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Anlon Cully Chronicles #1
Shadows of the Stone Benders
For fans of Dan Brown's Robert Langdon novels, a riveting, action-packed thriller.
World-renowned scientist Anlon Cully is unexpectedly swept into the thick of a suspense-riddled adventure when his archaeologist uncle, Devlin Wilson, dies under suspicious circumstances.
Prior to his “accidental” fall off a New Hampshire mountain trail, Devlin made the discovery of a lifetime – unearthing undeniable proof that a technologically advanced society thrived on Earth long before archaeologists thought possible!
The key to this shocking evidence lies in a set of mysterious stones forged by a long forgotten race of ancient mariners. Instilled with formidable powers to build, communicate, fight and heal, the stones draw the ruthless attention of villainous thieves hell bent on their acquisition by any means possible… including murder.
Aided by friend Pebbles McCarver and police detective Jennifer Stevens, Anlon follows traces of bewildering clues left by his uncle in a dangerous chase to unravel the stones’ secrets before the killer strikes again and escapes with the priceless artifacts.
Peppered with the thought provoking intrigue of a Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child thriller, Shadows of the Stone Benders leaves readers questioning the technological prowess of modern man and the belief that Neolithic humans were nothing more than unsophisticated cave dwellers.
World-renowned scientist Anlon Cully is unexpectedly swept into the thick of a suspense-riddled adventure when his archaeologist uncle, Devlin Wilson, dies under suspicious circumstances.
Prior to his “accidental” fall off a New Hampshire mountain trail, Devlin made the discovery of a lifetime – unearthing undeniable proof that a technologically advanced society thrived on Earth long before archaeologists thought possible!
The key to this shocking evidence lies in a set of mysterious stones forged by a long forgotten race of ancient mariners. Instilled with formidable powers to build, communicate, fight and heal, the stones draw the ruthless attention of villainous thieves hell bent on their acquisition by any means possible… including murder.
Aided by friend Pebbles McCarver and police detective Jennifer Stevens, Anlon follows traces of bewildering clues left by his uncle in a dangerous chase to unravel the stones’ secrets before the killer strikes again and escapes with the priceless artifacts.
Peppered with the thought provoking intrigue of a Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child thriller, Shadows of the Stone Benders leaves readers questioning the technological prowess of modern man and the belief that Neolithic humans were nothing more than unsophisticated cave dwellers.
316 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2016
4977 people are currently reading
1600 people want to read
About the author
K. Patrick Donoghue
9 books116 followersK. Patrick Donoghue is the author of two series; the Anlon Cully Chronicles, an archaeology-based mystery-thriller series, and the Rorschach Explorer Missions, a new sci-fi thriller series.
Patrick's inspiration for the Anlon Cully Chronicles is rooted in his long-standing interest in ancient civilizations. In particular, a series of still-unexplained archaeological discoveries that suggest at least one advanced society thrived on Earth long before consensus views.
In similar fashion, Patrick takes a contrarian/alternative view toward deep space exploration, the existence of extraterrestrial life and ancient aliens in The Rorschach Explorer Missions.
His books include:
Shadows of the Stone Benders
Race for the Flash Stone
Curse of the Painted Lady
Priestess of Paracas (upcoming release: fall 2019)
UMO (Kindle eBook only at this time)
Skywave
Magwave (new release: July 31, 2019)
Patrick's inspiration for the Anlon Cully Chronicles is rooted in his long-standing interest in ancient civilizations. In particular, a series of still-unexplained archaeological discoveries that suggest at least one advanced society thrived on Earth long before consensus views.
In similar fashion, Patrick takes a contrarian/alternative view toward deep space exploration, the existence of extraterrestrial life and ancient aliens in The Rorschach Explorer Missions.
His books include:
Shadows of the Stone Benders
Race for the Flash Stone
Curse of the Painted Lady
Priestess of Paracas (upcoming release: fall 2019)
UMO (Kindle eBook only at this time)
Skywave
Magwave (new release: July 31, 2019)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 316 reviews
May 17, 2017
This book is bad. The writing style is very immature, like something a teenager would write. The main character is a "Mary Sue" - an older, plain looking man who is a billionaire and scientific genius, and who all the "really hot" younger female characters lust after. The implicit misogyny in this book bothered me.
The actual plot was boring and I gave up about 1/2 way through.
Avoid this book.
The actual plot was boring and I gave up about 1/2 way through.
Avoid this book.
June 20, 2016
I got a third of the way into this and had to quit. The story isn't really that interesting to me and the writing is (to this seasoned reader) intolerable.
February 5, 2017
This book is a thriller that seems like Indiana Jones meets the DaVinci Code. It starts with the murder of an archeologist, Devlin, who has been working on proving the civilized society started much sooner than originally thought. The archeologist's nephew, Anlon, comes to handle the funeral and estate and is instead pulled into the mystery of the artifacts in the victim's possession and the ones he was looking for at the time of his death. As more murder and robberies occur, it becomes clear that there are people that do not want the research or the artifacts to become public and that they are all in grave danger.
I enjoyed the relationship and background building did with all the main characters but I wish that the plot and the background involving the stones and the alternate theory of civilized society was focused on more. It felt like the characters were jumping to conclusions that I would have never figured out about the mysteries of the stones and the murders. I hope the sequel will have more plot information.
I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars on Goodreads.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for review consideration.
I enjoyed the relationship and background building did with all the main characters but I wish that the plot and the background involving the stones and the alternate theory of civilized society was focused on more. It felt like the characters were jumping to conclusions that I would have never figured out about the mysteries of the stones and the murders. I hope the sequel will have more plot information.
I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars on Goodreads.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for review consideration.
October 5, 2018
ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher.
Shadows of the Stone Benders by K. Patrick Donoghue was described by the words "For fans of James Rollins and Steve Berry, a suspense-riddled adventure." It was further described as "Peppered with the thought provoking intrigue of a Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child thriller, Shadows of the Stone Benders leaves readers questioning the technological prowess of modern man and the belief that Neolithic humans were nothing more than unsophisticated cave dwellers."
Well, those are certainly some authors I enjoy reading and I thought I'd give this book a try. Bad move. I don't know who wrote the description, but I don't think they've ever read a book by Rollins, Berry, Preston or Child! This book is no where near the caliber of one of those authors' books nor was it a suspense-riddled adventure. I found the story to be plodding, the dialogue to be stilted and the characters one-dimensional and frequently annoying, especially the women.
While the basic idea of the book was interesting, the poor execution made it a complete disappointment.
Shadows of the Stone Benders by K. Patrick Donoghue was described by the words "For fans of James Rollins and Steve Berry, a suspense-riddled adventure." It was further described as "Peppered with the thought provoking intrigue of a Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child thriller, Shadows of the Stone Benders leaves readers questioning the technological prowess of modern man and the belief that Neolithic humans were nothing more than unsophisticated cave dwellers."
Well, those are certainly some authors I enjoy reading and I thought I'd give this book a try. Bad move. I don't know who wrote the description, but I don't think they've ever read a book by Rollins, Berry, Preston or Child! This book is no where near the caliber of one of those authors' books nor was it a suspense-riddled adventure. I found the story to be plodding, the dialogue to be stilted and the characters one-dimensional and frequently annoying, especially the women.
While the basic idea of the book was interesting, the poor execution made it a complete disappointment.
October 8, 2017
I don't recall where I found this book but it was from an advertisement. The ad may have been an Amazon or Goodreads thing or maybe even Facebook but it was an ad that caught my eye. The book was offered in ebook format and I had been wanting to find something to download to my iPad for a recent vacation my wife and I were about to take. The plot looked interesting and the price was right so I downloaded it. The vacation proved to be more tiring than I expected so I never got to the book until just recently. The book is not great literature but it is great entertainment and I've given it my rare 5 star rating for a number of reasons. It is a debut book and the start of a series featuring the characters described in this volume. Since it is the author's first book I am seriously impressed because this book has a great many things going on and is rather complex in its elements. It would have been an easy thing for a new author to drop a ball in the juggling act needed to manage this plot. So what is the plot? The protagonist is a scientist that has become wealthy because of an invention he participated in developing. The protagonist, Anlon Cully PhD, has an uncle that is a very controversial archeologist who dies accidentally in a mountain climb. Cully is called by a colleague of his uncle and informed that Cully has inherited the uncle's estate and his research but he needs to come East right away as the colleague has to speak with him privately ASAP. Cully goes East and meets with the colleague a Matthew Dobson. Dobson informs Cully that his uncle's death may not have been an accident and is probably related to the uncle's research. It seems that the uncle has found irrefutable proof of the existence of an ancient society of 10,00 years ago whose technological mastery would rival anything in the contemporary world. Dobson is then killed before he can reveal anymore of the details of the the uncle's research or of his suspicions regarding his death. The book combines the sci-fi thriller genre with that of the murder mystery as Cully joins forces with a female friend and a female police officer tasked with solving the murder of Dobson and maybe even the uncle while Cully tries to understand the nature and scope of his uncle's research and this mysterious ancient advanced civilization which would cause the rewriting of virtually all of our history. There is something for everybody in this book and, as I said, it is great entertainment. If I have any criticism it is with the ending which could be called a cliffhanger but is really a tease for the next book in the series. I would have preferred the story to be self-contained and the next book to be an entirely different adventure but It appears that this is going to be a journey starting with this book. This author is very talented and I expect we will be hearing more about him in the future. I think he is an author that I will be watching and following.
June 24, 2016
Mysterious, powerful stones are linked to a society that predates the earliest known to man. The elderly archaeologist who discovers them turns up dead. His nephew, a wealthy scientist in his own right, is intent on learning the secrets his uncle unearthed. Hmmm - almost from Page 1, my mind's eye was seeing shadows of Indiana Jones and The Librarian. Hints of those images remained throughout, even though the story and characters are quite different. If this book - and the rest of the series to come (next up is Race for the Flash Stone) - do as well as I expect, I won't be at all surprised to see film versions (and if that happens, I've got some great suggestions for who to cast in the lead roles; call me).
This one begins as noted archaeologist Devlin Wilson dies while hiking up a mountain - apparently the result of a fall. In his will, he leaves his home and all his research to his nephew, Anlon Cully, who has earned a stellar reputation (and a ton of money) in the biochemical field. Anlon has a rather odd relationship with an equally odd younger woman named "Pebbles" McCarver - a super-perceptive free spirit with blue hair, several body piercings and tattoos and a rather suspicious background.
Devlin's estate includes a safe in which he's hidden a couple of strangely marked stones; further research by Anlon and Pebbles reveals that Devlin was researching them in the belief that they originate prior to the oldest known civilization and that they were used by a technologically advanced group of humans. Not long after Anlon finds the stones, one of Wilson's long-time associates turns up dead, an apparent suicide (as an aside, the associate was an occasional lecturer at Stony Brook University on Long Island, New York, at which our son earned a master's degree in mathematics a number of years ago - pretty cool).
The local police - most notably detective Jennifer Stevens - get involved when it appears one or both of the deceased guys may have been murdered. Although Jennifer is reluctant to believe the theory of the stones' power, she's astute enough to realize something sinister is afoot. Jennifer, like Pebbles, is taken with the middle-aged Anlon; but surprisingly, the two very different women hit it off and set off, with Anlon's help, to rock the investigative boat. The ride brings them closer to the truth with every stroke of their paddles, but also puts them dangerously close to some very sinister characters who would like nothing more than to use the power of the stones for their own dastardly purposes.
I really, really enjoyed the book, but I do have a few nits to pick such as a few too many errors grammar and punctuation. At the top of my list is the virtual nonexistence of commas before the name of the person being addressed in direct quotes, which at times made me chuckle out loud, to-wit:
"Thanks for the lead Detective."
Um, I think you mean, "Thanks for the lead, Detective."
Or,
..."then I'll come back and help clean up AC."
May I suggest, "...then I'll come back and help clean up, AC."
All in all, though, this is a really fun, hard-to-put-down read, and I look forward to seeing where the next installment will take the trio of friends. Thanks to the author and publisher, via NetGalley, for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Now if you could just spare a few tickets to the first movie...?
This one begins as noted archaeologist Devlin Wilson dies while hiking up a mountain - apparently the result of a fall. In his will, he leaves his home and all his research to his nephew, Anlon Cully, who has earned a stellar reputation (and a ton of money) in the biochemical field. Anlon has a rather odd relationship with an equally odd younger woman named "Pebbles" McCarver - a super-perceptive free spirit with blue hair, several body piercings and tattoos and a rather suspicious background.
Devlin's estate includes a safe in which he's hidden a couple of strangely marked stones; further research by Anlon and Pebbles reveals that Devlin was researching them in the belief that they originate prior to the oldest known civilization and that they were used by a technologically advanced group of humans. Not long after Anlon finds the stones, one of Wilson's long-time associates turns up dead, an apparent suicide (as an aside, the associate was an occasional lecturer at Stony Brook University on Long Island, New York, at which our son earned a master's degree in mathematics a number of years ago - pretty cool).
The local police - most notably detective Jennifer Stevens - get involved when it appears one or both of the deceased guys may have been murdered. Although Jennifer is reluctant to believe the theory of the stones' power, she's astute enough to realize something sinister is afoot. Jennifer, like Pebbles, is taken with the middle-aged Anlon; but surprisingly, the two very different women hit it off and set off, with Anlon's help, to rock the investigative boat. The ride brings them closer to the truth with every stroke of their paddles, but also puts them dangerously close to some very sinister characters who would like nothing more than to use the power of the stones for their own dastardly purposes.
I really, really enjoyed the book, but I do have a few nits to pick such as a few too many errors grammar and punctuation. At the top of my list is the virtual nonexistence of commas before the name of the person being addressed in direct quotes, which at times made me chuckle out loud, to-wit:
"Thanks for the lead Detective."
Um, I think you mean, "Thanks for the lead, Detective."
Or,
..."then I'll come back and help clean up AC."
May I suggest, "...then I'll come back and help clean up, AC."
All in all, though, this is a really fun, hard-to-put-down read, and I look forward to seeing where the next installment will take the trio of friends. Thanks to the author and publisher, via NetGalley, for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Now if you could just spare a few tickets to the first movie...?
March 9, 2017
3.5 stars. Note: I received a copy of this book from netgalley, which in no way influences my review.
First the things I liked: The plot of this book was interesting - I enjoyed the archaeology angle, and the mysteries with the different stones interested me. I'd love to learn more about them in future books. There is a lot of history in this version of the world to be explored. The characters and their backstories were also all interesting.
What I didn't like: The dialogue took me out of the story multiple times. That most likely won't be a problem for most readers, but all of the exclaiming (for example, "Wow!" was said SO many times) and just the way they talked didn't resonate with me. I suspect it won't be an issue for MANY readers, but it just wasn't my favorite.
First the things I liked: The plot of this book was interesting - I enjoyed the archaeology angle, and the mysteries with the different stones interested me. I'd love to learn more about them in future books. There is a lot of history in this version of the world to be explored. The characters and their backstories were also all interesting.
What I didn't like: The dialogue took me out of the story multiple times. That most likely won't be a problem for most readers, but all of the exclaiming (for example, "Wow!" was said SO many times) and just the way they talked didn't resonate with me. I suspect it won't be an issue for MANY readers, but it just wasn't my favorite.
July 12, 2017
I don't recall where I found this book but it was from an advertisement. The ad may have been an Amazon or Goodreads thing or maybe even Facebook but it was an ad that caught my eye. The book was offered in ebook format and I had been wanting to find something to download to my iPad for a recent vacation my wife and I were about to take. The plot looked interesting and the price was right so I downloaded it. The vacation proved to be more tiring than I expected so I never got to the book until just recently. The book is not great literature but it is great entertainment and I've given it my rare 5 star rating for a number of reasons. It is a debut book and the start of a series featuring the characters described in this volume. Since it is the author's first book I am seriously impressed because this book has a great many things going on and is rather complex in its elements. It would have been an easy thing for a new author to drop a ball in the juggling act needed to manage this plot. So what is the plot? The protagonist is a scientist that has become wealthy because of an invention he participated in developing. The protagonist, Anlon Cully PhD, has an uncle that is a very controversial archeologist who dies accidentally in a mountain climb. Cully is called by a colleague of his uncle and informed that Cully has inherited the uncle's estate and his research but he needs to come East right away as the colleague has to speak with him privately ASAP. Cully goes East and meets with the colleague a Matthew Dobson. Dobson informs Cully that his uncle's death may not have been an accident and is probably related to the uncle's research. It seems that the uncle has found irrefutable proof of the existence of an ancient society of 10,00 years ago whose technological mastery would rival anything in the contemporary world. Dobson is then killed before he can reveal anymore of the details of the the uncle's research or of his suspicions regarding his death. The book combines the sci-fi thriller genre with that of the murder mystery as Cully joins forces with a female friend and a female police officer tasked with solving the murder of Dobson and maybe even the uncle while Cully tries to understand the nature and scope of his uncle's research and this mysterious ancient advanced civilization which would cause the rewriting of virtually all of our history. There is something for everybody in this book and, as I said, it is great entertainment. If I have any criticism it is with the ending which could be called a cliffhanger but is really a tease for the next book in the series. I would have preferred the story to be self-contained and the next book to be an entirely different adventure but It appears that this is going to be a journey starting with this book. This author is very talented and I expect we will be hearing more about him in the future. I think he is an author that I will be watching and following.
June 18, 2016
Seeking the solution to the mystery of man's apparent leap to a fully advanced civilization in dynastic Egypt, the Tiahuanaco city-state high in the Andes mountains, and in Harappa, a marvel of architectural planning in ancient Pakistan, Dr. Devlin Wilson suffers a death inexplicable by forensic medicine. And leaves behind evidence of otherworldly technology.
Nephew and beneficiary, Anlon Cully, billionaire and PhD, and his friends Jennifer and Pebbles, will need to make sense of a collection of curiously-shaped stones and a half-dozen arcane symbols before someone murders them, too.
This first volume in the The Anlon Cully Chronicles lays the groundwork for a new series by K. Patrick Donoghue. There is a tendency towards wordiness--there are long stretches where the characters sit around drinking booze and talking, talking, talking, and the conversations go over and over the same ground as each new character enters stage right. Quite a lot of this exposition could be condensed in the first third of the book, as the reader need not be so coddled. And despite Anlon's reputation as a genius, most of the plot developments are the result of "women's intuition," and he applauds the ladies for even the most obvious observation. I was starting to feel like Stephen Hawking.
These few complaints nothwithstanding, I did enjoy the book, the premise is fun and takes a unique stab at one of the great mysteries of the world. I will watch for the next book in the series to see where it goes from here. The book works as a standalone, but there is still much to be discovered.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
Nephew and beneficiary, Anlon Cully, billionaire and PhD, and his friends Jennifer and Pebbles, will need to make sense of a collection of curiously-shaped stones and a half-dozen arcane symbols before someone murders them, too.
This first volume in the The Anlon Cully Chronicles lays the groundwork for a new series by K. Patrick Donoghue. There is a tendency towards wordiness--there are long stretches where the characters sit around drinking booze and talking, talking, talking, and the conversations go over and over the same ground as each new character enters stage right. Quite a lot of this exposition could be condensed in the first third of the book, as the reader need not be so coddled. And despite Anlon's reputation as a genius, most of the plot developments are the result of "women's intuition," and he applauds the ladies for even the most obvious observation. I was starting to feel like Stephen Hawking.
These few complaints nothwithstanding, I did enjoy the book, the premise is fun and takes a unique stab at one of the great mysteries of the world. I will watch for the next book in the series to see where it goes from here. The book works as a standalone, but there is still much to be discovered.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 6, 2016
3.5 stars
Good story with a really interesting premise--that a technologically advanced society existed long before we'd think was possible. The author introduced the idea in a way that was plausible enough that I found myself googling mythological fish men to see what, if any, real connections there were. However, I thought the story eventually became a little too far-fetched and not as well supported as it had been in the beginning, but was still exciting and suspenseful.
My main problem was with some of the characters, specifically Pebbles and Dobson. They seemed inconsistent: the author created good, interesting characters who later behaved (or were found to have behaved in the past) in ways that didn't fit with who they were. Now, it's entirely possible for people to behave in unexpected ways or to not really be who they seem to be or to change over time, but an author has to make it believable and Donoghue didn't.
I guess it's the same problem with both: the author starts out very well, building a believable premise and characters, but then just drops the ball on keeping things believable and just rushes through the story. So, overall, good but not great, but could be really good with a bit more work!
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me a copy of this.
Good story with a really interesting premise--that a technologically advanced society existed long before we'd think was possible. The author introduced the idea in a way that was plausible enough that I found myself googling mythological fish men to see what, if any, real connections there were. However, I thought the story eventually became a little too far-fetched and not as well supported as it had been in the beginning, but was still exciting and suspenseful.
My main problem was with some of the characters, specifically Pebbles and Dobson. They seemed inconsistent: the author created good, interesting characters who later behaved (or were found to have behaved in the past) in ways that didn't fit with who they were. Now, it's entirely possible for people to behave in unexpected ways or to not really be who they seem to be or to change over time, but an author has to make it believable and Donoghue didn't.
I guess it's the same problem with both: the author starts out very well, building a believable premise and characters, but then just drops the ball on keeping things believable and just rushes through the story. So, overall, good but not great, but could be really good with a bit more work!
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me a copy of this.
October 4, 2016
Got this as a free book from NetGalley.
One star for the premise. Zero for everything else. I was pretty much forcing myself to read it from page 10 on. Got to 50%and couldn't take the torture anymore, so sadly it falls into one of the very few books that I didn't finish.
My first criticism is that I felt like I was reading something a middle schooler armed with a thesaurus wrote and I've read many middle schoolers' stories (some were actually better written than this by the way.) Sentences were simplistic. No descriptions of places so I can't barely imagine what was actually going on. Adjectives are awkwardly placed in dialogs.
M second criticism is the novel tells the story of some middle aged guy's fantasy life. The main character has women 20 years his junior hitting on him. He is rich and only getting richer even though he doesn't work. Jus seems very unrealistic.
In fact all the characters were unbelievable and unrelatable. All the characters are adults from mid twenties to sixties. But they all talk and act like teenagers. Dialogs are worst than Twilight. Cop wants to sound tough by calling herself copper, but then her dialog just reads like a teenager playing at being a detective. Pebbles reminds me of Elle Woods of Legally Blonde.
Maybe if the description included some hint that this was meant to be a comedy, I would have been more open to it. As it is, there are too many better books out there to waste my time on this.
One star for the premise. Zero for everything else. I was pretty much forcing myself to read it from page 10 on. Got to 50%and couldn't take the torture anymore, so sadly it falls into one of the very few books that I didn't finish.
My first criticism is that I felt like I was reading something a middle schooler armed with a thesaurus wrote and I've read many middle schoolers' stories (some were actually better written than this by the way.) Sentences were simplistic. No descriptions of places so I can't barely imagine what was actually going on. Adjectives are awkwardly placed in dialogs.
M second criticism is the novel tells the story of some middle aged guy's fantasy life. The main character has women 20 years his junior hitting on him. He is rich and only getting richer even though he doesn't work. Jus seems very unrealistic.
In fact all the characters were unbelievable and unrelatable. All the characters are adults from mid twenties to sixties. But they all talk and act like teenagers. Dialogs are worst than Twilight. Cop wants to sound tough by calling herself copper, but then her dialog just reads like a teenager playing at being a detective. Pebbles reminds me of Elle Woods of Legally Blonde.
Maybe if the description included some hint that this was meant to be a comedy, I would have been more open to it. As it is, there are too many better books out there to waste my time on this.
June 30, 2016
I received an advance copy of the book, and I'm really glad I did! It's very well written, and the characters kept growing on me throughout the book. I wasn't prepared for the unknown interrelationships between the characters, and found it fascinating.
"Impressive" isn't the word I'd use to describe the research and imagination that went into writing this book -- I think much of it "stunned" me.
Anlon and Pebbles team up with Jennifer, who has a network of her own. Together, they try to work out what really happened to his uncle and why. And what a surprise!
And there will most definitely be a second installment. Everything that happens in the last third of the book (which is the part I just couldn't put down) leads to this conclusion.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book. As a 20-year bookseller, I'm very pleased to recommend this author's amazing debut novel.
"Impressive" isn't the word I'd use to describe the research and imagination that went into writing this book -- I think much of it "stunned" me.
Anlon and Pebbles team up with Jennifer, who has a network of her own. Together, they try to work out what really happened to his uncle and why. And what a surprise!
And there will most definitely be a second installment. Everything that happens in the last third of the book (which is the part I just couldn't put down) leads to this conclusion.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book. As a 20-year bookseller, I'm very pleased to recommend this author's amazing debut novel.
November 12, 2023
I had read that this book was a cross between Indiana Jones and The DaVinci Code. Sort of but a lot less action and more intellectual repartee than those stories. Near the end the action picks up and on the whole it was an interesting tale.
May 12, 2017
World-renowned scientist Anlon Cully is unexpectedly swept into the thick of a suspense-riddled adventure when his archaeologist uncle, Devlin Wilson, dies under suspicious circumstances.
Prior to his “accidental” fall off a New Hampshire mountain trail, Devlin made the discovery of a lifetime – unearthing undeniable proof that a technologically advanced society thrived on Earth long before archaeologists thought possible!
The key to this shocking evidence lies in a set of mysterious stones forged by a long forgotten race of ancient mariners. Instilled with formidable powers to build, communicate, fight and heal, the stones draw the ruthless attention of villainous thieves hell bent on their acquisition by any means possible…including murder.
Aided by friend Pebbles McCarver and police detective Jennifer Stevens, Anlon follows traces of bewildering clues left by his uncle in a dangerous chase to unravel the stones’ secrets before the killer strikes again and escapes with the priceless artifacts.
Peppered with the thought provoking intrigue of a Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child thriller, Shadows of the Stone Benders leaves readers questioning the technological prowess of modern man and the belief that Neolithic humans were nothing more than unsophisticated cave dwellers
What did I think:
5 stars
OMG this book was great, once I started to read I just couldn't stop, it pulled me in and it kept me hooked to the very end, it was like I was reading a book that James Rollins himself wrote , loved every thing about it , its non stop all the way , there was a few typos in it but this is an ARC copy so you tend to find them, can't wait to pick up an actually cope when I can , With that said I would love to also say that I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion and review and that these are 100 % my own thoughts to what is truly a great book
June 21, 2016
Dr. Anlon Culy is a multimillionaire after selling his patent for a means of saving fuel. He receives a message that his uncle, an archaeologist has died in an accidental fall while hiking and Anlon needs to get there immediately. Upon his arrival, he talks to his uncle's friend and cohort and learns his uncle has discovered proof of an ancient civilization that predates known history. This civilization left stones that they recorded with their thoughts...and consciousness. Was his uncle's death an accident? Some unsavory characters are after the stones, and Anlon and his friends must solve the mystery.
This story had a great premise and good characters. However, the action for a thriller was slow up until the very end. The conversations were stilted and felt unnatural and many times the reader is told and showed the events, sometimes repeatedly. The story is still interesting and I was fascinated by the Story Stones.
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley.
I would be interested in the next in the series and hope to see growth as the author learns to handle dialogue with experience.
This story had a great premise and good characters. However, the action for a thriller was slow up until the very end. The conversations were stilted and felt unnatural and many times the reader is told and showed the events, sometimes repeatedly. The story is still interesting and I was fascinated by the Story Stones.
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley.
I would be interested in the next in the series and hope to see growth as the author learns to handle dialogue with experience.
January 8, 2017
Disappointed
I was excited to begin the book after reading the description and I wasn't excited again until it was over. There are books that you pick up to read at every opportunity. This is not one of them. I couldn't believe I still hadn't finished it over a week after starting. Can I say what the problem was? Not really. I just never felt invested in the characters or the story. Too much time spent being cutesy about the three main characters (like referring to Pebbles as PYT - pretty young thing)? Maybe. Very little time spent on searching for the stones? Maybe. Too little excitement and interaction with the Stone Benders? I don't know. I can say that I certainly have no interest in the sequel. It was a chore to finish the first one.
I was excited to begin the book after reading the description and I wasn't excited again until it was over. There are books that you pick up to read at every opportunity. This is not one of them. I couldn't believe I still hadn't finished it over a week after starting. Can I say what the problem was? Not really. I just never felt invested in the characters or the story. Too much time spent being cutesy about the three main characters (like referring to Pebbles as PYT - pretty young thing)? Maybe. Very little time spent on searching for the stones? Maybe. Too little excitement and interaction with the Stone Benders? I don't know. I can say that I certainly have no interest in the sequel. It was a chore to finish the first one.
April 15, 2019
Shadows of the Stone Benders - a review by Rosemary Kenny
K Patrick Donoghue's excellent mystery thriller never slows its pace, as MCs Anlon Cully and Eleanor 'Pebbles' Marie McCarver, his friend and lover, discover foul play in the death of his adventurer uncle Devlin Wilson, far from the latter's treasure trail in the first book of the Anlon Cully Chronicles.
A well-written and engaging novel, that will appeal to all ages and to fans of mystery-thrillers and adventure stories alike,Shadows of the Stone Benders reveals the many trials, dangers and tribulations experienced by our intrepid young heroes, as they retrace Wilson's footsteps and question witnesses, seek for clues and learn of a map of the areas Wilson intended to explore after finding his journal. Joining them on their travels is Jennifer, a suspended law-enforcement agent, who soon becomes a valuable member of their team.
Mysterious stones with unbelievable powers, an alien race come to Earth after the 'Flood', strangers who may be friends or enemies in hiding - the excitement just goes on an on!
Thankfully there are already two more books, to keep you on the edge of your seat and up all night, ready for your further delectation - don't wait...get them all!
K Patrick Donoghue's excellent mystery thriller never slows its pace, as MCs Anlon Cully and Eleanor 'Pebbles' Marie McCarver, his friend and lover, discover foul play in the death of his adventurer uncle Devlin Wilson, far from the latter's treasure trail in the first book of the Anlon Cully Chronicles.
A well-written and engaging novel, that will appeal to all ages and to fans of mystery-thrillers and adventure stories alike,Shadows of the Stone Benders reveals the many trials, dangers and tribulations experienced by our intrepid young heroes, as they retrace Wilson's footsteps and question witnesses, seek for clues and learn of a map of the areas Wilson intended to explore after finding his journal. Joining them on their travels is Jennifer, a suspended law-enforcement agent, who soon becomes a valuable member of their team.
Mysterious stones with unbelievable powers, an alien race come to Earth after the 'Flood', strangers who may be friends or enemies in hiding - the excitement just goes on an on!
Thankfully there are already two more books, to keep you on the edge of your seat and up all night, ready for your further delectation - don't wait...get them all!
November 24, 2021
This was the Nook serial read for November. Overall I thought the story was interesting. It was sort of a murder mystery combined with a search for powerful ancient stones that all the bad guys were after. I liked the characters, though sometimes the dialogue was a bit hokey. Not enough to ruin the book for me, but it definitely pulled me out of it at times. And for some reason the three main female characters in this were all into the older me. So that was interesting. I did love the friendship that developed between Pebbles and Jennifer. It's nice when women are portrayed as supportive of each other instead of rivals for a dude. I would read the next book in the series to find out more about the mystery surrounding the stones.
September 2, 2018
What if there was an incredibly advanced ancient people that instilled their wisdom and powers into a set of mysterious stones with formidable powers to build, communicate, fight and heal?
That's the premise of this first novel in the Anlon Cully trilogy. Of course, the power of these stones draws the ruthless attention of villainous thieves hell bent on their acquisition by any means possible…including murder.
This has the feel of a good Dan Brown novel, including thought provoking intrigue that leaves you questioning the technological prowess of modern man and the belief that Neolithic humans were nothing more than unsophisticated cave dwellers. This is a great read. I'm currently reading the second novel in the trilogy.
That's the premise of this first novel in the Anlon Cully trilogy. Of course, the power of these stones draws the ruthless attention of villainous thieves hell bent on their acquisition by any means possible…including murder.
This has the feel of a good Dan Brown novel, including thought provoking intrigue that leaves you questioning the technological prowess of modern man and the belief that Neolithic humans were nothing more than unsophisticated cave dwellers. This is a great read. I'm currently reading the second novel in the trilogy.
May 25, 2019
A decent beginning to a new series (for me). I enjoyed the 'triple' partner, friends arrangement and dynamics. The tale was a bit over the edge, plot-wise, for a traditional mystery but not quite far-enough "out there' to qualify for the realm of sci-fi. I, actually, think I liked that aspect of the story. I'll know more after I read another novel in the series.
September 30, 2018
More Hardy Boys than Da Vinci Code
A murder mystery involving advanced technology of an ancient people. A lot of talking, but not much action, puzzles, or exotic locales. Meh
A murder mystery involving advanced technology of an ancient people. A lot of talking, but not much action, puzzles, or exotic locales. Meh
April 29, 2019
Shadows of the Stone Benders was surprisingly good. I usually don't care for "light" reading but the way Mr. Donoghue put the story together kept reading it enjoyable.
Although it never became intense and the characters were not intense I did become eager to return to the book to see how it turned out.
I do plan on getting #2 this week.
Although it never became intense and the characters were not intense I did become eager to return to the book to see how it turned out.
I do plan on getting #2 this week.
July 23, 2020
The story, the mystery is very good; the writing is not very good. I think the book needs an excellent editor.
February 8, 2019
I lined this book —I found it entertaining and the ending is a set up for the next book which I will read
July 6, 2016
Title: Shadows of the Stone Benders
Author: K. Patrick Donoghue
Series: Anlon Cully Chronicles, #1
Pages: 316
Publisher: Leaping Leopard Enterprises
Date: May 14, 2016
Summary:
World-renowned scientist Anlon Cully is unexpectedly swept into the thick of a suspense-riddled adventure when his archaeologist uncle, Devlin Wilson, dies under suspicious circumstances.
Prior to his “accidental” fall off a New Hampshire mountain trail, Devlin made the discovery of a lifetime – unearthing undeniable proof that a technologically advanced society thrived on Earth long before archaeologists thought possible!
The key to this shocking evidence lies in a set of mysterious stones forged by a long forgotten race of ancient mariners. Instilled with formidable powers to build, communicate, fight and heal, the stones draw the ruthless attention of villainous thieves hell bent on their acquisition by any means possible…including murder.
Aided by friend Pebbles McCarver and police detective Jennifer Stevens, Anlon follows traces of bewildering clues left by his uncle in a dangerous chase to unravel the stones’ secrets before the killer strikes again and escapes with the priceless artifacts.
Peppered with the thought provoking intrigue of a Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child thriller, Shadows of the Stone Benders leaves readers questioning the technological prowess of modern man and the belief that Neolithic humans were nothing more than unsophisticated cave dwellers.
Review:
This is a hard one to review. I really liked the plot. It was out there, but this is a science fiction novel, so out there is good. There is a romance, but it is definitely a subplot - important, but not critical to the story line.
This is the first book in the series, so I was concerned there might be a cliffhanger ending. I hate cliffhangers, but no, the author does an excellent job of bringing everything together while leaving room for the next book.
So, why did I give it only two stars.
It was the over-the-top dialogue. The personalities of the characters were established and then the author would have them react in this dramatic fashion. Not just once, but throughout the book.
For example, one of the characters, Eleanor/Pebbles, has just figured out something about the black stone. Now, she and Jennifer, a police detective, have just met. Jennifer’s response is “Way to go Eleanor!” shouted Jennifer. She shouted, not stated, not exclaimed, but shouted. It just didn’t fit the personality that had already been established for Jennifer.
Later on, Jennifer has been interviewing a bank president. He is Asian and she is knowledgeable enough to know how to address him properly and respect his culture. However, at the end of the interview, when he has given her some much needed information, she says, “Min-Jun, you da man!”
This is to an older Asian gentleman!
And it goes on. It’s not just Jennifer’s part either. The same thing happens with Pebbles and to a certain extent with Anlon - the male lead.
I couldn’t get past it.
The plot is good. Without the dialogue issues, I would have probably given this book a 3.5 at least. I do know this is a debut novel, so surely the author will get better. I just don’t know that I’m willing to give him another chance.
This book was sent to me by NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Author: K. Patrick Donoghue
Series: Anlon Cully Chronicles, #1
Pages: 316
Publisher: Leaping Leopard Enterprises
Date: May 14, 2016
Summary:
World-renowned scientist Anlon Cully is unexpectedly swept into the thick of a suspense-riddled adventure when his archaeologist uncle, Devlin Wilson, dies under suspicious circumstances.
Prior to his “accidental” fall off a New Hampshire mountain trail, Devlin made the discovery of a lifetime – unearthing undeniable proof that a technologically advanced society thrived on Earth long before archaeologists thought possible!
The key to this shocking evidence lies in a set of mysterious stones forged by a long forgotten race of ancient mariners. Instilled with formidable powers to build, communicate, fight and heal, the stones draw the ruthless attention of villainous thieves hell bent on their acquisition by any means possible…including murder.
Aided by friend Pebbles McCarver and police detective Jennifer Stevens, Anlon follows traces of bewildering clues left by his uncle in a dangerous chase to unravel the stones’ secrets before the killer strikes again and escapes with the priceless artifacts.
Peppered with the thought provoking intrigue of a Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child thriller, Shadows of the Stone Benders leaves readers questioning the technological prowess of modern man and the belief that Neolithic humans were nothing more than unsophisticated cave dwellers.
Review:
This is a hard one to review. I really liked the plot. It was out there, but this is a science fiction novel, so out there is good. There is a romance, but it is definitely a subplot - important, but not critical to the story line.
This is the first book in the series, so I was concerned there might be a cliffhanger ending. I hate cliffhangers, but no, the author does an excellent job of bringing everything together while leaving room for the next book.
So, why did I give it only two stars.
It was the over-the-top dialogue. The personalities of the characters were established and then the author would have them react in this dramatic fashion. Not just once, but throughout the book.
For example, one of the characters, Eleanor/Pebbles, has just figured out something about the black stone. Now, she and Jennifer, a police detective, have just met. Jennifer’s response is “Way to go Eleanor!” shouted Jennifer. She shouted, not stated, not exclaimed, but shouted. It just didn’t fit the personality that had already been established for Jennifer.
Later on, Jennifer has been interviewing a bank president. He is Asian and she is knowledgeable enough to know how to address him properly and respect his culture. However, at the end of the interview, when he has given her some much needed information, she says, “Min-Jun, you da man!”
This is to an older Asian gentleman!
And it goes on. It’s not just Jennifer’s part either. The same thing happens with Pebbles and to a certain extent with Anlon - the male lead.
I couldn’t get past it.
The plot is good. Without the dialogue issues, I would have probably given this book a 3.5 at least. I do know this is a debut novel, so surely the author will get better. I just don’t know that I’m willing to give him another chance.
This book was sent to me by NetGalley in return for an honest review.
July 22, 2016
Death Follows a Remarkable Archaeological Discovery
Dr Anlon Cully, a wealthy scientist, is enjoying a relaxing evening at his home near Lake Tahoe with his friend Pebbles, the bartender at a local restaurant. He tells her about a call he received from Matthew Dobson, his uncle Devlin's archaeological research partner. Devlin is dead after suffering a fall when climbing a mountain in New Hampshire.
Anlon is the heir and Dobson wants him to come East immediately to sort out Devlin's affairs. Although he'd rather stay in his comfortable Tahoe residence, Anlon agrees to go and invites Pebbles to go with him. Not only has Anlon inherited his uncle's house and it's contents, he also finds that he has been left several stones that appear to have unusual powers. When Dobson, too, is murdered, finding out what the stones mean becomes critical.
Mysteries with an archaeological background fascinate me. This book has a good plot with just enough real mythology to make it seem real. The settings in Tahoe and New Hampshire are authentic and add a layer of believability to the story.
However, the characters are poorly developed. Anlon Cully is a famous scientist. As such you would expect him to be able to figure out much of the background surrounding the stones. However, Anlon stands back in amazement as Pebbles takes the lead in unraveling the mystery. I found this unrealistic.
The dialog is often used to provide an information dump rather than conversation. In some cases this is justified when retelling the background myths surrounding the stones, but the author doesn't restrict the information dump to those occasions which makes many of the interactions seem too formal.
If you enjoy an archaeological mystery, this one has an interesting underlying story. However, the action often plods and the characters sometimes detract from the reality of the situation. There is a twist at the end, but it's fairly easy to see it coming so the ending is something of a let down.
I received this book from Net Galley for this review.
Dr Anlon Cully, a wealthy scientist, is enjoying a relaxing evening at his home near Lake Tahoe with his friend Pebbles, the bartender at a local restaurant. He tells her about a call he received from Matthew Dobson, his uncle Devlin's archaeological research partner. Devlin is dead after suffering a fall when climbing a mountain in New Hampshire.
Anlon is the heir and Dobson wants him to come East immediately to sort out Devlin's affairs. Although he'd rather stay in his comfortable Tahoe residence, Anlon agrees to go and invites Pebbles to go with him. Not only has Anlon inherited his uncle's house and it's contents, he also finds that he has been left several stones that appear to have unusual powers. When Dobson, too, is murdered, finding out what the stones mean becomes critical.
Mysteries with an archaeological background fascinate me. This book has a good plot with just enough real mythology to make it seem real. The settings in Tahoe and New Hampshire are authentic and add a layer of believability to the story.
However, the characters are poorly developed. Anlon Cully is a famous scientist. As such you would expect him to be able to figure out much of the background surrounding the stones. However, Anlon stands back in amazement as Pebbles takes the lead in unraveling the mystery. I found this unrealistic.
The dialog is often used to provide an information dump rather than conversation. In some cases this is justified when retelling the background myths surrounding the stones, but the author doesn't restrict the information dump to those occasions which makes many of the interactions seem too formal.
If you enjoy an archaeological mystery, this one has an interesting underlying story. However, the action often plods and the characters sometimes detract from the reality of the situation. There is a twist at the end, but it's fairly easy to see it coming so the ending is something of a let down.
I received this book from Net Galley for this review.
August 3, 2016
Dr. Anlon Culy is a multimillionaire after selling his patent for saving fuel. He receives a message that his uncle, an archaeologist has died in a fall while hiking and Anlon needs to get there immediately. Upon his arrival, he talks to his uncle's friend and cohort and learns his uncle has discovered proof of an ancient civilization that predates known history. This civilization left stones recorded with their thoughts and consciousness. Was his uncle's death an accident? Who is a friend or foe?
While I am interested in the next book of the series, this book is a mixed bag. The idea of stones recording and playing back an interactive person from an ancient civilization is a great story plot. Yet the characters are one dimensional, especially Anlon. Being able to make money does not make one intelligent, that was clear from the linear actions of Anlon. And where is his personality?
Pebbles felt contrived to me. She 'found' things and connected the dots at the moments the story needed. A chameleon in personality and appearance. I think I understand what the author was going for...better setup for her would of helped. I liked Jennifer, she was the most fleshed out.
The dialogue was stilted and dull! There are too incidents to quote. One of the worst was when Pacal called Anlon to tell him he had kidnapped Anabel.
And I have a problem with too much telling; yes it is a useful writing tool but too much leaves the reader out of the story. This slowed the action down and we lost the thriller aspect the author was hoping for. Repeating the telling of events also slowed the story. Lot of this is inexperience and I am willing to give an author time to grow and improve! Interested in the next book!
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley.
While I am interested in the next book of the series, this book is a mixed bag. The idea of stones recording and playing back an interactive person from an ancient civilization is a great story plot. Yet the characters are one dimensional, especially Anlon. Being able to make money does not make one intelligent, that was clear from the linear actions of Anlon. And where is his personality?
Pebbles felt contrived to me. She 'found' things and connected the dots at the moments the story needed. A chameleon in personality and appearance. I think I understand what the author was going for...better setup for her would of helped. I liked Jennifer, she was the most fleshed out.
The dialogue was stilted and dull! There are too incidents to quote. One of the worst was when Pacal called Anlon to tell him he had kidnapped Anabel.
And I have a problem with too much telling; yes it is a useful writing tool but too much leaves the reader out of the story. This slowed the action down and we lost the thriller aspect the author was hoping for. Repeating the telling of events also slowed the story. Lot of this is inexperience and I am willing to give an author time to grow and improve! Interested in the next book!
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley.
April 22, 2019
A SIMPLE MAN'S REVIEW:
Oof. I have read A LOT of these types of books, so I can tell you with confidence that this one is bad. Really bad.
There was a warning for what I was about to get into by the way the author spent paragraphs describing how attractive and charismatic the main characters are (do authors see themselves in their characters?). I was then treated to a book full of those three people being impressed by each other for every little deduction or skill exhibited. I may have gotten a cavity from a couple of the conversations!
As for the action, there was none. Yes, a couple people died, but really, the only "peril" was at the end, and even then, it didn't draw me in or seem dangerous. More of an after-though. There is, however, a lot of talking and running errands. And the "bad guys" are laughably cliche and juvenile. You can't even know who to be wary of, not because of plot twists, but because nobody seems like they could pull together a plan.
And that leaves us with the "big idea", which borrowed and mashed up several ancient-alien theories. The story doesn't really dive into the origins much; rather it just offers a sentence or two for each myth that the characters pull into the developing story. So it isn't even entertaining in regards to that either!
Skip it!
Oof. I have read A LOT of these types of books, so I can tell you with confidence that this one is bad. Really bad.
There was a warning for what I was about to get into by the way the author spent paragraphs describing how attractive and charismatic the main characters are (do authors see themselves in their characters?). I was then treated to a book full of those three people being impressed by each other for every little deduction or skill exhibited. I may have gotten a cavity from a couple of the conversations!
As for the action, there was none. Yes, a couple people died, but really, the only "peril" was at the end, and even then, it didn't draw me in or seem dangerous. More of an after-though. There is, however, a lot of talking and running errands. And the "bad guys" are laughably cliche and juvenile. You can't even know who to be wary of, not because of plot twists, but because nobody seems like they could pull together a plan.
And that leaves us with the "big idea", which borrowed and mashed up several ancient-alien theories. The story doesn't really dive into the origins much; rather it just offers a sentence or two for each myth that the characters pull into the developing story. So it isn't even entertaining in regards to that either!
Skip it!
March 29, 2017
I enjoyed this archaeological mystery/murder mystery. The stone artifacts were fascinating and I enjoyed hearing about what can be done with them, especially Pebble's encounters with them. I liked the fact that there were some strong and smart female characters in the story, but there were a couple times I thought they were incredibly stupid.
One of the things I didn't like was that the characters seemed to snicker a lot. I don't know what it is about the word "snicker", but I really don't like the word.
Anyway, I am looking forward to reading the next in the series, Race for the Flash Stone.
My thanks to Netgalley for letting me read and review this book.
One of the things I didn't like was that the characters seemed to snicker a lot. I don't know what it is about the word "snicker", but I really don't like the word.
Anyway, I am looking forward to reading the next in the series, Race for the Flash Stone.
My thanks to Netgalley for letting me read and review this book.
July 31, 2016
Received a free copy in exchange for a review
The book has a fantasy archeology theme. The book is easy to read and centers around three main character, with a "who done it" murder mystery. Has a good beginning and keeps your interest. The author writes in a different style that would lend to a movie or play. On one hand, it allowed you to get into the mind of the character. I was not all at ease with so much detail in the dialogue in that style. You guess near the beginning who the killer is and the author does not provide any surprise ending in that regards. There is a sequel, but I will not be reading in that I'm not into fantasy theme books.
The book has a fantasy archeology theme. The book is easy to read and centers around three main character, with a "who done it" murder mystery. Has a good beginning and keeps your interest. The author writes in a different style that would lend to a movie or play. On one hand, it allowed you to get into the mind of the character. I was not all at ease with so much detail in the dialogue in that style. You guess near the beginning who the killer is and the author does not provide any surprise ending in that regards. There is a sequel, but I will not be reading in that I'm not into fantasy theme books.
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