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The Sanctuary
Naples, 1750. In the dead of night, three men with swords burst into the bed chamber of the Marquis de Montferrat. Their leader, Raimundo di Sangro – the Prince of San Severo – accuses him of being an imposter, and demands to know a secret he believes the marquis harbors. The false marquis resists and manages to escape, leaving behind a burning palazzo and a raging prince now obsessed with finding his quarry – and his secret – at any cost.
Baghdad, 2003. An army unit tracking Saddam’s cronies stages a spectacular raid on a fortified villa and makes a horrifying discovery in its basement: a state- of-the-art, concealed lab where dozens—men, women, children—have died, the subjects of gruesome experiments. The mysterious scientist they were after, a man believed to be working on a bioweapon and known only as the hakeem—the doctor—escapes, taking with him the startling truth about his work. In one of his victims’ cells, a puzzling clue is left behind: an Ouroboros – the tail devourer – a circular symbol of a snake that’s feeding on its own tail.
As the power of the symbol comes to light, revealing the centuries of mystery and pain left in its wake, one unsuspecting woman – Mia Bishop, a geneticist – stands at the center of a conspiracy that could change the world forever. From Baghdad to the chaos of a Beirut still reeling from a fresh war in the fall of 2006, to the lost villages of eastern Turkey and northern Iraq by way of epic chapters set in eighteenth century Europe, and in the masterful hands of international bestseller Raymond Khoury, The Sanctuary delivers the same rapid-fire suspense and provocative scholarship that made The Last Templar an international blockbuster.
432 pages, Hardcover
First published August 21, 2007
238 people are currently reading
6506 people want to read
About the author
Raymond Khoury
54 books1,255 followersRaymond Khoury is the author of five consecutive New York Times and #1 international bestsellers, starting with his debut novel, THE LAST TEMPLAR. His books have been translated into 38 languages, with over 10 million copies in print.
Raymond came to writing thrillers from a career in screenwriting, which including the BAFTA award winning BBC series SPOOKS (aka MI:5 in the US) and Waking The Dead. It partly explains why his novels are often described as cinematic and very visual. As fellow bestselling author Steve Berry puts it: "his expertly chosen verbs cause the scenes to leap from the page. You can literally feel the blows as they're landed; wince as the bullets find their marks. He has an intense brand of storytelling all his own."
THE LAST TEMPLAR began its journey to print as Raymond's third original screenplay, written for film in 1996. At the time, a book agent suggested turning it into a novel, and a major NY publisher, the first to read it, offered Raymond a huge advance for the as-yet-unwritten novel, with one condition: "Lose the religion. It's boring. Change the Templars' secret to gold, diamonds, a physical treasure." After much tortured consideration, Raymond turned the offer down, his first potential check from writing. Almost exactly ten years later, his novel, based on that screenplay--religion included--became a global bestseller, hitting #1 in multiple countries and getting adapted into an NBC miniseries.
Raymond's thrillers are based on big themes that interest him such as international politics and conspiracies, fact vs faith, why we age and die, what do we really know about reincarnation, about mind control. He explores these themes in depth, with heavy emphasis on research, and often combines a historical angle to his stories. As such, some of his novels (THE LAST TEMPLAR, THE SANCTUARY, THE TEMPLAR SALVATION, RASPUTIN'S SHADOW) feature dual timelines: the bulk of the stories are set in the present day, interspersed with chapters that take place in the distant past. As Booklist puts it, "Khoury's thrillers engage the reader's mind, even as they move at a breakneck pace. Readers who like their thrillers to have a solid intellectual component will enjoy Khoury's books very much. Given the high quality of each of his novels, it seems fair to say that he may be around for a while."
Raymond's 8th novel is an epic alternate history and time travel story that Publishers Weekly called "ingeniously inventive" and "a classic of the genre": It is already out in the UK as THE OTTOMAN SECRET, and is out on Oct 1 in the US under a different title, EMPIRE OF LIES.
To find out more about him and his work, visit his website at raymondkhoury.com or connect with him on his Facebook page or on Instagram (@author.raymond.khoury).
Raymond came to writing thrillers from a career in screenwriting, which including the BAFTA award winning BBC series SPOOKS (aka MI:5 in the US) and Waking The Dead. It partly explains why his novels are often described as cinematic and very visual. As fellow bestselling author Steve Berry puts it: "his expertly chosen verbs cause the scenes to leap from the page. You can literally feel the blows as they're landed; wince as the bullets find their marks. He has an intense brand of storytelling all his own."
THE LAST TEMPLAR began its journey to print as Raymond's third original screenplay, written for film in 1996. At the time, a book agent suggested turning it into a novel, and a major NY publisher, the first to read it, offered Raymond a huge advance for the as-yet-unwritten novel, with one condition: "Lose the religion. It's boring. Change the Templars' secret to gold, diamonds, a physical treasure." After much tortured consideration, Raymond turned the offer down, his first potential check from writing. Almost exactly ten years later, his novel, based on that screenplay--religion included--became a global bestseller, hitting #1 in multiple countries and getting adapted into an NBC miniseries.
Raymond's thrillers are based on big themes that interest him such as international politics and conspiracies, fact vs faith, why we age and die, what do we really know about reincarnation, about mind control. He explores these themes in depth, with heavy emphasis on research, and often combines a historical angle to his stories. As such, some of his novels (THE LAST TEMPLAR, THE SANCTUARY, THE TEMPLAR SALVATION, RASPUTIN'S SHADOW) feature dual timelines: the bulk of the stories are set in the present day, interspersed with chapters that take place in the distant past. As Booklist puts it, "Khoury's thrillers engage the reader's mind, even as they move at a breakneck pace. Readers who like their thrillers to have a solid intellectual component will enjoy Khoury's books very much. Given the high quality of each of his novels, it seems fair to say that he may be around for a while."
Raymond's 8th novel is an epic alternate history and time travel story that Publishers Weekly called "ingeniously inventive" and "a classic of the genre": It is already out in the UK as THE OTTOMAN SECRET, and is out on Oct 1 in the US under a different title, EMPIRE OF LIES.
To find out more about him and his work, visit his website at raymondkhoury.com or connect with him on his Facebook page or on Instagram (@author.raymond.khoury).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 466 reviews
May 8, 2019
4 stars - English paperback - 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Quote from the book : Mia knew it was. It was a specialization sha had flirted with, but she’d ultimatly veerded off into another direction, knowing anti-aging research was the embarrassing relative no one wanted to talk about. Biogerontology - the sciencefiction of aging - had been having a tough time sence, well, the Jurassic era. 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Two storylines, two timelines, and a subject that always intregues. Second time around I understood more about the subject and was less trown over by the thriller effect of the book.🌷🌷🌷
Quote from the book : Mia knew it was. It was a specialization sha had flirted with, but she’d ultimatly veerded off into another direction, knowing anti-aging research was the embarrassing relative no one wanted to talk about. Biogerontology - the sciencefiction of aging - had been having a tough time sence, well, the Jurassic era. 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Two storylines, two timelines, and a subject that always intregues. Second time around I understood more about the subject and was less trown over by the thriller effect of the book.🌷🌷🌷
July 24, 2022
4,25 stars - English Ebook
A high-octane rollercoaster ride of thrills and spills...Khoury is a screenwriter and the novel’s tight construction and hyper-fast pacing owe an obvious debt to that discipline.”—The Irish Mail on Sunday-
“Fresh and exciting...Khoury makes the conspiracy feel utterly believable and imbues his characters with infectious passion for finding the truth. A surefire hit with fans of conspiracy-based historical thrillers.”—Booklist-
After centuries of destruction, one unsuspecting woman stands at the center of a conspiracy that could change the world forever in this thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of The Last Templar.
Portugal, 1705. In the dungeons of a Templar castle, a dying old man bequeaths an ancient, half-burnt book to his young inquisitor. Keeping one step ahead of those who would kill to wrench the book's secret from his hands, the inquisitor turns his back on his calling and sets off on an impossible journey to complete the old man's quest.
Baghdad, 2003. Hunting for a mysterious bioweapon scientist, an army unit discovers a concealed state-of-the-art lab where gruesome experiments have been carried out on men, women, and children. The scientist escapes, but a puzzling clue is left behind: a circular symbol of a snake feeding on its own tail.
As the power of the symbol comes to light, revealing centuries of destruction left in its wake, a woman desperate for answers holds the fate of the world in her hands.
I love a plot that doesn't take you where you want the story to go. Surprises are inspiring!
No one falls in love; no sex (except a 30 year ago affair w/o details) You don't know the good guy from the bad guy; who is after what? Is there a differance?
Kept me on the edge until the end. I loved Ken Follett's POTE and the sequel. I enjoyed the plot of Sanctuary reflecting to the past, as much as I enjoyed the historical fiction of Follett.
I would like to read more historical fiction as I enjoy reading the lifestyles which take me back to 1979, me 14 years of age.
A high-octane rollercoaster ride of thrills and spills...Khoury is a screenwriter and the novel’s tight construction and hyper-fast pacing owe an obvious debt to that discipline.”—The Irish Mail on Sunday-
“Fresh and exciting...Khoury makes the conspiracy feel utterly believable and imbues his characters with infectious passion for finding the truth. A surefire hit with fans of conspiracy-based historical thrillers.”—Booklist-
After centuries of destruction, one unsuspecting woman stands at the center of a conspiracy that could change the world forever in this thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of The Last Templar.
Portugal, 1705. In the dungeons of a Templar castle, a dying old man bequeaths an ancient, half-burnt book to his young inquisitor. Keeping one step ahead of those who would kill to wrench the book's secret from his hands, the inquisitor turns his back on his calling and sets off on an impossible journey to complete the old man's quest.
Baghdad, 2003. Hunting for a mysterious bioweapon scientist, an army unit discovers a concealed state-of-the-art lab where gruesome experiments have been carried out on men, women, and children. The scientist escapes, but a puzzling clue is left behind: a circular symbol of a snake feeding on its own tail.
As the power of the symbol comes to light, revealing centuries of destruction left in its wake, a woman desperate for answers holds the fate of the world in her hands.
I love a plot that doesn't take you where you want the story to go. Surprises are inspiring!
No one falls in love; no sex (except a 30 year ago affair w/o details) You don't know the good guy from the bad guy; who is after what? Is there a differance?
Kept me on the edge until the end. I loved Ken Follett's POTE and the sequel. I enjoyed the plot of Sanctuary reflecting to the past, as much as I enjoyed the historical fiction of Follett.
I would like to read more historical fiction as I enjoy reading the lifestyles which take me back to 1979, me 14 years of age.
April 15, 2008
Well, well, well... where to start.... should I even bother?... most of it has been said before.
The plot - not the most original... but at least it was not quasi-religous....it was all reasonably straightforward with little in the way of twists and turns.
The characters - all pretty boring... only one surprise revelation, but I guess we all worked out who Kirkwood was 200 pages before the great reveal anyway... all of the others were dull... Evelyn [too intellectual to think straight], Mia [daughter/heroine - how could a novice dodge so many bullets?]...Corben [goody gone bad - yawn!].... Hakeem [baddy gone mental - foll on Menegele]... Kirkwood [come up trumps in the end - yawn bloody yawn]...Only the adventures of Sebastian held any real intrigue, enjoyment and surprise.
The writing style - Kim [Decemeber 2007] was correct, the style of writing is weird... it is as if the writer wrote the book and then looked back on it and thought "ooh... there's not enough words... and it's sort of like something a 15 year old would write"... I reckon he then got out a big dictionary and thesaurus and put in loads of "grown up/big" words that he didn't really inderstand... but thought they sounded sort of cool and all experienced and worldly.. crap more like! It really does not enhance the book at all.
Overall... the book is worth 2.5 stars... not 3 as I would have given it, so i have only awarded it 2 stars...
Do better next time Raymond... I am bitterly disappointed [and so will my friends be when I lend them this copy - bugger-off if you think any other of us should waste more cash on this]. I was so looking forward to reading this after The Last Templar... but this is not in the same league.
The plot - not the most original... but at least it was not quasi-religous....it was all reasonably straightforward with little in the way of twists and turns.
The characters - all pretty boring... only one surprise revelation, but I guess we all worked out who Kirkwood was 200 pages before the great reveal anyway... all of the others were dull... Evelyn [too intellectual to think straight], Mia [daughter/heroine - how could a novice dodge so many bullets?]...Corben [goody gone bad - yawn!].... Hakeem [baddy gone mental - foll on Menegele]... Kirkwood [come up trumps in the end - yawn bloody yawn]...Only the adventures of Sebastian held any real intrigue, enjoyment and surprise.
The writing style - Kim [Decemeber 2007] was correct, the style of writing is weird... it is as if the writer wrote the book and then looked back on it and thought "ooh... there's not enough words... and it's sort of like something a 15 year old would write"... I reckon he then got out a big dictionary and thesaurus and put in loads of "grown up/big" words that he didn't really inderstand... but thought they sounded sort of cool and all experienced and worldly.. crap more like! It really does not enhance the book at all.
Overall... the book is worth 2.5 stars... not 3 as I would have given it, so i have only awarded it 2 stars...
Do better next time Raymond... I am bitterly disappointed [and so will my friends be when I lend them this copy - bugger-off if you think any other of us should waste more cash on this]. I was so looking forward to reading this after The Last Templar... but this is not in the same league.
November 27, 2015
No logré conectarme con esta historia. En el final mejora mucho, y tiene cambios de tiempo, algo que me encanta; sin embargo, es muy repetitivo, hay abuso del relleno, es bastante predecible y los personajes no me causaron nada, a excepción de solo uno. No lo recomiendo. Una lectura que se olvida con facilidad.
March 14, 2020
brief synopsis:
Two people, and ultimately their descendants, battle for the philosopher's stone for centuries.
setting:
Naples
Baghdad
Zabqine, Southern Lebanon
Beirut
Geneva
Tomar, Portugal
Paris
Turkey
Nerva Zhori
Lisbon, Portugal
Philadelphia
named personalities:
Marquis de Montferrat aka Comte de St Germain aka Comte Bellamare aka Marquis d'Aymar aka Chevalier Schoening aka Sebastian Guerreiro aka Sebastian Botelho - a false marquis who also posed as an Arab sheikh; a Portuguese inquisitor
Raimondo di Sangro - a prince of San Severo
Charles VII - a Spanish king of Naples and Sicily; one of Raimondo's friends and admirers; a champion of discourse, learning, and cultural debate
Contessa di Czergy - a dear old lady
Eric Rucker - a captain of the First Battalion, Seventh Cavalry Regiment
Saddam Hussein - an Iraqi president
Huda Ammash aka Mrs Anthrax - a scientist; a daughter of a former minister of defense; rumored to be the head of Iraq's biological weapons program
Jess Eddison - a sergeant
Mengele - Josef Mengele, a German physician
Evelyn Bishop aka Sitt Evelyn (Lady Evelyn) - a professor of archaeology in her 60s
Farouk - a short, paunchy, balding chain-smoker; a dealer in antiquities and a facilitator
Ramez - a diminutive, hyperactive ex-student of Evelyn; an assistant professor in Evelyn's department; a Shi'ite
Jesus Christ - a Jewish religious leader
Thomas - a saint
Abu Barzan - an old friend of Farouk who deals in antiquities and owns a small shop in Al-Mawsil (Mosul)
Mahfouz Zacharia - the curator of the National Museum of Antiquities in Baghdad
Hajj Ali Salloum - a Baghdad-based antiques dealer
Tom Webster aka Bill Kirkwood - an archeologist-historian with the Haldane Institute for Archaeology and the Ancient World
Omar - the leader of the hakeem's hit team; a man with close-cropped, jet-black hair, deep-set eyes, and a pockmarked face
Coco - the Lounge's resident parrot who can faultlessly imitate an incoming artillery shell
Dan Rather - an American journalist
Peter Jennings - a Canadian-American journalist
Mia Bishop - Evelyn's daughter
Jon Stewart - an American tv host
Adelaide - Evelyn's sister
Aubrey - Adelaide's husband
Ivar the Boneless - a Viking invader
Batgirl - a fictional superheroine
John Baumhoff - a porcine, balding, pasty-skinned, fifty-something American embassy's man
Isaac Montalto - a close friend of Sebastian's father
Franciso Pedroso - a charismatic and forceful grand inquisitor
Clement V - the 1312 pope
Rocaberti - an archbishop who led the Tarragonese Council; a friend of the Templar warrior-monks
James II - a king of Aragon
Dinis - a king of Portugal
Philip the Fair - a king who persecuted the Templars
Jim Corben aka Humphrey - a trim, cropped-haired, slightly tanned, mid thirties American embassy's economic counselor; Mia stated that he could be using Jim, along with such names as Mike and Joe, as a cover name
Fawwaz - one of Omar's men
Wasseem - ditto
Gil Grissom - a fictional forensic entomologist
Aladdin - a fictional hero of a Middle Eastern folk tale
Francis E Meloy - an ambassador who was kidnapped and assassinated in Beirut in 1976
Robert Ames - the CIA's Near East director who was killed in 1983
Len Hayflick - a CIA station chief
Imad Mughniyah - the man thought to be behind the truck bomb that blew up the marine's compound in 1983 and killed 241 servicemen
Jake Olshansky - a technical operations officer
Mike Boustany - a local historian who was working with Evelyn
Simon Wiesenthal - a Jewish Nazi-hunter
Plato - an Athenian philosopher
Friedrich Kekulé - a nineteenth-century German chemist
Carl Jung - a Swiss psychiatrist
Avicenna aka Ibn Sina - the most influencial physician of his time; an accomplished philosopher ad poet by the age of eighteen
Jabir ibn Hayyan - ditto
Al-Farabi 'Second Teacher' - a scientist and philosopher
Aristotle - a Greek philosopher and polymath
Al-Razi aka Rhazes - the father of plaster of paris
Al-Biruni - author of extensive treatises about conjoined twins
Tavernier - presumably Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, a French traveler
Morgagni - Giovanni Battista Morgagni, an Italian anatomist; the father of modern anatomical pathology
Boerhaave - Herman Boerhaave, a Dutch physician
Thomas Fuller - author of Pharmacopoeia Extemporanea
Luigi Cornaro - author of Discourses on the Temperate Life
Thérésia de Condillac - a childless, moneyed widow
Madame Geoffrin - a salon proprietress
Roger - a coachman
Arturo - Raimondo's son
Rousseau - Jean-Jacques Rousseau, a Genevan philosopher
Voltaire - a French philosopher
Diderot - Denis Diderot, ditto
Mike Boustany - a historian
Leila - a CIA translator
Alexander the Great - a great conqueror
Ptolemy - one of Alexander the Great's generals
Diocletian - a Roman emperor
Ludovico - a hakeem
Queirolo - Francesco Queirolo, an Italian Genoese-born sculptor
Casanova - Giacomo Casanova, an Italian adventurer, and author
Greg - a man with short chestnut hair and a thick-set neck
Louis XVI - the last king of France before the fall of the monarchy during the French Revolution
EB White - dubbed the martini his 'elixir of quietude'
Demikhov - a Russian scientist who was researching head transplants back in the 50s
Frodo - Frodo Baggins, the fictional protagonist of The Lord of the Rings
Bryan - an Australian hired gun
Hector - a South African hired gun
Mohsen - Abu Barzan's reserved friend
Bashar - Abu Barzan's paunchy, prematurely balding nephew
Miguel aka Michael - Sebastian and Thérésia's son
Rudwaan - a shooter of Omar
Satan - a fallen angel who had repented, been pardoned by God, and had been reinstated in heaven as the chief of all angels
Marques de Pombal - the 1765 effective ruler of Portugal
Madame de Fontenay - a Parisian lady
Salem - the mokhtar's son
Shāker - the mokhtar's cousin
Sulayman - the mokhtar
Muneer and Arîya - an elderly couple
Abu Fares Al-Masboudi - a little-known scientist-philosopher who had studied under Avicenna
Al-Qa'aim - an Iraqi caliph
terms:
p49: For a moment, she lost sight of the Merc, then it reappeared half a dozen or so cars ahead, rushing across town, its stealthy shadow close behind.
*First time I've seen a Mercedes referred to as Merc.
p107: Corben flexed his fingers and felt his muscles tighten as each killer pulled a 9mm automatic, rolled a silencer into place, and chambered a round.
*I guess I'd prefer the word screwed instead.
p167: It took a split second for St. Germain to realize it was a crossbow, and before he could shout it down, the rider took aim and fired. The small arrow sliced the air with a sharp whisper and struck the coachman squarely in the chest.
*An arrow is associated with a bow. With a crossbow, it should be a bolt.
typo:
p101: Corben sized up the room with an expert eye and realized another vist--a longer, more thorough one--would be necessary, as soon as he could get Mia settled somewhere safe.
Two people, and ultimately their descendants, battle for the philosopher's stone for centuries.
setting:
Naples
Baghdad
Zabqine, Southern Lebanon
Beirut
Geneva
Tomar, Portugal
Paris
Turkey
Nerva Zhori
Lisbon, Portugal
Philadelphia
named personalities:
Marquis de Montferrat aka Comte de St Germain aka Comte Bellamare aka Marquis d'Aymar aka Chevalier Schoening aka Sebastian Guerreiro aka Sebastian Botelho - a false marquis who also posed as an Arab sheikh; a Portuguese inquisitor
Raimondo di Sangro - a prince of San Severo
Charles VII - a Spanish king of Naples and Sicily; one of Raimondo's friends and admirers; a champion of discourse, learning, and cultural debate
Contessa di Czergy - a dear old lady
Eric Rucker - a captain of the First Battalion, Seventh Cavalry Regiment
Saddam Hussein - an Iraqi president
Huda Ammash aka Mrs Anthrax - a scientist; a daughter of a former minister of defense; rumored to be the head of Iraq's biological weapons program
Jess Eddison - a sergeant
Mengele - Josef Mengele, a German physician
Evelyn Bishop aka Sitt Evelyn (Lady Evelyn) - a professor of archaeology in her 60s
Farouk - a short, paunchy, balding chain-smoker; a dealer in antiquities and a facilitator
Ramez - a diminutive, hyperactive ex-student of Evelyn; an assistant professor in Evelyn's department; a Shi'ite
Jesus Christ - a Jewish religious leader
Thomas - a saint
Abu Barzan - an old friend of Farouk who deals in antiquities and owns a small shop in Al-Mawsil (Mosul)
Mahfouz Zacharia - the curator of the National Museum of Antiquities in Baghdad
Hajj Ali Salloum - a Baghdad-based antiques dealer
Tom Webster aka Bill Kirkwood - an archeologist-historian with the Haldane Institute for Archaeology and the Ancient World
Omar - the leader of the hakeem's hit team; a man with close-cropped, jet-black hair, deep-set eyes, and a pockmarked face
Coco - the Lounge's resident parrot who can faultlessly imitate an incoming artillery shell
Dan Rather - an American journalist
Peter Jennings - a Canadian-American journalist
Mia Bishop - Evelyn's daughter
Jon Stewart - an American tv host
Adelaide - Evelyn's sister
Aubrey - Adelaide's husband
Ivar the Boneless - a Viking invader
Batgirl - a fictional superheroine
John Baumhoff - a porcine, balding, pasty-skinned, fifty-something American embassy's man
Isaac Montalto - a close friend of Sebastian's father
Franciso Pedroso - a charismatic and forceful grand inquisitor
Clement V - the 1312 pope
Rocaberti - an archbishop who led the Tarragonese Council; a friend of the Templar warrior-monks
James II - a king of Aragon
Dinis - a king of Portugal
Philip the Fair - a king who persecuted the Templars
Jim Corben aka Humphrey - a trim, cropped-haired, slightly tanned, mid thirties American embassy's economic counselor; Mia stated that he could be using Jim, along with such names as Mike and Joe, as a cover name
Fawwaz - one of Omar's men
Wasseem - ditto
Gil Grissom - a fictional forensic entomologist
Aladdin - a fictional hero of a Middle Eastern folk tale
Francis E Meloy - an ambassador who was kidnapped and assassinated in Beirut in 1976
Robert Ames - the CIA's Near East director who was killed in 1983
Len Hayflick - a CIA station chief
Imad Mughniyah - the man thought to be behind the truck bomb that blew up the marine's compound in 1983 and killed 241 servicemen
Jake Olshansky - a technical operations officer
Mike Boustany - a local historian who was working with Evelyn
Simon Wiesenthal - a Jewish Nazi-hunter
Plato - an Athenian philosopher
Friedrich Kekulé - a nineteenth-century German chemist
Carl Jung - a Swiss psychiatrist
Avicenna aka Ibn Sina - the most influencial physician of his time; an accomplished philosopher ad poet by the age of eighteen
Jabir ibn Hayyan - ditto
Al-Farabi 'Second Teacher' - a scientist and philosopher
Aristotle - a Greek philosopher and polymath
Al-Razi aka Rhazes - the father of plaster of paris
Al-Biruni - author of extensive treatises about conjoined twins
Tavernier - presumably Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, a French traveler
Morgagni - Giovanni Battista Morgagni, an Italian anatomist; the father of modern anatomical pathology
Boerhaave - Herman Boerhaave, a Dutch physician
Thomas Fuller - author of Pharmacopoeia Extemporanea
Luigi Cornaro - author of Discourses on the Temperate Life
Thérésia de Condillac - a childless, moneyed widow
Madame Geoffrin - a salon proprietress
Roger - a coachman
Arturo - Raimondo's son
Rousseau - Jean-Jacques Rousseau, a Genevan philosopher
Voltaire - a French philosopher
Diderot - Denis Diderot, ditto
Mike Boustany - a historian
Leila - a CIA translator
Alexander the Great - a great conqueror
Ptolemy - one of Alexander the Great's generals
Diocletian - a Roman emperor
Ludovico - a hakeem
Queirolo - Francesco Queirolo, an Italian Genoese-born sculptor
Casanova - Giacomo Casanova, an Italian adventurer, and author
Greg - a man with short chestnut hair and a thick-set neck
Louis XVI - the last king of France before the fall of the monarchy during the French Revolution
EB White - dubbed the martini his 'elixir of quietude'
Demikhov - a Russian scientist who was researching head transplants back in the 50s
Frodo - Frodo Baggins, the fictional protagonist of The Lord of the Rings
Bryan - an Australian hired gun
Hector - a South African hired gun
Mohsen - Abu Barzan's reserved friend
Bashar - Abu Barzan's paunchy, prematurely balding nephew
Miguel aka Michael - Sebastian and Thérésia's son
Rudwaan - a shooter of Omar
Satan - a fallen angel who had repented, been pardoned by God, and had been reinstated in heaven as the chief of all angels
Marques de Pombal - the 1765 effective ruler of Portugal
Madame de Fontenay - a Parisian lady
Salem - the mokhtar's son
Shāker - the mokhtar's cousin
Sulayman - the mokhtar
Muneer and Arîya - an elderly couple
Abu Fares Al-Masboudi - a little-known scientist-philosopher who had studied under Avicenna
Al-Qa'aim - an Iraqi caliph
terms:
p49: For a moment, she lost sight of the Merc, then it reappeared half a dozen or so cars ahead, rushing across town, its stealthy shadow close behind.
*First time I've seen a Mercedes referred to as Merc.
p107: Corben flexed his fingers and felt his muscles tighten as each killer pulled a 9mm automatic, rolled a silencer into place, and chambered a round.
*I guess I'd prefer the word screwed instead.
p167: It took a split second for St. Germain to realize it was a crossbow, and before he could shout it down, the rider took aim and fired. The small arrow sliced the air with a sharp whisper and struck the coachman squarely in the chest.
*An arrow is associated with a bow. With a crossbow, it should be a bolt.
typo:
p101: Corben sized up the room with an expert eye and realized another vist--a longer, more thorough one--would be necessary, as soon as he could get Mia settled somewhere safe.
April 6, 2019
A good tale. I would have given it 5 stars but the torture is too graphic for me. I did like it enough to read more books by this author.
November 22, 2018
I found this book to move at a pretty good pace. The chapters were short and they usually left you wanting to read another chapter. Of those that were long Mr. Khoury left good natural separations shifting POV's among the main charaters.
A lot of people tend to forget the Mr Khoury spent a good number of years as a sucessful screenwriter before turning to novels. This novel shows that past profession well. A lot of the scenes in the novel lend easy to the imagination or allowing the mind to easily see it on the big screen.
The mysteries are not highly difficult to figure out if you've read enough of these kinds of books, but all in all it was a good read.
I honestly don't understand all the reviews from people who don't like this book baised on the fact that it's a "Dan Brown-esque" style novel. If you don't like historial mystery style books then why did you pick this up?? I don't like romances and therefore don't read romances and furthermore don't bad mouth them on goodreads. Stick to something you do like and review that. It's not like you were forced to read it.
if you like these style of novels then by all means go out and pick this one up!
A lot of people tend to forget the Mr Khoury spent a good number of years as a sucessful screenwriter before turning to novels. This novel shows that past profession well. A lot of the scenes in the novel lend easy to the imagination or allowing the mind to easily see it on the big screen.
The mysteries are not highly difficult to figure out if you've read enough of these kinds of books, but all in all it was a good read.
I honestly don't understand all the reviews from people who don't like this book baised on the fact that it's a "Dan Brown-esque" style novel. If you don't like historial mystery style books then why did you pick this up?? I don't like romances and therefore don't read romances and furthermore don't bad mouth them on goodreads. Stick to something you do like and review that. It's not like you were forced to read it.
if you like these style of novels then by all means go out and pick this one up!
August 16, 2016
This was a pretty good book. I love when an ancient mystery is combined with events in the present and this book does just that. It had a twist that I wasn't expecting and the action was evenly paced enough to keep me pulled in. This was worth the time to pick it up and I would recommend it to those who like this sort of genre.
February 9, 2008
I was disappointed. I'd loved another book by this author.
This one was heavy on the chases and light on the information and intellectual puzzles and reason why the information was SO important that people had to die for it.
I also think the body count was a bit high - too gory and gruesome.
This one was heavy on the chases and light on the information and intellectual puzzles and reason why the information was SO important that people had to die for it.
I also think the body count was a bit high - too gory and gruesome.
March 21, 2019
Πόσα είσαι διατεθειμένος να κάνεις προκειμένου να νικήσεις το θάνατο?Πόσο πόνο είσαι διατεθειμένος να υποστείς προκειμένου να προστατεύσεις ότι πολυτιμότερο έχεις?Πολύ καλός Khoury για ακόμη μια φορά.4,5⭐
December 24, 2010
Humans have long dreamed of immortality, in some cases devoting their lives to the quest. Raymond Khoury makes that dream the focus of his latest historical thriller, The Sanctuary. Built around two interwoven stories, one from the 18th century and one present day, most of the action takes place in Lebanon. When an unknown pack of thugs abducts archaeologist Evelyn Bishop, her daughter Mia, a geneticist, mounts a desperate search to retrieve her. Unbeknownst to Mia, there are others on the trail, people willing to kill to acquire what they believe Evelyn possesses. The arch villain is a diabolic doctor who, apparently supported by several governments, conducts ghastly experiments on human subjects. As the story progresses, it becomes a game of "who do you trust?", with plenty of car chases, shoot-outs, and other perils. It also provides an interesting view of the culture/political shock experienced by Westerners when they work in the Middle East. If you're up for another novel about secret societies guarding ancient mysteries, the Sanctuary should do the trick.
Read
August 13, 2008You'll notice that I gave this book zero stars....that's because it doesn't deserve any. In fact, negative stars would be more appropriate. I bought this in an airport to get me through the flights, and although I got about halfway through it, the 270 odd pages I read could have been condensed down to about 80. The author DRONES on with what I can only assume are attempted embellishments to make the story more interesting. It does just the opposite. Not to mention, the author tries to build suspense by keeping the big secret...well, a secret but for MUCH too long.
Bottom line: DON'T bother with this book. It's a loose attempt to follow the Da Vinci code and comes up significantly short.
Bottom line: DON'T bother with this book. It's a loose attempt to follow the Da Vinci code and comes up significantly short.
October 29, 2012
The story starts out in Naples 1750.A group led by the prince of San Servero bust in on the marquis demanding he turn over the secret he hides.The Marquis escapes and makes his journey assuming other names and titles along the way.
Fast forward to bagdad 2003, and the terrible find the soldiers make. A secret underground lab, complete with surgical room and horrible deaths of prisoners, including mass graves.
On one wall is the symbol of a snake eating it's tail. What does this mean, where did it come from and how does it tie into those events from 1750?
This story is full of twist and turns, history, political intrigue,and the quest for immortality.
Fast forward to bagdad 2003, and the terrible find the soldiers make. A secret underground lab, complete with surgical room and horrible deaths of prisoners, including mass graves.
On one wall is the symbol of a snake eating it's tail. What does this mean, where did it come from and how does it tie into those events from 1750?
This story is full of twist and turns, history, political intrigue,and the quest for immortality.
July 26, 2010
This book has it all: ancient, mysterious clues mingle with the latest scientific advances in this cinematic thriller. The pace is fast, the dialogue sharp, the characters plausible. Khoury knows what he is doing.
A cross between Indiana Jones and Dan Brown, an electrifying thriller of ancient secrets, of the quest for an extended life and of horrific scientific experiments. It mixes history with the present in a gripping tale of adventure and suspense. Well worth buckling your seat belt for and heading straight into a hell of a ride.
A tense thriller!
A cross between Indiana Jones and Dan Brown, an electrifying thriller of ancient secrets, of the quest for an extended life and of horrific scientific experiments. It mixes history with the present in a gripping tale of adventure and suspense. Well worth buckling your seat belt for and heading straight into a hell of a ride.
A tense thriller!
April 25, 2008
This author absolutely amazes me with the quality of work he has produced. I believe he has another Best Seller on his hands, with his second novel. This story is about the quest for eternal life....The reader will not be disappointed with this page turner! A great read that I really don;t want to give up too much about the story. I am convinced that once one reads the first chapter they will be sucked into the novel like a being trapped in whirlpool!
August 22, 2008
I bought this book based on his previous book. It was a little bit slow at the beginning but once it took off, it was very fast paced. This book continues on with Templar theme of his previous book. The plot is believable and deals with the current spot of the Middle East. I would pick this to read again as a summer read.
March 22, 2010
This book was a great mix of history, science, and possibility. A page-turner to the end, the characters are well defined and strong. Raymond Khoury has an interesting way of capturing the reader without them knowing it. The plot, settings, characters and story line are heart capturing and easy to follow.
June 25, 2013
This is a wonderful author I recently discovered. Full of meaning, examining history and spinning a compelling story. I would highly recommend anything by Raymond Khoury, and it would be beneficial to start at the beginning!
August 26, 2008
Khoury writes a great novel with twist and turns, blends historical and modern day wonderfully.
You will like the fast paced action in this novel.
You will like the fast paced action in this novel.
November 11, 2008
Stopped about a third of the way through...in the words of several Monty Python alums, "Get on with it!"
August 26, 2010
This is a really good book. You won't be dissapointed. loved it.
July 23, 2011
Excellent book!!!!!
February 12, 2012
Well written. A very enjoyable read that takes place mostly in Beirut. Very interesting.
July 23, 2012
I like how the writer uses real facts and history to create amazing story.
September 17, 2012
Good but long.
July 9, 2015
This was an interesting book - especially the ideas on the effect of longevity on society and the changes that it would cause.
March 8, 2014
A very good story. Not many readers are familiar with the novels of Raymond Khoury. I enjoyed this novel.
March 10, 2015
I haven't read a book by Mr. Khoury that wasn't just great!!!! Very suspenseful.
June 26, 2015
Fast moving, good action.... Good like a like Can Brown's DaVinci Code.
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