Chateau Beyond Time

by Michael Tobias

“Chateau Beyond Time is a rare find. Award-winning filmmaker, ecologist and prolific author Michael Tobias once again takes us on a fast and exhilarating journey, set in contemporary Europe. The author's vision of a quirky, compelling kingdom of peace leads relentlessly to an end that is actually the new beginning we've all been hoping and praying for.” — Marc Bekoff, author of The Emotional Lives of Animals and Animals Matter “Tobias's newest book, Chateau Beyond Time, is an environmental thriller, a Utopian novel that artfully blends fiction and facts, a page-turner with a plot so intricate and ingenious that I could not put it down until the final mystery revealed itself.” — Michael Pastore, Epublishersweekly.com

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction

254 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2008

Reviews

[Jo Burl · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted so badly to like this book. I confess I picked it up thinking it was about the "Garden of Eden" or having something to do with biblical history. I hoped there would be a tie in with Jewish and/or Christian beliefs, but this really isn't the case. Instead, this is more of a tie in with the modern (and not universally accepted) belief in "Earth Day"/Gaia-centric, global warming cause. Salvation in the religious community in this book is equated with doing what is environmentally correct. I personally believe that we should take care of our environment, but I had to wonder if the author even knows what the Catholic church believes, because he didn't write as if he does.

I did love the picture on the cover, and it actually did tie in with the book, so that was a plus. I puzzled the entire time over why the left most ostrich's head was Photoshopped out, when it is clearly there in the original painting. I'd love to know the reasoning behind that.

I do think that many people will enjoy the book.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting tale. A mystery somewhat like many of Dan Brown's books.... some clues to follow, bad guys, fantasy, brutal murders, and an ending that makes you think "what if ?". However I didn't feel that the story telling was as good as Dan Brown's stories and wouldn't necessarily recommend this book to many. However, it could make a good book club discussion book.

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an interesting premise, but the book just didn’t have enough substance. The ending felt like it was wrapped up too quickly and some of the DaVinci Code like leaps of logic did not quite come together.

[H.L. Gibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazingly well-written mystery that's also a very technical, artistic, and literary fairy tale all at once. Great read.

[Rivkah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is fascinating book, which reminded me very much of "The Da Vinci Code". Like Dan Brown, Michael Tobias writes short, snappy chapters that make you keep reading and reading and reading. I kept on telling myself, ok, just one more chapter! I devoured it very quickly.

The plot is similar - people get killed mysteriously, they have ties to a secretive organization, the are Christian themes throughout, and there's lots of running around Europe, chasing after clues. But I think I enjoyed this book even more than "The Da Vinci Code".

I don't want to give away any more clues, so I'll stop here. But I highly recommend it.

[Canaan Merchant · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a thrilling read about some depressing stuff. The depressing part comes from thinking about all the advantages that today's poachers have over today's law enforcement and what a thankless job it must be anyway,

The thrilling part comes from A. The main mystery concerning what is contained in the garden of Eden which is now located in France and B. the mystery the Olivier's must unravel in in order to save their new ancient garden.

The second mystery gets most of the story which can leave you a little unsatisfied but in order to maintain a quick tempo on the plot Tobias feels as if he must keep the characters moving.

[Susan Baumgartner · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 to 3.75 stars. Definitely read like Dan Brown. If it weren't for the Jurassic Park flavor, I would predict this one going to film- it read like another screen play.
It was enjoyable, however, and as a sickbed book, I finished it quickly. Now I have nothing else in the house to fill my time as I wait for pink eye to go away.

[Ginevra Cilentro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tobias is my favorite writer and Chateau Beyond Time an amazing work. It's downright silly for people to talk about it as a "thriller" in the same vein as Harry Potter or Dan Brown, because it is SO incredibly elegant, philosophical, and mind-twisting: it makes us believe, truly believe, in the reality of paradise. Of course, setting in France is also not a bad idea...

[Fiona Guinness · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tobias' "Chateau Beyond Time" has been likened by some critics and readers to a kind of "Jurassic Park" meets "Collapse" or some ecological version of Dan Brown's "Da Vinci Code". Both comparisons are not inaccurate. But for me it was more like, "Alice in Wonderland" meets "Avatar."

Sheer joy! Brilliant writing. Fantastic characters. I so so want to see the movie!

[Bethany · Rating 2 out of 5]

As with so many books these days, this was a really great premise and a mediocre story. It failed to flow and I didn't care what happened to any of the characters. The author has clearly done a great deal of research - I just wish he could have translated it into a better book.

[ette · Rating 2 out of 5]

I tried to like this book, and I'm sure it's well written, but it is not very character-driven at all, and I wasn't that into it. After a lot of starts and stops, I decided to just not try to finish it.

[Dee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this books. It is a fantasy about keeping safe the Garden of Eden, which is located in a valley in the Great Massif in central France. It almost works as a thriller, but it misses just a jot. Characters are interesting, but not fully developed.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

If only there could be unmapped places, sanctuaries, untouched by us. I loved this book.

[Hazel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A not-very-deeply written ecological thriller. Way better than Da Vinci code (also not very religion-oriented) but in a similar vein.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a neat concept, but the book was very loosely written. I felt like parts of the story were left out and I had to piece it together myself.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was Angles and Demons/Diviici Code meets Darwin. Interesting story and concept, but I kept getting all the different types of animals confused.

[Maureen Stefano · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book - it was kind of like Davinci code in that they were searching around Europe for the Garden of Eden for clues although Davinci code was better which is why I onl gave it 4 stars

[Jennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the storyline in this book, very unexpected and fun.