Saint Peter's Soldiers

James Acton Thrillers #14

by J. Robert Kennedy

*** FROM USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR J. ROBERT KENNEDY ***

A MISSING DA VINCI.
A TERRIFYING GENETIC BREAKTHROUGH.
A PAST AND FUTURE ABOUT TO COLLIDE!

USA Today bestselling author J. Robert Kennedy delivers another torn from the headlines thriller in Saint Peter’s Soldiers.

In World War Two a fabled da Vinci drawing is hidden from the Nazis, those involved fearing Hitler may attempt to steal it for its purported magical powers.

It isn’t returned for over fifty years.

This is fact.

And today, archeology Professor James Acton and his wife are about to be dragged into the terrible truth of what happened so many years ago, for the truth is never what it seems, and the history we thought was fact, is all lies.

Spanning seven decades, J. Robert Kennedy’s Saint Peter’s Soldiers is an action-packed adventure taking readers on an adrenaline-fueled thrill-ride across Italy and her troubled history. Deftly crafted in true Kennedy style, this fast-paced stunner is jam-packed with action, intrigue and laughter, as only he can deliver.

About the James Acton Thrillers:
"James Acton: A little bit of Jack Bauer and Indiana Jones!"

Though this book is part of the James Acton Thrillers series, it is written as a standalone novel and can be enjoyed without having read any of the previous installments.

The James Acton Thrillers series and its spin-offs, the Special Agent Dylan Kane Thrillers and the Delta Force Unleashed Thrillers, have over 600 Five-Star reviews and have sold hundreds of thousands of eBooks and paperbacks. If you love non-stop action and intrigue with a healthy dose of humor, try James Acton today!

Available James Acton Thrillers:
The Protocol, Brass Monkey, Broken Dove, The Templar's Relic, Flags of Sin, The Arab Fall, The Circle of Eight, The Venice Code, Pompeii's Ghosts, Amazon Burning, The Riddle, Blood Relics, Sins of the Titanic, Saint Peter's Soldiers

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Action

343 pages, ebook

First published September 12, 2015

About the author

With over one million books sold, award winning and USA Today bestselling author J. Robert Kennedy has been ranked by Amazon as the #1 Bestselling Action Adventure novelist based upon combined sales. He is the author of over fifty international bestsellers including the smash hit James Acton Thrillers. He lives with his wife and daughter and writes full-time.

Reviews

[Ryan Rauber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another great addition to the James Acton series, though not one of my particular favorites. This seems like a set-up for a future novel involving the same bad guys, in this case modern-day Nazis and secret societies of the Catholic church. I had a little trouble following who were the good guys and who were the bad guys here. Well, the Nazis are of course alway the bad guys. The usual cast of characters return, thank goodness.

If this is your first foray into the series, I certainly recommend it whole-heartedly. Just personally I enjoy many of the others over this one.

[Lindasp · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my second book in the James Acton series and it didn't disappoint! So exciting and I love how the short chapters during the intense parts add to the excitement. It was nice to see quite a few of the same characters from 'The Protocol" appear in this book too. The ending was quite sobering to think about. Given the scientific advancements made in recent history and the increase in fanaticism in the world coupled with increasing desperation of populations, the ending thoughts could be not as far fetched as we'd like to think.

[Don M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the creativity behind the story and how historical events are morphed into these fictional situations. The thing that tends to ruin it for me is Mr. Kennedy's lack of attention to detail in some areas. In one instance, a character's car has its four tires flattened. Several pages later, this character jumps into the car and drives away. Please, Mr. Kennedy, get a proof-reader. You have this type of error in most of your novels.

It also gets a bit tedious after a dozen or so stories reading the author's rants about Jaguar cars. Such comments add nothing to the stories.

[~Bonnie~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh. I'd give it 2 1/2 stars. This was the 2nd book I've read in the series. It was good enough that I kept reading. It just misses the mark for me. There never really seems to be a main character. James Acton is supposed to be, but he's usually off on the sidelines. Character development isn't great, and there always seems to be so many of them. I have one more book in my TBR pile but I won't be buying any more after that.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

J. Robert Kennedy writes thrillers involving James Acton and his wife Laura Palmer, both archaeology professors, in search of religious artifacts also being sought by nefarious people or organizations. These stories offer good plotting and characterization and easily compare with Dan Brown's Robert Langdon thrillers. Through their adventures, Acton and Palmer have befriended and gained as allies CIA and British Intelligence agents, the Pope and the Vaticans' chief of security, and the US Army's Delta Force.
This story includes a secret sect of priests within the Catholic Church, Saint Peter's soldiers, who are committed to protecting the Church against all of its enemies. They and the Pope are not always in agreement as to what that means. A Leonardo da Vinci self portrait newly returned to the Vatican is instantly whisked away by someone aided by a traitor in the Vatican. In a rash act (typical of Acton), Acton discovers the location of people who wish to remain anonymous and endangers everyone he loves.

[Robynne Lozier · Rating 3 out of 5]

This started off as a snatching of a Da Vinci drawing in Rome - which was never recovered by the way - and then meandered into a chase to northern Italy to find the germans who dared threatened James Actons family.

But Acton has resources he can use and he does so. Which means the bringing together of several characters from other book series - namely the Delta team and CIA agent Dylan Kane. These other books series were also written by J Robert Kennedy.

There are way too many short chapters and too many details of military and CIA actions. This story actually has no real SUBSTANCE to it. Also there were way too many short chapters which makes the story pretty choppy. Jumping all over the place.

I give this 3 stars. It could have been a lot better!!!

[Tim Seabrook · Rating 4 out of 5]

There doesn't appear to be a single part of the world where James Acton and Laura Palmer can go without getting into trouble.

Previously mixed up with an ancient society and even older crystal skulls, they're now caught up with Nazi's who are trying to bring about a new order. A secret castle, hidden agendas and a sketch with supposedly mystical powers that Laura had been involved with before brings them even more trouble.

This one leaves more questions unanswered than it resolves and you can bet there will be a couple of more books involving the villains from this one.

[Sandy Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite

I really wanted to like this book...it started pretty well and did have it's moments but I found myself putting it down and not much caring if I finished or not. I did, but, although it dealt with a very real possibility, the ending was just kind of 'well, here it is...the end.' Abrupt and rather blah.

[Karin · Rating 4 out of 5]

As usual I liked this book. Unfortunately the story is a very real possibility which is totally horrifying. For some reason I didn’t find this installment as captivating as the others. I was disappointed with the ending. I’m sure it leads to a future book but the ending was anticlimactic and very hard to believe.

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book I've read by J. Robert Kennedy. Liked both of them very much. This one is about a secret society intent on bringing about a fascist world. Very good and I could see this happening. Will be reading more by Kennedy.

[Elizabeth Wilson Higgins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great actiin

Another great James Acton thriller. Lots of action and wonderful friends who are there to help in a crisis. Acton and his wife Laura seen to unwittingly attract trouble for themselves
Definitely one to read

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

It just took this ONE book to convince me that I needed to buy and read the rest of this series! Action/adventure books really appeal to me, and this book was fast paced, with characters and settings, as well as a super plot! This author is going to cost me LOTS of money, but it will be worth it!

[Lynn Vaughan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lynnie

Love this series. Each book is a page turner. Action, new things to make you go, hmmmm. Love the writing of the author.

Bring them on. I am hooked on this series. Keeps you glued to your seat. Thank you again.

[Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

James Acton now married to Laura Palmer, a painting given to the Vatican is stolen by natzi’s, someone threatens Acton for knowing to much and kidnaps his parents, and he has no clue what it is he’s supposed to know to much of. Til later

[Meryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read.

All our favourite characters back to enthrall us with art and mystery. Scary realisation of what someone could potentially accomplish with cloning.

Wonderful words that help create a great imagery whilst reading.

[Suki Rickey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book 14

Book 14 was a fun read and had errors throughout. The plot and characters seemed rushed in this book. It transitioned well enough, but the back and for was not as smooth. The plot was okay overall, but was a bit boring at times.

[Marcia Ditter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book in the James Acton series. I chose this book as I enjoy reading about stolen art.
This book is full of action. This is the start of a new series for me.

[Keith Clarence Greenwood Kyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A decent read

The author left me wanting more.. Wanted Mengele to be caught or terminated, but guess that must be left for the sequel.

[George Mead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thriller!

A great adventure with a scary story that doesn't end here. what more could you want? More, of course...and more still!

[Pam Whetton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great characters always leaving you wanting more as you get to the last page

[Stephen F. Markwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent read from J. Robert Kennedy!

[Kevin Reeder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excitement in Italy

James and crew get some help again from Jane and Delta Force. Are the new Nazis creating havoc, yes but not as much as our heroes. Fun read,:-)

[Jacquelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brings us to current scientific exploitation.

[Stitch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another clash between the Actons and the shadowy organisations that are sometimes not what they seem. Definitely a scary scenario if the things described were to take place.

[Normand Girard · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful read for one who likes this type of thriller - plenty of action, page arfter page, with plenty of unsavory characters.

[Asterope · Rating 3 out of 5]

Personally, I thought this was a weaker edition of the series. I'm reading these in the overarching series order(*) and compared to the last book, this one was a bit more meh. It seemed like a filler? Or bridge possibly between one plot to another. Or maybe it serves to introduce The Congress and they'll pop back into things later in the series? I am not sure. It wasn't bad, but just felt a bit more empty, I guess. I'll be moving on to the next book of the series, though - Dylan Kane #5.

(*) https://www.goodreads.com/series/2235...

[Bob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another old Nazi group working on a comeback and competing with a ancient group from the Vatican for a lost drawing by Michelangelo. Into the mix add Jim Acton, Laura Palmer, Hugh Reading, The Special Forces Delta Team and CIA specialists including Dylan Kane for a fast pace thriller set in Europe and the US.

[Linda Kaban · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Mengele. The Fourth Reich. Human cloning with the added addition of changing the human genome. This is a thriller in the true sense of the word. Add in all my favourite characters from primary - James and Laura Acton, Hugh Reading - to secondary - Dylan Kane, B.D. Dawson and gang, Sherry and Chris, Greg Milton, Inspector General Giasson and now Fang Lee - and you have a fantastic read.

[Ciobair · Rating 3 out of 5]

Intriguing, well-paced story. However, in the Kindle edition at least, the author's grammar would have caused him to fail high school English classes. This fact made it a highly annoying read, for me.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent thriller- a new thriller author for me.