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Richard Halliburton Adventure #3
The Hidden Seal of the Realm
Richard Halliburton returns in this thrilling adventure as he plunges deep into the heart of the South Pacific and China in search of a treasure that had been missing for nearly a thousand years. Buckle up for a wild ride as Halliburton races to retrieve the lost heirloom seal, which is being pursued by mercenaries, pirates, and a special ops unit of Reichswehr soldiers. In order to succeed, Halliburton must fight his way through a band of marauding pirates, unravel an ancient mystery, and outsmart some of the greatest archeological minds of his day—all in an effort to keep the world safe from a looming danger.
If you love the Indiana Jones franchise, Clive Cussler, or Dan Brown, you’re sure to enjoy this new archeological thriller series from award-winning author Garrett Drake.
If you love the Indiana Jones franchise, Clive Cussler, or Dan Brown, you’re sure to enjoy this new archeological thriller series from award-winning author Garrett Drake.
- GenresAdventure
207 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 6, 2019
111 people are currently reading
57 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 17, 2019
Another nail biter
More factual than the Indiana Jones stories with old world charm and grace thrown in for good measure. Look forward to reading next novel.
More factual than the Indiana Jones stories with old world charm and grace thrown in for good measure. Look forward to reading next novel.
September 16, 2023
MY RATING GUIDE: 4 Satisfied Stars. My advice: Suspend disbelief and enjoy the ride!
1= dnf/What was that?; 2= Nope, not for me; 3= This was okay/cute; 3.5= I enjoyed it; 4= WE LIKED THIS A LOT; 5= I Loved it, it was great! (I seldom give 5 Stars).
HONG KONG and CHINA, 1922 (In the aftermath of WWI) ~
Novice US Army Intelligence operative Richard Halliburton finds himself teamed with an experienced agent, Helen Williams, also in the employ of Richard’s handler, Hank Foster of US Foreign Affairs, US Army Intelligence. Richard and Helen’s mission is to locate a lost and mysterious Seal (a jade stone about the size of a thumb) once held very sacred by a Chinese empire which reigned 1000 years ago. The Seal, believed to contain great powers, is worth a vast fortune, if sold, in addition to its great historic value to the Chinese. The Seal is rumored to have been discovered recently by archaeologists. Richard has been instructed to locate the seal and keep it out of the hands of the Germans, who have also heard the rumors. Halliburton and Helen travel from Hong Kong to China and back searching for the Seal. A ruthless unit of Reichswehr soldiers, who have no qualms about killing and have hounded Halliburton on previous missions, are on the hunt as well.
Comments ~
1) The Richard Halliburton series reminds me of the Saturday Adventure movies I enjoyed in my youth - Zorro, King Solomon’s Mines, Scarlet Pimpernel and others of the kind - where the hero is on a specific quest against danger with adversaries known and unknown on their heels.
2) Although this episode is more blood-thirsty then the previous books we’ve “read,” the tone for HSOTE remains generally light and, IMO, is not to be taken too seriously. I recommend HSOTR to readers who are willing to suspend disbelief and simply enjoy the ride.
3) The audio version is perfect for capturing the lively spirit of this post-war adventure series. The voice work by John Pirhalla captures the character of Richard Halliburton wonderfully and the adventuresome mood of the novel. Well done!
4) The books in this series can be “read” in any order as each stands alone. My husband & I have completed the other 3 titles available (1, 2 and 4) and I am looking forward to any future releases. This is one of few series my husband and I enjoy listening to together.
5) IMO, the Richard Halliburton series could be enjoyed by adventure lovers of all ages (YA and up)- those who enjoy Indiana Jones, Clive Cussler or Classic adventures from bygone days. Halliburton travels the world on his rollicking missions.
6) Interestingly, the Richard Halliburton Action series (published 2019-2021) is loosely (?) based upon the real life adventures of a man who lived from 1900-1939. A Tennessee born Princeton graduate, Richard Halliburton travelled the world from his 20’s until his early death at just 39yrs (China, Russia, the Caribbean, India, Borneo, Persia/Iran, Morocco, Mexico - visiting over 34 countries on one journey alone). Halliburton was a celebrity adventurer, author and lecturer, well-known for his exuberant lifestyle and the varied contacts he made among follow travelers, celebrities, artists, foreign rulers and royalty during his brief lifetime. The true Halliburton (and his shipmates) apparently perished at sea in 1939 while caught in a hurricane attempting to sail a Chinese junk across open seas from Hong Kong to San Francisco. The last message received stated they were 1000+ miles off Midway Island. Garrett Drake’s series reflects the daring-do of this man.
READER CAUTIONS ~ IMO, appropriate for YA readers who enjoy adventure or quest related novels.
PROFANITY - Yes. Very rarely (once?)
VIOLENCE - G/PG. Not graphic. Mostly a swashbuckling type adventure.
SEXUAL SITUATIONS - None.
1= dnf/What was that?; 2= Nope, not for me; 3= This was okay/cute; 3.5= I enjoyed it; 4= WE LIKED THIS A LOT; 5= I Loved it, it was great! (I seldom give 5 Stars).
HONG KONG and CHINA, 1922 (In the aftermath of WWI) ~
Novice US Army Intelligence operative Richard Halliburton finds himself teamed with an experienced agent, Helen Williams, also in the employ of Richard’s handler, Hank Foster of US Foreign Affairs, US Army Intelligence. Richard and Helen’s mission is to locate a lost and mysterious Seal (a jade stone about the size of a thumb) once held very sacred by a Chinese empire which reigned 1000 years ago. The Seal, believed to contain great powers, is worth a vast fortune, if sold, in addition to its great historic value to the Chinese. The Seal is rumored to have been discovered recently by archaeologists. Richard has been instructed to locate the seal and keep it out of the hands of the Germans, who have also heard the rumors. Halliburton and Helen travel from Hong Kong to China and back searching for the Seal. A ruthless unit of Reichswehr soldiers, who have no qualms about killing and have hounded Halliburton on previous missions, are on the hunt as well.
Comments ~
1) The Richard Halliburton series reminds me of the Saturday Adventure movies I enjoyed in my youth - Zorro, King Solomon’s Mines, Scarlet Pimpernel and others of the kind - where the hero is on a specific quest against danger with adversaries known and unknown on their heels.
2) Although this episode is more blood-thirsty then the previous books we’ve “read,” the tone for HSOTE remains generally light and, IMO, is not to be taken too seriously. I recommend HSOTR to readers who are willing to suspend disbelief and simply enjoy the ride.
3) The audio version is perfect for capturing the lively spirit of this post-war adventure series. The voice work by John Pirhalla captures the character of Richard Halliburton wonderfully and the adventuresome mood of the novel. Well done!
4) The books in this series can be “read” in any order as each stands alone. My husband & I have completed the other 3 titles available (1, 2 and 4) and I am looking forward to any future releases. This is one of few series my husband and I enjoy listening to together.
5) IMO, the Richard Halliburton series could be enjoyed by adventure lovers of all ages (YA and up)- those who enjoy Indiana Jones, Clive Cussler or Classic adventures from bygone days. Halliburton travels the world on his rollicking missions.
6) Interestingly, the Richard Halliburton Action series (published 2019-2021) is loosely (?) based upon the real life adventures of a man who lived from 1900-1939. A Tennessee born Princeton graduate, Richard Halliburton travelled the world from his 20’s until his early death at just 39yrs (China, Russia, the Caribbean, India, Borneo, Persia/Iran, Morocco, Mexico - visiting over 34 countries on one journey alone). Halliburton was a celebrity adventurer, author and lecturer, well-known for his exuberant lifestyle and the varied contacts he made among follow travelers, celebrities, artists, foreign rulers and royalty during his brief lifetime. The true Halliburton (and his shipmates) apparently perished at sea in 1939 while caught in a hurricane attempting to sail a Chinese junk across open seas from Hong Kong to San Francisco. The last message received stated they were 1000+ miles off Midway Island. Garrett Drake’s series reflects the daring-do of this man.
READER CAUTIONS ~ IMO, appropriate for YA readers who enjoy adventure or quest related novels.
PROFANITY - Yes. Very rarely (once?)
VIOLENCE - G/PG. Not graphic. Mostly a swashbuckling type adventure.
SEXUAL SITUATIONS - None.
January 17, 2020
Continuing saga
Pretty good saga. Continuous adventure with good character development . Richard, the hero, continues to use his wisdom to outsmart the Germans. And now there Japanese are also involved.
Pretty good saga. Continuous adventure with good character development . Richard, the hero, continues to use his wisdom to outsmart the Germans. And now there Japanese are also involved.
July 5, 2020
Richard is in China
Richard Halliburton is a new US spy and ends up in China trying to keep the Germans from claiming a large hidden fortune after finding a thousand year old Chinese artifact. These novels are fun reading, full of quirky and interesting characters and villains.
Richard Halliburton is a new US spy and ends up in China trying to keep the Germans from claiming a large hidden fortune after finding a thousand year old Chinese artifact. These novels are fun reading, full of quirky and interesting characters and villains.
January 8, 2020
Fun book but the editing was abysmal!
January 26, 2021
Very lightweight, like an old-time pulp serial or comic book. Plenty of fast-paced plot and action, but absolutely no depth.
June 2, 2025
Good yarn.
December 8, 2019
Truth or fiction?
Great story ---truth or fiction? Easy to read, didn't want to put it down. Loved the the scrapes they got into and manage to survive. Ready for more!!
Great story ---truth or fiction? Easy to read, didn't want to put it down. Loved the the scrapes they got into and manage to survive. Ready for more!!
October 19, 2019
Good story
This is a good story and the author has improved in his writing a good yarn. I like the historical settings the best though. There needs to be a better editing, I found several errors. If I recall the bribe offered was 8000 but a moment later it was 10,000. Then, another when Helen offered money to keep hotel clerk quiet the teller, a man, was referred to as SHE then went back to HE. Otherwise, I recommend the story.
This is a good story and the author has improved in his writing a good yarn. I like the historical settings the best though. There needs to be a better editing, I found several errors. If I recall the bribe offered was 8000 but a moment later it was 10,000. Then, another when Helen offered money to keep hotel clerk quiet the teller, a man, was referred to as SHE then went back to HE. Otherwise, I recommend the story.
October 31, 2019
Good stories and Witty characters.
Read all three books and recommend that while they can stand alone, they are best read in order. Would have given a higher rating, but there were enough errors to be distracting. The books would benefit from a thorough proofreading.
Read all three books and recommend that while they can stand alone, they are best read in order. Would have given a higher rating, but there were enough errors to be distracting. The books would benefit from a thorough proofreading.
October 10, 2019
Another Great Halliburton Adventure
Just like the previous two Richard Halliburton adventures, Mr. Drake has once again created a great story. This book is quite appealing for a reader that loves a tremendous action in exotic lands. A great read!
Just like the previous two Richard Halliburton adventures, Mr. Drake has once again created a great story. This book is quite appealing for a reader that loves a tremendous action in exotic lands. A great read!
October 15, 2019
Good book, annoying editing errors that shouldn’t have occurred
I really enjoyed this book but for multiple typos and misused words, I would have given it 5 stars. It was really annoying!
I really enjoyed this book but for multiple typos and misused words, I would have given it 5 stars. It was really annoying!
October 3, 2019
Great read
Great read lots of action and a great story line kept you interested throughout the book am waiting for the next one
Great read lots of action and a great story line kept you interested throughout the book am waiting for the next one
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews