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Sean Wyatt #5

The Norse Directive

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Hold. On. Tight. Get two of Ernest Dempsey's introductory action adventure thrillers free plus a guide to the top 16 hidden mysteries on the planet FREE for a limited time. Look inside for details.

In 1801, a British officer discovered a clue to one of the most coveted relics in history.

When Sean Wyatt rescuse a friend from being executed in the mountains of Tennessee, Sean Wyatt and his sidekick, Tommy Shultz are thrown into a high octane game of cat and mouse with a wealthy Frenchman named Gerard Dufort who will stop at nothing to get his next prize.

The two friends find themselves zipping across the globe to southern England, Copenhagen, Scotland, and the American Southwest in a race against the clock and a man with sinister plans of his own.

This action packed story is sure to keep you turning the pages until you reach the end and send an email to the author telling him to hurry up and write the next installment.

˃˃˃ If Indiana Jones and Jason Bourne had a kid together, his name would be Sean Wyatt.

The Norse Directive is packed with suspense and romance, filled with conspiracies and secret societies, and leaves you wanting more in Dempsey's breakthrough international mystery series.

Travel with Sean Wyatt as he pieces together a sequence of ancient riddles in this suspense packed thriller.

˃˃˃ You'll be turning the pages so fast you might burn your fingers.

If you love fast, up-tempo stories that don't get bogged down in a lot of bull, this series of thrillers is for you. With crime, murder, suspense, mystery, and white hot action, you're sure to keep turning the pages until you realize the story just ended. But beware, this book is not for the faint of heart. In the world of high stakes adventure, things can get pretty violent. You've been warned.

˃˃˃ Interview with the Author

Q: What made you want to write an international mystery series like this?

A: I grew up watching movies like Indiana Jones and The Goonies. Those movies were so fascinating to me. As a kid, I always wanted to be an adventurer that discovered ancient treasures, not for the financial wealth, but because I always thought, and still think, it must be so amazing to find something that someone left hidden hundreds or thousands of years before. At that moment, you are the first person to see that artifact in a long time. I also love suspense action fiction stories, terrorism novels and television shows, and especially enjoy a good thriller about conspiracies and secret societies. Jack Reacher, Jason Bourne, Jack Ryan, are all pulp heroes I can root for. It seemed logical to make Sean Wyatt like one of those guys, but one that also has a background in history, making him the Indiana Jones of action adventure thrillers.

Q: There are several books in the Sean Wyatt series. In what order should they be read?

A: The first three are a trilogy, but you can read them out of order if you really want to. I'd start with The Secret of the Stones and then go to The Cleric's Vault and The Last Chamber. The rest of the books in the series are stand alone novels.

Q: Why should readers check out your Sean Wyatt novels?

A: Social proof. All of the Sean Wyatt novels have been in the top ten best sellers in Thrillers and Mysteries, Suspense Thrillers and Mysteries, Historical Thrillers, and Political Thrillers. As they say, the proof is in the pudding. On top of that, though, the books are just fun. You get an up-tempo, sometimes violent story that will also shed light on ancient mysteries that we are only now beginning to unravel.

254 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 12, 2015

724 people are currently reading
422 people want to read

About the author

Ernest Dempsey

71 books476 followers
Ernest Dempsey is a huge fan of action/adventure thrillers and science fiction.

He has been creating stories since he was in high school but never published a book until 2010, long after the days of high school were gone.

His action & adventure books come from a lineage similar to Clive Cussler, Dan Brown, Steve Berry, and James Rollins. While his science fiction novels are full of influence from Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games, The Matrix movie, and Gladiator directed by Ridley Scott.

He is quickly becoming one of the hottest fiction authors in the book world.

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5 stars
895 (51%)
4 stars
598 (34%)
3 stars
193 (11%)
2 stars
32 (1%)
1 star
12 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
Profile Image for Rosemary.
3,869 reviews69 followers
February 21, 2019
The Norse Directive - a review by Rosemary Kenny

The legendary Spear of Destiny - the very weapon that pierced Christ's side as he hung dying on the Cross - is the trophy that leads Sean, Tommy and Adriana, [backed by Presidential Advisor and the Director of Axis, Emily Sparks] - on a cross-continental chase to thwart the evil leader of a sex-trafficking ring's ambitions to use the Spear to gain immortality.
You'll be on the edge of your seat as you thrill to the exploits of our heroes and the villains who threaten the stability of world-wide nations...don't wait!
299 reviews9 followers
August 4, 2015
Ave et Vale (Hail and Farewell)

I have become an ardent fan of Ernest Dempsey. He spins adventures yarns that will match any sailor, any day. His combination of action-adventure and history will quicken your heartbeat and expand your mind. And the merry band of Sean Wyatt and friends becomes more real to me with each new book. They are now my friends, too, and I look forward to spending more time with them.

Each book begins with a story from the past featuring a relic or treasure. That item becomes the "macguffin" or the thing that everyone is looking for while the action swirling around it is the real story (thank Hitchcock for that word). And this story is somewhat Hitchcockian in the way that Sean Wyatt's life takes a major turn at the end because of what happens during the course of the book. It deepened his character at the same time it left me totally blown away.

Mr. Dempsey, thank you again for whisking me away to another place with a great group of friends. Please call me Sandy, as I now consider myself one of your merry band of adventurers. Any reader is lucky to join your crew.
155 reviews
September 19, 2017
Mr. Dempsey certainly has potential and you will often find exciting, gripping passages. However, that being said, the continued use of plot devices to further the story line can get tiring and frustrating, as it does nothing more than detract from the overall harmony of the story. Amazing coincidental occurrences and villains that are always one step ahead of the good guys (who by the way are supposed to be experts at what they do), causes them to come across as complete novices. Example in point, the villains enact techniques to track the good guys, and not only do the good guys not enact readily available counter-measures, but are incredibly surprised at the bad guys ability to do so! Also, you often find the uber villain has the ability to figure out the next step to the puzzle in minutes, while the good guys ultra experts take hours or longer to do so! The sad thing is that the stories themselves are fairly good - they simply strike me as needing more time for Mr. Dempsey to come up with better ideas and a good editor to eliminate the nonsense. I may return to this series in the future, but for now, on to Daniel Silva, David Baldacci and James Rollins.
65 reviews
April 15, 2022
One of the better books, only a couple mistakes. Lot of "everyone burst into laughter" parts which made me feel like I was reading a sitcom script. So far all the bad guys feel the same. Wealthy fancy drinking old white dudes. I'm not expecting some redneck to be on the search for something but I mean cmon. The ending felt too da Vinci code with finding the resting place then leaving.
Profile Image for Jenniferk.
54 reviews1 follower
December 4, 2016
Solid installment in the series

The favorites are back in a good adventure. As always there's no lack of action and intrigue. The ending was not what I expected, which was refreshing.
1,276 reviews21 followers
December 10, 2020
Dufort is a villain who competes with other artifact collectors to see who can get the rarest, coolest thing. He has his eye on the spear that pierced Jesus' side at the crucifixion. Believed by most to be in a collection at the Vatican, the spear is also rumored to be buried with a Viking. But the location of the grave is unknown.

While the author's writing skills have improved, the formulaic nature of the books have stayed the same: Sean and/or Tommy are almost killed by an over-the-top villain who thinks they know more than they do, they race around the world to solve clues that no one has solved for hundreds or thousands of years, they get caught by the super villain and are forced to give him what they've found or discovered, they get away, and they do it all over again at the next location.

The history of the artifacts and the various locations involved are well researched. I have learned something new in every book and added a few locales to my list of places to visit. The ideas are solid, but the writing needs to be tighter with better pacing and some genuine surprises along the way for these books to be more than mediocre.
4 reviews
June 26, 2024
A lot of good action sequences, hence the rating of 3 stars. However some of the history is appalling:

-Imagine Vikings riding horses in North America circa 800 CE.
-Horses were introduced to North America approximately 1519 CE, when Cortes conquered the Aztecs.
-Vikings first settled in Newfoundland circa 1021 CE. This is based on carbon dating of wood artifacts found at their settlement. This was not a direct crossing of the Atlantic. The Vikings took several steps lasting 125 years before finding their way to Newfoundland. The first step was the discovery and settlement of Iceland by the Vikings circa 874 CE. The next step to Greenland happened in 985 CE when Eric The Red was forced to flee from Iceland and sailed west to discover Greenland. The final step to Newfoundland was a voyage of discovery by Leif Ericson the son of Eric The Red. The settlement lasted approximately 10 years.
Profile Image for Janice Spina.
Author 53 books111 followers
August 27, 2017
If you are looking for action, adventure and thrills check out this book. Sean Wyatt is an adventurous soul who is retired from a secret government organization. But it seems he can't away from archeological mysteries and dangerous criminals who will do anything to obtain the next artifact. Along with his sidekick, Tommy Shultz, Sean goes above and beyond to stop this affluent criminal from obtaining a precious relic.

This was the first book in this series I have read by Ernest Dempsey. I found it to be engrossing, fascinating a fast-paced thriller. I look forward to more from this talented author.
3,198 reviews26 followers
April 7, 2019
An ED. SWAT. Mystery Adventure (SWAB - 5)/Another World History Lesson with Stops in Numerous Countries

ED. has. penned the fifth novel in the Sean Wyatt Adventure Series, which includes studying petroglyphs in Middle Eastern countries in search of the Golden Chamber of Akhanan that was believed at one time to be in Hitler's stolen loot. The data and collected information points to the United States southwest. The biggest clue was the Etowah Indian Mounds alleged to be part of the Lost Tribe of Israel and then to the Bandelier National Moument, NM. The chase continues in the secrets of World history. This is an excellent read for the genre.....DEHS
165 reviews2 followers
March 1, 2022
A terrific, action packed adventure!

Mr. Dempsey does it again. The familiar characters have become things and heroes. The new ones are interesting and the villains are evil. His character development is excellent. I felt like I really got to know them, even those who are new this book. Once again the history is so well researched and is woven seamlessly into the fiction. I learn a great deal from each book. The action is great. I thoroughly enjoy reading Mr. Dempsey's work. I have read quite a few of them more than once. Thank you for sharing your considerable talent with your readers.
Profile Image for Kevin.
104 reviews
January 22, 2019
Another Awesome Adventure

Mr. Dempsey's mind is so creative. This was a fun adventure purely from the Norse perspective. I gleaned some interesting things about Vikings and Denmark. Mr. Dempsey's books are very well edited; kudos to his editors (If you ever need an editor, Mr. Dempsey, give me a call). These books flow easily. The storylines get carried and developed without becoming cumbersome. Another darn good read.
636 reviews1 follower
March 1, 2019
The Norse Directive

I like this series. The characters were developed nicely. There’s always plenty of action and usually the reader will learn something new from a period of history they aren’t familiar with. This particular installment is no different. Good plot. I try not to give spoilers so I keep my reviews at a higher level. Just let me say this is a good read. Recommended.
28 reviews
May 31, 2019
Really good to Poor

Sean, Tommy, and Adrianna pick up on an interesting story from good friends. The story works well for 80% , good villain , nasty. Emily and her Axis team perform well. Then we are fed the lamest ending ; the author met the deadline so stops writing . All the characters go in different directions including the villain. Seems to be a pattern lately start no finish.
Profile Image for J.L. Rallios.
Author 2 books15 followers
February 13, 2020
A fun action adventure that kinda peters out at the end. No real conclusion. The quest was solved, but it was anticlimactic. I didn't have much interest in them achieving the goal of their quest to begin with, but I have to say that it was fun along the way. That's why I rated it as high as I did. Ernest knows how to spin a yarn, even if it isn't always up to his caliber, as in this case. Still worth reading and still fun.
733 reviews5 followers
March 4, 2021
This can't be the end

Another home run with this story. Sean has gotten himself in another precarious position visiting a friend who was helping a friend. London, Denmark, gunshot wounds, human trafficking, murder and the list goes on. Never a dull moment. But this time the bad guy of away.
Even Emily got part of her goal. Now Sean and Emily are hoping to snag the same guy, a very rich man with very few scruples who has disappeared. Great job. Thank you.
Profile Image for Neelabh Pratap  Singh.
Author 43 books26 followers
July 10, 2024
The Norse Directive by Ernest Dempsey is a gripping archaeological thriller that combines history, mystery, and action. Sean Wyatt's quest to uncover the truth behind a Viking artifact takes him on a perilous journey across Europe. Well-researched and fast-paced, with unexpected twists and relatable characters. A must-read for fans of historical mysteries and adventure stories. A captivating page-turner that will leave you eager for more!
Profile Image for P..
Author 1 book11 followers
January 14, 2019
Interesting plot

An interesting perspective on an ancient quest for one of the most sought after artefacts linked with the Christian Tradition. Sean as the central character carries the story along well. He cannot quite settle into the new life he believes he wanted and the old ways seem to have the ability to pull him into new adventures
733 reviews2 followers
February 10, 2019
Great book

As always Mr. Dempsey writes an imaginative story which makes this a thoroughly great book. He takes you to many wonderful locations and offers you a variety of good and bad characters you just have to read to the end to find out if the bad guys get their comeuppance. On to the next book in the series.
12 reviews
April 29, 2019
Not bad

Overall decent stories. Follows the modern standard as of late with not enough proof-readers before publishing, and not exactly understanding upon occasion how to use a word in a sentence. Though, not a bad read for the unlimited. Favorite is the children with toes on their heads. Love me them toe-heads.
Profile Image for Connie.
103 reviews3 followers
June 26, 2019
Great Story

So I skipped a few between the first in this series and this book, and I must say that Dempsey has hit his stride where the plot and characters are concerned. I really enjoyed the unraveling of the archeological mystery and the action was well paced. Solid read for those who enjoy this genre.
123 reviews1 follower
November 19, 2020
A Man With A Dream

I thoroughly enjoyed your book. I'm always so excited about reading a new from you. I know I'm going to be awestruck with your research and brilliant story telling. I lived in Dumfries many years ago, funny, it's always nice to read of a place that you know, isn't it. Going to start reading your next book now. Thank You.
9 reviews
June 14, 2024
Oops again!

I can only give this book 2 stars. Author does not know much if anything about firearms. Does not know the difference between a magazine which has an integral internal spring and a clip which generally need an external spring to push the rounds into position to be picked up by the bolt and moved into the firing chamber. Also it is Mai Tai not Mai Thai.
Profile Image for Liz  Cromwell.
37 reviews
October 24, 2018
Excellent book

I really enjoy how Dempsey is able to weave historical elements into thrilling fiction. I found myself once again routing for the good guys as I wait to read what happens next. This is a series worthy of the time investment.
29 reviews
November 15, 2018
Irresistible characters and adventures mixed with history and unending loyalty!
I am thoroughly hooked on Sean Wyatt and his seemingly endless curiosity and energy to right wrongs and ultimately help the good guys triumph 😎
Profile Image for Lara Gray.
37 reviews
January 13, 2019
Another fantastic find!

A great book combining action, history, adventure all in one. This writer has a fantastic imagination and he knows how to write it without confusing you like so many writers have done. On to the next book in the series!!!
Profile Image for Bob Greene.
4 reviews1 follower
May 3, 2020
A fun history mystery!

Researched locations, historical references to find they were real! Nice to learn some history, while being entertained! Now I want to go to Denmark to see the castle for myself.
149 reviews
September 10, 2020
Exciting and interesting

I think I have read to many of these recently and they are starting to merge into just one type very bad guy good people historic treasure.
This did have the added element of people trafficking and government agents but then an anti climatic ending.
87 reviews3 followers
February 2, 2021
Entertaining and suspenseful

As always, Ernie does a fun job of twisting and turning the tables on this trio. It was fun to see Axis involved in the drama too! When will we see the wicked Dufort captured?
Profile Image for Sally Atlas.
162 reviews
July 21, 2021
Series is getting better!

Now that I have finished this 5th book, I am sure I will continue on and read the rest of the series. Fans of Steve Berry will love the oblique reference to Cotton Malone in the middle of the adventure!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews

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