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The Lost Temple
Sam Grant, a disgraced ex–Special Operations Executive soldier and an adventurer by trade, is lured back to the Mediterranean by a secret from his six years ago, a dying archaeologist entrusted him with his life’s work—a leather notebook filled with mysterious notes written in Ancient Greek. Deciphered, it could lead to one of the greatest prizes in history. Which is why both the CIA and the British Secret Intelligence Service are looking for it as well… Grant sets out to discover the truth about what the archaeologist lost his life for—and to protect his own. Aided by a brilliant Greek archaeologist with her own secrets to hide, Grant is plunged into a labyrinth of ancient cults, forgotten mysteries, and lost civilizations. But time is running out…while a dangerous prophecy is drawing near.
340 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 1, 2008
128 people are currently reading
4352 people want to read
About the author
Tom Harper
56 books197 followersTom Harper was born in West Germany in 1977 and grew up in Germany, Belgium and America; he now lives in England. He is chair of the Crime Writers' Association and also a member of the Historical Novels Society and the Society of Authors.
Tom Harper also writes historical adventures as Edwin Thomas.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Tom Harper also writes historical adventures as Edwin Thomas.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 146 reviews
September 1, 2021
This was such a fun treasure hunting adventure!
It's set just after WWII, which did make for some interesting dynamics (not to mention some very non-PC nicknames) but for the most part it stayed away from war talk and just delivered mythology and adventure.
The story sees Grant, a disgraced British soldier, on the hunt for a rare archaeological artefact accompanied by a wise scholar, a pushy Military Man, and a lady friend who also happens to be a brilliant archaeologist. Think Indiana Jones with less whips and daring deeds and more puzzling out clues and destroying priceless historical places and things.
The destruction really hurt my heart, to be honest. Right from the get-go, Grant is a soldier first and foremost, so if he has to destroy a priceless artefact to escape, he won't even think twice. I liked that about his character, but it made me sad for history. On the plus side, it gave us some epic action sequences and you kinda knew nothing was off limits so it was a lot of fun anyway.
The puzzling was mild but still fascinating because of how far it meanders. Like, they solve one clue only for it to lead to a dead end or just more questions. But once the mythology became apparent to the story I was totally hooked. I mean, solving clues to discover the whereabouts of a rock? Eh. But SIGN ME UP.
The only character I really liked was Reed. He's the typical quiet scholar who hates violence but gets extremely caught up in history and solving ancient puzzles. I loved him dropping random knowledge on people and then being super snobby whenever someone didn't know the basic stuff he was talking about. He was a lot of fun. On the contrary, the rest are all pretty dull. Grant is okay because he's the hero, but I never really understood the whole 'disgraced soldier' bit or whose side he was on or really why he was part of the whole mess in the first place. He didn't seem to have much of a personality beyond being hot for Marina. For her part, Marina is mostly just there to be beautiful and brilliant and the object of Grant's affection, though she does have some good scholar moments. Muir is clearly a scumbag but at least he adds an interesting dynamic.
The adventuring tangled up in the mythology was my favourite part. I loved where the clue-solving led them, and I loved the explorations of these places. I loved the relevance of all the mythology and learning more about the entwined stories.
The ending was a bit soft, with things a little easy and unrealistic, and some things not even explained properly. I think there was room to stretch it out a bit and pad out the details, but it was already a long story by this stage so I was okay for it to just be over. It just meant that I wasn't quite as satisfied overall as I might have been.
I wasn't sure how it was going to go, but it ended up being a really fun adventure that I could just follow along without overthinking too much. It wasn't as intellectually stimulating as I'd have liked (less clever, more violent) but I still really enjoyed the puzzles as well as the action. Definitely still recommend it.
It's set just after WWII, which did make for some interesting dynamics (not to mention some very non-PC nicknames) but for the most part it stayed away from war talk and just delivered mythology and adventure.
The story sees Grant, a disgraced British soldier, on the hunt for a rare archaeological artefact accompanied by a wise scholar, a pushy Military Man, and a lady friend who also happens to be a brilliant archaeologist. Think Indiana Jones with less whips and daring deeds and more puzzling out clues and destroying priceless historical places and things.
The destruction really hurt my heart, to be honest. Right from the get-go, Grant is a soldier first and foremost, so if he has to destroy a priceless artefact to escape, he won't even think twice. I liked that about his character, but it made me sad for history. On the plus side, it gave us some epic action sequences and you kinda knew nothing was off limits so it was a lot of fun anyway.
The puzzling was mild but still fascinating because of how far it meanders. Like, they solve one clue only for it to lead to a dead end or just more questions. But once the mythology became apparent to the story I was totally hooked. I mean, solving clues to discover the whereabouts of a rock? Eh. But SIGN ME UP.
The only character I really liked was Reed. He's the typical quiet scholar who hates violence but gets extremely caught up in history and solving ancient puzzles. I loved him dropping random knowledge on people and then being super snobby whenever someone didn't know the basic stuff he was talking about. He was a lot of fun. On the contrary, the rest are all pretty dull. Grant is okay because he's the hero, but I never really understood the whole 'disgraced soldier' bit or whose side he was on or really why he was part of the whole mess in the first place. He didn't seem to have much of a personality beyond being hot for Marina. For her part, Marina is mostly just there to be beautiful and brilliant and the object of Grant's affection, though she does have some good scholar moments. Muir is clearly a scumbag but at least he adds an interesting dynamic.
The adventuring tangled up in the mythology was my favourite part. I loved where the clue-solving led them, and I loved the explorations of these places. I loved the relevance of all the mythology and learning more about the entwined stories.
The ending was a bit soft, with things a little easy and unrealistic, and some things not even explained properly. I think there was room to stretch it out a bit and pad out the details, but it was already a long story by this stage so I was okay for it to just be over. It just meant that I wasn't quite as satisfied overall as I might have been.
I wasn't sure how it was going to go, but it ended up being a really fun adventure that I could just follow along without overthinking too much. It wasn't as intellectually stimulating as I'd have liked (less clever, more violent) but I still really enjoyed the puzzles as well as the action. Definitely still recommend it.
June 28, 2018
An Indiana Jones/Da Vinci Code style novel. At times the Iliad/Homer references are relevant and intriguing, others just time consuming. This would be a great read for anyone with an interest in Greek mythology, and without that background knowledge a lot of the information is overwhelming. All the expected characters: the professor, the renegade, the beautiful intelligent woman and a bucket load of bad guys. A little long winded but enjoyable.
January 13, 2021
Αν και είχα μεγάλες προσδοκίες, δεν με κέρδισε εντελώς. Ωραίο βιβλίο, περιπέτεια - ταινία, κάπου με κούρασε, κάπου το χάσαμε. Του δίνω και μισό επιπλέον όμως για τις περιγραφές των τοπίων που ταξίδεψαν οι ήρωες, σε Ελλάδα και εξωτερικό.
January 8, 2009
About 50-60 pages into the book, I stopped reading it. I selected it based on the summary on the dust jacket, thinking it would be something like The Da Vinci Code. It was, sort of, but it was so full of explosions and shootings, the puzzle and mystery became secondary to the plot.
At the beginning of the novel, 1941, I learn that Sam Grant is a British special forces sort of soldier who was bodyguarding the king of Greece. He meets an archeologist during the German invasion of Crete. The archeologist who is also working as a British spy was trying to avoid being captured by the invaders but he died in the attempt. Sam finds him and just before the archeologist died, he gave Sam a notebook containing invaluable information, unspecified, with instructions to deliver to a certain woman.
Fast forward to 6 years later, 1947. The years have not been kind to Sam. He is in a British prison in Palestine, during the time when the Jews were fighting the British in order to establish the state of Israel. In prison, he was visited by a mysterious man, supposedly working for the British government, who offers to set him free if Sam will hand over the notebook that was entrusted to him by the dead archeologist. During the conversation, I learn that Sam has become a gun runner, selling British WW II-era cache of weapons to the Jews. Ye gods, another Sean Dillon, I was thinking. Eventually, the Jews attach the prison and sets Sam free.
He goes back to Crete and I learn that during the previous six years, the lady works for the archeologist and, with her brother, was also active in the Greek resistance movement. Eventually, they became lovers, but they broke up because the brother died and the lady blamed Sam for it. Sam, being the strong silent, type, never explained to her under what circumstances the brother died, just accepting the blame; probably because he ain't heavy and her brother is also his brother. My eyes started to glaze over at this point.
During the not so happy reunion, two hoodlums showed up, probably looking for the same notebook. Sam and the lady had to escape, so they can decipher the contents of the notebook. The mysterious man who visited Sam in prison showed up again with another renowned British scholar in tow.
Good-bye, Tom Harper. It was nice knowing you.
At the beginning of the novel, 1941, I learn that Sam Grant is a British special forces sort of soldier who was bodyguarding the king of Greece. He meets an archeologist during the German invasion of Crete. The archeologist who is also working as a British spy was trying to avoid being captured by the invaders but he died in the attempt. Sam finds him and just before the archeologist died, he gave Sam a notebook containing invaluable information, unspecified, with instructions to deliver to a certain woman.
Fast forward to 6 years later, 1947. The years have not been kind to Sam. He is in a British prison in Palestine, during the time when the Jews were fighting the British in order to establish the state of Israel. In prison, he was visited by a mysterious man, supposedly working for the British government, who offers to set him free if Sam will hand over the notebook that was entrusted to him by the dead archeologist. During the conversation, I learn that Sam has become a gun runner, selling British WW II-era cache of weapons to the Jews. Ye gods, another Sean Dillon, I was thinking. Eventually, the Jews attach the prison and sets Sam free.
He goes back to Crete and I learn that during the previous six years, the lady works for the archeologist and, with her brother, was also active in the Greek resistance movement. Eventually, they became lovers, but they broke up because the brother died and the lady blamed Sam for it. Sam, being the strong silent, type, never explained to her under what circumstances the brother died, just accepting the blame; probably because he ain't heavy and her brother is also his brother. My eyes started to glaze over at this point.
During the not so happy reunion, two hoodlums showed up, probably looking for the same notebook. Sam and the lady had to escape, so they can decipher the contents of the notebook. The mysterious man who visited Sam in prison showed up again with another renowned British scholar in tow.
Good-bye, Tom Harper. It was nice knowing you.
August 9, 2010
I loved the premise of this, Achilles armour and shield. That was what grabbed my attention in the first place. I was sad to say I never connected with the characters. For me to enjoy a book, I have to have that connection.
Grant, the main character was lackadaisical in my eyes, he never quite got the whole hero of the story down pat. Reed, the archaeologist...there were parts I wanted to shoot him, myself. The rest of the characters where so bland if I chose to mention them here, I would have to go back and look them up.
The story had enough villains to have a series of books. Nazi's, Communist Russians, Pissy British, Pissy Greeks, Pissy Jews (the book was set just prior to the formation of Israel), Pissy Cretans and of course, the "evil Americans". Let's not forget all the ancient civilizations, Minoans, Greeks and a few others.
This book had so very much promise, but it got lost in too much over the top action and not enough mystery of the ages to be solved.
Overall, it was okay, a good summer read but not one to be purchased to savor over again and again.
Grant, the main character was lackadaisical in my eyes, he never quite got the whole hero of the story down pat. Reed, the archaeologist...there were parts I wanted to shoot him, myself. The rest of the characters where so bland if I chose to mention them here, I would have to go back and look them up.
The story had enough villains to have a series of books. Nazi's, Communist Russians, Pissy British, Pissy Greeks, Pissy Jews (the book was set just prior to the formation of Israel), Pissy Cretans and of course, the "evil Americans". Let's not forget all the ancient civilizations, Minoans, Greeks and a few others.
This book had so very much promise, but it got lost in too much over the top action and not enough mystery of the ages to be solved.
Overall, it was okay, a good summer read but not one to be purchased to savor over again and again.
May 31, 2012
I was rather wary of reading this after seeing the reviews on here, but I am glad I stuck it out and got into it. It is rather slow in the beginning even though it jumps into a lot of action from the beginning. You never develop an attachment to the characters, but it does not detract from the story. Rather, you watch the events from a detached perspective. I will say that most of the twists and turns were not very surprising, but what sold this book to me is the Homeric connection and quest for the shield of Achilles. I also like the point about the artifacts that have been lost to war and irreverent persons.
July 15, 2022
An Indiana Jones type action packed archaeology adventure.
May 9, 2013
Cheese that would make the master cheesemakers in my area proud. The unashamed illegitimate love child of Dan Brown/WEB Griffin/Indiana Jones. It's got the cliche cast of: disgraced mercenary special forces type. Gorgeous dark voluptuous Greek resistance fighter that must be, of course, the male protagonist's EX lover. The usual over thinking academic type. The usual bad German 'archaeologist' described in porcine terminology. The usual Soviet baddies. The usual spy baddies. The end of the world artifact. It does nothing to try to hide just how stereotypical it truly is, and it moves itself along on its time worn collection of tropes. The male protagonist is always going for his gun, and even though he spends a lot of time in libraries, and his life is in the balance, never bothers to actually pick up and read the Homeric work himself...choosing to remain unmarred by such thoughtful pursuits that might save his life if something untoward might happen to his eggheads. He's shallow. They're all shallow.
And...it's okay. It's so unapologetic and blatant that I'm going to give it a pass because it makes utterly no pretensions. Comfortably written, reasonably fast paced, and some interesting insight into a culture and archaeology often overlooked. If my son was still 14, I'd hand it off to him in a heartbeat. It would be a great airplane book, you're not going to miss anything if you have to put it down for awhile and pick it up later.
And...it's okay. It's so unapologetic and blatant that I'm going to give it a pass because it makes utterly no pretensions. Comfortably written, reasonably fast paced, and some interesting insight into a culture and archaeology often overlooked. If my son was still 14, I'd hand it off to him in a heartbeat. It would be a great airplane book, you're not going to miss anything if you have to put it down for awhile and pick it up later.
July 23, 2011
"The palace of Knossos was no longer the labyrinth it had been in legend, but there were still ways to lose yourself in it, and Pemberton knew the layout better than any man alive." Sadly, a pedestrian read but with enough gems of brilliance to keep me reading. Born in 1977, Harper studied History at Oxford and published this book in 2007. Harper commented on this book as follows "1.6.07 - The Bookseller claims that the novel is 'an unashamed Da Vinci Code rip-off'. That's mostly untrue - it's actually an unashamed Indiana Jones homage." Harper is the pen name of Edwin Thomas.
June 30, 2017
The main issue with this book was that I just couldn't give a flying f**k about the plot or the characters. The whole thing seemed like a massive McGuffin for some rather dull, off the shelf characters.
A tiny bit of kudos for use of the Iliad, but really it was wading through mud to get to the end.
A tiny bit of kudos for use of the Iliad, but really it was wading through mud to get to the end.
April 30, 2012
I enjoyed this book tremendously and hoped that the author would come out with another book I really liked, but he hasn't. I found this book intriguing.
June 13, 2016
blijedi pokusaj da se kopira den braun, ni izbliza dramticno,dosadno,jedino je kraj donekle ok...
December 28, 2018
Very thin plot. Ending is far to easy ... like the author got tired of writing and just tossed the story way.
November 28, 2024
Great story
July 26, 2025
Ok so it ended up redeeming itself mostly, still could have edited out a good 50 pages of lecturing, and bad guy got too quick of an ending. My evil self wanted him to suffer more for his crimes 😈😅
September 15, 2017
Η ασπίδα του Αχιλλέα δωρίζεται στον Οδυσσέα μετά το τέλος του Τρωϊκού πολέμου ο οποίος την καταθέτει στο τάφο του Αχιλλέα στη Μαύρη θάλασσα στη Λευκή Νήσο. Έξυπνη περιπέτεια
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April 20, 2025Random purchase at Bookfest. Got about 50 pages in and lost interest. It's an adventure story, but without anything to keep me reading.
I don't like this author and will avoid anything by him. I'm clearing shelves for re-donation to Lifeline.
I don't like this author and will avoid anything by him. I'm clearing shelves for re-donation to Lifeline.
January 15, 2018
A slam-bang action thriller set just after World War II, Harper's "The Lost Temple" will remind you of action stories by Cussler and his ilk. Well plotted and paced, the cardboard antagonists can be excused for the foils they are intended to be. Just sit back and enjoy the twists and turns of this high octane thriller that mixes large doses of Greek mythology with cold war spy intrigue. For three thousand years, the world's most dangerous treasure has been lost. Now the code that reveals its hiding place is about to be broken. Sam Grant is a disgraced ex-SOE soldier and an adventurer by trade. But he has a secret: six years ago, a dying archaeologist entrusted him with his life's work - transcripts of mysterious writing found in a hidden cave on Crete. Deciphered, it could lead to one of the greatest prizes in history.But the treasure is as dangerous as it is valuable. The CIA wants it; so does the KGB.Helped by a brilliant Oxford professor, and a beautiful Greek archaeologist with her own secrets to hide, Grant is plunged into a labyrinth of ancient cults, forgotten mysteries and lost civilizations.But time is running out. The secrets of the distant past may hold the key to the newest threats of the modern world.
July 22, 2013
So this book is a slow start, so slow in fact I was thinking of putting it in the giveaway pile once I finished it. The author doesn't bother describing the main character and you don't find out he's British till about 100 pages into it. Perhaps the author being British assumes we would guess the hero would have to be British.
But still in my mind I cast the characters as certain people and I was becoming more and more attached to Sam and Marina. I was hoping eventually they would kiss or admit feelings for each other. I got all that and more.
Around 200 when Marina finds out about her brother the story picks up and turns into a thrill ride that I could barely put down. I felt like I was watching a summer blockbuster and truly I don't know why it was never turned into a movie.
While I was reading I was trying to write how I thought it should end, and even I didn't come up with a ending that tidied up every last piece. remarkable :)
But still in my mind I cast the characters as certain people and I was becoming more and more attached to Sam and Marina. I was hoping eventually they would kiss or admit feelings for each other. I got all that and more.
Around 200 when Marina finds out about her brother the story picks up and turns into a thrill ride that I could barely put down. I felt like I was watching a summer blockbuster and truly I don't know why it was never turned into a movie.
While I was reading I was trying to write how I thought it should end, and even I didn't come up with a ending that tidied up every last piece. remarkable :)
February 27, 2009
The Lost Temple is an energetic romp around the Mediterranean for historical adventurers. If the island of Crete, Minoans, Greek gods, Linear B, Nazis, Turks and Soviet operatives are your thing, then you will enjoy the book. If not, then you will find it to be worth the three stars that I gave it.
For me, I lived on Crete, visited Knossos, and know of the Nazi airborne invasion and a lot of the archaeological references. I enjoyed the book, but I am not sure that I am overly excited about it. At times I felt like I was playing Castle Wolfenstein or some other first person shooter adventure.
It sufficed as great airport reading material and was well researched and also had well developed characters.
For me, I lived on Crete, visited Knossos, and know of the Nazi airborne invasion and a lot of the archaeological references. I enjoyed the book, but I am not sure that I am overly excited about it. At times I felt like I was playing Castle Wolfenstein or some other first person shooter adventure.
It sufficed as great airport reading material and was well researched and also had well developed characters.
December 2, 2023
it took me so long to read this book because i’ve been in a slump but honestly - this book felt like an indians jones book. i liked the adventure and the plot and how they solved the clues with archaeology! if you like the last crusade movie - this book is a great vibe except instead of christianity it’s greek mythology! i really enjoyed the writing although at some points it was a lil icky but i feel that way about most male writers lol.
August 16, 2012
Finished reading Tom Harper's - The Lost Temple. An ex special ops soldier is entrusted with a leather notebook filled with an archaeologist life work which contains a deadly secret. He sets out to find why he has died protecting it and what's it worth behind the secret even though its in ancient Greek and mysterious symbols. A so so read disappointed with the story flow. Sigh :(
February 7, 2017
Boring as bat shit. Slow as a pissed slug. I normally readily read this type of book. Thank goodness I only paid 20 cents for it at a book sale. The only way I want to come across this book again is that I will use it for toilet paper when the apocalypse happens.
March 17, 2017
Πολύ καλό μυθιστόρημα. Ενδιαφέρον, περιπετειώδες. Έχει όλα τα συστατικά για να διαβαστεί εύκολα και να αφήσει ένα πολύ καλό κατακάθι.
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May 24, 2017James Bond meets Indiana Jones. Commies instead of Nazis. Achilles' shield instead of the Ark.
February 9, 2021
An overabundance of ancient history, myth and legend for my taste. It got in the way of the story, and try as I may, in the end I just threw in the towel...
June 27, 2017
Το βιβλίο του Tom Harper “ο Τάφος του Αχιλλέα” είναι ένα ιστορικό μυθιστόρημα, η αφήγηση του οποίου τοποθετείται στην αρχή του Β’ Παγκοσμίου Πολέμου και συγκεκριμένα στην εισβολή των Γερμανών στην Κρήτη.
Πλοκή
Η ιστορία ξεκινάει μ’ έναν Άγγλο αρχαιολόγο, τον Πέμπερτον, που εργάζεται στο ανάκτορο της Κνωσού. Ο Πέμπερτον έχει στην κατοχή του μια πήλινη πινακίδα με κάποιες ακατανόητες εγχαράξεις την οποία προσπαθεί να διασώσει από τους επικείμενους εισβολείς. Τελικά όμως, τραυματίζεται και λίγο πριν ξεψυχήσει, προλαβαίνει να τη δώσει στον Σαμ (ένας Άγγλος που έτυχε να βρεθεί εκεί λόγω κάποιας αποστολής που του είχε ανατεθεί).
Αυτή είναι η αρχή της περιπέτειας του Σαμ, της Μαρίνας, του Ριντ, του Μιούιρ και του Τζάκσον. Ο καθένας για δικούς του λόγους θα αναζητήσει τι είναι αυτό που κρύβει η πινακίδα Γραμμικής Β’ γραφής, η οποία χρονολογείται στους Μυκηναϊκούς χρόνους και οδηγεί σ’ ένα πολύ καλά κρυμμένο θησαυρό που έχει να προσφέρει τεράστια οφέλη σε όλους –με διαφορετικό για τον καθέναν τρόπο. Ωστόσο, κάποιος από αυτούς είναι προδότης, δημιουργώντας στους ήρωες ακόμα περισσότερα προβλήματα σ’ αυτή τους την αναζήτηση.
Θετικά Στοιχεία
Η αφήγηση ρέει και η περιγραφή είναι πολύ καλή, σε ορισμένα σημεία μάλιστα εξαιρετική. Δεν σ’ αφήνει να βαρεθείς, αλλά μπλέκει έντεχνα την ιστορία με τον μύθο, την αρχαιολογία με τον Όμηρο, το συμφέρον με τη φιλία και την εμπιστοσύνη.
Είναι ένα βιβλίο που θα το πρότεινα σε οποιονδήποτε του αρέσουν τα ιστορικά μυθιστορήματα. Είναι απλό και εύληπτο αλλά όχι εκλαϊκευμένο (δεν συστήνεται βέβαια και για βαθύ στοχασμό!) περιπετειώδες και συναρπαστικό. Διαβάζεται πάρα πολύ εύκολα και γρήγορα. Θα σας χαρίσει δυο-τρία ευχάριστα απογεύματα!
Αρνητικά Στοιχεία
Ο συγγραφέας κάνει φανερή ποικιλοτρόπως την αγάπη του να σκοτώνει πολλούς από τους χαρακτήρες, μόλις αυτοί «εκπληρώσουν τον σκοπό τους».
Ένα άλλο αρνητικό ήταν και το κάπως βιαστικό (;), πρόχειρο (;) τέλος της ιστορίας. Τα τελευταία κεφάλαια μου έδωσαν την εντύπωση ότι ο Harper είχε κάπως κουραστεί από όλη αυτήν την περιπέτεια και έπρεπε να δώσει άμεσα ένα τέλος. Και το έδωσε.
Παρότι με ξένισε αρκετά, αφού οι περιγραφές έχασαν τη δυναμική τους και τη γλαφυρότητά τους, ήταν κάπως μονότονες και εκνευριστικά αόριστες, δεν χάλασε τη συνολική εικόνα του βιβλίου, που είναι, προσωπικά, πολύ θετική.
5 αστεράκια στον Τομ!
Πλοκή
Η ιστορία ξεκινάει μ’ έναν Άγγλο αρχαιολόγο, τον Πέμπερτον, που εργάζεται στο ανάκτορο της Κνωσού. Ο Πέμπερτον έχει στην κατοχή του μια πήλινη πινακίδα με κάποιες ακατανόητες εγχαράξεις την οποία προσπαθεί να διασώσει από τους επικείμενους εισβολείς. Τελικά όμως, τραυματίζεται και λίγο πριν ξεψυχήσει, προλαβαίνει να τη δώσει στον Σαμ (ένας Άγγλος που έτυχε να βρεθεί εκεί λόγω κάποιας αποστολής που του είχε ανατεθεί).
Αυτή είναι η αρχή της περιπέτειας του Σαμ, της Μαρίνας, του Ριντ, του Μιούιρ και του Τζάκσον. Ο καθένας για δικούς του λόγους θα αναζητήσει τι είναι αυτό που κρύβει η πινακίδα Γραμμικής Β’ γραφής, η οποία χρονολογείται στους Μυκηναϊκούς χρόνους και οδηγεί σ’ ένα πολύ καλά κρυμμένο θησαυρό που έχει να προσφέρει τεράστια οφέλη σε όλους –με διαφορετικό για τον καθέναν τρόπο. Ωστόσο, κάποιος από αυτούς είναι προδότης, δημιουργώντας στους ήρωες ακόμα περισσότερα προβλήματα σ’ αυτή τους την αναζήτηση.
Θετικά Στοιχεία
Η αφήγηση ρέει και η περιγραφή είναι πολύ καλή, σε ορισμένα σημεία μάλιστα εξαιρετική. Δεν σ’ αφήνει να βαρεθείς, αλλά μπλέκει έντεχνα την ιστορία με τον μύθο, την αρχαιολογία με τον Όμηρο, το συμφέρον με τη φιλία και την εμπιστοσύνη.
Είναι ένα βιβλίο που θα το πρότεινα σε οποιονδήποτε του αρέσουν τα ιστορικά μυθιστορήματα. Είναι απλό και εύληπτο αλλά όχι εκλαϊκευμένο (δεν συστήνεται βέβαια και για βαθύ στοχασμό!) περιπετειώδες και συναρπαστικό. Διαβάζεται πάρα πολύ εύκολα και γρήγορα. Θα σας χαρίσει δυο-τρία ευχάριστα απογεύματα!
Αρνητικά Στοιχεία
Ο συγγραφέας κάνει φανερή ποικιλοτρόπως την αγάπη του να σκοτώνει πολλούς από τους χαρακτήρες, μόλις αυτοί «εκπληρώσουν τον σκοπό τους».
Ένα άλλο αρνητικό ήταν και το κάπως βιαστικό (;), πρόχειρο (;) τέλος της ιστορίας. Τα τελευταία κεφάλαια μου έδωσαν την εντύπωση ότι ο Harper είχε κάπως κουραστεί από όλη αυτήν την περιπέτεια και έπρεπε να δώσει άμεσα ένα τέλος. Και το έδωσε.
Παρότι με ξένισε αρκετά, αφού οι περιγραφές έχασαν τη δυναμική τους και τη γλαφυρότητά τους, ήταν κάπως μονότονες και εκνευριστικά αόριστες, δεν χάλασε τη συνολική εικόνα του βιβλίου, που είναι, προσωπικά, πολύ θετική.
5 αστεράκια στον Τομ!
April 7, 2023
An interesting mix of ancient history and myth stories wrapped into a post WWII adventure story. I wanted to like this story more than I did. The historical research and detailed was excellent. But this level of detail made the story unnecessarily long and I found my attention drifting away from the main plot of the story. Instead, I noticed that for all the archaeological detail and ‘adventure’ scenes, there was little detail about how the characters managed to travel, book hotels and change their clothes without, money or passports. They just got to their next destination and prepared for their next adventure.
One can accept the story for what it is, i.e. an adventure, but then why draw attention to this lack of detail by highlighting that professor (Reed) is wearing his tweed suit in the most dramatic of their adventures; or that the female character (Marina) changes into white shirt, pencil skirt and high heels for this same adventure (to her credit she keeps up and even outdoes some of the men). Many other questions about this lack of detail came up for me – which made me focus on everything but the main story.
One can accept the story for what it is, i.e. an adventure, but then why draw attention to this lack of detail by highlighting that professor (Reed) is wearing his tweed suit in the most dramatic of their adventures; or that the female character (Marina) changes into white shirt, pencil skirt and high heels for this same adventure (to her credit she keeps up and even outdoes some of the men). Many other questions about this lack of detail came up for me – which made me focus on everything but the main story.
March 4, 2019
Better than expected, but honestly I also had very low expectations. 2.5 starts maybe? Honestly books like these are a perfect example of why I mostly don't read male authors.
There is literally one woman in it, she is very much "not like other women", because she's a badass, who fought the Nazis, and she's definitely only in the book to look pretty, make Grant vulnerable because they're sleeping together, and to be the one everyone else can agree is suspicious.
Everything remotely related to women is extremely over sexualized and mystified, and makes me wonder if the author has ever even spoken to a woman.
And don't even get me started on the archaeology. Some of it can be excused with the book being set i the 40's, but some of it is just plain lazy writing, that could have been solved by something ad easy as opening Wikipedia.
About the only positive thing I can say about the book is that it was an interesting concept, though poorly executed, and occasionally had some very elegant sentences, mostly in descriptions of the nature.
There is literally one woman in it, she is very much "not like other women", because she's a badass, who fought the Nazis, and she's definitely only in the book to look pretty, make Grant vulnerable because they're sleeping together, and to be the one everyone else can agree is suspicious.
Everything remotely related to women is extremely over sexualized and mystified, and makes me wonder if the author has ever even spoken to a woman.
And don't even get me started on the archaeology. Some of it can be excused with the book being set i the 40's, but some of it is just plain lazy writing, that could have been solved by something ad easy as opening Wikipedia.
About the only positive thing I can say about the book is that it was an interesting concept, though poorly executed, and occasionally had some very elegant sentences, mostly in descriptions of the nature.
May 6, 2025
After more than 3000 years, a small notebook may turn the tides to uncover one of the greatest treasures ever; the shield and armor of Achilles. Right after the Second World War, former Special Operations Executive Sam Grant, Marina Kimos and Alan Reed try to translate an old manuscript found in the notebook, penned down by a deceased archaeologist.
In this quest they uncover hidden secrets, discover old temples and ancient cults, run from the CIA, former nazis and Soviet agents, all to break the code hidden in the manuscript. They also discover that the shield contains an element sought after for warfare, explaining why so many are on the hunt for the shield.
Hidden on an island in Soviet territory they discover the temple with treasures and the armor inside. When running from their foes and flying off the decision is made to make sure no-one will ever find this shield and it is dropped into the ocean.
In this quest they uncover hidden secrets, discover old temples and ancient cults, run from the CIA, former nazis and Soviet agents, all to break the code hidden in the manuscript. They also discover that the shield contains an element sought after for warfare, explaining why so many are on the hunt for the shield.
Hidden on an island in Soviet territory they discover the temple with treasures and the armor inside. When running from their foes and flying off the decision is made to make sure no-one will ever find this shield and it is dropped into the ocean.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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