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The Tavernier Stones: A Novel
Product update: The Tavernier Stones has won the 2011 Independent Publisher (IPPY) gold medal in the mystery/suspense/thriller category.
When the body of seventeenth-century mapmaker Johannes Cellarius floats to the surface of a bog in northern Germany with a 57-carat ruby clutched in his fist, the grisly discovery ignites a deadly twenty-first-century international treasure hunt to unearth the fabled Tavernier stones. The hoard reputedly contains some of the world's most notorious missing jewels, including the 280-carat Great Mogul diamond and the 242-carat Great Table diamond.
Scrupulously honest Amish-born cartographer John Graf teams up with outlaw prospector and gemologist David Freeman in a ferocious race to find the treasure and break a secret code that will unravel the centuries-old Tavernier stones mystery. But other fortune hunters, opportunists and criminals alike, are in hot pursuit of the mismatched partnersand they'll stop at nothing to possess the legendary jewels.
"Relentlessly fascinating, Stephen Parrish's Tavernier Stones is reminiscent of Dan Brown's Lost Symbol . . . It's one hell of a good time."Mark Terry, author of The Fallen
370 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2010
36 people are currently reading
326 people want to read
About the author
Stephen Parrish
26 books27 followersStephen Parrish is the author of The Tavernier Stones, a #1 Amazon mystery, and other novels. His short work has appeared in The Austin Review, Boston Literary Magazine, The Good Men Project, the MacGuffin, Sixfold, and elsewhere, and has been read in public by Liars’ League, Lit Crawl, and other venues. He is editor of The Lascaux Review.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
May 17, 2010
FIRST LINE: "There's a dead guy out there."
When a very old body and an even older gem surface in a bog in northern Germany, persons worldwide realize they're the missing clues to the Tavernier stones, a lost cache of legendary jewels. Amish-born cartographer John Graf throws in his lot with scholar-turned-thief David Freeman in this modern-day treasure hunt. Together with David's gorgeous partner-in-crime Sarah, they race around the world. They don't know it, but they're up against a German Kommissar, a rival crook, and a penurious gentlewoman who bears a striking resemblance to the Wicked Witch of the West.
MIDLINE
You know when you find the perfect pair of jeans? It's when you try them on in the fitting room, checking from all angles, and realize, "Wow, these make my butt look amazing." That's how you'll feel about Tavernier Stones (more or less). Reading this book makes you look - and feel - amazing.
Let's be honest. I wouldn't have picked up Tavernier Stones on my own. I'd read the first chapter at Book Roast (RIP), and I'd ordered a copy in support of Stephen, a friend in our 100+ person writing circle. Still, considering I'm named after a YA fantasy heroine, I didn't expect to adore this one quite so much as I did. I inhaled it - reading time: 2 hours, 47 minutes.
Stephen Parrish, much like a snake charmer, coaxed me out of literary complacency with a novel of intelligence and wit (o, the wit; the startling humor!) As a lover of YA, I'm suspect of harsh, bitter writing. Parrish's writing can be mellifluous, almost poetic. He's not permanently jaded about the human condition, as evidenced by this early, poetic statement about John Graf:
Of course, as a theologian, I'm suspect when religion garners mention on the book jacket. Parrish, however, dealt justly with the Amish faith and culture. As an intellectual, I'm suspect when mathematics code takes an entire chapter. Parrish keeps the pace going. The plot doesn't lag even in the chapters featuring pigpen cipher. Plus, I congratulated myself after I puzzled my way through the clues (with Parrish's omnipresent guidance).
I'm afraid one particular strength of this novel will be overlooked, because it's so seamlessly and naturally assumed in Parrish's writing: its organic feminism. For example, Parrish could have flattened Sarah (Smith) Sainte-James into a caricature pancake. (And the one character who is flattened - literally - defies gender stereotypes.) Instead we see, as Graf does, through to Sarah's potential. As she develops her own strength, she realizes this is who she could have been all along. I liked Sarah, by the end (despite the fact that she's responsible for the worst romantic choice since Jo picked Dr. Baer over Laurie.)
BOTTOM LINE
If your favorite authors include Danielle Steele, Stephanie Meyer or Sarah Dessen, this is not a book you'd love. Everyone else will enjoy, if not devour, this fast-paced, carefully crafted treasure hunt. It's certainly gift-worthy, an absolutely perfect Father's Day gift, right down to the dedication Parrish makes to his daughter.
When a very old body and an even older gem surface in a bog in northern Germany, persons worldwide realize they're the missing clues to the Tavernier stones, a lost cache of legendary jewels. Amish-born cartographer John Graf throws in his lot with scholar-turned-thief David Freeman in this modern-day treasure hunt. Together with David's gorgeous partner-in-crime Sarah, they race around the world. They don't know it, but they're up against a German Kommissar, a rival crook, and a penurious gentlewoman who bears a striking resemblance to the Wicked Witch of the West.
MIDLINE
You know when you find the perfect pair of jeans? It's when you try them on in the fitting room, checking from all angles, and realize, "Wow, these make my butt look amazing." That's how you'll feel about Tavernier Stones (more or less). Reading this book makes you look - and feel - amazing.
Let's be honest. I wouldn't have picked up Tavernier Stones on my own. I'd read the first chapter at Book Roast (RIP), and I'd ordered a copy in support of Stephen, a friend in our 100+ person writing circle. Still, considering I'm named after a YA fantasy heroine, I didn't expect to adore this one quite so much as I did. I inhaled it - reading time: 2 hours, 47 minutes.
Stephen Parrish, much like a snake charmer, coaxed me out of literary complacency with a novel of intelligence and wit (o, the wit; the startling humor!) As a lover of YA, I'm suspect of harsh, bitter writing. Parrish's writing can be mellifluous, almost poetic. He's not permanently jaded about the human condition, as evidenced by this early, poetic statement about John Graf:
His eyes stared frankly and uncritically, and if he made people feel transparent, he compensated by finding no flaws in their vitreous souls.
Of course, as a theologian, I'm suspect when religion garners mention on the book jacket. Parrish, however, dealt justly with the Amish faith and culture. As an intellectual, I'm suspect when mathematics code takes an entire chapter. Parrish keeps the pace going. The plot doesn't lag even in the chapters featuring pigpen cipher. Plus, I congratulated myself after I puzzled my way through the clues (with Parrish's omnipresent guidance).
I'm afraid one particular strength of this novel will be overlooked, because it's so seamlessly and naturally assumed in Parrish's writing: its organic feminism. For example, Parrish could have flattened Sarah (Smith) Sainte-James into a caricature pancake. (And the one character who is flattened - literally - defies gender stereotypes.) Instead we see, as Graf does, through to Sarah's potential. As she develops her own strength, she realizes this is who she could have been all along. I liked Sarah, by the end (despite the fact that she's responsible for the worst romantic choice since Jo picked Dr. Baer over Laurie.)
BOTTOM LINE
If your favorite authors include Danielle Steele, Stephanie Meyer or Sarah Dessen, this is not a book you'd love. Everyone else will enjoy, if not devour, this fast-paced, carefully crafted treasure hunt. It's certainly gift-worthy, an absolutely perfect Father's Day gift, right down to the dedication Parrish makes to his daughter.
May 19, 2010
Like many people, I enjoyed the adventure of The DaVinci Code but was annoyed by the factual errors, shallow characters, and poor writing.
The Tavernier Stones provides a similarly fun read but is well written and well researched and has more interesting characters. There are a treasure map with a secret code in it, priceless gems, and hidden rooms.
I had to stop reading The Tavernier Stones before bed at night because I kept staying up too later, wanting to finish "just one more chapter" and then another.
The Tavernier Stones provides a similarly fun read but is well written and well researched and has more interesting characters. There are a treasure map with a secret code in it, priceless gems, and hidden rooms.
I had to stop reading The Tavernier Stones before bed at night because I kept staying up too later, wanting to finish "just one more chapter" and then another.
May 29, 2020
Fun romp after treasure
Fact and history mixed together with a great treasure hunting story make this a wonderful read. Learning a little about gemstones was fun too.
Fact and history mixed together with a great treasure hunting story make this a wonderful read. Learning a little about gemstones was fun too.
August 28, 2022
Considering it was supposed to be a treasure hunt for some legendary lost gemstones, it was rather slow. The first half of it was mostly lots of research in libraries which is a little dull. It's not quite the level of intrigue or pacing as, say, Dan Brown. Unfortunately there's no image of the map which is a shame, that would have been a great addition. There were lots of aspects that just seemed to be completely irrelevant. I think there were too many characters, some of whom were able to break codes with no research whatsoever! I mean, I recognised the pigpen cipher as soon as I saw it so I could understand that, but the Vigenère one was a little more obscure and more complex to solve.
The last third of the book was about the most exciting when everyone finally got to Idar-Oberstein and put all their theories to the test but even so, the actual finding of the gemstones was very short and a bit of a let-down. John had worked out a hidden graph in a map which he used to determine which tile was the hidey-hole but then it turned out there was a symbol on it anyway. So what was the point of the hidden graph?! And it was a real shame that nothing further was made of his connection to Johannes Cellarius. But the most annoying thing throughout the whole book was the constant use of 'shined' instead of 'shone'.
August 12, 2018
This book is an adventure with a mystery as its basis. The story follows various people who are searching for the Tavernier Stones. To understand the clues you need to know maps, the Bible and prime numbers. The hunt begins with the discovery of a body in a bog in Germany. The book was an easy read.
December 8, 2019
I thought the book was a bit boring, and felt that the author was trying too hard to impress us with his vast knowledge.
August 19, 2010
From ISawLightningFall.com
If most men ever to become experts in gemstones, it's usually at a very specific point in life -- about six weeks before proposing. Caught up in the preparatory whirlwind of asking for a woman's hand in marriage, they go from knowing about as much as the toddler who can recite "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" to parsing technical terms such as "culet" and "VS2" and "carat weight" with ease. All that education tends to fall away pretty quickly after popping the question (and even faster if the answer isn't in the affirmative). But if there's a novel to call back to mind that hard-won info, it's Stephen Parrish's The Tavernier Stones, a historical adventure stuffed with carbuncles aplenty.
Petrified corpses turned up in the bogs outside of Hamburg with enough regularity to make them, at most, of only minor interest. Long-embalmed by peaty acids, bodies sometimes as old as the Iron Age heave up from the marshy ground, their blackened skins so well preserved that you can read the expressions on their faces. So it wasn't odd when two boys stumbled upon a mummified cadaver while camping -- or wouldn't have been if the dead man's hand hadn't clutched a 57-carat ruby. No ordinary stiff, this was seventeenth-century cartographer Johannes Cellarius, a mapmaker who died with eleven blows from a pickax in his chest and who may have been entangled with the legendary Tavernier gems. That collection of jewels would reputedly make the Hope Diamond look unimpressive. You can bet that the media finds a mythic cache of gems far more interesting than a mere body in a bog. One of the world's biggest treasure hunts is about to begin ...
The Tavernier Stones possesses something of unique structure. An ensemble story, it reveals pertinent clues to the search while jumping back and forth between a bevy of characters. And what a collection it is. An ostracized Amish cartographer. A brilliant grifter and his lingerie-model girlfriend. A merciless heiress and the deviant thug who does her dirty work. A corrupt cop trying to decide whether or not to kill his cheating wife. Indeed, at points Parrish flirts with hardboiled, dropping dark hints in a line of dialogue here, a snatch of description there. Such revelations of his characters' amorality are quite well done. The only point where The Tavernier Stones stumbles is at a tendency to fall into lengthy historical explications. True, a book relying on the past to fuel present action needs a few. But the plot often screeches to a halt while detailing, say, the finer points of the reign of Louis XIV or the vinting practices of a coven of German witches. Such expository lumps may be flaws, but as an entertaining read Stones shines pretty bright all the same.
If most men ever to become experts in gemstones, it's usually at a very specific point in life -- about six weeks before proposing. Caught up in the preparatory whirlwind of asking for a woman's hand in marriage, they go from knowing about as much as the toddler who can recite "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" to parsing technical terms such as "culet" and "VS2" and "carat weight" with ease. All that education tends to fall away pretty quickly after popping the question (and even faster if the answer isn't in the affirmative). But if there's a novel to call back to mind that hard-won info, it's Stephen Parrish's The Tavernier Stones, a historical adventure stuffed with carbuncles aplenty.
Petrified corpses turned up in the bogs outside of Hamburg with enough regularity to make them, at most, of only minor interest. Long-embalmed by peaty acids, bodies sometimes as old as the Iron Age heave up from the marshy ground, their blackened skins so well preserved that you can read the expressions on their faces. So it wasn't odd when two boys stumbled upon a mummified cadaver while camping -- or wouldn't have been if the dead man's hand hadn't clutched a 57-carat ruby. No ordinary stiff, this was seventeenth-century cartographer Johannes Cellarius, a mapmaker who died with eleven blows from a pickax in his chest and who may have been entangled with the legendary Tavernier gems. That collection of jewels would reputedly make the Hope Diamond look unimpressive. You can bet that the media finds a mythic cache of gems far more interesting than a mere body in a bog. One of the world's biggest treasure hunts is about to begin ...
The Tavernier Stones possesses something of unique structure. An ensemble story, it reveals pertinent clues to the search while jumping back and forth between a bevy of characters. And what a collection it is. An ostracized Amish cartographer. A brilliant grifter and his lingerie-model girlfriend. A merciless heiress and the deviant thug who does her dirty work. A corrupt cop trying to decide whether or not to kill his cheating wife. Indeed, at points Parrish flirts with hardboiled, dropping dark hints in a line of dialogue here, a snatch of description there. Such revelations of his characters' amorality are quite well done. The only point where The Tavernier Stones stumbles is at a tendency to fall into lengthy historical explications. True, a book relying on the past to fuel present action needs a few. But the plot often screeches to a halt while detailing, say, the finer points of the reign of Louis XIV or the vinting practices of a coven of German witches. Such expository lumps may be flaws, but as an entertaining read Stones shines pretty bright all the same.
August 19, 2015
Former Amish young man John Graf is a cartographer and fascinated when he hears that the body of the famous 17th century fellow mapmaker, Johannes Cellarius has been found in a bog in Germany. Cellarius was clenching a 57-carat ruby. This sends John along with others all around the world on a modern day treasure hunt.
Though John has left the Amish, he still maintains a simple life that soon overtaken by his obsession to solve the riddles that Cellarius left on the last map he created. As he tries to solve this he encounters David and Sarah a couple who pull jewelry hoists. David is a magician who uses his sleight of hand along with Sarah’s sexy clothing to distract the sales clerks. They are an unlikely threesome but they realize they need each other to find the Tavernier Stones.
Tension builds for John as he is not doing his job and starts to skip work. He is also attracted to Sarah though she and David are a couple. John is given a leave of absence from work that looks like the first step to his being dismissed. He also misses his family and visits them to talk with his sister. He is being shunned and he wonders if he did the right thing in leaving to go to high school and college. However, for now the most important thing to him is solving the mystery of the Tavernier Stones.
Along with John, David and Sarah, there are others across the world who are also trying to figure out the clues that Cellarius has left on his map. Once one of the puzzles is solved, the answer hits the newspapers, which adds more to the excitement. The threesome decides to go to Germany with the clues they have already solved. Can they get there first and once there can they figure out the remaining clues before anyone else?
Parrish does move from one treasure hunter to another and you see how each is solving bits of the puzzle. The characters he has created are interesting and you are definitely pulling for John. The Tavernier Stones is a page-turning thriller full of adventure, history and even some humor that you are sure to enjoy.
Though John has left the Amish, he still maintains a simple life that soon overtaken by his obsession to solve the riddles that Cellarius left on the last map he created. As he tries to solve this he encounters David and Sarah a couple who pull jewelry hoists. David is a magician who uses his sleight of hand along with Sarah’s sexy clothing to distract the sales clerks. They are an unlikely threesome but they realize they need each other to find the Tavernier Stones.
Tension builds for John as he is not doing his job and starts to skip work. He is also attracted to Sarah though she and David are a couple. John is given a leave of absence from work that looks like the first step to his being dismissed. He also misses his family and visits them to talk with his sister. He is being shunned and he wonders if he did the right thing in leaving to go to high school and college. However, for now the most important thing to him is solving the mystery of the Tavernier Stones.
Along with John, David and Sarah, there are others across the world who are also trying to figure out the clues that Cellarius has left on his map. Once one of the puzzles is solved, the answer hits the newspapers, which adds more to the excitement. The threesome decides to go to Germany with the clues they have already solved. Can they get there first and once there can they figure out the remaining clues before anyone else?
Parrish does move from one treasure hunter to another and you see how each is solving bits of the puzzle. The characters he has created are interesting and you are definitely pulling for John. The Tavernier Stones is a page-turning thriller full of adventure, history and even some humor that you are sure to enjoy.
June 22, 2010
Propelled by a spectacular opening, in which the corpse of seventeenth-century mapmaker Johannes Cellarius is discovered in a bog with a 57-carat ruby clutched in his fist, THE TAVERNIER STONES quickly unfolds into a treasure hunt adventure even more riveting than the real-life story of the jewels which spawned it. With its effortless weaving of memorable characters--each harboring his or her motive for coveting the stones--and intricate subplots, I found this novel to be an immensely satisfying and enjoyable read. While the ingenuous ending left me hungry for more from this gifted debut author whose writing is as accomplished as his storytelling.
Parrish incorporates an impressive depth of knowledge about cartography, cryptology, gemstones, and history, and his technical command of these details lends a precious believability to the hunt that is foundational to the book's success. While tension-filled and plenty thrilling, the action never veers off into the realm of the cartoonish, as Parrish grounds us so believably in his world of maps, codes, Amish culture, German lore, and, of course, precious jewels. I love a book where I learn as much as I'm entertained. Especially when the subject matter is as rich as this.
But none of that stuff would mean much without characters that live and breathe on the page. And live they do. Amish-born cartographer John Graf's struggle between the religious and familial roots he's severed and the worldly quest which becomes his obsession serves as the heart of this novel, and is deftly handled by the author. I was really invested in this character, and was pleasantly and poignantly surprised by where Parrish takes him. While his relationship of necessity with jewel thief David Freeman and his girlfriend, Sarah Sainte-James, crackles with a wit and spark that keeps the pages turning.
To sum up, I tore through THE TAVERNIER STONES in a couple days. And I guess that's the best recommendation of all. Parrish is the real deal.
Parrish incorporates an impressive depth of knowledge about cartography, cryptology, gemstones, and history, and his technical command of these details lends a precious believability to the hunt that is foundational to the book's success. While tension-filled and plenty thrilling, the action never veers off into the realm of the cartoonish, as Parrish grounds us so believably in his world of maps, codes, Amish culture, German lore, and, of course, precious jewels. I love a book where I learn as much as I'm entertained. Especially when the subject matter is as rich as this.
But none of that stuff would mean much without characters that live and breathe on the page. And live they do. Amish-born cartographer John Graf's struggle between the religious and familial roots he's severed and the worldly quest which becomes his obsession serves as the heart of this novel, and is deftly handled by the author. I was really invested in this character, and was pleasantly and poignantly surprised by where Parrish takes him. While his relationship of necessity with jewel thief David Freeman and his girlfriend, Sarah Sainte-James, crackles with a wit and spark that keeps the pages turning.
To sum up, I tore through THE TAVERNIER STONES in a couple days. And I guess that's the best recommendation of all. Parrish is the real deal.
May 11, 2010
For a first novel this is a terrific beginning for an up and coming author. There were instances within that made me laugh until I could barely breathe as Mr. Parrish’s wry wit came forth. He deftly wove detailed descriptions of cartography and gemology in with the sub-plots of the other characters, bent on discovering the jewels for themselves at any cost which added to the suspense. All of the characters were well rounded and true to their natures: John Graf, though naïve about some things, had good common sense to guide him through some tricky situations; David Freeman, jewel thief extraordinaire, and his girl friend, Susan Saint-James. The good guys were put to the test to come through and the bad guys were very, very wicked.
This book has everything I love to read and lose myself in: adventure, crime, mystery, historical aspects and suspense combined with codes, maps and treasure. I especially liked the detailed background of mapmaking and gemology blended in to give the story more depth. When the ending came I hoped that Mr. Parrish has another John Graf story up his sleeve. This character deserves to live in perpetuity.
I recommend this book whole heartedly. It’s a book that can be read multiple times without losing the humour of the jokes or the suspense that carries through to the end. And the bonus to getting this book is the Treasure Hunt.
The Tavernier Stones website [http://www.tavernierstones.com/] contains an armchair treasure hunt for a real diamond! One carat is waiting for the persevering sleuth who can crack the cipher from clues presented within the English version of The Tavernier Stones and those found on the website. Happy hunting.
Thank you, Stephen, for providing a copy for me to review. It will sit among my other favourite books in my bookcase.
This book has everything I love to read and lose myself in: adventure, crime, mystery, historical aspects and suspense combined with codes, maps and treasure. I especially liked the detailed background of mapmaking and gemology blended in to give the story more depth. When the ending came I hoped that Mr. Parrish has another John Graf story up his sleeve. This character deserves to live in perpetuity.
I recommend this book whole heartedly. It’s a book that can be read multiple times without losing the humour of the jokes or the suspense that carries through to the end. And the bonus to getting this book is the Treasure Hunt.
The Tavernier Stones website [http://www.tavernierstones.com/] contains an armchair treasure hunt for a real diamond! One carat is waiting for the persevering sleuth who can crack the cipher from clues presented within the English version of The Tavernier Stones and those found on the website. Happy hunting.
Thank you, Stephen, for providing a copy for me to review. It will sit among my other favourite books in my bookcase.
February 26, 2015
This book was really fun to read. Three of my favorite subjects are maps, gems and puzzles, and this book features all three, prominently. Action begins when a body is found in a German peat bog. Usually, such bodies are found to be ancient Celts, but this one is different. It is clothed in the style of the mid 1700's. Eventually, it is identified as the corpse of Johannes Cellarius, a famed cartographer, known to have mysteriously disappeared. Clutched in his hand is a flawless 57 carat ruby. The action unfolds from the viewpoints of several treasure hunting characters, but our main protagonist is an Amish cartographer, cut off from his family by his decidedly un-Amish pursuit of higher education. His great love is antique maps, and Cellarius is his favorite cartographer. Another viewpoint character is a jewel thief, educated as a gemologist, who identifies the ruby as one of the fabulous "lost stones" of Jean Baptiste Tavernier, famed traveler and jeweler to Louis XIV, the Sun King. Before his death, Cellarius had created a last map and had decorated its margins with strange figures. Did Cellarius have something to do with Taverniers' death? Had he hidden the fabulous gems that Tavernier had written about? Was the last map a treasure map? These questions set all our characters in motion, seeking riches, redemption and rubies. The story moves forward at a fast pace, the characters are interesting and the ciphers are fun. This is not great literature but it is a cracking good read.
July 21, 2010
I won this book on Goodreads and first, I loved the cover. (I'm shallow - I know). Then, I read the description and saw that it was a modern treasure hunt for a very old treasure. Who could possibly resist history, suspense, clues, and all of the fun stuff surrounding a good mystery/treasure hunt?
I've read the Dan Brown novels (referenced in reviews as a comparison) and though of a similar essence, they are very different. Dan Brown also involves solving a very old mystery using old clues in modern times, but his novels focus on the darkness in people and they are set at such an incredibly fast pace. The Tavernier Stones is lighter and more literary (translation: less intense but better-written!).
You do get sucked in right from the start with the words "There's a dead guy out there." This startling first line is across from a quote by Johannes Cellarius himself. From setting up the seedy background of David Freeman and the conflicted life of John Graf to presenting clues that are so well-researched, a reader can't wait to get to the end to see if these stones really exist and to see who gets there first (hopefully it won't be the bad guys!).
I won't give away the ending, but it was very satisfying. Well done, Stephen Parrish! You better write more for us...there are many mysteries in the world that deserve a good story (and a good ending!).
I've read the Dan Brown novels (referenced in reviews as a comparison) and though of a similar essence, they are very different. Dan Brown also involves solving a very old mystery using old clues in modern times, but his novels focus on the darkness in people and they are set at such an incredibly fast pace. The Tavernier Stones is lighter and more literary (translation: less intense but better-written!).
You do get sucked in right from the start with the words "There's a dead guy out there." This startling first line is across from a quote by Johannes Cellarius himself. From setting up the seedy background of David Freeman and the conflicted life of John Graf to presenting clues that are so well-researched, a reader can't wait to get to the end to see if these stones really exist and to see who gets there first (hopefully it won't be the bad guys!).
I won't give away the ending, but it was very satisfying. Well done, Stephen Parrish! You better write more for us...there are many mysteries in the world that deserve a good story (and a good ending!).
November 13, 2011
Never before could I have imagined that I would get into cartography and gemstones. Never before could I have imagined that I would get into a book about a 'treasure hunt.' But now I can. Thanks to Stephen Parrish.
I'd describe this story as something along the lines of Indiana Jones vs. Crocodile Hunter with German roughness and blunt dry humour, and the laugh-out-loud wit of a good British Comedy. It's nothing what I expected at all, it is so much more. And I don't think this description does it justice, because as I said, I'm not usually a fan of this stuff so I'm limited with things to compare it to. Let's just say, it made me fantasize about studying archaeology again.
Or how about I don't compare it at all. Because now that I think about it, it's actually quite unique. And the characters are so well-rounded, that I hated them and loved them all at the same time. I wanted to slap their faces and pour water over their heads and tell them to get a grip. I wanted to hug them and laugh with them, and mime the follow-up drum beat to their jokes. I wanted to get dirty and pick grime from my fingernails. I wanted to be IN the book.
This is more than just another mystery book. This is something you shouldn't hesitate to read. Go on. Sink your teeth into something different and unexpected. Because that's what it is. An absolute pleasant surprise.
I'd describe this story as something along the lines of Indiana Jones vs. Crocodile Hunter with German roughness and blunt dry humour, and the laugh-out-loud wit of a good British Comedy. It's nothing what I expected at all, it is so much more. And I don't think this description does it justice, because as I said, I'm not usually a fan of this stuff so I'm limited with things to compare it to. Let's just say, it made me fantasize about studying archaeology again.
Or how about I don't compare it at all. Because now that I think about it, it's actually quite unique. And the characters are so well-rounded, that I hated them and loved them all at the same time. I wanted to slap their faces and pour water over their heads and tell them to get a grip. I wanted to hug them and laugh with them, and mime the follow-up drum beat to their jokes. I wanted to get dirty and pick grime from my fingernails. I wanted to be IN the book.
This is more than just another mystery book. This is something you shouldn't hesitate to read. Go on. Sink your teeth into something different and unexpected. Because that's what it is. An absolute pleasant surprise.
June 30, 2010
I received this book for a first reads giveaway. It sounded interesting and I like Dan Brown, which this was compared to. I will say I liked this book more than The Lost Symbol, but it fell short of Angels and Demons. With that said, I am not going to make anymore comparisons.
I enjoyed this book. It had likable characters and was fast-paced. I liked learning about cartography and gemology, two subjects I know nothing about. The main character, John Graf, has an Amish background which added a little spice to the book as well. This book is ultimately a treasure hunt, complete with an X marks the spot map, and who doesn't like a good treasure hunt? I felt this story had just the right amount of suspense, history, backstory and chracter quirks to keep the reader entertained.
The main storyline following John (a cartographer), David (a gemologist and thief) and Sarah (David's partner in crime) was interesting. The way the characters interacted was believable and, at times, amusing. John is so innocent, and the other two are so...well, not innocent. However the other storylines and characters were kind of boring and occasionally felt tedious.
Overall, this book was a fun read and I would definitely read another book by Stephen Parrish!
I enjoyed this book. It had likable characters and was fast-paced. I liked learning about cartography and gemology, two subjects I know nothing about. The main character, John Graf, has an Amish background which added a little spice to the book as well. This book is ultimately a treasure hunt, complete with an X marks the spot map, and who doesn't like a good treasure hunt? I felt this story had just the right amount of suspense, history, backstory and chracter quirks to keep the reader entertained.
The main storyline following John (a cartographer), David (a gemologist and thief) and Sarah (David's partner in crime) was interesting. The way the characters interacted was believable and, at times, amusing. John is so innocent, and the other two are so...well, not innocent. However the other storylines and characters were kind of boring and occasionally felt tedious.
Overall, this book was a fun read and I would definitely read another book by Stephen Parrish!
July 28, 2010
Stephen Parrish is my Featured Author for the month of August. And when your Featured Author sends you his book, what do you do but read it? So I did.
I didn't have to like it, or think it was good. But y'know what? I did like it. It is good. Starting with the first sentence--"There's a dead guy out there."--The Tavernier Stones pulls you along on its roller-coaster of a treasure hunt as its cast of characters decipher clues to find the world's most notorious missing jewels. Amongst that cast is an excommunicated Amish cartographer, a jewel thief and his ex-model girlfriend, a no-longer-able-to-afford-to-keep-up-with-the-Joneses ex-banker, an ex-convict, and a policeman who finds out his wife is cheating on him. Phew! I hope I didn't miss anyone important!
Along with the characters to follow, love, and/or hate, Stephen provides cartography, cryptology, history, and a quirky sense of humor to tie the present-day treasure hunt with the clues from the past. Who'll unravel the clues first? Who'll get their hands on the treasure? Who will double-cross whom? And the ending will be here before you know it.
The Tavernier Stones is a little gem you should set aside time to read, or face some tired mornings from staying up too late into the night!
I didn't have to like it, or think it was good. But y'know what? I did like it. It is good. Starting with the first sentence--"There's a dead guy out there."--The Tavernier Stones pulls you along on its roller-coaster of a treasure hunt as its cast of characters decipher clues to find the world's most notorious missing jewels. Amongst that cast is an excommunicated Amish cartographer, a jewel thief and his ex-model girlfriend, a no-longer-able-to-afford-to-keep-up-with-the-Joneses ex-banker, an ex-convict, and a policeman who finds out his wife is cheating on him. Phew! I hope I didn't miss anyone important!
Along with the characters to follow, love, and/or hate, Stephen provides cartography, cryptology, history, and a quirky sense of humor to tie the present-day treasure hunt with the clues from the past. Who'll unravel the clues first? Who'll get their hands on the treasure? Who will double-cross whom? And the ending will be here before you know it.
The Tavernier Stones is a little gem you should set aside time to read, or face some tired mornings from staying up too late into the night!
January 7, 2012
The Tavernier Stones is a fun book. It is a treasure hunt with a varied group of characters. John Graff is an Amish born cartographer who is fascinated with the 17th century map maker Johannes Cellaris. After Cellaris' body is found in a German bog with a 57-caret Ruby in his hand, a world wide search for the legendary Taviernier stones starts. John allies himself with David Freeman a gemologist and gem thief to study Cellaris' maps to find the clues to the hidden stash. What follows is a search and run for the treasure. Also racing for the gems are other teams.
Graff and Freeman are wonderfully developed characters that are engaging despite their flaws. The teams racing against our heroes are less well developed. They are a former ally of Freeman's. A German noblewoman who will stop at nothing to obtain the stones including having a criminal assist her. There is also a German detective who was one of the team that found the body in the bog.
I recommend this book as a fast and fun read of a thriller. It is not a deep book, but the historical, cartographic, and gemology is well researched and accurate.
Graff and Freeman are wonderfully developed characters that are engaging despite their flaws. The teams racing against our heroes are less well developed. They are a former ally of Freeman's. A German noblewoman who will stop at nothing to obtain the stones including having a criminal assist her. There is also a German detective who was one of the team that found the body in the bog.
I recommend this book as a fast and fun read of a thriller. It is not a deep book, but the historical, cartographic, and gemology is well researched and accurate.
April 5, 2012
This book is a treasure hunt for a historical treasure. One of a set of legendary gems lost several hundred years ago *may* have surfaced, clutched in the first of a modern bog body. This sets a slew of treasure hunters on the search for the rest of the stones.
I mostly enjoyed this book. The first third was very interesting, it bogged down a bit in the middle, then got really intense for the last third. The plot was interesting, and there were some very good characters. There were some good, unexpected twists at the end as well.
There are undoubtedly going to be (or were? dunno when it was published) comparisons to "Da Vinci Code". I'm not sure if that's a fair comparison to make though. There were a couple of slightly unbelievable bits, but "Tavernier Stones" was more believable.
I mostly enjoyed this book. The first third was very interesting, it bogged down a bit in the middle, then got really intense for the last third. The plot was interesting, and there were some very good characters. There were some good, unexpected twists at the end as well.
There are undoubtedly going to be (or were? dunno when it was published) comparisons to "Da Vinci Code". I'm not sure if that's a fair comparison to make though. There were a couple of slightly unbelievable bits, but "Tavernier Stones" was more believable.
November 16, 2012
Maps and treasure are a familiar theme, but there is a difference in this tale. When the murdered body of a cartographer surfaces in a bog several centuries after his disappearance, one mystery is created. When it is discovered he is clutching one of a group of gems that also went missing, another mystery is added and people around the globe are sure the rest of the treasure is still hidden somewhere and that the old cartographer's final map will show the way. The novel concerns itself mainly with seven people who are trying to solve the enigma of clues left on the map, some working alone, others in groups. The stakes are high and the dangers even higher, but all are determined to find the precious stones. The mix of cartography, codes and real places (there really is a Felsenkirche in Idar-Oberstein) make this an exciting tale.
July 14, 2010
What a fun read! There's nothing brilliant here, but for a first novel - terrific. And I love these kinds of treasure hunts - we've got a mysterious treasure map, legends of lost perfect jewels, and some history. I've always been interested in maps, they can be such a thing of beauty, and by golly I sure did learn some things. The characters aren't very complex, but very enjoyable and easily imagined, both the good and the bad. I read this the perfect day - it was much too hot to do anything except lie on the couch underneath the ceiling fan. I would have been absolutely miserable, my brain was also mush, but ended up having a wonderful afternoon reading this. If I was a different kinder gentler rater, this would definitely be a 4!
July 3, 2010
Stephen Parrish has managed to mix a few things together that turn out rather nicely: gems, cartography, historical murder/mystery and an Amish man named John.
I thoroughly enjoyed all the parts having to do with cartography. It's a subject I realized I don't know a lot about, but I'm most interesting in learning more. John Graf was my favorite character although I can't say I'm completely happy with how his journey ended. Maybe that's just because I was hoping to see more of him in future.
At times the book seemed to flounder a bit and some of it's wanderings lost my interest, but as its a first novel that is understandable. I do look forward to more works by Stephen Parrish.
I thoroughly enjoyed all the parts having to do with cartography. It's a subject I realized I don't know a lot about, but I'm most interesting in learning more. John Graf was my favorite character although I can't say I'm completely happy with how his journey ended. Maybe that's just because I was hoping to see more of him in future.
At times the book seemed to flounder a bit and some of it's wanderings lost my interest, but as its a first novel that is understandable. I do look forward to more works by Stephen Parrish.
November 12, 2010
It's a good book. I was struggling with interest for the first half, primarily because I found every one of the characters to be, at best, remarkably unpleasant. At least one character (usually more) is one or more of the following: embezzler, vigilante, adulterer, murderer, thief, burglar, defiler, rapist, idolator, fornicator. And then there is the ineffectual one.
Once I focused on the plot, I liked it.
Early on, it reminded me of "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" -- a movie I hated. Good guys should be good (in the opinion of a 12-year-old me). The more-than-12-years-old me is somewhat (but only somewhat) more tolerant of moral frailty.
Once I focused on the plot, I liked it.
Early on, it reminded me of "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" -- a movie I hated. Good guys should be good (in the opinion of a 12-year-old me). The more-than-12-years-old me is somewhat (but only somewhat) more tolerant of moral frailty.
February 28, 2011
Loved it! They always say you write what you know. It was obvious to me that Stephen knows gems & maps (& I’m pretty sure he dabbles in magic tricks, too). The book had my attention from the 1st sentence: “There’s a dead guy out there.” I love when books have to solve puzzles and break codes to get to the “treasure” at the end. In this case, the treasure was, well…really a treasure. The Tavernier Stones. The book takes you through a few sets of people, all very colorful characters. searching for them and ties it in wonderfully at the end.
I can only say, if you are at all interested in gems, maps, codes, or just a bloody good read – read this book!
I can only say, if you are at all interested in gems, maps, codes, or just a bloody good read – read this book!
September 21, 2011
It has a map making theme, so just after reading the Fourth Part of the World I thought the map making angle was interesting but the book quickly became a string of unbelievable characters doing ridiculous things. It claims this hugely unsolvable puzzle that several people solve in one try, then everyone ends up at the same place at the same time and a cookie cutter ending neatly takes care of everyone. I felt like I was reading a story line created by one of those games where you say one sentence and the next person adds to the story with another sentence. Ideas thrown in for the sake of the idea not to develop the story and so I couldn't believe any of it.
January 25, 2012
Unique storyline, interesting characters, mostly well-written. I did find the several pages of crypotographic content to be very dry and confusing and wound up skipping those pages. Once in a while, I found the writing to be a bit corny and some bits completely unnecessary to the plot. I also felt there were too many characters involved in the plot and the constant change in the story to cover all characters was tiring. Removing several of the minor characters and shortening the amount of time spent explaining the mysterious symbols and characters trying to break the code would have tightened up the story a bit, making it less messy and much smarter.
November 17, 2012
It wanted to be something like The Davinci Code, but wasn't as well-written. The author, a gemologist and cartographer, wove too much detail about his interests, and it came off less well-informed and more like reading an inside joke you weren't part of. There were also some really strange sub-plots, and instead of coming off intriguing, they just sort of fell flat. (Attempts at exploring sexual deviance or crossing societal lines.)
The one good thing I can say is the main plot (once you get there) is a bit interesting, for those of us lovers of mystery and intrigue, the eventual discovery of the stones is somewhat satisfying.
The one good thing I can say is the main plot (once you get there) is a bit interesting, for those of us lovers of mystery and intrigue, the eventual discovery of the stones is somewhat satisfying.
July 15, 2013
Maps, gems, Medieval mysteries and the Amish! What's not to love? This book grabbed me from the beginning. Loved it! At times I could tell that this was a first book by the author, but most of the time I was too engrossed in the story and too fascinated with the subject to care. The characters were so diverse, and I especially enjoyed John. I love maps, so learning more about cartography was intriguing. I read this while on a cruise ship in the Aegean. I had just seen the wealth of the Byzantines and Ottomans in Istanbul, so visualizing the Tavernier Sones themselves was no problem. I recommend this book, especially if you want to learn a few things on the way to solving a mystery.
March 20, 2014
This novel had a very promising beginning - the centuries-old dead body of a renowned mapmaker surfaces with a ruby in his fist in a bog in Germany, sparking an intercontinental interest in an old mystery involving long-missing gemstones. The characters' motives are interesting, and some of them are downright despicable. I learned quite a bit about both gemstones and maps while getting to know the characters in this book. Unfortunately, I just didn't feel that edge-of-your-seat suspense that is often present in this genre of novel, and that is why I am only rating it three stars. Well-written and well-researched; overall, a good book.
June 23, 2010
I loved the premise of this book---a treasure hunt led by a young cartographer and a shady gemologist---but found the execution rather lackluster.
The characters were well-conceived and Parrish created an entertaining mix of personalities but I felt like I was reading a proposal for a feature film rather than a well-constructed novel. The concept was four-star, but the writing just didn't engage me.
I hope the author is successful in getting a film deal---I don't think we've seen an Amish sleuth yet.
The characters were well-conceived and Parrish created an entertaining mix of personalities but I felt like I was reading a proposal for a feature film rather than a well-constructed novel. The concept was four-star, but the writing just didn't engage me.
I hope the author is successful in getting a film deal---I don't think we've seen an Amish sleuth yet.
August 5, 2010
X marks the spot. A body pops out of a bog with a ruby clenched in his fist, part of a cache of famous stones, and the hunt is on. The treasure hunt draws folks from all walks of life in search of instant riches. A well written book that seems to be plugged into a formulaic pattern. It almost seems as if I had read this before I had even read it. The author does show talent and should do well if he comes with a bit more of an original idea. Not to say that it was bad just could use a bit more originality.
July 26, 2010
The Tavernier Stones threads together a motley crew of jewel thieves, murderers, a cartographer, a police inspector, and a spurned lover who fences stolen gems into an all encompassing pursuit of legendary treasure. Through a chilling blend of expertise, persistence, and realization the seekers catapult to a conclusion none of them envisioned - including death and salvation. As cartographer John Graf states at one point near the treasure hunt’s end, ‘Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone… Therefore came a great wrath from the lord of hosts’. The ending did not disappoint.
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