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Matt Kearns #3
The Immortality Curse
What would you give for eternal life?
An impossibly old man, a family gruesomely murdered and a woman whose collection of mythological artefacts defies Professor Matt Kearns knows they are connected. These ancient clues bring Matt out of his self-imposed solitude to seek the fabled Fountain of Youth.
This brings on a perilous odyssey across deserts, oceans and into the heart of a mountain, Matt must overcome horrifying adversaries, creatures of legend, and also unravel a 5000-year-old mystery that will tear at his very sanity.
In a hidden place, Matt finds that some gifts have a terrible price, and some are not gifts at all, but curses that can last for an eternity.
An impossibly old man, a family gruesomely murdered and a woman whose collection of mythological artefacts defies Professor Matt Kearns knows they are connected. These ancient clues bring Matt out of his self-imposed solitude to seek the fabled Fountain of Youth.
This brings on a perilous odyssey across deserts, oceans and into the heart of a mountain, Matt must overcome horrifying adversaries, creatures of legend, and also unravel a 5000-year-old mystery that will tear at his very sanity.
In a hidden place, Matt finds that some gifts have a terrible price, and some are not gifts at all, but curses that can last for an eternity.
274 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 28, 2017
145 people are currently reading
286 people want to read
About the author
Greig Beck
46 books1,147 followersHi GoodReaders, I’m an Australian author residing in Sydney with my wife, son and a mad Golden Retriever named Jessie. My novels are now available globally, also in Large Print and now in full AUDIO format.
I grew up spending my days surfing at Bondi Beach before entering a career in Information technology which took me around the world. After completing an MBA, i was appointed both an Australasian director of a multinational software company, and tasked with setting up the USA arm of the organisation.
Today, I spend most of my time writing... with plenty left over for surfing.
More information about me and my works can be found at either www.greigbeck.com, or join me on FaceBook (Greig Beck Author).
I grew up spending my days surfing at Bondi Beach before entering a career in Information technology which took me around the world. After completing an MBA, i was appointed both an Australasian director of a multinational software company, and tasked with setting up the USA arm of the organisation.
Today, I spend most of my time writing... with plenty left over for surfing.
More information about me and my works can be found at either www.greigbeck.com, or join me on FaceBook (Greig Beck Author).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
January 7, 2022
2022. will definitely be the year of Greig Beck for me. He's becoming one of my favorite authors, and synonym for pure reading pleasure. This is a descriptor that just comes out spontaneously, exactly as it did in case of To the Center of the Earth. His distilled style of unpretentious, no bullshit writing simply works for me, big time. And boy is it refreshing golden middle road between homebrew and quasi high brow, I mean unedited self published crap that's inflating the Kindle market and works of the kind probably not even authors themselves know what they're about.
So this... is like so much needed coming back to the source.
So this... is like so much needed coming back to the source.
July 21, 2017
4.25 Stars
January 22, 2019
Who doesn't want to live forever?
The Immortality Curse, by Greig Beck, isn't like his other stories. This one reads differently, the adventure is different and the action behind it all is different. The Immortality Curse takes place, possibly in a different Matt Kearns universe, since there weren't any flying, diseased creatures or giant spiders and such. This time, what hits Matt is bigger than ever, and closer to home.
Written like a chapter from the Indiana Jones series, The Immortality Curse sends our beloved, and rather sexy, Professor in search for the ever elusive Fountain of Youth. Or something close to it.
When a young man is recorded deflating into practically a bag of bones, in real time, it sends a special group of people into a tizzy. Yet one woman, an elderly collector of mythological artifacts, knows the man. How had he not aged? This is the question that sends a group of unlikely adversaries up against things unimagined and possible insanity!
I believe I enjoyed The Immortality Curse because it didn't feel like the other books. Yes, there were things that were creepy and nightmarish, but there was something more. Something deeper that attracted me and held my interest. There's a great deal more insight, as well. The characters had to overcome the obstacles of the real world just as much as a horrific one. And in the end, you may or may not receive the ending you were looking for. This is not a bad thing, by the way.
I also liked that one of my favorite characters returned, from another tale. She made the story so much better, because she's so badass! (sorry!) I think that if you're a Beck fan, you will find appreciation for this one. It's not like the other books, but who wants the same thing all the time, eh?
I'm off to the next read. Cheers!
The Immortality Curse, Book 2 of the Matt Kearns series
Greig Beck
Bolinda Publishing, Pty Ltd.
Runtime: 13 h 30 m
July 2017
The Immortality Curse, by Greig Beck, isn't like his other stories. This one reads differently, the adventure is different and the action behind it all is different. The Immortality Curse takes place, possibly in a different Matt Kearns universe, since there weren't any flying, diseased creatures or giant spiders and such. This time, what hits Matt is bigger than ever, and closer to home.
Written like a chapter from the Indiana Jones series, The Immortality Curse sends our beloved, and rather sexy, Professor in search for the ever elusive Fountain of Youth. Or something close to it.
When a young man is recorded deflating into practically a bag of bones, in real time, it sends a special group of people into a tizzy. Yet one woman, an elderly collector of mythological artifacts, knows the man. How had he not aged? This is the question that sends a group of unlikely adversaries up against things unimagined and possible insanity!
I believe I enjoyed The Immortality Curse because it didn't feel like the other books. Yes, there were things that were creepy and nightmarish, but there was something more. Something deeper that attracted me and held my interest. There's a great deal more insight, as well. The characters had to overcome the obstacles of the real world just as much as a horrific one. And in the end, you may or may not receive the ending you were looking for. This is not a bad thing, by the way.
I also liked that one of my favorite characters returned, from another tale. She made the story so much better, because she's so badass! (sorry!) I think that if you're a Beck fan, you will find appreciation for this one. It's not like the other books, but who wants the same thing all the time, eh?
I'm off to the next read. Cheers!
The Immortality Curse, Book 2 of the Matt Kearns series
Greig Beck
Bolinda Publishing, Pty Ltd.
Runtime: 13 h 30 m
July 2017
May 6, 2018
The Immortality Curse
(Matt Kearns #3)
By Greig Beck
Greig Beck always writes an enjoyable novel. However, The Immortality Curse was better than one or two recent reads in as much as there were no real monsters starring in this book. True with a title like The Immortality Curse there just had to be one or two lurking around.
As a result of a few frames on a phone camera which survive incineration at a murder scene, language specialist Matt Kearns is put into contact with the main victim’s centenarian widow. He had disappeared some seventy-five years early and he still looked, momentarily, the same age as when he disappeared. He had been in search of the Fountain of Youth.
Shortly thereafter, as the title implies, we find Matt in pursuit of the Fountain of Youth. Their search takes them to the wilderness of Canada’s north then on to Africa’s Lake Chad, which by powers of deduction and science they decide this was where Noah and his family lived during the Great Flood. And where, naturally, Noah’s ark is to be found, along with any Fountain of Youth.
Naturally there are the usual twists along the way. And what relic, either the Ark or the Fountain of Youth, would not have someone or something guarding it all these years.
A thoroughly enjoyable book made all the better by Sean Mangan’s narration. All fans of Greig Beck and Sean Mangan will enjoy The Immortality Curse. Published on 28 March 2017 I am surprised that so few Goodreads Readers have rated and reviewed The Immortality Curse.
As of May 06, 2018 Goodreads readers have rated The Immortality Curse an average of 4.13 stars from 184 ratings and 14 reviews.
(Matt Kearns #3)
By Greig Beck
Greig Beck always writes an enjoyable novel. However, The Immortality Curse was better than one or two recent reads in as much as there were no real monsters starring in this book. True with a title like The Immortality Curse there just had to be one or two lurking around.
As a result of a few frames on a phone camera which survive incineration at a murder scene, language specialist Matt Kearns is put into contact with the main victim’s centenarian widow. He had disappeared some seventy-five years early and he still looked, momentarily, the same age as when he disappeared. He had been in search of the Fountain of Youth.
Shortly thereafter, as the title implies, we find Matt in pursuit of the Fountain of Youth. Their search takes them to the wilderness of Canada’s north then on to Africa’s Lake Chad, which by powers of deduction and science they decide this was where Noah and his family lived during the Great Flood. And where, naturally, Noah’s ark is to be found, along with any Fountain of Youth.
Naturally there are the usual twists along the way. And what relic, either the Ark or the Fountain of Youth, would not have someone or something guarding it all these years.
A thoroughly enjoyable book made all the better by Sean Mangan’s narration. All fans of Greig Beck and Sean Mangan will enjoy The Immortality Curse. Published on 28 March 2017 I am surprised that so few Goodreads Readers have rated and reviewed The Immortality Curse.
As of May 06, 2018 Goodreads readers have rated The Immortality Curse an average of 4.13 stars from 184 ratings and 14 reviews.
July 25, 2017
I have been a big fan of Greig Beck's books for a long time and have read all of them except one (Fathomless, which for some reason I am finding hard to get hold of). This book was good, but not quite up to Greig's usual standard, sorry :(
Matt Kearns is having a very confusing time of it. He has been employed, after much persuasion, by Eleanor van Helling. She wants to know what has happened to her beloved husband but what is hiding under that "little old lady" facade? And is there any truth to the rumour that there is an immortality potion available and where would you find such a thing? Lots of action in various places throughout the world, which was interesting.
This is a bit of a rollercoaster of a book, it was well written (and I enjoyed reading a book which focussed on Matt Kearns) but somehow it wasn't as in-depth as Greig's other books, somehow. There were a few loose ends I wish would have been tied up as well.
I give this one 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 because Greig Beck is a darn good writer and this book was nearly there for me :)
Matt Kearns is having a very confusing time of it. He has been employed, after much persuasion, by Eleanor van Helling. She wants to know what has happened to her beloved husband but what is hiding under that "little old lady" facade? And is there any truth to the rumour that there is an immortality potion available and where would you find such a thing? Lots of action in various places throughout the world, which was interesting.
This is a bit of a rollercoaster of a book, it was well written (and I enjoyed reading a book which focussed on Matt Kearns) but somehow it wasn't as in-depth as Greig's other books, somehow. There were a few loose ends I wish would have been tied up as well.
I give this one 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 because Greig Beck is a darn good writer and this book was nearly there for me :)
November 27, 2018
Greig Beck is always good for an adventure story, writing the sort of stuff that James Rollins was writing before he chose to focus purely on his Sigma Force series (by the way, I miss the fantasy side of James Rollins, aka, James Clemens...). But I prefer his Alex Hunter stories to the Matt Kearns novels.
October 1, 2018
3.5 stars. A fun, fast-paced read with some interesting history/mythology and a bit of science, but it was a bit more far-fetched than I prefer. Maybe some more scientific analysis of the things I felt were too crazy would have brought this book up to four stars.
September 5, 2017
This is a new take on the Noah’s Ark myth. It is not always new takes of old mythology actually works but this one was indeed not bad. The story starts off by presenting the mystery that Matt eventually will dig in to in a rather gruesome way.
At the beginning Matt is rather reluctant to take on the case but, of course, he is eventually convinced. This is actually one of the things that I am not so happy with in this book. Matt is rather reluctant and downright wimpy and whiny most of the time. I much prefer Greig Beck’s other hero, Alex Hunter.
The story is rather interesting and presents a rather plausible version of the Noah’s Ark myth. Well apart from the whole immortality part of course but it is fiction after all. Matt is finally convinced by a rather attractive FBI agent (who’s character I quite liked) and a not so attractive old woman (who’s character was…interesting).
As we go along a few more characters are added into the mix, some of them with a rather shot expiry date and some of them less so. Like for example a fairly likable Arabian prince, a not so likable nurse/bodyguard and a few other characters of various levels of “despicability”.
During the course of the book our friends have to fight their way trough hired thugs, back stabbing treacherous “colleagues”, other treasure seekers and of course the true guardians of the ark in order to finally unravel the mystery and find the truth that they seek.
One the whole the book was enjoyable to read, definitely above average, but it falls short of getting a top score.
At the beginning Matt is rather reluctant to take on the case but, of course, he is eventually convinced. This is actually one of the things that I am not so happy with in this book. Matt is rather reluctant and downright wimpy and whiny most of the time. I much prefer Greig Beck’s other hero, Alex Hunter.
The story is rather interesting and presents a rather plausible version of the Noah’s Ark myth. Well apart from the whole immortality part of course but it is fiction after all. Matt is finally convinced by a rather attractive FBI agent (who’s character I quite liked) and a not so attractive old woman (who’s character was…interesting).
As we go along a few more characters are added into the mix, some of them with a rather shot expiry date and some of them less so. Like for example a fairly likable Arabian prince, a not so likable nurse/bodyguard and a few other characters of various levels of “despicability”.
During the course of the book our friends have to fight their way trough hired thugs, back stabbing treacherous “colleagues”, other treasure seekers and of course the true guardians of the ark in order to finally unravel the mystery and find the truth that they seek.
One the whole the book was enjoyable to read, definitely above average, but it falls short of getting a top score.
May 9, 2017
Another great one from Beck and his protagonist Professor Matt Kearns. This time the Professor is in search of the Fountain of Youth and Noah's Ark. The water left over from the flood apparently has the gift of immortality. Needless to say, they form a team to find these relics and are pursued by some very bad guys. One is that they are back in a cave again and that spells bad news. A good page turner. Beck has this series and Arcadian which are both on my must read list. Can't wait for his next one.
April 13, 2021
There are few writers out there that I read just for the pure damn fun of it. Beck’s books run only a fraction of a second behind Maberry’s Joe Ledger books. Beck’s got the goods in spades with Matt Kearns. Sexy languages professor all wrapped up in intense mystery, high tech toys, and a little “who’s on top”! Given his past with the military (Arcadian books...love them too), why wouldn’t the FBI be interested. With this book, immortality just eats up the pages with historical myths turned inside out.
August 3, 2020
Hang onto your seat!
Greig Beck certainly knows how to write a thrilling, hair raising adventure!
Immortality 's Curse deals with Noah and the Lost Ark, Nephilim, executioners, symbiotic worms, the FBI, gallant heroes from Saudi Arabia, and Matt, an old language professor who lives to surf but can't stay out of adventurous trouble.
Hang onto your seat...and,oh yeah...don't drink the water!
Greig Beck certainly knows how to write a thrilling, hair raising adventure!
Immortality 's Curse deals with Noah and the Lost Ark, Nephilim, executioners, symbiotic worms, the FBI, gallant heroes from Saudi Arabia, and Matt, an old language professor who lives to surf but can't stay out of adventurous trouble.
Hang onto your seat...and,oh yeah...don't drink the water!
December 1, 2020
Usually I enjoy Beck’s books as a quick read and a form of escapism, but this time it was a bit of a disappointment. I am not a big fan of Beck’s Matt Kearns character anyway, as he seems to be some sort of intellectual but wimpy James Bond wanna-be. The plot is truly ridiculous this time, but I did enjoy the brief chapter about the Saudi royal family and the description of the Prince’s estate in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s capital.
May 21, 2021
A readable book
I always consider the quality of a book by its readability, the characters and it's realism. This applies even to magic and fantasy books as a good author can make you believe in his story. While it is very easy for a mystery to be solved, it needs to be a believable solution. This story is fine and shows the depth of research involved. It isn't one of my best reads but passed a couple of days out of the rain.
I always consider the quality of a book by its readability, the characters and it's realism. This applies even to magic and fantasy books as a good author can make you believe in his story. While it is very easy for a mystery to be solved, it needs to be a believable solution. This story is fine and shows the depth of research involved. It isn't one of my best reads but passed a couple of days out of the rain.
August 7, 2020
An the search for youth
The author is one of my favorites and this new hero has some possibilities, but I admit that I miss the Acadian. This book puts a new spin on the old Noah story and makes for a short read. The characters are well fleshed out and believable for the most part. I can't wait for the next installment.
The author is one of my favorites and this new hero has some possibilities, but I admit that I miss the Acadian. This book puts a new spin on the old Noah story and makes for a short read. The characters are well fleshed out and believable for the most part. I can't wait for the next installment.
December 18, 2020
I really liked this one. These Matt Kearns stories are just as immersive and engaging as any of the Alex Hunter books, in my opinion. Greig Becks use of science and mythology together is always a blast to read. The secondary characters really add depth and feeling to the story, and some of them I really wanted to survive, but of course they don't. They never do. Now, onto book 4.
January 14, 2021
Predictable and as another reader commented about Kearns in the presence of Noah not asking a single question about Noah,what happens in the Bible or the existence of God
Then he declines immortality because I believe he doesn't feel he is worthy of it yet he collides with the HP Lovecraft Universe in another Beck novel and meets the Big C but doesn't ask who is more powerful, BIG G or Big C?
Then he declines immortality because I believe he doesn't feel he is worthy of it yet he collides with the HP Lovecraft Universe in another Beck novel and meets the Big C but doesn't ask who is more powerful, BIG G or Big C?
May 15, 2017
Entertaining and well done.
This was a great story. Original take on the Noah's Ark mythology. The main character is interesting yet does not fit the "leading man" character template that you would expect. Entertaining and well done.
This was a great story. Original take on the Noah's Ark mythology. The main character is interesting yet does not fit the "leading man" character template that you would expect. Entertaining and well done.
September 21, 2018
A fast paced, exciting adventure that blends real history and myth in the style of James Rollins and other “Lost World” genre writers. Some small stumbling moments, and a rather abrupt ending, but still an excellent story.
December 18, 2020
Wow
I've grown to absolutely love the Matt Kearns series. Amazing action, mystery and thrills. This one was shaping up to be my absolute favorite. I unquestionably loved 99.99% of The Immortality Curse. Just something about the ending I didn't enjoy.
I've grown to absolutely love the Matt Kearns series. Amazing action, mystery and thrills. This one was shaping up to be my absolute favorite. I unquestionably loved 99.99% of The Immortality Curse. Just something about the ending I didn't enjoy.
February 8, 2021
Great read
Greig at his finest again. The man has to have an encyclopedia for a brain. Storyline is one of the best. Matt Kearns is one of his best characters. Great read, couldn't put it down.
Greig at his finest again. The man has to have an encyclopedia for a brain. Storyline is one of the best. Matt Kearns is one of his best characters. Great read, couldn't put it down.
April 14, 2021
Very Interesting
Kind of far out & hard to grasp at times but still, A very good book. The book was extremely interesting with all of the historical facts. I checked a few of them out on the internet & they appeared to substantiate the book.
Kind of far out & hard to grasp at times but still, A very good book. The book was extremely interesting with all of the historical facts. I checked a few of them out on the internet & they appeared to substantiate the book.
February 13, 2022
Very creepy. A religious sect out to protect a site at any cost. Matt Kearns is called in by the Fibbies to help them with a case of wholesale slaughter in Canada.
He goes in little realising just what he's let himself in for.
He goes in little realising just what he's let himself in for.
March 22, 2022
Page-turner
Greig Beck scores again with a page-turner that delivers a fascinating plot, great action, and memorable characters.
I don’t know how he keeps creating great fiction time after time, but I’m glad he does.
Greig Beck scores again with a page-turner that delivers a fascinating plot, great action, and memorable characters.
I don’t know how he keeps creating great fiction time after time, but I’m glad he does.
February 7, 2024
So good! The Immortality Curse is my favourite read from this series so far. It was a great adventure, mixing mythology and Biblical history, with a good twist at the end! (You will never guess who's behind it all!)
August 29, 2017
Entertaining
I always enjoy Greig Beck's books. I found this one a bit far fetched but I did like it anyway. Funny and entertaining.
I always enjoy Greig Beck's books. I found this one a bit far fetched but I did like it anyway. Funny and entertaining.
September 2, 2017
I've read other books by this author and really enjoyed them but l was very disappointed with this one
May 21, 2021
A TALE OF WONDER IF IS..
Hello, this is a great story. Very well written and I was entertained through the whole thing. Good stuff. Thanks.
Hello, this is a great story. Very well written and I was entertained through the whole thing. Good stuff. Thanks.
August 9, 2021
Grieg Becks books are the best. I’m addicted to his audiobooks Sean Mangan is a brilliant narrator who has a perfect knack of making me listen to just one more chapter until before I know it hours have passed.
Loved this book
Loved this book
March 29, 2022
-okay I do like this kind of book. But I have to admit I loved Raiders of the lost Ark, I surprise them.
Do you look forward to next adventure. I do.
Do you look forward to next adventure. I do.
October 25, 2022
Interesting book about immortality and Noah art .
Not preachy
Not preachy
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews