Az Omega-faktor

by Steve Berry, Zoltán Komló (Translator)

A genti oltárkép a világ legtöbb erőszakot elszenvedett műtárgya. Tizenháromszor követtek el ellene vandalizmust, szedték szét vagy lopták el.

Miért? Miféle titkokat rejt?

Nick Lee, az UNESCO nyomozója az ENSZ Kulturális Összekötő és Nyomozó Irodájának (CLIO) dolgozik. Nick feladata a világ kulturális alkotásainak védelme – a számtalan kevésbé ismert tárgyaktól a nemzeti kincsekig. Amikor Nick Belgiumba utazik, hogy meglátogasson egy nőt a múltjából, tudtán kívül rábukkan a genti oltárkép tizenkettedik táblájának a nyomára, amelyet 1934-ben az éj leple alatt loptak el, és azóta sem látta senki.

Nick nemsokára beleveti magát egy elmérgesedett konfliktusba, amely már csaknem kétezer éve dühöng. Az egyik oldalon vannak a Szent Mihály-szüzek, Les Vautours, a Saskeselyűk, egy titkos apácarend és a nagy igazság őrei. Velük áll szemben a Vatikán, amely már évszázadok óta szeretné megtalálni és birtokolni azt, amit az apácák őriznek. Nick miatt a szüzek végül lelepleződnek, a titkuk végveszélybe kerül – a Vatikán sietve rámozdul, hogy egy ambiciózus bíboros és egy korrupt érsek révén, akik mindketten a maguk pecsenyéjét akarják sütögetni, kihasználja sebezhetőségüket.

Nick Lee-nek Gent békés csatornáitól Carcassonne égre törő bástyáin át egy magasan a francia Pireneusokban álló, ősi apátságig egy modernkori vallásos keresztes hadjárattal kell szembeszállnia, amelynek eltökélt szándéka, hogy egy döbbenetes igazságot kitöröljön az emberiség múltjából. Siker vagy kudarc – élet és halál –, minden az Omega-faktoron áll vagy bukik.

Steve Berry a New York Times 1. sz. bestsellerszerzője, tizenhat Cotton Malone-regény, öt különálló thriller és számos kisebb terjedelmű mű írója. Könyveit több mint huszonötmillió példányban nyomtatták ki, és több mint negyven nyelvre fordították le. Feleségével, Elizabeth-tel együtt vezeti a történelmi értékek megőrzésének szentelt, History Matters nevű szervezetet. A Smithsonian Könyvtárak Tanácsadó Testületének nyugalmazott tagja, a Thrillerírók Nemzetközi Szervezetének alapítótagja, korábban társelnöke.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Audiobook, Adventure, Suspense

466 pages, Paperback

First published June 7, 2022

About the author

 

Steve Berry is the New York Times and #1 internationally bestselling author of twenty-two novels, which include: The Last Kingdom , The Omega Factor , The Kaiser's Web, The Warsaw Protocol, The Malta Exchange, The Bishop’s Pawn, The Lost Order, The 14th Colony, The Patriot Threat, The Lincoln Myth, The King's Deception, The Columbus Affair, The Jefferson Key, The Emperor's Tomb, The Paris Vendetta, The Charlemagne Pursuit, The Venetian Betrayal, The Alexandria Link, The Templar Legacy, The Third Secret, The Romanov Prophecy, and The Amber Room. Steve has also co-written a novel with Grant Blackwood,  The 9th Man  (a Luke Daniels Adventure), and four novellas with M. J. Rose:  The End of Forever,   The House of Long Ago,   The Lake of Learning,  and  The Museum of Mysteries,  all Cassiopeia Vitt tales. His books have been translated into 41 languages with over 25,000,000 copies in 52 countries. They consistently appear in the top echelon of The New York Times, USA Today, and Indie bestseller lists. Somewhere in the world, every thirty seconds, one of his novels is sold.

Reviews

[Blaine DeSantis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great stand alone action adventure by Steve Berry. As with all is books, Berry blends 80% real history with 20% fictionalized plot and gives us fast paced, books that actually teach us a lot about bits of unknown history as part of his novels. Here he has a brand new character, Nick Lee, who comes to Belgium at the request of his ex-girlfriend (who is now a nun!), who is involved with the restoration of the missing panel of the Ghent Altarpiece. Upon arrival there is a fire that destroys the painting and Nick is after a laptop that holds the only remaining images of that restored panel. So what do we have here? Well we spend much time in Brussels and France, we learn a lot about the history of the Ghent Altarpiece, we have a mysterious order of nuns, Joan of Arc, the Catholic history of Mary the mother of Jesus, the Marion Legend, the Inquisition and the Cathars. Whew! I am sure I missed something, but you get the gist. This is a wonderful read, with a new character (Nick Lee), who works for UNESCO and may just appear in future books.
Berry has a wonderful mind for history and for this blend of history and fiction that makes even non-historians love his works. It is an easy flowing novel and one that will be another best seller.
For a more detailed review please visit www.viewsonbooks.com

[Tim · Rating 1 out of 5]

I strongly dislike most church or religious based stories. The Omega Factor is no exception. 0 of 10 stars

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nick Lee works for the United Nations Cultural Liaison and Investigative Office. His job is to protect the world's cultural artifacts, everything from countless lesser-known objects to national treasures.
Kelsey Deal is a woman from Nick's past who broke his heart when she found she loved god more than Nick and wanted to pursue becoming a nun.
When Nick travels to Belgium for what he thinks will be a welcome visit with Kelsey things turn out much different.
Nick and Kelsey find themselves on the trail of a legendary panel from the Ghent altarpiece, stolen in 1934 and has not been seen since. Nick finds himself in the middle of a bitter conflict, one that has been brewing for almost two thousand years. On one side are the Maidens of Saint- Michael- The Vultures. A secret order of nuns and guardians of a great truth. The Maidens are pitted against the Vatican which has wanted for centuries to find and possess what the nuns guard.
Because of Nick the Maidens have finally been exposed and their secret placed in dire jeopardy. Then the Vatican moves in to exploit that secret by utilizing an ambitious Cardinal and a corrupt Archbishop, both with agendas of their own.
Will the nuns secret be exposed to the world, or will Nick and Kelsey be able to keep that from happening? I enjoyed this book and recommend it. Will be reading more of Steve Berry.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Steve Berry, Hachette Audio and Grand Central Publishing for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

Well-written fiction with a historical flavoring takes on a new level with Steve Berry at the helm. His stories are both rich in their narrative and full of action, providing the reader with a wonderful reading experience. This standalone provides an intriguing look into a historical artifact, peppered with Christian history, that offers context to a great deal of what is purported as truth today. Berry does it again, treating his fans to a stellar read.

History has shown that religious relics are commonly stolen, hidden, and discovered years later. The Ghent Altarpiece is one such item, but holds the title of being the most confiscated item ever, after thirteen instances of being stolen or disfigured. No one seems to know why, until now.

Nicholas Lee has a prestigious job within the United Nations, as a UNESCO investigator. He’s tasked with investigating cultural and religious items, trying to look into their history and displacement. Trying to protect cultural artifacts around the world is a tough job, but Nick’s up for the challenge.

Nick makes his way to Belgium where someone from his past awaits him. Unbeknownst to him, it’s also where a part of the Ghent Alterpiece is being tracked, last seen just before the Second World War. As Nick tries following the trail, he is thrust into the middle of a conflict that has been brewing for centuries, between a secret order of nuns who vow to protect the truth and the Vatican, wanting to bring the Ghent Alterpiece together to make an astounding revelation. As the Maidens of Saint-Michael are revealed, hired guns within the Vatican try to wrest control of the Alterpiece that possesses many secrets, leaving Nick to scramble for safety.

It’s a matter of life and death for Nick and those around him. With twists and turns all throughout the oldest part of Europe, the story takes readers on an adventure that only Berry could construct, both from fiction and well-placed actual facts. A delightfully intense story that will keep fans of the author on the edge of their seats!

I always enjoy when Steve Berry publishes another book, sure to find something entertaining and educational with each story. This was no exception, diving deep into religious history and controversies known to few. Berry extracts these in his narrative and takes the reader on an adventure like no other. Full of history, great characters, and a stellar plot, Berry impresses yet again.

Nick Lee is a great protagonist in this piece, serving not only a great role, but offering readers a treat throughout. There are some wonderful backstory moments, helping the reader to see the man in this standalone thriller, as well as key development throughout. Berry is able to infuse a wonderful depth in his characters and Nick is surely one of the best, both in this story and of the many novels the author has penned. I want to know more and will have to be hyper vigilant, in case Berry brings him along, even in passing, when Cotton Malone returns.

A storyteller of Berry’s ilk knows how to pull a reader in with ease, offering up wonderful stories as they educate in equal measure. The narrative works well and builds throughout, offering history and some education with each page turn. Those who know Berry’s work will join me in agreeing that everything is a mix of fact and fiction, though sometimes it is hard to tell the difference. A cast of well-developed characters and a few plot lines in which they can blossom rounds out the story, keeping the reader on their toes. As always, there is a deep history, involving the Church a great deal of the time, which left me wondering much about what I know and think I expected to be incontrovertible truth. I can see that there is much I do not know and need to learn, as Berry reveals much in the post-script of his book.

Kudos, Mr. Berry, for another great piece. While I miss Cotton Malone, this was definitely well worth the time invested.

Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and Grand Central for gifting me an advanced copy. I provide my honest review below.

I'm really glad that Berry decided to take a break from Cotton Malone and write a palate cleanser with a new protagonist. I adore the Cotton Malone series, but the last one just felt off to me, and this was the breath I needed to return to Cotton next year with a fresh perspective.

Nick Lee was a fun new lead, but honestly, it didn't feel like he was a solo lead. It felt like an ensemble cast, which I also really liked. While I get the feeling that he's probably the only major player that would make a return if we get more Nick Lee adventures, I did very much enjoy getting to follow a large group of principals heading towards an inevitable clash.

All in all, a great read and a lot of fun. Definitely recommend.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars for giving me all I expect from a Steve Berry novel. Fact and fiction interwoven into an action packed tale.

[William de_Rham · Rating 2 out of 5]

Steve Berry’s “The Omega Factor” sets UNESCO investigator Nick Lee on the trail of a priceless work of religious art: a panel of the Ghent Altarpiece. Based on the prologue, which was promising, I’d hoped for an exciting tale of action and adventure. Unfortunately, what followed was so poorly written and so lacking in credibility that I was forced to quit after 60 pages.

Berry’s prose is no pleasure. Convoluted, platitudinous, filled with unnecessary and redundant adjectives and adverbs, burdened by a wholesale reliance on the passive voice, and overwhelmed by modifying clauses that often make little sense, the writing struck me as tortured, painfully amateurish, or just plain sloppy. For example, consider the following passages:

“The curtain of time parted in his mind. It was like nine years ago again, and that familiar connection clicked. But he forced his thoughts to the present. “We have to get out of here.”

and

“Another corner turned and they were now riverside, paralleling a waist-high stone wall.”
and

“More rounds were fired.”

and

“Nothing would be learned here.”

and

“Catharism cast a simplicity that many found appealing. Love thy neighbor and the peace that goodness and honesty brought.”

and

“Louis Tallard lay on his back, sprawled across an oak table, his hands and arms tied to each of the table’s four legs, his head angled downward over the side.” (Does poor Mr. Tallard have four arms and hands? Might Mr. Berry have meant to say arms and legs?)

The storytelling itself is also deficient. It’s filled with digressions. Mr. Berry has a curious habit of interrupting his action scenes with lengthy descriptions of character background and motivation, and/or medieval history. I’m all for character development and history. But not in the middle of a scene that’s supposed to have readers on the edge of their seats. There are also a number of logical inconsistencies that took me out of the story and damaged its credibility.

The characters are stock and are neither charming nor compelling. We’re not given a James Bond (Ian Fleming) or a Jason Bourne (Robert Ludlum) or a Gabriel Allon (Daniel Silva). Instead, we’re treated to an investigator who seems to have no special talent except the ability to carry a torch for a woman he should have gotten over years ago. And his motivations, as well as the motivations of other characters, seem not well thought out and thus lack credibility.

All in all, a two-star performance—and that’s a gift.

[Ief Stuyvaert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slim van de uitgever, om 'The Omega Factor' in het Nederlands als 'Het Geheim van Gent' te publiceren.

Zonder die commerciële ingreep zou dit boek van 'de Dan-Brown-van-den-Aldi' nooit tot op mijn leesstapeltje zijn gesukkeld. Laat staan er uitgelicht zijn.

Maar kijk: Berry is er - dankzij de keuze van de mooiste setting van de wereld - toch in geslaagd mij, in het zog van Nick Lee en zijn grote liefde Kelsey Deal, quasi-geboeid mee te slepen van Gent naar Carcassonne en terug, op zoek naar de boodschap die de dekselse Jan Van Eyck op de originele 'Rechtvaardige Rechters' heeft verstopt.

Jommeke is het. Maar ook een beetje Suske en Wiske. Want na het lezen vergeet je nooit meer dat het Lam in 1432 werd voltooid, nauwelijks een jaar nadat Jeanne d'Arc op de brandstapel tot stof en as weerkeerde. En kwam niet àl mijn historische kennis uit de (blauwe) meesterwerken van Willy Vandersteen? Jazeker. Tot nu, dus.

Wie deze zomer twee nonnen door de Hoogpoort wil zien rennen, mag deze thriller blindelings in de reiskoffer stoppen. Als u nét iets dieper wil ingaan op de tijdgenoten van Filips de Goede en de slachtoffers van de Inquisitie laat u hem maar op het stapeltje.

Dan pakt u beter 'De Bourgondiërs' in.

[Magdalena aka A Bookaholic Swede · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was thrilled when I got approved for the audio version of The Omega Factor by Steve Berry over at NetGalley. Steve Berry has been a favorite author of mine for years. I did not realize that this book was a stand-alone, not part of the Cotton Malone series before I started to listen to the book. But, the characters and the story had me instantly hooked. I recommend this book warmly if you like me and love historical mystery books with some action (and some not-so-usual nuns LOL )..

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting and enjoyable novel based around the mystery of the virgin Mary and berry adds the elements of thriller historical fiction and myth to create this latest standalone novel

[Kirsten · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the book, full of twists and turns although a bit lectureish for me at times. But I wasn’t fond of the narrator, too dramatik to my taste, sounded like that actor they always used for trailers in American movies, when I still went to the cinema.

[Bookreporter.com Mystery & Thriller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite frankly, you don’t just read a Steve Berry book --- you experience it. His latest, THE OMEGA FACTOR, is no exception.

The Prologue takes us all the way back to the year 1428 as we see a man on horseback frantically being chased by a bunch of others. His name is Jan van Eyck, and he is a famous painter. He manages to outpace his pursuers and is taken in by a clandestine group of nuns. Once inside, he notices that one of the symbols they have hanging is a fleur-de-lys. Van Eyck is about to become privy to just one of several secrets that are revealed within these pages, which makes experiencing this book so much fun.

In the present day, we are introduced to Nicholas Lee, who works for the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). He is in Ghent, Belgium, where he meets up with his former fiancée, who is now Sister Kelsey Deal. Not long after, he witnesses a black-robed figure kick her in the midsection, grab something from her and run off. Over in Carcassonne, France, we find two other important characters (I suggest readers get a scorecard to keep track of the players here): Bernat de Foix and Andre Labelle.

Bernat is outlining Andre’s initiation into his special religious sect, which we know is going to have quite an impact on the novel’s proceedings. They are heading out to take part in a feast that dates back to July 22, 1209: the Feast Day of St. Mary Magdalene. It was from here that the group later known as the Cathari, or Cathars, originated. The Roman Church tried and failed to ban them at one time, but by 1209 they had taken hold. In modern day, the few remaining Cathars, or Perfecti, devotees who still practice include Bernat and Andre.

The major item in question in this novel is a 15th-century piece of art created by van Eyck and his brother, Hubert: The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb --- or, as it is more commonly known, the Ghent Altarpiece. Originally done over 12 oak panels measuring a total of 17 feet in length, its pieces have been stolen, swapped and moved around throughout history. Most famously, they were captured by Hitler and the Nazis during WWII and freed by the famous team known as the Monuments Men. It has the distinction of being the most violated piece of artwork in the history of the world.

Throughout the book, one panel of the Ghent Altarpiece has resurfaced, and several different groups are eyeing it. Nick is investigating because the man assigned to restore the panel was murdered. Similar to the Cathars, another religious sect that had a relationship with van Eyck was the aforementioned clandestine group of nuns known as les Vautours, or the Vultures. They were all maidens like their hero, Joan of Arc, the Maid of Orleans.

Of course, none of this could exist without the Catholic Church playing a role as they always have. We hear from Archbishop Gerard Vilamur, who has a personal vendetta against the Cathars, and Bernat in particular, which I will not reveal here. There is also long-standing historical differences between the Vultures and the Catholic Church, with the treatment of Joan of Arc at the center of that debacle. However, the best is indeed saved for last.

Steve Berry has produced the most brilliant premise of all for the book's finale. As I stated before, any novel of his is an experience. You can just feel the research and historical context dripping off of each and every page. He always takes the time to separate fact from fiction at the end of his books, and it never ceases to amaze me how much is indeed factual.

Reviewed by Ray Palen

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up
Great characters and story. I always learn something new reading Steve Berry books

[chantalsbookstuff · Rating 4 out of 5]

United Nation's Cultural Liason, Nicholas Lee protects the world's Cultural Artifacts. Nic travels to Belgium and uncovers a mystery surrounding the Ghent Altarpiece which has been vandalised 13 times. He finds himself in the middle of the Saint-Michael Maidens and the Vaticans dispution.

With such a hard topic the writing style was great with a solid flow and at a good pace. A plot well thought out. The MC is not well known to us and hope if this becomes a series his character will be explored more. The narration was excellent and the bright red book cover captures your attention immediately.

This book holds two significant storyline. It gives us both historical fiction and a lot of mystery & thriller aspects. There is quite a bit in this book. Not one to take lightly. A good storyline for sure with loads of facts. I appreciated the author's note, which gave significant insight. Overall I did enjoy this book.

Thank you Netgalley and Hachett Audio for this Arc.

[Kylie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Narrator 5 stars
This narrator was superb. I had to keep checking it wasn't Sean Mangan as he sounds exactly like him! Definitely want to hear more from this guy!!

Story 3.5 stars
There was a lot going on in this story. I would be REALLY into it and then I would find it a little repetitive. However in saying that this is my first time trying this author and I would definitely try him again

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was something new and different from Steve Berry. I truly enjoyed the story. It was very well researched as usual and proved some interesting history lessons. The characters were very engaging and I hope to see more of Nick Lee (I still would also like to see more of Cotton Malone).

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

It has been a while since I read a Steve berry novel. I have collected all of his books and his popular Cotton Malone series is nearing the top of my reading list. However, with the current reading priorities, it looks like I will not be getting back to Cotton until 2023, and I am looking forward to that.

As a writer, Steve Berry has developed a certain formula, and he follows it pretty consistently in each of the books. Those who also read Dan Brown will find several similarities in plotting and style (although Berry published each year on a regular basis while Brown takes several years or more between books). Berry’s novels begin with some kind of action scene that kicks off a historical based mystery, forcing the lead character(s) to either go on the run or a hunt to solve the secret behind the big mystery. Over the course of three to four days the characters face challenges, solve puzzles, and based on prejudicial historical information, solve the overall mystery before the bad guys stop them. The pace is frantic, with lots of action, revealing mysteries and conspiracies, historical facts mixed with fictional elements, and interesting locations.

“The Omega Factor” is Berry’s first standalone book since “The Columbus Affair” back in 2012, as his Cotton Malone series takes first priority with him and his fans. It is interesting to note that this is Berry’s first book with his new publisher – Grand Central Publishing of the Hachette Book Group – the same publisher as David Baldacci. In a recent interview, Berry shared that he had his next Cotton novel – “The Last kingdom” done and ready to go, but the new publisher wanted something different, a new character or something to start things off. As a result, Berry moved the Cotton book to 2023 and wrote the first novel in a potential new series starring Nicholas Lee, an investigator with the United Nations who focuses on protecting the world’s cultural artifacts and national treasures.

The novel starts off in typical Berry style, with Lee arriving in Belgium for a visit with his ex-fiancée, Kelsey Deal, a woman that he still loves dearly and hasn’t seen in nine years. She has asked to come visit but not disclosed her reasons why. Upon his arrival he gets thrown into the middle of an attack that includes the destruction of a legendary panel from the great artistic Ghent Altarpiece, which has a long history. Both sides of the panel were stolen in 1934 and ransomed by unknown thieves who took their secret to their graves. Then in 1954, a copy of the painting was completed and used in place of the original. Kelsey was professionally restoring the copy when Lee arrives to find her under attack and her work offices on fire.

Nick immediately finds himself involved in a religious battle for the historical panel and a great secret it may hold. There has been conflict around it for two thousand years as a clandestine order of nuns – the Maidens of Saint-Michael, or the Vultures – have dedicated their lives to protecting what they consider to be a great truth in opposition to leaders in the Vatican, who have patiently been searching and hunting to find the truth that the nuns are protecting.

Unfortunately, the current events surrounding the panel brings the attention of a ruthless cardinal who blackmails the local corrupt Bishop, and brings his own special team to find and possess the nun’s secret that could harm the Catholic faithful. Before he knows it, Nick and Kelsey find themselves in the middle of both sides, traveling from Ghent to Carcassonne, and to an ancient abbey located high in the French Pyrenees, and home to one of the world’s greatest and most powerful secrets. Together, they will face physical and spiritual challenges on what will become their own modern-day religious crusade to protect historical truths that are key to the religious gospels….

Those who regularly read Steve berry will recognize the usual elements involved. And I will admit, although the formula remains unchanged for the most part, Berry did a good job of setting up this adventure and laying out the foundation of the story. The beginning flowed well and doesn’t feel rushed or forced. Characters were introduced in a multi-layered manner, flashing between the current moment and their background story that brought them to this point. I will admit to struggling a bit with the various religious backgrounds in the first 100 pages or so, but after that I got myself adjusted and in the flow of connecting the past to the present.

What really surprised me was that after day one, about 120 pages in, I was wavering a bit in my interest level. But I kept reading and somewhere around 150 to 170, things really started moving and connecting together in a very interesting way. The last two-thirds really paced well with how Berry’s structure laid out. The historical mystery was peeled like a strongly layered onion in between the action scenes, and the two elements increased steadily to a crescendo culmination in the end. Well-delivere, Mr. Berry. Well delivered.

On a personal note, I have now read three books by Steve Berry and enjoyed each one of them. However, I have noticed some interesting tendencies on his part. I have enjoyed the history that he includes in his books. As he has stated quite often, he takes something historical and builds a fictional adventure around it, and he’s turned that into a winning formula for the most part. However, in the small sample size that I have (4 out of 20 novels and not including the novellas) he seems to have a habit of making his church leaders, Catholics in two (maybe three – I can’t fully remember) books and Mormon in another, evil and bad.

The higher up in their denominational leadership, the more vain, selfish, and demented they get. That makes for fun escapist reading, but at the same time, I am kind of wondering how much of that is creating a compelling villain and how much is some of that personal distaste for organized religious leaders… I have seen him in several interviews and I haven’t noticed anyone asking him about it or him making any statements about it either, so maybe it’s me. Maybe it’s easier for him to use people in positions of power for villains or I just haven’t read enough of his books to see that that the demographics are actually more widespread than my sample size.

Overall, the book was a fun read for the most part. The key was not taking the history and religious elements too serious. Just understand they are being blended together with fictional elements to heighten the mystery and conflict in the story to create an enjoyable and well delivered reading experience. And, for the most part, Berry delivered a page-turner that kept me up late at night entertained and satisfied. Now, if I can just find a way to move him up on my reading list before next year…

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, it doesn't get any faster-paced than this. So much for cutting the lawn--and getting other things done before I finished. This one was published in 2022 and it's not part of the Cotton Malone series. It features a guy who works for UNESCO, Nick Lee. To me, he seemed interchangeable with Malone--with the big exception that Nick is a younger man. Cotton Malone has got to be worn out by now, getting "too old for that c--p," as they say. You know there will have to be a crossover between Nick and Malone at some point..
This one brings us back to Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code territory. There's a secret message contained within a treasured artwork; this time it's the Ghent Altarpiece. And there's a secret religious group which will go to any lengths to keep their secret. Surprisingly, the Knights Templar don't pop up, but the Cathars do. They were the heretical bunch located in southern France whom the Roman Catholic Church destroyed with a brutal crusade in the 13th Century. But, as with the Templars, were they really destroyed? Or are there still some Cathars running around?
A good historical/religious mystery--and a fast read. I could not turn those pages fast enough!
OK, time to cut the lawn.

[Debra Berding · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first chapter was reminiscent of Clive Cussler's Dirk Pitt series, and that made it feel like it was going to be good. I did like how each chapter was a different storyline, and I liked some of those much better than others. There were parts of the book that were interesting (Joan of Arc sections), but in general it had too many religious and historical details for my liking. I gave up 1/3 of the way through. I would try another book by this author though.

[Bo Verhoef · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book so much. It gave me Dan Brown feelings, but then a little more fast-paced. I loved the multiple POVs. To be honest, some parts of the historical chapters were a bit boring, but really necessary to understand the whole story.

Loved the chapter in the back which explained what parts were based on facts as true and what parts were made up by the author.

[Monnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author of the popular Cotton Malone series has come up with a new hero who, he says, is likely to get more books all to himself. Given that Nicholas Lee, a United Nations employee tasked with protecting cultural artifacts throughout the world including those in the religious realm (the focus of this book), this first effort made me a fan, so I'm hoping that happens.

More than a decade ago, Nick was in a serious relationship with a woman named Kelsey that didn't end as planned. She's since been a nun who specializes in art restoration, and she just began work on a panel from the historic Ghent Altarpiece, a major work that's been stolen and otherwise violated many times and is thought to hold secrets that could bring the Catholic Church to its knees. She's called Nick to meet with her in Belgium and see the panel; he arrives just in time to save her from a fire that totally destroys the panel but prevents the theft of Kelsey's laptop, on which she's stored photographs of her restoration work. Everything points to a secret group called the Maidens of Saint-Michael, aka the Vultures, who have been the target of a centuries-old and so far unsuccessful search by the Vatican, which has a vested interest in learning - and debunking (if not burying) the "truth" the nuns have pledged their lives to protect.

Running concurrently is a second story line, that of an archbishop who will do just about anything to become a cardinal and a cardinal who will do just about anything to become Pope - and one of them has a side gig that involves resolution of abuse that happened before he was born. When Nick's actions to save Kelsey's laptop results in exposure of the Maidens whereabouts, the two men are charged with following up on behalf of the Vatican as they struggle to realize their own ambitions and get retribution for old wounds.

It all makes for an exciting and educational reading adventure, although if I have a complaint it's that the amount of history, while quite interesting, tends to be so extensive that it almost overwhelms the story at times. And while I find religious history - whether real or theoretical - absolutely fascinating, I suspect the hot-button issue of sexual abuse by church leaders and questions surrounding a couple of the church's most venerated saints might be unsettling to some readers.

Overall, I must say the amount of research that must have gone into the writing is nothing short of impressive. Nick's job promises to lead to other intriguing adventures, so I'm definitely looking forward to his next adventure (and I wouldn't mind seeing more of Kelsey, even if she and Nick can't be more than good friends). Meantime, I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy of this one. Good job!

[Marie Barr · Rating 4 out of 5]

This author is an automatic buy for me. Love the history of his books mixed with the suspense and intrigue. Great new character, hope to read more of him.

[Hannah Zunic · Rating 3 out of 5]

The following is an abridged version of my review. To read the full length version, the click the following link: https://www.readinghasruinedmylife.co...

Thank you to Novel Suspects Insider's Club and Grand Central Publishing for sending me an advanced copy of The Omega Factor; they aren't paying me for my review, they just sent me the book for free. Thank you again!

Before I get to the synopsis, a spoiler alert is in order. I really spoil a decent amount of the books I read so be aware of that. I also have a quick content and trigger warning for y’all as well. The Omega Factor deals with the Catholic church and the priest sex abuse scandal that is currently ongoing. One of the side plots fully revolves around a victim seeking justice so this topic is brought up in great length at times.

The Omega Factor begins in Belgium; Ghent to be exact. Sister Kelsey Deal is restoring the final part of the Ghent Alterpiece. The Ghent Alterpiece is a twelve panel masterpiece created in the early 15th century by Jan van Eyck. Over the course of history, this masterpiece was attacked, worshiped, stolen, reproduced, and fought over. In 1934, one piece was stolen and lost to time. Or so it was thought.
During its restoration, Sister Kelsey discovered that the piece she had been hired to restore, the piece believed by the world to be a reproduction, was actually the original panel. This is a huge deal to the art world and some religious circles, really a huge piece of news in general, except for one small issue. Sister Kelsey’s lab ends up being destroyed in a fire taking this major discovery with it.
Enter Nick Lee, a United Nations’ Cultural Liaison and Investigative Office officer; a big title just to say he’s a person who makes sure stuff like the Mona Lisa and Starry Night aren’t destroyed or stolen. Luckily, Nick scores an invite to Kelsey’s workshop the night of the fire, and he’s able to save her laptop which has high resolution photos of the newly restored/found panel on it.
Now Nick and Kelsey are on the hunt to discover who wants the Ghent Alterpiece destroyed, and what it means. Turns out, the alterpiece is a bit of a treasure map which leads to a secret so big that the world will never be ready for it.
This secret also comes complete with a bitter, centuries long conflict. On one side, the Vatican. On the other side, a secret order of nuns known as the Vultures. Neither side wants this secret to be discovered, but they have very different reasons as to why. What transpires is an adventure full of danger, religion, art, and life and death stakes.

This book grew on me the longer it went on. Full disclosure, The Omega Factor has a really slow start and I was not sold on it right away. I had no clue what was going on exactly; at least in the first third of the novel. Readers are not told what the characters are trying to protect or destroy. It makes it hard to get into because there is no reason for readers to want to continue. As a reader, you’re fully in the dark. I get that the author wants to keep what the alterpiece points to a secret for a little bit, but the longer that goes on, the less motivation there is to continue. What makes it even harder to continue reading is the fact the characters aren’t that great. Seriously, I can only remember two of the characters' names. I'm talking about Nick and Sister Kelsey by the way.

Nick is boring. He’s what you expect from his type of character. He’s athletic, witty, strong willed; very much your typical secret agent kinda character. He’s not the worst character though. For that, we must turn to Sister Kelsey Deal. She is Nick’s ultimate unattainable love. Seriously, the pair was engaged but then Kelsey realized she loved God more so she became a nun and broke off the engagement. I don’t want to call her a Manic Pixie Dream Girl, but she certainly has some similar vibes. Despite playing a major role in the novel, she only exists to cause longing and heartache to Nick. I do question if a previous draft included Kelsey quitting her life as a nun in order to get back together with Nick.

Steve Berry put a lot more effort into the religious aspects of this book. While I had no clue what he was talking about half the time simply because I’m not a religious person, there is still so much detailed work put in to this novel. The religious history is a central part of this book, and the effort is clearly there. Overall, this novel has a high level of effort put into it. There are a ton of plotlines that seamlessly combine into one by the end, but that’s very much a double edged sword. Each chapter follows a different character than the last; some of which, chapters and characters both, were more interesting than others.

The Omega Factor desperately wants to have the same energy as The DaVinci Code, and at the end of the day, I don’t think it does. I’m not mad I read this book. As I said at the start, this story grew on me the further along I got. Overall, I was not enthralled by it but I did not hate my time spent with it. All this to say, “it’s alright.”

Thank you once again to Novel Suspects Insider's Club and Grand Central Publishing for sending me a copy of The Omega Factor.
If you want to read the full length version of this review, then check out my blog www.readinghasruinedmylife.com. I post new reviews every Wednesday at noon.

[Darren O'neill · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very boring…couldn’t finish. This author’s novels seem to be getting more boring the last few years.

[Jammin Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this thriller mystery that revolved around a gospel written by John (unknown until this time) which reveals the life of Mother Mary after Jesus Christ is crucified. I always like books that involve some spiritual aspect, like the one in the Robert Landon book involving the family tree of Jesus Christ. Although both are works of fiction, it's fun to sometimes venture into those lands with a fictional attitude. The MC travels around the world trying to secure the book and has to deal with Vatican politics, religious zealots and many others. I want to thank the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for giving me an e-copy of this book, in return for an honest review.

[David Eppenstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you liked Dan Brown's DaVinci Code then you will probably enjoy this book as well. I was surprised when I started reading this book because I expected it to be another addition to Berry's Cotton Malone series which I thoroughly enjoy. Berry is an author I follow and collect simply for the entertainment value his stories provide. Berry takes some nugget of history, a myth or a mystery, and spins a plot out of it. The reader is then provided with a bit of history, some enjoyable scenic and cultural tidbits, and a good story. My surprise was to discover this was entirely stand alone book and not part of the Cotton Malone series. A new prototagonist is introduced, Nick Lee. Nick works as an investigator for the United Nations Cultural Liaison Office (CLIO, which is also the Greek Muse of History) and this office operates under the authority of UNESCO. Nick's job is to protect the world's cultural artifacts and history. If this book is the beginning of a new Berry series then I'm in and will await the next book because this one was a great debut offering.

This book begins with Nick arriving in Ghent, Belgium at the invitation of his ex-fiance, Kelsey Deal. Kelsey ended their engagement by informing Nick that she was leaving to become a nun and had joined an order dedicated to art and its preservation. Kelsey is now a recognized art restorer and is in Ghent working on the famous Ghent Altarpiece. On the evening of his arrival Nick goes to meet Kelsey at her workshop only to find the place in flames. Nick rushes in looking for Kelsey and finds her in a struggle with a person clothed all in black. From there the story begins and it is quite a story. At several points I did not know who I wanted to prevail. One thing for sure is that I don't think the Catholic Church will care much for this book. Like the DaVinci Code it does cast the Catholic Church in a dim light. The plot involves two orders of Catholic nuns, an order of Monks, an archbishop that wants to be a cardinal, a cardinal that wants to be the pope, and a private auction house owner in addition to a heretical religious group and all of this revolving around the revelation of the possible falsity of a fundamental belief of the Catholic Church.

For me this book was a delight because I enjoy learning about Church history but I was also treated to some art history as well. I admit that I am curious about Berry's choice of subject however. I attended a book signing with Berry several years ago. During his presentation he mentioned how he had written a book on a subject involving the Catholic Church; it was a book I had read and enjoyed. Berry remarked that he had never received, before or since, such a deluge of critical reader comments. I can't help but believe that he is likely to receive a similar response as the subject he tackles in this book is much more near and dear to devout Catholics. I believe the last book dealt with the mysteries of Fatima and the infamous secret messages given to the children by the Blessed Virgin. The center of this story is much more volatile issue which adds significantly to the suspense. A Nick Lee series with stories based on art and historical artifacts has a promise and I look forward to another addition whenever Berry gets to it. Enjoy.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

In The Omega Factor, Steve Berry introduces us to new protagonists, Nick and Kelsey. I’ve read numerous of Berry’s Cotton Malone books, so I was interested to see how this new duo would be, and while they are no Cotton and Cassiopeia, they make for a fun new crime fighting duo.

As always, I really enjoyed the history and religious aspects of the book. While many things are real, and Berry goes over the list at the end of the book, even many of the fictional parts are so in depth that it always makes me wonder if some of those could have really happened too.

I do feel like Nick’s character needs to be explored more. He feels like a lighter version of Cotton. And while there’s nothing wrong with that, I hope future books will dig deeper into his character. But I really enjoyed Keley, her determination and spirit was a nice change of pace to see in a female lead written by a male author in a more male dominated book series.

The one thing that I missed in The Omega Factor was the surprise bits that I often find in the Cotton Malone series. In this one, you knew who all the bad guys were right away and there was really no mystery to solve or an interesting twist towards the end.

All in all, a well researched and fast paced start to a new series, and one that I’ll be reading future books in.

[Caitlin Gonya · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was given a free e-copy of this novel by NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Ghent Altarpiece is the most violated work of art in the world. Thirteen times it has been vandalized, dismantled, or stolen.
Why? What secrets does it hold?

Enter UNESCO investigator, Nicholas Lee, who works for the United Nations’ Cultural Liaison and Investigative Office (CLIO). Nick’s job is to protect the world’s cultural artifacts—from countless lesser-known objects to national treasures.

When Nick travels to Belgium for a visit with a woman from his past, he unwittingly stumbles on the trail of the twelfth panel for the Ghent Altarpiece, stolen in 1934 under cover of night and never seen since. Soon Nick is plunged into a bitter conflict, one that has been simmering for nearly two thousand years. On one side is the Maidens of Saint-Michael, les Vautours, Vultures, a secret order of nuns and the guardians of a great truth. Pitted against them is the Vatican, which has wanted for centuries to both find and possess what the nuns guard. Because of Nick the maidens have finally been exposed, their secret placed in dire jeopardy—a vulnerability that the Vatican swiftly moves to exploit utilizing an ambitious cardinal and a corrupt archbishop, both with agendas of their own.

From the tranquil canals of Ghent, to the towering bastions of Carcassonne, and finally into an ancient abbey high in the French Pyrenees, Nick Lee must confront a modern-day religious crusade intent on eliminating a shocking truth from humanity’s past. Success or failure—life and death—all turn on the Omega Factor. (Goodreads Synopsis)

I have read Steve Berry’s Cotton Malone series, and enjoyed the series. That said, this story felt like Cotton Malone’s little brother following the footsteps of his big brother.

I enjoyed the historical references and the possibility of “maybe this could be true”. I also enjoyed the fact that if it were true, then religious views would be significantly impacted as well as history being rewritten. However, these are things that Steve Berry writes with Cotton Malone as well. The only difference I saw was that Nick would get himself into dangerous situations with no thought to consequences. On one hand I understood his reluctance to use a weapon. On the other, it put himself and Kelsey in unnecessary danger.

Overall I rate this novel 3 out of 5 stars, and hope that Nick has another story in the off chance that I can understand him better.

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced audiobook copy of this book.

Where to start? I have tried (and failed) reading Steve Berry in the past. I still have the first book in the Cotton Malone series on my 'currently reading' tab here on goodreads but it has been there for years and I will likely never finish it.

Some of the problems that I had with this books are the same as with The Templar Legacy. The plot is very convoluted in my opinion. It's complex and imbued with real and fake history, so there are a lot of moving pieces, a lot of different perspectives and a lot to keep track of. This sadly does not leave much room for character development. The people in this story feel like vehicles to get this fictional tale of 'the omega factor' across. This isn't necessarily a bad thing; it's just not what I look for in a novel. So this is not a bad book by any means and Steve Berry isn't a bad writer. The stories he writes and the way he constructs them just aren't for me.

As for the audiobook. The audiobook is narrated by Scott Brick, the same narrator for the Orphan X novels by Gregg Hurwitz. I would listen to anything narrated by Scott Brick, and I feel like I kept on reading this book solely because I like listening to his voice. I associate his voice with a series that I adore so that really helped this book out. I don't think I would have finished this book if I had read it with my eyeballs, so if you are currently reading this and you are having trouble getting through it, I highly recommend the audiobook.

My star rating is a reflection of my enjoyment of the book, so if you are a fan of Steve Berry's writing, don't be dissuaded by my review.

[Zoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought-provoking, creative, and suspenseful!

In this intriguing new standalone novel, The Omega Factor, Berry introduces us to the resourceful Nick Lee, a UNESCO investigator who, after heading to Belgium to meet up with his ex-fiance, art restorer and catholic nun Kelsey Deal, becomes swept up in the centuries-old conflict and mystery surrounding one of the world’s most important works of art from the early fifteenth century, the Ghent Altarpiece by Hubert & Jan van Eyck.

The writing is descriptive and rich. The characters are inquisitive, driven, and fearless. And the plot is an intricate tale that will have you contemplating the significance and importance of historical artefacts, Christian history, the dealings and scandals of the catholic church over the years, and the possible location of the final resting place of the Virgin Mary and the ashes of Joan of Arc.

Overall, The Omega Factor is a unique, mysterious, action-packed thrill ride that grabbed me from the very start and did an excellent job of blending historical facts with compelling fiction.

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.