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Nick Kismet #1
The Shroud of Heaven: A Nick Kismet Adventure
On the bloody battlefields of Iraq, one man’s quest to find God will unleash Hell.
For more than a decade, Nick Kismet has traveled the world protecting priceless relics and cultural heritage sites from looters, while searching for answers to the mystery that has haunted him since the first Gulf War—a mystery that has defined his life. Now, a new war has brought him back to the bloody battlefield where his search began.
Summoned by his friend and mentor, Pierre Chiron, Kismet soon finds himself on the trail of the holy relics of Solomon’s Temple, captured centuries before by Babylonian conquerors and thought to be lost to history. But Chiron’s quest is not merely to find ancient artifacts; he seeks to find proof—the very fingerprint—of God.
Driven to uncover secrets that have haunted mankind for millennia, pursued by a mysterious assassin and an enemy consumed by hatred, Nick and Pierre journey into the desert to find the terrible truth that lies behind…
The Shroud of Heaven.
"Sean Ellis expertly blends military thriller and archaeological adventure in a page-turning adventure! Shroud of Heaven is sure to be a hit with thriller fans." --David Wood, author of Dourado and Cibola
"An entertaining read for anyone who enjoys fast pacing and a heavy dose of action. --Megalith: Books that Rock
310 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2008
42 people are currently reading
97 people want to read
About the author
Sean Ellis
90 books79 followersSean Ellis enjoys a lifelong love affair with adventure. He enjoys adventure racing, mountain biking, has competed in several off-road triathlons, and is also a decorated combat veteran who now resides in Arizona.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
October 7, 2022
[received for free - audio book - ]
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Put this one on when you need something long playing in the background that doesn't require a lot of concentration. The intrigue, suspense and action of the story are good, however it is overly drawn out. (especially since (in my opinion) most listeners/readers want their action stories to be fast, and shorter in length).
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Nick Kismet Adventures, Book 1 - The Shroud of Heaven
By: Sean Ellis
Narrated by: Jeffrey S. Fellin
Length: 12 hrs and 41 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 21-03-16
Language: English
Publisher: Gryphonwood Press
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Put this one on when you need something long playing in the background that doesn't require a lot of concentration. The intrigue, suspense and action of the story are good, however it is overly drawn out. (especially since (in my opinion) most listeners/readers want their action stories to be fast, and shorter in length).
------------
Nick Kismet Adventures, Book 1 - The Shroud of Heaven
By: Sean Ellis
Narrated by: Jeffrey S. Fellin
Length: 12 hrs and 41 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 21-03-16
Language: English
Publisher: Gryphonwood Press
December 18, 2017
This book came highly recommended and I see a lot of other, highly regarded authors lauded it also. I wanted to love it, but "The Shroud of Heaven" was at best a like.
During my read, I felt this was a book where Sean Ellis was honing his craft. He reminded me of several authors like James Rollins or Matthew Reilly but not quite there with this book. I plan on reading something more recent of his in the next year. It was interesting to a point, but the long paragraphs, chase scenes and explanations helped to slow down a book that's best attribute is supposed to be action. The climax at the end, though theoretically interesting, is more than a bit of a stretch. It's one thing to suspend belief, it's another to buy it a one-way ticket to Siberia.
Maybe that's a little too strong as the book has some positives. Remember I gave it 3 stars which means I "liked" it. "The Shroud of Heaven, captured https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4... interest from the beginning and I enjoyed the story especially when it wasn't to laborious in the ways I mentioned. It wasn't too hard to begin to identify with Nick Kismet. His chemistry or lack of it with the main females was intriguing. Nick wasn't too much of a superman and there were scenes where he made mistakes, in THAT way it was more realistic than most ancient-artifact, end-of-the-word, hero-figure-it-out-at-the-wire, book. The bottom line was I liked it enough to want to read Sean Ellis again.
During my read, I felt this was a book where Sean Ellis was honing his craft. He reminded me of several authors like James Rollins or Matthew Reilly but not quite there with this book. I plan on reading something more recent of his in the next year. It was interesting to a point, but the long paragraphs, chase scenes and explanations helped to slow down a book that's best attribute is supposed to be action. The climax at the end, though theoretically interesting, is more than a bit of a stretch. It's one thing to suspend belief, it's another to buy it a one-way ticket to Siberia.
Maybe that's a little too strong as the book has some positives. Remember I gave it 3 stars which means I "liked" it. "The Shroud of Heaven, captured https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4... interest from the beginning and I enjoyed the story especially when it wasn't to laborious in the ways I mentioned. It wasn't too hard to begin to identify with Nick Kismet. His chemistry or lack of it with the main females was intriguing. Nick wasn't too much of a superman and there were scenes where he made mistakes, in THAT way it was more realistic than most ancient-artifact, end-of-the-word, hero-figure-it-out-at-the-wire, book. The bottom line was I liked it enough to want to read Sean Ellis again.
September 14, 2018
This was a very good book.I really liked it but the book itself felt like 'Deja vu'.The same plot line and even hiding places for the looked for object is similar to a few other books.One v-e-r-y L-o-n-g chase scene had me nearly giving up on the book.Yes,it is fiction,but this was unbelievable!Kismet is a fine character. Jeffrey S. Fellin was an excellent narrator.I was given this book by the narrator,author or publisher free for an honest review.
February 19, 2018
I loved the story but skipped half the technical explanations. I was not interested in half of the explanations of how stuff worked.
I loved the book but skipped thru half of the technical stuff. I really didn't care for all the explanation of when stuff was built and how stuff was made.
I loved the book but skipped thru half of the technical stuff. I really didn't care for all the explanation of when stuff was built and how stuff was made.
November 20, 2010
I’m not sure if I’ve just became a fan of the military thriller genre, or that I’ve just become a fan of author, Sean Ellis. I would suspect that it’s both.
Under the cover of darkness, just prior to the bombing of Baghdad during the first Gulf War, a military operation is being carried out. It’s objective, to extract an Iraqi informant. It is here where we first meet Nick Kismet, a US Army Lieutenant. That night, Kismet would get a glimpse of what may be his destiny.
In “The Shroud of Heaven“, the author, Sean Ellis provides his readers with an action packed adventure that grabs your attention at the very beginning and holds it till the very end. With practiced precision, he brought together a plot, with a cast of characters that often weren’t whom they seemed to be and turned it into an exhilarating story that is anything but predictable. And if you were to ask me what really made it work, was the author’s attention to detail. From the dust along a desert road to the last Humvee, Ellis gave me the sense that this could really happen.
There’s something to be said about a novel that enables the reader to create a movie in his/her mind, and “The Shroud of Heaven” did just that for me, with each explosive scene. It’s a great read, even in if you’re not into the military thrillers.
Under the cover of darkness, just prior to the bombing of Baghdad during the first Gulf War, a military operation is being carried out. It’s objective, to extract an Iraqi informant. It is here where we first meet Nick Kismet, a US Army Lieutenant. That night, Kismet would get a glimpse of what may be his destiny.
In “The Shroud of Heaven“, the author, Sean Ellis provides his readers with an action packed adventure that grabs your attention at the very beginning and holds it till the very end. With practiced precision, he brought together a plot, with a cast of characters that often weren’t whom they seemed to be and turned it into an exhilarating story that is anything but predictable. And if you were to ask me what really made it work, was the author’s attention to detail. From the dust along a desert road to the last Humvee, Ellis gave me the sense that this could really happen.
There’s something to be said about a novel that enables the reader to create a movie in his/her mind, and “The Shroud of Heaven” did just that for me, with each explosive scene. It’s a great read, even in if you’re not into the military thrillers.
July 15, 2015
The fate of the world rests on his shoulders
Literally. Our hero, Nick Kismet, is someone special. The story starts out running and never stops. Nick, who is a protector of art and artifacts gets into many sticky situations. However, there is a master manipulator who has decreed that Nick must not be killed. He has a purpose in the world. Nick is smart, strong, and dedicated. However, he seems a bit naïve. He is very likeable.
In this first installment of the series we are given a little background about Nick and introduced to a man (Chiron) he befriends as a father figure. Chiron is grieving his dead wife who believed in God. Chiron doesn’t believe in God. In his grief he tricks Nick into helping him prove or disprove whether there is truly a God so that he can be at peace with his wife’s passing. This culminates in a very interesting theory about the Eiffel Tower and an atomic bomb.
This is a great story. It introduces theories that get one thinking and leaves one with questions that must be answered. I will be reading the rest of the series. If you like adventure novels that include the military, art, archeology, explosions, and interesting characters this is a book for you. Indiana Jones, The Librarian, Alan Quartermain look out, a new adventurer has come to town. Nick Kismet.
Literally. Our hero, Nick Kismet, is someone special. The story starts out running and never stops. Nick, who is a protector of art and artifacts gets into many sticky situations. However, there is a master manipulator who has decreed that Nick must not be killed. He has a purpose in the world. Nick is smart, strong, and dedicated. However, he seems a bit naïve. He is very likeable.
In this first installment of the series we are given a little background about Nick and introduced to a man (Chiron) he befriends as a father figure. Chiron is grieving his dead wife who believed in God. Chiron doesn’t believe in God. In his grief he tricks Nick into helping him prove or disprove whether there is truly a God so that he can be at peace with his wife’s passing. This culminates in a very interesting theory about the Eiffel Tower and an atomic bomb.
This is a great story. It introduces theories that get one thinking and leaves one with questions that must be answered. I will be reading the rest of the series. If you like adventure novels that include the military, art, archeology, explosions, and interesting characters this is a book for you. Indiana Jones, The Librarian, Alan Quartermain look out, a new adventurer has come to town. Nick Kismet.
September 10, 2014
I really wanted to love this book because I have read other books that Sean Ellis has co-authored that I loved, but I can only come away with three stars for this one. I thought the story was great and very interesting, and I liked the characters; I just had a problem with the seemingly endless chase and action scenes. One chase scene alone went for 10% of the book, and I just thought it was overkill. I will still be continuing this series because, as I mentioned, the writing was good, as were the story and the characters, and this is, after all, only the first book in the series.
November 2, 2012
Interesting book that mixes military action,archeology and bit of religion. I really enjoyed the archeology aspect as when it was pure Indiana Jones at its best. The military action was cool and did advance the story but I thought the religious aspect was an unnecessary distraction. I'll probably give the next book in the series a try as I liked the Nick Kismet character. He isn't a super hero nor a super scientist. He's just a regular guy with lots of emotional baggage.
April 7, 2016
I listened to the audiobook version of this story and enjoyed it immensely. I have read later Nick Kismet books, so it was interesting for me to read the one that started the series. I liked the pace of the book and the characters in the story were intriguing. I certainly plan on filling in the stories in the series that I have missed.
I thought the audio performance was great and it made the book even more fun to follow.
I thought the audio performance was great and it made the book even more fun to follow.
June 18, 2025
Not up to the best of the genre. The story was good and so were the characters although Nick Kismet was not the rough, tough hero that we are used to. The plot went well and the action scenes were also pretty good. One thing that put me off was a chase across the desert in the first half of the book which just went on and on. It was however interesting enough for me to read the next instalment but it has to get better. I can only mark this one 3/5.
June 21, 2013
What another great recommendation from Amazon, a great introduction the main character Nick Kismet and what drives him. Set in war torn Iraq and a vast expanse of dessert this book keeps you turning the pages with multiple twists and turns, looking forward to the next installment.
June 20, 2015
The Shroud of Heaven is an intriguing, action-packed adventure that is full of twists that keep you guessing all the way along and will leave you wanting more.
....personally I cannot wait for the next Nick Kismet adventure
....personally I cannot wait for the next Nick Kismet adventure
March 16, 2014
A confusing thought provoking book. On one hand action/adventure and a semi military thriller. On an other hand a deeply philosophical book about the meaning of God. On the third hand total uncertainty about where the book and series is going. I know I wish to go along for the ride.
January 1, 2016
Not his best.
The relationships were not adequately set up. The battle/fight scenes were extremely detailed to the point that I started skimming those sections. The main character did not seem to have a strong enough background to do what he was tasked to complete.
The relationships were not adequately set up. The battle/fight scenes were extremely detailed to the point that I started skimming those sections. The main character did not seem to have a strong enough background to do what he was tasked to complete.
July 31, 2011
Extremely well written. Characters and plot were well developed. Set in modern times with the war in the Middle East, intrigue and search for religious artifacts.
October 17, 2013
This book started out a little slow, but quickly picked up speed. I can't wait to continue this series an find out Nick's secret.
September 21, 2015
I liked this story. Nick Kismet has a guardian angel - or does he. There is lots of action adventure.
I normally do not like religious preachy based books - but I like Nick.
check it out.
I normally do not like religious preachy based books - but I like Nick.
check it out.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews