - immortality...
528 pages, Hardcover
First published August 28, 2014
180 people are currently reading
2119 people want to read
About the author
Andy McDermott
59 books1,250 followersAndy McDermott was born in Halifax, West Yorkshire, and now lives in Bournemouth. As a journalist and magazine editor, amongst other titles he edited DVD Review and the iconoclastic film publication Hotdog. Andy is now a full-time writer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews
September 5, 2023
Nina and Eddie are visited by a young man who warns them about a planned raid on the newly-discovered tomb of Alexander the Great in Egypt. But before he can explain more, he is assassinated by a wanted Nazi war criminal who seems to have barely aged in seventy years. Nina’s dying, but her passion for history triumphs as she convinces her husband Eddie to take on one last mission together.
History is so much more interesting than the boring and useless facts that got shoved down my throat when I was in school. And this series is another example of that. History can be so entertaining when you tell it right. Some of the most popular stories ever written, like Game of Thrones for example, are based on or are inspired by our history. Because that’s what history is: a collection of stories. And everyone loves a good story! History classes in school should be all about getting kids excited about history, not mindlessly regurgitating some facts nobody really cares about. And what this series does well is telling a story. It makes history so much easier to understand compared to a dry history textbook. And this just makes for a more interesting and enjoyable read.
It’s an action-packed treasure hunt full of quick little history lessons along the way. This story revolves around the Alexander Romance, an account of the life and exploits of Alexander the Great. It’s a mostly romanticized and fictional story built around a true historical core. The premise of this story is: what if some of those fictional and fantastical elements were real? Which honestly is a fascinating concept.
This story is elevated by the fact that Nina is now dying, so the protagonists think this will be her final mission. Though because we already know from the start that they’re trying to stop a bad guy who’s found a magical Fountain of Youth kind of water which can cure all diseases, it kind of negates the tension that was elevated because of her disease.
It’s been a while since I last visited this series, so it feels more fresh than it did last time around. And the historic parts are bountiful and quite fascinating, which does help a lot. It also shows that the characters are ready to move on and take their relationship to the next level. It’s book number ten in the series, so it’s really nice that the author’s trying to shake things up a little bit in terms of the characters instead of playing it safe by sticking to the status quo. I also really love the cheeky little reference to the first Indiana Jones movie, Raiders of the Lost Ark. Though it still feels like this series has become a bit too predictable in terms of plot, as the stories are pretty formulaic.
Overall, another solid installment in the series. It’s a very fast-paced and action-packed read.
History is so much more interesting than the boring and useless facts that got shoved down my throat when I was in school. And this series is another example of that. History can be so entertaining when you tell it right. Some of the most popular stories ever written, like Game of Thrones for example, are based on or are inspired by our history. Because that’s what history is: a collection of stories. And everyone loves a good story! History classes in school should be all about getting kids excited about history, not mindlessly regurgitating some facts nobody really cares about. And what this series does well is telling a story. It makes history so much easier to understand compared to a dry history textbook. And this just makes for a more interesting and enjoyable read.
It’s an action-packed treasure hunt full of quick little history lessons along the way. This story revolves around the Alexander Romance, an account of the life and exploits of Alexander the Great. It’s a mostly romanticized and fictional story built around a true historical core. The premise of this story is: what if some of those fictional and fantastical elements were real? Which honestly is a fascinating concept.
This story is elevated by the fact that Nina is now dying, so the protagonists think this will be her final mission. Though because we already know from the start that they’re trying to stop a bad guy who’s found a magical Fountain of Youth kind of water which can cure all diseases, it kind of negates the tension that was elevated because of her disease.
It’s been a while since I last visited this series, so it feels more fresh than it did last time around. And the historic parts are bountiful and quite fascinating, which does help a lot. It also shows that the characters are ready to move on and take their relationship to the next level. It’s book number ten in the series, so it’s really nice that the author’s trying to shake things up a little bit in terms of the characters instead of playing it safe by sticking to the status quo. I also really love the cheeky little reference to the first Indiana Jones movie, Raiders of the Lost Ark. Though it still feels like this series has become a bit too predictable in terms of plot, as the stories are pretty formulaic.
Overall, another solid installment in the series. It’s a very fast-paced and action-packed read.
May 13, 2015
In this episode of the Nina Chase and Eddie Wilde series, we find these two trying to beat the Nazis (yes - the Nazis) from finding Alexander the Great’s Spring of Immortality.
I absolutely adore Nina and Eddie! Eddie has that delightfully dry British wit and Nina brings the brains to the team. Because Nina is an archaeologist, these stories teach me something about history. The two of them together always seem to get caught up in some dark escapade that involves action, action, action!
I find these stories to be fast paced and entertaining. I’m always looking forward to the next book just to see what I will learn and what craziness Nina and Eddie will be involved in next.
My thanks to Random House - Bantam Dell, via Netgalley, for allowing me to read this in exchange for an unbiased review.
I absolutely adore Nina and Eddie! Eddie has that delightfully dry British wit and Nina brings the brains to the team. Because Nina is an archaeologist, these stories teach me something about history. The two of them together always seem to get caught up in some dark escapade that involves action, action, action!
I find these stories to be fast paced and entertaining. I’m always looking forward to the next book just to see what I will learn and what craziness Nina and Eddie will be involved in next.
My thanks to Random House - Bantam Dell, via Netgalley, for allowing me to read this in exchange for an unbiased review.
June 3, 2015
I won this book as a book giveaway on first reads. This was the
first time I ever heard of this author and I was very impressed
and surprised how good this book was, it was action packed and
an excellent thriller.
The author reminded me a lot of Clive Cussler due to this being an adventure thriller and also Dan Brown because you learn a lot about Alexander The Great and his tomb, which was very interesting.
This is the tenth book in the Nina Wilde and Eddie Chase series. I
will definitely be reading the rest of the series, starting with
book 1. I would say that the tenth book was kind of a stand alone
because I was definitely not confused or lost while I read it.
Nina Wilde is an archeologist and Eddie Chase is an ex-SAS soldier.
They are husband and wife and Eddie is her body guard. This is an adventure thriller and Eddie and Nina are being chased by the Nazi's
due to the knowledge Nina has about Alexander The Great's Tomb. They
have a near death experience from the near beginning of the book.
Nina and Eddie are asked to help with the opening of the tomb, they are being chased by the Nazis because they are wanting a relic from the tomb.
They need it because it will lead to them to the Spring of Immortality.
This thriller is action packed. Nina is actually kidnapped, and Eddie and the Mossads need to rescue Nina and make sure the Nazi's don't find the Spring of Immortality before they do.
This book is an awesome thrill ride I had to put the book down a couple
of times just to catch my breath because of all the action.
first time I ever heard of this author and I was very impressed
and surprised how good this book was, it was action packed and
an excellent thriller.
The author reminded me a lot of Clive Cussler due to this being an adventure thriller and also Dan Brown because you learn a lot about Alexander The Great and his tomb, which was very interesting.
This is the tenth book in the Nina Wilde and Eddie Chase series. I
will definitely be reading the rest of the series, starting with
book 1. I would say that the tenth book was kind of a stand alone
because I was definitely not confused or lost while I read it.
Nina Wilde is an archeologist and Eddie Chase is an ex-SAS soldier.
They are husband and wife and Eddie is her body guard. This is an adventure thriller and Eddie and Nina are being chased by the Nazi's
due to the knowledge Nina has about Alexander The Great's Tomb. They
have a near death experience from the near beginning of the book.
Nina and Eddie are asked to help with the opening of the tomb, they are being chased by the Nazis because they are wanting a relic from the tomb.
They need it because it will lead to them to the Spring of Immortality.
This thriller is action packed. Nina is actually kidnapped, and Eddie and the Mossads need to rescue Nina and make sure the Nazi's don't find the Spring of Immortality before they do.
This book is an awesome thrill ride I had to put the book down a couple
of times just to catch my breath because of all the action.
May 30, 2015
I won this book as a book giveaway on first reads. My rating is 4.5 stars! Review to come shortly!
November 21, 2025
Kingdom of Darkness is my first adventure in the Nina Wilde and Eddie Chase world and I was shocked and amazed by this unexpected adventure.
Hooked from the start, this non-stop, action packed plot that is riddled with intrigue and mystery was a spectacular read.
I reveled in the historical aspects and devoured the paranormal twists.
I loved how McDermott pours his imagination into this artifact based thriller that sends our characters globe trotting around the world.
This is my first read by Andy McDermott but it won't be my last.
I received this copy of Kingdom of Darkness from Random House - Dell in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication April 28, 2015.
Hooked from the start, this non-stop, action packed plot that is riddled with intrigue and mystery was a spectacular read.
I reveled in the historical aspects and devoured the paranormal twists.
I loved how McDermott pours his imagination into this artifact based thriller that sends our characters globe trotting around the world.
This is my first read by Andy McDermott but it won't be my last.
I received this copy of Kingdom of Darkness from Random House - Dell in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication April 28, 2015.
May 5, 2015
Book number 10! It was definitely packed with non-stop action and is full of ancient history quite befitting our characters of Nina Wilde and Eddie Chase. You will find our characters skipping over multiple continents to find answers to what is going about why someone was trying to kill Nina. Do not forget that Nina is already dying from the exposure to the Eitir. You have to read the book to learn all about the Spring of Immortality.
October 19, 2016
I just absolutely love treasure hunt stories and Andy McDermott doesn't disappoint. I've read one other book in this series. It looks like I need to read them in order if I am to invest any time in the main characters but this could be a stand alone if you don't much care for the personal sides of these two brave souls. Some of the 'action' is pretty far fetched but that is why they call it fiction! A great read about Alexander the Great, and the Spring of Immortality.
September 26, 2020
This is such a fun book!! It’s like Dan Brown meets James Bond ! It’s all about archeological puzzles and has enough of action to seem like a spy thriller. This is the first book I have read of the author and it’s obvious I am gonna get my hands on more of these . Nina Wilde and Eddie chase get roped into one of the Egyptian digs . When they reach there they realise they are also being followed by Mossad agents who are looking for Nazi war criminals. Nina gets kidnapped to Argentina by these same Nazi war criminals , who should hve been dead by now but appear not a day over forty. Read the book to go on an action packed adventure with Nina and Eddie !
February 19, 2016
I absolutely hate Wilde & Chase for what they do to the ancient monument, treasures that they discover; but I always come back wanting to read their next adventure. Andy McDermott has got the balance perfect in catching my interest and holding it throughout Wilde & Chase's multiple adventures all through these years.
The Kingdom of Darkness involved immortality in the form of an chemically amalgamated water deep in the mountains of Iran which was discovered by Alexander without recognizing it's importance and then rediscovered by his cook Andreas who left behind clues in his fantasy novel Alexander Romance for his descendants to follow.
A minor part of those clues end up at the hands of hidden group of Nazis who emerge from woodwork 70 years after WW 2, looking like 40 year old and wanting to replenish their dwindling source of water forever, this time be finding the source and using it to establish a New Reich.
The plot is the usual Wilde & Chase story, Wilde gets kidnapped, Chase rescues... this time though there is an added element of doom around Wilde as she was poisoned by the eitr at the end of the last novel. It is said that true character is revealed under duress, sadly Wilde disappoints, her constant woe is me, I'm gonna die sometimes gets on the nerves.
Chase tries his best to keep her motivated, but it is soon clear that Wilde is one of life's takers. She's always wants things to go her way, at her command, at her will. I did not like her much in this one, she came across as selfish and plain bitchy... One of the more redeeming qualities was, once they were in pickle and reunited, she does appreciate all the Chase does for her and realizes that her blinding thirst for knowledge and leaping before looking is causing a lot of strain in her relationship with Chase.
Honestly I am not sure a real life couple behaving in such a way would ever survive. McDermott needs to work on bringing his lead characters on a same plane in their relationship. Perhaps a few more pages to develop the characters relation would help...
Overall the book is a good read and the blurb for the next book also looks interesting. I would give this a try if you have read this series, it keeps the fun going.
The Kingdom of Darkness involved immortality in the form of an chemically amalgamated water deep in the mountains of Iran which was discovered by Alexander without recognizing it's importance and then rediscovered by his cook Andreas who left behind clues in his fantasy novel Alexander Romance for his descendants to follow.
A minor part of those clues end up at the hands of hidden group of Nazis who emerge from woodwork 70 years after WW 2, looking like 40 year old and wanting to replenish their dwindling source of water forever, this time be finding the source and using it to establish a New Reich.
The plot is the usual Wilde & Chase story, Wilde gets kidnapped, Chase rescues... this time though there is an added element of doom around Wilde as she was poisoned by the eitr at the end of the last novel. It is said that true character is revealed under duress, sadly Wilde disappoints, her constant woe is me, I'm gonna die sometimes gets on the nerves.
Chase tries his best to keep her motivated, but it is soon clear that Wilde is one of life's takers. She's always wants things to go her way, at her command, at her will. I did not like her much in this one, she came across as selfish and plain bitchy... One of the more redeeming qualities was, once they were in pickle and reunited, she does appreciate all the Chase does for her and realizes that her blinding thirst for knowledge and leaping before looking is causing a lot of strain in her relationship with Chase.
Honestly I am not sure a real life couple behaving in such a way would ever survive. McDermott needs to work on bringing his lead characters on a same plane in their relationship. Perhaps a few more pages to develop the characters relation would help...
Overall the book is a good read and the blurb for the next book also looks interesting. I would give this a try if you have read this series, it keeps the fun going.
September 3, 2022
When it comes to archaeological adventure thrillers, I'm not sure that there's anyone writing in the genre today who is stronger, smarter, or more consistent than Andy McDermott. His Nina Wilde and Eddie Chase series is like a mixture of Indiana Jones, James Bond, Dirk Pitt, and Jack Bauer. He offers up all the insane chases, explosions, fights, treasure hunting, and puzzle solving you might expect, but does so with a self-referential sense of irony. What really sets his work apart for me is its sly winks to the reader - not quite tongue in cheek, but honestly ironic - that acknowledge the genre tropes, even as he gleefully plays along with them.
Following the rather sobering conclusion to The Valhalla Prophecy, which left our heroes with a life-altering tragedy, Kingdom of Darkness opens on a bittersweet note. Nina and Eddie have come to Hollywood on their bucket list world tour, finding themselves guests of a big budget Hollywood thriller. Their good friend, Grant Thorn, is racing around the set in a Lamborghini Aventador Roadster, part of an over-the-top chase scene that Eddie acknowledges is slightly ridiculous, and which Nina accuses of ignoring the rules of physics. Later that day, of course, when a blonde stranger is gunned down while begging Nina for help, Eddie steals a Hummer limo and leads them on a chase that pretty much mirrors that Hollywood script, right down to the climactic jump through an exploding tanker truck.
It's not just in the Bond/Bauer elements that McDermott has so much fun playing the irony card, however. The story soon takes us beneath the streets of Cairo, to the sealed entrance of Alexander the Great's tomb. There, the young archaeologist in charge accuses Nina and Eddie of destructive archaeology, lecturing them on the fact that real archaeology is not all about brute force and explosions. Of course, it's not long before the Nazis blow their way in, destroying priceless artifacts with a hail of automatic gunfire and grenades. Not to be outdone by the bad guys, Eddie smugly exposes the secret hidden inside the statue of Alexander's horse by deliberately shattering it upon the floor, even as the young archaeologist reminds him they could have done the same thing with x-rays, without destroying it.
What is hidden inside is a clockwork fish that is said to be the key to finding the Spring of Immortality. It's a clever little piece of ancient technology that the young archaeologists compares to the famous Antikythera mechanism - which, as is pointed out, remains unsolved a hundred years later. When Nina dismisses that, and expresses her certainty that solving the fish will only take a couple of days, her own hubby accuses her of doing a Robert Langdon (in a wink-and-a-nod to Dan Brown). She does just that, of course, but it's really just the first step in solving the puzzle and leading the heroes to the ultimate discovery.
I could go on, but I don't want to give the impression that this is all about irony and self-referential humor. That would be to do the series a serious injustice. In terms of history and mystery, Andy McDermott ranks right up there with Cussler and Brown. He does his research, explains the history well, and cleverly weaves fact, myth, and supposition to shape his puzzles. It is fascinating stuff, and it all comes across as plausible - keeping in mind, of course, that a thriller like this can't take decades to develop, decode, and discover. They very conventions of the genre demand that the race for the treasure be both breakneck and dangerous, and once McDermott has acknowledged that, he gives the readers precisely what we're craving. Nina, Eddie, Macy, and Banna do get a chance to steal a few naps or use the facilities (unlike Jack Bauer), but for the most part this is breathless, non-stop action.
The whole Nazi storyline might seem a little preposterous to readers who are new to the series (and there are multiple characters who share that doubt), but when you've already discovered Atlantis, the tomb of Hercules, Excalibur, and the poisonous eitr of Norse mythology, the Spring of Immortality isn't that much of a stretch. What's important here is that McDermott's doesn't settle for the cartoonish villains Indiana Jones - he delves deep into the darkest aspects of their culture and their agenda. These are evil, despicable villains who are still pursuing Hitler's genocidal vision with a zeal and a fanaticism that has only grown stronger over the years. Their maniacal Anti-Semitism, their deplorable treatment of women, and their willingness to sacrifice innocent lives (including a truly terrifying scene involving a burning nursery) are all on display here.
As for the final set piece, the Spring of Immortality itself is one of the most exciting grand discoveries I've ever come across in the genre. It incorporates all of the most fantastical elements of the Alexander romance itself, establishing them not as fanciful narrative additions to the legend, but as a carefully coded series of clues for navigating the traps leading up to the Spring. McDermott doesn't stop there, however. He does have a bit of a moral/philosophical point to make here regarding the uses and abuses of power, and the final climax does a stellar job of forcing the reader to consider the possibilities of immortality in the wrong hands.
Kingdom of Darkness is smart, clever, and exciting stuff. Fans of Nina Wilde and Eddie Chase will appreciate how McDermott resolves some past issues and opens up a new future for them, but new readers will have no trouble getting up to speed on our heroes. If you're looking for a solid archaeological adventure that is as committed to the history as to the thrills, then this is definitely worth a read.
Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins
Following the rather sobering conclusion to The Valhalla Prophecy, which left our heroes with a life-altering tragedy, Kingdom of Darkness opens on a bittersweet note. Nina and Eddie have come to Hollywood on their bucket list world tour, finding themselves guests of a big budget Hollywood thriller. Their good friend, Grant Thorn, is racing around the set in a Lamborghini Aventador Roadster, part of an over-the-top chase scene that Eddie acknowledges is slightly ridiculous, and which Nina accuses of ignoring the rules of physics. Later that day, of course, when a blonde stranger is gunned down while begging Nina for help, Eddie steals a Hummer limo and leads them on a chase that pretty much mirrors that Hollywood script, right down to the climactic jump through an exploding tanker truck.
It's not just in the Bond/Bauer elements that McDermott has so much fun playing the irony card, however. The story soon takes us beneath the streets of Cairo, to the sealed entrance of Alexander the Great's tomb. There, the young archaeologist in charge accuses Nina and Eddie of destructive archaeology, lecturing them on the fact that real archaeology is not all about brute force and explosions. Of course, it's not long before the Nazis blow their way in, destroying priceless artifacts with a hail of automatic gunfire and grenades. Not to be outdone by the bad guys, Eddie smugly exposes the secret hidden inside the statue of Alexander's horse by deliberately shattering it upon the floor, even as the young archaeologist reminds him they could have done the same thing with x-rays, without destroying it.
What is hidden inside is a clockwork fish that is said to be the key to finding the Spring of Immortality. It's a clever little piece of ancient technology that the young archaeologists compares to the famous Antikythera mechanism - which, as is pointed out, remains unsolved a hundred years later. When Nina dismisses that, and expresses her certainty that solving the fish will only take a couple of days, her own hubby accuses her of doing a Robert Langdon (in a wink-and-a-nod to Dan Brown). She does just that, of course, but it's really just the first step in solving the puzzle and leading the heroes to the ultimate discovery.
I could go on, but I don't want to give the impression that this is all about irony and self-referential humor. That would be to do the series a serious injustice. In terms of history and mystery, Andy McDermott ranks right up there with Cussler and Brown. He does his research, explains the history well, and cleverly weaves fact, myth, and supposition to shape his puzzles. It is fascinating stuff, and it all comes across as plausible - keeping in mind, of course, that a thriller like this can't take decades to develop, decode, and discover. They very conventions of the genre demand that the race for the treasure be both breakneck and dangerous, and once McDermott has acknowledged that, he gives the readers precisely what we're craving. Nina, Eddie, Macy, and Banna do get a chance to steal a few naps or use the facilities (unlike Jack Bauer), but for the most part this is breathless, non-stop action.
The whole Nazi storyline might seem a little preposterous to readers who are new to the series (and there are multiple characters who share that doubt), but when you've already discovered Atlantis, the tomb of Hercules, Excalibur, and the poisonous eitr of Norse mythology, the Spring of Immortality isn't that much of a stretch. What's important here is that McDermott's doesn't settle for the cartoonish villains Indiana Jones - he delves deep into the darkest aspects of their culture and their agenda. These are evil, despicable villains who are still pursuing Hitler's genocidal vision with a zeal and a fanaticism that has only grown stronger over the years. Their maniacal Anti-Semitism, their deplorable treatment of women, and their willingness to sacrifice innocent lives (including a truly terrifying scene involving a burning nursery) are all on display here.
As for the final set piece, the Spring of Immortality itself is one of the most exciting grand discoveries I've ever come across in the genre. It incorporates all of the most fantastical elements of the Alexander romance itself, establishing them not as fanciful narrative additions to the legend, but as a carefully coded series of clues for navigating the traps leading up to the Spring. McDermott doesn't stop there, however. He does have a bit of a moral/philosophical point to make here regarding the uses and abuses of power, and the final climax does a stellar job of forcing the reader to consider the possibilities of immortality in the wrong hands.
Kingdom of Darkness is smart, clever, and exciting stuff. Fans of Nina Wilde and Eddie Chase will appreciate how McDermott resolves some past issues and opens up a new future for them, but new readers will have no trouble getting up to speed on our heroes. If you're looking for a solid archaeological adventure that is as committed to the history as to the thrills, then this is definitely worth a read.
Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins
February 24, 2016
I am so disappointed in this book. I have read all the books in this series except #9. I read this one first as it was discounted. I almost stopped reading it a couple times before I slugged my way through it. It did get better towards the end but I was amazed at how artificial it was in the first few chapters. for all their insistence of loving each other and wanting to spend their last bit of time left together they made really stupid decisions that put themself and the other person (who they loved more than anything!) in danger. and some of those decisions weren't a matter of the best of two evils but we're decisions that actually placed them in danger when they weren't already in danger. I have to go back and re-read an earlier book because if they all have been this stupid, I will need to seriously rethink my reading selections. ugh!
September 7, 2014
WOW! Fantastic doesn't cover it!
Nina and Eddie are now on their tenth adventure, is it there last??
Andy McDermott has done it again, another novel jam packed with thrills and adventure, edge of your seat nail biting 'must read the next page' gripping stuff!,
This one however has a difference. it's deeper, darker and for those die hard fans that have followed the 'wild chase adventures' through all 10 books it gets to you on those personal levels.
Raw emotion, Love, Hate, Grief, passion, compassion. It's all there alongside new fantastically detailed archaeological adventures, Bringing new characters and old to a brand new adventure.
Quite possibly the best one yet!
April 29, 2015
Review: KINGDOM OF DARKNESS (Nina Wilde & Eddie Chase #10) by Andy McDermott
The newest exciting chapter in the continuing thrills of archaeologist-explorers wife and husband duo, Nina Wilde and Eddie Chase, reaches back into classical Greek antiquity (specifically Macedonian) and more recently (seventy years) to The Third Reich. If there's any group of True Believers the world doesn't want to achieve immortality, it's the Nazis. But then, it may be too late--that may have already come true. Leave it to Wilde & Chase, archaeology's trouble magnets, to rush to the rescue. Enjoy another nonstop thrill fest!
The newest exciting chapter in the continuing thrills of archaeologist-explorers wife and husband duo, Nina Wilde and Eddie Chase, reaches back into classical Greek antiquity (specifically Macedonian) and more recently (seventy years) to The Third Reich. If there's any group of True Believers the world doesn't want to achieve immortality, it's the Nazis. But then, it may be too late--that may have already come true. Leave it to Wilde & Chase, archaeology's trouble magnets, to rush to the rescue. Enjoy another nonstop thrill fest!
December 3, 2014
The way this reads, it could be the end of the series. After ten books with the same characters, I'd not blame Andy for wanting some time off but I'll miss them if they go!
Another ridiculously overblown and stupidly action-packed adventure that had me wishing I had more spare time to read, so I could plough through it faster. Yeah, I've docked it a star but only as it's not as good as some others in the series which I'm comparing it against.
Another ridiculously overblown and stupidly action-packed adventure that had me wishing I had more spare time to read, so I could plough through it faster. Yeah, I've docked it a star but only as it's not as good as some others in the series which I'm comparing it against.
August 26, 2015
Pickd this book up in the airport as a diversion. What a fun ride! I had no idea it was the 10th book in the series - sure I could tell some of the characters were from other novels - but it didn't really matter to the plot. It's made for action movie fare with explosions, car chases and over the top special effects. I would read Eddie's horrible puns out to my husband who would just shake his head. It was a fun ride and good diversion during a difficult time.
August 28, 2016
Kingdom of Darkness starts off with a bang and never stops.
Someone tries to kill Nina....yes, again. The fingerprints are unbelievable..... They belong to a Nazi war criminal who looks like he is only in his 40's. Obviously something is up.
Of course, Nina has to get involved. Eddie does reluctantly.
Nina and Eddie
Archaeology
Adventure
Nazi war criminals with a twist
Mossad
What more could a reader ask for!
Someone tries to kill Nina....yes, again. The fingerprints are unbelievable..... They belong to a Nazi war criminal who looks like he is only in his 40's. Obviously something is up.
Of course, Nina has to get involved. Eddie does reluctantly.
Nina and Eddie
Archaeology
Adventure
Nazi war criminals with a twist
Mossad
What more could a reader ask for!
November 17, 2014
While the last book in the series dragged and wasn't too satisfying, this book is full of nonstop action with some of the best of the series. The plot is good, the bad guys really good, and it's an overall entertaining experience. Definitely one of the best books in the series.
August 11, 2022
This is one of several books by this author I picked up from a book swap at work. As a summer, beach-type read it was okay, though there were a few bits that could have made it a lot better without much effort.
The description of the bad guys for one. Yes, they're Nazis, but they don't have to be 1 dimensional. I mean, pretty much every description of them was like we were dumb readers who couldn't understand they were not good people. I mean ever gaze was 'malevolent', every smile 'oily' or every glance 'predatory'.
It was like being constantly hit over the head with it. Yes, we know, they're Nazis. The worst thing for me about lazy writing like this is that it makes some people think there is no nuance to whole groups of people. Or that things like Nazi Germany can't happen now because so and so isn't like Hitler. Hitler wasn't like Hitler as we know him now when he was rising to power. The way we know him now is not how he was seen at that time.
On top of this, the only person whose appearance was *constantly* remarked upon was Kroll, who was obese. I didn't even know what Nina Wilde looked like until several chapters in, but Kroll? Well, once he became overweight, it was remarked upon practically every time someone looked at him. It was really bad fat shaming.
Another thing was that this book cover didn't make it clear that this was book 10 in a series. If it had only referenced some earlier books vaguely in passing, that wouldn't have been a problem. But it didn't. It gave away a lot of the plot of the previous books, mentioning details that really shouldn't have been listed in a book that doesn't say #10 on the cover in big, bold letters.
Finally, when a main character starts the book terminally ill and the Nazis are after the Spring of Immortality, there's a very obvious event made crystal clear in all of that. Yet, despite this glaring obviousness, it takes more than half the book for Kroll to suggest the solution, and then we're supposed to be surprised at the very end when the terminal illness is gone after Nina accidentally swallowed some of the water from the spring.
Really???
Come on, how dumb does McDermott think his readers are? At least he could have had Nina voluntarily drink some of the water when they were standing besides loads of it. Or when she had the silver dish in her hand after there was so much harping on about the progression of an illness throughout the book and the friction if caused. None of which was terribly suspenseful as the solution was so blindingly obvious.
The rest of the book was, as I mentioned before, a good beach read. Therefore, I will likely read the other books I picked up from the book swap, but this is not an author I will ever buy or get more books from.
I don't like to be treated like a blind idiot by the author of the books I read.
The description of the bad guys for one. Yes, they're Nazis, but they don't have to be 1 dimensional. I mean, pretty much every description of them was like we were dumb readers who couldn't understand they were not good people. I mean ever gaze was 'malevolent', every smile 'oily' or every glance 'predatory'.
It was like being constantly hit over the head with it. Yes, we know, they're Nazis. The worst thing for me about lazy writing like this is that it makes some people think there is no nuance to whole groups of people. Or that things like Nazi Germany can't happen now because so and so isn't like Hitler. Hitler wasn't like Hitler as we know him now when he was rising to power. The way we know him now is not how he was seen at that time.
On top of this, the only person whose appearance was *constantly* remarked upon was Kroll, who was obese. I didn't even know what Nina Wilde looked like until several chapters in, but Kroll? Well, once he became overweight, it was remarked upon practically every time someone looked at him. It was really bad fat shaming.
Another thing was that this book cover didn't make it clear that this was book 10 in a series. If it had only referenced some earlier books vaguely in passing, that wouldn't have been a problem. But it didn't. It gave away a lot of the plot of the previous books, mentioning details that really shouldn't have been listed in a book that doesn't say #10 on the cover in big, bold letters.
Finally, when a main character starts the book terminally ill and the Nazis are after the Spring of Immortality, there's a very obvious event made crystal clear in all of that. Yet, despite this glaring obviousness, it takes more than half the book for Kroll to suggest the solution, and then we're supposed to be surprised at the very end when the terminal illness is gone after Nina accidentally swallowed some of the water from the spring.
Really???
Come on, how dumb does McDermott think his readers are? At least he could have had Nina voluntarily drink some of the water when they were standing besides loads of it. Or when she had the silver dish in her hand after there was so much harping on about the progression of an illness throughout the book and the friction if caused. None of which was terribly suspenseful as the solution was so blindingly obvious.
The rest of the book was, as I mentioned before, a good beach read. Therefore, I will likely read the other books I picked up from the book swap, but this is not an author I will ever buy or get more books from.
I don't like to be treated like a blind idiot by the author of the books I read.
September 10, 2023
The song 'Seek and Destroy' from Metallica inevitably comes to mind every time I read a Nina and Eddie novel. It's almost a theme song of sorts for the duo, especially Eddie. It's also indicative of McDermott's approach to writing these amazing over-the-top action sequences.
However, this time around McDermott shows some restraint from his usual white-knuckle roller coaster antics, opting for a more personal story for his main couple. In the wake of the events of The Valhalla Prophecy Nina and Eddie have quietly resigned from the IHA and are spending their newfound freedom traveling the world, this time without being shot at. Their peace is short lived when they are tracked down by a young German man, desperately trying to get their attention. Before they are able to find out what the young man wants, he's gunned down in front of them.
Nina and Eddie are roped back into an adventure as representatives for the IHA. This causes friction between the couple. Nina is viewing this one as a personal quest, whereas Eddie just wants to move on from all the action. The couple isn't getting younger and the desire to start a family has become a very pressing desire for the two.
McDermott's willingness to tone back the action-of which there is still plenty of-and choosing to tell a high-stakes adventure that is more personal to our dynamic duo and not just a blockbuster spectacle is a breath of fresh air. The conversations between Nina and Eddie are full of weight as they struggle to adapt to the dramatic changes in their lives, the banter is still there but the crass joking is toned down. As a reader, you can feel the pain they are going through. I'm glad McDermott chose to take this direction with this book, as I felt the action-for-the-sake-of-action gig was starting to get bland. I love when we actually have to worry about our characters well-being, physically and emotionally. McDermott even throws a new wrinkle into the lives of Nina and Eddie on the very last page. It'll be interesting to see where he takes it next.
However, this time around McDermott shows some restraint from his usual white-knuckle roller coaster antics, opting for a more personal story for his main couple. In the wake of the events of The Valhalla Prophecy Nina and Eddie have quietly resigned from the IHA and are spending their newfound freedom traveling the world, this time without being shot at. Their peace is short lived when they are tracked down by a young German man, desperately trying to get their attention. Before they are able to find out what the young man wants, he's gunned down in front of them.
Nina and Eddie are roped back into an adventure as representatives for the IHA. This causes friction between the couple. Nina is viewing this one as a personal quest, whereas Eddie just wants to move on from all the action. The couple isn't getting younger and the desire to start a family has become a very pressing desire for the two.
McDermott's willingness to tone back the action-of which there is still plenty of-and choosing to tell a high-stakes adventure that is more personal to our dynamic duo and not just a blockbuster spectacle is a breath of fresh air. The conversations between Nina and Eddie are full of weight as they struggle to adapt to the dramatic changes in their lives, the banter is still there but the crass joking is toned down. As a reader, you can feel the pain they are going through. I'm glad McDermott chose to take this direction with this book, as I felt the action-for-the-sake-of-action gig was starting to get bland. I love when we actually have to worry about our characters well-being, physically and emotionally. McDermott even throws a new wrinkle into the lives of Nina and Eddie on the very last page. It'll be interesting to see where he takes it next.
June 4, 2020
Far fetched idea of 2014: Nazis coming back to take over the world.
Me in 2020: That's pretty plausible.
After Nina and Eddie's previous adventure, they had decided to spend more time together and travel the world. They stop by in LA to visit some friends when a young man tries to hand Nina some documents. He is promptly shot by someone. And so begins the latest adventure to discover how a buried secret could help bring about an everlasting New-Riech.
The book I read before Kingdom of Darkness was a little bit too emotionally intense to read at the time. So I looked over my stack of To-Be-Read novels and looked for something more fun. There were a lot of crime novels, some heavy themed fantasy, a pile of horror, and then there was Andy McDermott's book. Note to self: more diversity of novels.
This was exactly the sort of fun adventure I needed. Andy is very consistent in his books, providing plenty of thrills, plenty of implausible scenarios that somehow work, and a bit of humour. The only thing that tugged at my brain was the Nazi = Evil points, which are overly simplistic and lazy. It kinda works for a thriller where the antagonist is meant to be bad because they are bad and have facial scars. But I wish it was a little more fleshed out.
I guess I'll be needing some more of Andy's books to read.
Me in 2020: That's pretty plausible.
After Nina and Eddie's previous adventure, they had decided to spend more time together and travel the world. They stop by in LA to visit some friends when a young man tries to hand Nina some documents. He is promptly shot by someone. And so begins the latest adventure to discover how a buried secret could help bring about an everlasting New-Riech.
The book I read before Kingdom of Darkness was a little bit too emotionally intense to read at the time. So I looked over my stack of To-Be-Read novels and looked for something more fun. There were a lot of crime novels, some heavy themed fantasy, a pile of horror, and then there was Andy McDermott's book. Note to self: more diversity of novels.
This was exactly the sort of fun adventure I needed. Andy is very consistent in his books, providing plenty of thrills, plenty of implausible scenarios that somehow work, and a bit of humour. The only thing that tugged at my brain was the Nazi = Evil points, which are overly simplistic and lazy. It kinda works for a thriller where the antagonist is meant to be bad because they are bad and have facial scars. But I wish it was a little more fleshed out.
I guess I'll be needing some more of Andy's books to read.
February 19, 2021
Meh
These books are like a Gerard Butler movie. One chase or fight scene after another, not enough story to hold it all together. Skip half and you'll still get the main idea. I read them because the history behind the 'story' is always interesting. So, yes, I've read a few. Though Eddie and Nina never learn, I do. I literally shouted "No, Nina. You know what's going to happen!" She never learns, and apparently neither do I. I'm reading the next one in the series now :(
My biggest problem with this one is the prologue. It is meant as a set up for the rest of the story, but in this case it failed. Sure, it started with the finding of the water that holds secret to immortality. But, why did that family have those artifacts? Even after re-reading it (it's a long book, maybe I'd forgotten something), nope. The prologue is a non-sequitur.
I didn't hate it, but I wish Eddie and Nina would wise up even just a little bit. Predictable, and not in a good way.
I'm going to finish the one I'm reading now. Before it goes back to the library. *wishing I hadn't taken it on loan*
These books are like a Gerard Butler movie. One chase or fight scene after another, not enough story to hold it all together. Skip half and you'll still get the main idea. I read them because the history behind the 'story' is always interesting. So, yes, I've read a few. Though Eddie and Nina never learn, I do. I literally shouted "No, Nina. You know what's going to happen!" She never learns, and apparently neither do I. I'm reading the next one in the series now :(
My biggest problem with this one is the prologue. It is meant as a set up for the rest of the story, but in this case it failed. Sure, it started with the finding of the water that holds secret to immortality. But, why did that family have those artifacts? Even after re-reading it (it's a long book, maybe I'd forgotten something), nope. The prologue is a non-sequitur.
I didn't hate it, but I wish Eddie and Nina would wise up even just a little bit. Predictable, and not in a good way.
I'm going to finish the one I'm reading now. Before it goes back to the library. *wishing I hadn't taken it on loan*
July 19, 2021
Definitely, the absolute best I have read from Andy… An incredible explosive mix of adventure, sharp-witted British humor, unexpected twists and turns, powerful as well as the more subtle emotions, all built around a fast-paced action building up to an awesome and unforgettable climax. I hope that one great movie director will stumble upon this book and make a memorable movie out of it. Thumbs up all the way and a definite must read for the adventure freak…
Voici le meilleur que j'ai lu d'Andy… Un mélange explosif incroyable d'aventure, de rebondissements inattendus, d'émotions puissantes autant que subtiles, à la pointe de l’humour britannique, le tout construit autour d'une action rapide s'édifiant jusqu'à un comble impressionnant et inoubliable. J'espère qu'un grand réalisateur tombera sur ce livre et en fera un film mémorable. Bravo à Andy et à lire absolument pour le fanatique de l'aventure…
Voici le meilleur que j'ai lu d'Andy… Un mélange explosif incroyable d'aventure, de rebondissements inattendus, d'émotions puissantes autant que subtiles, à la pointe de l’humour britannique, le tout construit autour d'une action rapide s'édifiant jusqu'à un comble impressionnant et inoubliable. J'espère qu'un grand réalisateur tombera sur ce livre et en fera un film mémorable. Bravo à Andy et à lire absolument pour le fanatique de l'aventure…
August 13, 2022
This installment of the series was a bit disappointing for me.
Nina and Eddie spent the first half arguing and fighting to spend their time together but then, they parted ways just like that, and what makes it more annoying is Eddie chose to go to Italy knowing well enough that Nina was under direct threat, they were attacked just a few hours ago, and the Nazis might come back to finish the job (which they did).
I like Eddie's humor and his one-liners or PJs but sometimes they don't fit well considering the situation.
Also, the Nazi Symbol is called Hakenkreuz and not Swastika, they do look a bit alike but are different. The author should have researched that properly as he does so well with everything else.
However, it was a nice action thriller, would recommend it.
Though, if someone reads all the books of the series one after another, it does get repetitive after a while.
Nina and Eddie spent the first half arguing and fighting to spend their time together but then, they parted ways just like that, and what makes it more annoying is Eddie chose to go to Italy knowing well enough that Nina was under direct threat, they were attacked just a few hours ago, and the Nazis might come back to finish the job (which they did).
I like Eddie's humor and his one-liners or PJs but sometimes they don't fit well considering the situation.
Also, the Nazi Symbol is called Hakenkreuz and not Swastika, they do look a bit alike but are different. The author should have researched that properly as he does so well with everything else.
However, it was a nice action thriller, would recommend it.
Though, if someone reads all the books of the series one after another, it does get repetitive after a while.
June 1, 2020
It was nonstop action as usual which is fun. But also as usual, there were several chances to off a genocidal maniac that were passed up. Obviously, killing the bad guy early on makes for a short book just like smart heroes in an action movie would end it in 5 minutes. It just bugged me how easy offing Hitler’s wannabe would have been but was still missed. For another thing, Nina was just a brat in this one! Basically it came down to “my dig is more important than anyone or anything!” She literally tells people at one point that their mission, to stop Nazis from taking over the world, isn’t as important as her seeing her discovery through to the last little detail. I was actually rooting for her to die before it was over.
January 1, 2021
This is the first Wilde and Chase book I have read and I really enjoyed it. It is a fast paced action adventure that is surely written as a Hollywood film script. Everyone is ridiculously beautiful, there are ridiculous car chases where one limousine jumps over an exploding tanker, and people fly around the world in a day with no care of money. The action scenes come flying one after the other without any breaks. The book is quite exhausting to read; I needed a few easy pages to read in between the crisis'. I enjoyed Eddie's humour and his interactions with all the other characters and the story of Nazis trying to find the elixir of life was fun even if a bit violent and almost everyone dying.
February 3, 2019
Despite a plot right up my alley (archaeology and finding Alexander the Great's Tomb), I couldn't get into it. I didn't like the main characters and am shocked the author is on #10 in this series.
I also cannot stand all of the swearing. It puts me off of books and characters. There's literally no reason Eddie Chase has to use the "F" word at all, much less as much as he does in the 135 pages I did slog through before deciding I wasn't going to waste any more time on this book.
I did not finish this book and will not be looking to start at #1 in the series. I don't care about these characters at all.
BLAH.
I also cannot stand all of the swearing. It puts me off of books and characters. There's literally no reason Eddie Chase has to use the "F" word at all, much less as much as he does in the 135 pages I did slog through before deciding I wasn't going to waste any more time on this book.
I did not finish this book and will not be looking to start at #1 in the series. I don't care about these characters at all.
BLAH.
January 14, 2023
My favorite McDermott novel, which I read maybe six or seven years ago. This has all the right stuff for action adventure, including plenty of exotic locations and even ancient Nazis kept in vigor courtesy of mystical elixirs. My criticism of McDermott is that these books are often too long (often around 130,000 words or longer) and padded out by overly long chase sequences. I notice his latest novel is much shorter at around 100,000 words (still the same price though!) but it's better for it - review on that one coming when I've gone through my "back list".
June 15, 2020
This is the first of this series that I've read. I picked it up for a reduced price because it looked interesting. It's fast paced and has lots (and lots and lots) of action. It's like an action movie in a paperback. By the halfway mark there had already been 4? 5? car chases. Then at about the 3/4 mark, there's a train chase! Lots of "bang bang shoot 'em up" as well. Plausibility - barely, but it was a fun read and I did enjoy it.
Well done.
Well done.
June 4, 2023
A fast paced adventure chasing historical artefacts that goes from New York to Argentina to Iran, and involves Mossad too.
A very enjoyable read, one of the best of the series (maybe bar the train rooftop fight, which took the silliness to Mission Impossible levels) Often fast paced, some personal issues follow on from the previous book, and Nina and Eddia have their own personal battle to resolve too.
A good read.
A very enjoyable read, one of the best of the series (maybe bar the train rooftop fight, which took the silliness to Mission Impossible levels) Often fast paced, some personal issues follow on from the previous book, and Nina and Eddia have their own personal battle to resolve too.
A good read.
February 20, 2020
The Nazis and the key to eternal life. This story is both gripping and almost possible. It deals with Mossad's Nazi hunters who had thought themselves redundant after inactivity for ten years but finding a sixty year old fingerprint on a man in his late thirties opens up an intriguing storyline as well as plot development.
Another book I could not put down.
Another book I could not put down.
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