The Temple of Skulls

Nina Wilde & Eddie Chase #16

by Andy McDermott

A HIGH-OCTANE NEW WILDE & CHASE ADVENTURE FROM THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLING AUTHOR

World-renowned archaeologist Nina Wilde and her husband, former SAS soldier Eddie Chase, now lead a quiet life - the only real danger posed by their rebellious teenage daughter. Until, on a visit to a newly discovered temple, they're suddenly engulfed in a deadly hunt for an ancient weapon which threatens the entire globe.

From the bustling streets of Mexico City to the mountainous jungles of Guatemala, Nina and Eddie - with daughter Macy in tow - are the only ones who can prevent an apocalyptic evil seizing control of an unstoppable power.

Battling special operations soldiers and blood-thirsty cults, Nina and Eddie must once again risk their lives to save the world. . .

Praise for Andy

'Action, adventure and mayhem aplenty' SCOTT MARIANI

'A writer of almost cinematic talent' DAILY EXPRESS

'Adventure stories don't get much more epic than this' MIRROR

Genres: Thriller, Adventure, Fiction, Action, Fantasy

368 pages, Paperback

First published September 15, 2022

About the author

Andy McDermott was born in Halifax, West Yorkshire, and now lives in Bournemouth. As a journalist and magazine editor, amongst other titles he edited DVD Review and the iconoclastic film publication Hotdog. Andy is now a full-time writer.

Reviews

[Gary Hart · Rating 4 out of 5]

a mad rush through the jungle

Andy really needs a little more imagination, and needs to put more action into his stories! Kidding! Reading the last section of this book, I was wondering how much the human body can stand. I am not sure how many could take the physical trauma experienced by Eddie or Nina, and keep going, never mind survive. The bridge and river section was a mad rush which would have been impossible to survive, but the live to face the next adventure! Great to see Macy involved as well, and growing up somewhat as a result of this adventure.

McDermott never fails to entertain, and his stories encourage readers to keep going, to keep up with the pace of the stories. Never a dull moment. Thoroughly enjoyed this one.

Will we see more of Alex Reeve?

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nina Wilde and Eddie Chase are back doing what they do best. Searching ancient ruins and finding out an ancient dagger is a threat to civilisation. The right person who holds the Earthbreaker dagger has the ability to cause earthquakes wherever the dagger is pointed to on an ancient map. Starting in Mexico and ending up in Guatemala, Nina, Eddie and their teenage daughter Macy run into trouble, crazy cult leaders, coup starting soldiers and treacherous jungle terrain.

Non stop action is the typical Nina and Eddie book and it’s an enjoyable ride.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't aware this was coming out so it was a great surprise as I've enjoyed every book in this series. Time has passed for Nina and Eddie, too, which means, I'm glad to say, that Macy is now older and far less annoying. I read this on holiday and it was a great choice.

[Jacques Hollands · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a love-hate relationship with the Nina Wilde and Eddie Chase series. I love the stories, but Andy McDermott has a way of creating annoying characters. My first gripe was with the character of Nina. She started as a strong-willed woman about to conquer the world of archaeology. I loved it. However, as the series progressed, her character became totally and utterly unlikeable. She turned into a whining, self-centred, and self-serving individual. It became so bad at one stage that I wished she would die in one of her adventures.

Thankfully, her character was much better in this book… but Andy McDermott did not disappoint. (Minor spoilers regarding characters (not storyline) ahead). In steps Macy, Nina and Eddie’s daughter. While I understand that teenagers can be difficult, Macy went all the way and some more. I almost did not make it past the first half of the book. The number of times she had her eyes rolling, making ultra-stupid decisions and arguing with her parents were too cliched and annoying. Thankfully, that also stopped abruptly when the action got going.

I would probably give the book 3.5 stars, but Macy’s character was so annoying for a significant part of the story that I will settle with 3 stars. The book is fun, though, and fans of Andy McDermott will not be disappointed.

I listened to the audiobook on Audible, and it was excellently narrated by Simon Mattacks.

[alan cupitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

Always good to read a Andy McDermott book Eddie Chase a typical yorkshire man gruff and ready true yorkshire grit

[Tom - Reader of Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very few action and adventure writers come close to the imagination and scale that McDermott stuffs into his stories. And that again is on full display here. It’s breathtaking in scale, effectively one long action sequence.

What usually stands alongside these are the characters, particularly Wilde and Chase who remain everything we know and love here. But it’s the supporting cast that feels two dimensional including an increased role for the daughter, who if anything is annoying and not in a teenager intended way.

I didn’t feel this story matched the real intrigue in others and it is fairly similar to others in a lot of ways but lacks the punch they delivered. However, the end was tantialising and whatever it’s setting up, count me in!

[Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another wild chase. Pun intended. I am a great fan of the larger than life adventures of Wilde and Chase and now Macy. This is an enjoyable read with a very tense nail biting climax. Always fun and imaginative. This was probably not my most favorite of the series as it starts off a bit slow, and the teenage daughter is a "pain in the &*%$" character at first. The plot is a real stretch but they always are. Macy grows on you and builds to what is probably one of the best adventure "chase and fight" sequence of all the stories, though totally implausible of course. Good fun, total escapism and I anxiously await the next book.

[Steven Batty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wilde & Chase Do the Jungle.

Andy McDermott is back to his best with this rollicking adventure.

Yes it's full of car chases, explosions, fighting, evil villains and a booby trapped archeological find...

But Nina is back to herself after her character seemed to change for the worse. Eddie is the usual Yorkshireman (I'm one as well, so love the grit and humour in his character) turned hero. Macy is shaping up as a great asset to the novels.

The whole series of books are a great get away from it all cinematic piece of escapism and that will do for me.

[Lee Willie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic!

Another amazing Wilde and Chase novel, book 16 finished and there are no signs the series is slowing down.
I love this series of novels, they are as fast paced as you can get but don't suffer from loss of plot.
The characters are brilliant from the familiar Nina and Eddie to the developing Macy, they make an amazing team
If you enjoyed the previous novels then you will love this one.

[BookswithLydscl | · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ahh welcome back Nina and Eddie. After (for me) a ropey few installments this felt much more like the Wilde and Chase of old. A quick, thrilling and adventurous read which isn't overly padded out and has some classic ancient/historical tests to complete related to an ancient "mythological" artifact. The teenage angst with Macy is a little annoying but the peril is well and truly there for all of them - no kids exempt, which makes up for it!

[John Haslam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great story

Andy McDermott never fails to please. It's all been said before, but for new readers The Temple of Skulls is, Lots of laughs, lots of thrills and at times gruesome deaths. Another rollercoaster of action. Indiana Jones on speed. New readers should go back to Atlantis the first in the series where Eddie and Nina meet. Their 15 year old daughter is an amazing addition.

[Allen Prescott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fast paced read.

I love it when Chase and Wilde get into situations. This novel included their teenage daughter in there adventure. This was another read to where I could not put down. Loved it.

[Krishna Mahadevan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book in the Nina Wilde and Eddie Chase series. I love this series so much. It's a comfort read for me to return to every year. I'm so happy to get another one.

Highly recommend to everyone who loves history, action, and fun. I cannot wait until the next book.

[Ben Peyton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun in parts, but predictable. Not sure it was the right decision to give Eddie and Nina a child and for her to feature so prominently. The humour seems forced now rather than flowing naturally from the narrative.

[Nicolaas Bergman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed again the adventures of this couple with their daughter now included.
If you like action and adventure this is a book for you it can also be read as a stand alone but you will miss reference to their previous exploits.
Well done Andy and i see there is a next book on the horizon

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

The usual Eddie and Nina high octane adventure to find an in this case the underworld, and to stop the bad guys from using earth breaker to cause earthquakes.

This book has a twist, and I liked it. It added another dimension to the story .

[Geraint Wiggins · Rating 4 out of 5]

First time reading an Andy McDermott book. Enjoyed it a lot.
I don’t know if it’s me but the story in the Underworld was a trifle baffling with the challenges they had to pass. Other than that I would recommend this book.
Nice ending as well.
The adventure could start again soon!

[Lirio Dendron · Rating 3 out of 5]

At first I thought, well, they're getting old, when for about 70 pages they didn't destroy anything. But then followed 40 pages of destruction and mayhem, and YES, I liked it very much! If you want high literatur, read Kafka or Dostojewski, if you want ACTION, read this!

[Peter Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always entertaining

You know what you are going to get from this series. An entertaining, well written book with excellent action scenes. Macy is developing into an interesting character. I look forward to where the series goes next.

[John Lamiell · Rating 2 out of 5]

If thus had been the first of the series that I had read, I might give it 5 stars, but, after reading many books in this series, this one feels like I have read it before. It was a struggle to finish because I knew how it would end.

[Jenny Clifford · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy this series, and I would have thought that I would grow bored after a couple of books, but they are still really good. Even though all the adventures are based on historical myths and legends, every book still feels individual, and the characters keep growing and evolving. I like that we get more of the daughter in this one too.

[Vinay Shenoy · Rating 2 out of 5]

P

[John Beattie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Action packed, hard to put down.

[Jules Chance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another top thriller. Ominous ending.

[Rebecca Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.9

[Peter Burger · Rating 5 out of 5]

always a good read

It is always hard to put down even if you know what the outcome will be. Can’t wait for the next one.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75

[Ryan Burt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like these books. This mystery item is a little far fetched but this isn't the first time. Still fun read.

[Steve L · Rating 3 out of 5]

Macy really frustrates me!

[Mark Easter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nina and Eddie are drug out of retirement to chase a new Atlantean discovery when an artifact is found south of the border. Yet another fine story in the series.