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Luca Matthews #2
The Secret Chamber
Conspiracies, secrets and high-octane adventure in the Congo. Another gripping thriller from the author of The Forbidden Temple.
People have been disappearing in what the explorer Stanley called the black heart of Africa -- the impenetrable forests of northern Congo. But when a brilliant young English doctor vanishes, alarm bells really start to ring. Intelligence chief Jack Milton sends a message to his godson Luca Matthews (The Forbidden Temple hero) in the Himalayas asking him to go to Africa and find Joshua. Reluctantly Luca obeys, but he is no longer the man he once was, traumatised by his part in the death of his best friend, his legendary climbing nerve shot to pieces. Meanwhile in Africa, mining troubleshooter and brilliant flying pilot, Beatrice (Bear) Makuru, also wants to brave the northern wilderness. Coltan is the mineral without which no mobile phone or computer would work. Explosions have been wrecking coltan mines. Bear needs to find out why. Her journey with Luca to Africa's black heart is the beginning of an utterly terrifying sequence of events, uncovering a secret so simple yet so startling that it could rock the foundations of the civilised world.
People have been disappearing in what the explorer Stanley called the black heart of Africa -- the impenetrable forests of northern Congo. But when a brilliant young English doctor vanishes, alarm bells really start to ring. Intelligence chief Jack Milton sends a message to his godson Luca Matthews (The Forbidden Temple hero) in the Himalayas asking him to go to Africa and find Joshua. Reluctantly Luca obeys, but he is no longer the man he once was, traumatised by his part in the death of his best friend, his legendary climbing nerve shot to pieces. Meanwhile in Africa, mining troubleshooter and brilliant flying pilot, Beatrice (Bear) Makuru, also wants to brave the northern wilderness. Coltan is the mineral without which no mobile phone or computer would work. Explosions have been wrecking coltan mines. Bear needs to find out why. Her journey with Luca to Africa's black heart is the beginning of an utterly terrifying sequence of events, uncovering a secret so simple yet so startling that it could rock the foundations of the civilised world.
416 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
7 people are currently reading
53 people want to read
About the author
Patrick Woodhead
6 books10 followersPatrick Woodhead is an English writer, adventurer and owner of White Desert Ltd, the world's only luxury camp on the Antarctic continent.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 22, 2018
een heel goed en vooral vlot lezend boek. heb het met veel plezier gelezen.
July 29, 2014
The Secret Chamber is set in the Congo, Africa and is centred on two main characters. Luca Matthews a professional climber who travels to the Congo to rescue his best friend, a doctor who has gone missing, while working there. Beatrice Makuru a mining expert is sent into the Congo to investigate a mine and the substance it is producing. The mining industry across the region mine for a substance called Coltan, which is a major component of mobile phones and laptops. The Mine in the Ituri Forests, situated deep within the Congo is producing a specialised variant of the substance called Fire Coltan which is believed will revolutionise the mobile and communications industry, however with serious health implications. The mine is financed by leading Chinese families who are part of a guild in exchange for providing weapons to the local rebels. A Chinese General who is working on behalf of the Guild of Families is responsible for buying out the mine however he has his own agenda, which creates complications for the Chinese. Beatrice is asked to fly Luca into the Ituri Forests, and after a plane crash, they unite on their task of finding the mine.
What was most fascinating about the story is the detail that Woodhead has of the location. As I read the book, I felt at times, that I was actually in the Congo with the characters. Woodhead has portrayed really well the wildness of the Congo, the brutally of the rebels against the local tribes, the darkness and the sense of no law existing, to protect the people. The hunger for power and greed is seen in many of the characters within the story as each man has his own agenda. Woodhead gives us a visually unique perspective of the Congo.
The story is written in great detail however there were some parts that dragged. On reading some chapters I thought I would not come to the end as the outcomes were predictable. The pace of the story has a combination of being fast and slow, which changes the mood as I read it. The central characters are developed but at times perhaps a little shallow. The book provides a very good insight into the ways of the Congo, the conditions of the local people fighting against their oppressors and of how children are forced to fight in rebel warfare.
What was most fascinating about the story is the detail that Woodhead has of the location. As I read the book, I felt at times, that I was actually in the Congo with the characters. Woodhead has portrayed really well the wildness of the Congo, the brutally of the rebels against the local tribes, the darkness and the sense of no law existing, to protect the people. The hunger for power and greed is seen in many of the characters within the story as each man has his own agenda. Woodhead gives us a visually unique perspective of the Congo.
The story is written in great detail however there were some parts that dragged. On reading some chapters I thought I would not come to the end as the outcomes were predictable. The pace of the story has a combination of being fast and slow, which changes the mood as I read it. The central characters are developed but at times perhaps a little shallow. The book provides a very good insight into the ways of the Congo, the conditions of the local people fighting against their oppressors and of how children are forced to fight in rebel warfare.
October 9, 2017
It was OK, it was like a boy's own adventure story with a totally ridiculous sex scene between two totally exhausted people in a jungle, very silly and unnecessary.
January 5, 2021
Dunque io ho iniziato questo libro aspettandomi un thriller visto come è classificato e che è scritto sulla copertina a caratteri cubitali ma non è ciò che ho trovato...si tratta di un romanzo di avventura puro e semplice e nemmeno dei migliori.
Ma andiamo con ordine.
Luca è uno scalatore che ha smesso di scalare e si è ritirato dalla vita sociale dopo aver perso un amico durante una loro impresa. Viene contattato da un amico per la scomparsa nella foresta del Congo, di un caro amico d’infanzia con cui è cresciuto, Joshua, con la preghiera di rintracciarlo.
Beatrice Makuru è figlia di un francese e di un’indigena, e pilota e tecnico minerario che viene coinvolta nelle indagini per le misteriose e continue esplosioni delle miniere.
Poi ci sono i francesi e gli americani e i cinesi che sfruttano le lotte intestine tra le varie popolazioni indigene per arricchirsi e depredarli delle loro risorse mentre questi si fanno la guerra con le loro armi, altri bianchi che fregano i loro simili credendosi più furbi e contrabbandano, e ci sono i gruppi dell’LRA che cercano di riprendersi i loro territori dai muzungu.
Insomma è tutto una serie di cliché e luoghi comuni che non inventano nulla.
Si indubbiamente sarà anche il fatto che non è esattamente il mio genere ideale ma i romanzi di avventura scritti da altri scrittori, tipo Berry e Buticchi mi piacciono, perché hanno non solo storie originali ma soprattutto trame complesse e costruite a regola con tanti diversi tasselli che contribuiscono a spiegare e motivare ciò che accade.
Invece qui tutto questo manca, basandosi su una trama trita e ritrita e senza spiegare in effetti bene nemmeno i retroscena.
Su tutti in particolare non ho apprezzato che la figura di Jean-Luc che è l’unica che sia più caratterizzata e che abbia un certo spessore, venga lasciata, buttata lì così senza far capire effettivamente cosa sia accaduto in Sierra Leone per cambiarlo in quel modo.
E c’è di più: i cliché sono anche quelli dei classici romanzi o film di avventura, dove deve esserci il protagonista tormentato che deve vincere i propri timori per salvare la bella in pericolo, e ci sono la scena di guerra e le armi e gli elicotteri (che sì abbiamo capito che lo scrittore ne capisca ma a noi che ce ne frega di sentire i nomi di tutti i mezzi e i fucili e l’armamentario?), c’è la tipa impulsiva che si caccia nei guai e le scene di sesso che non devono mancare mai perché fanno leva sul testosterone di chi di solito li guarda o legge, ma che poi qui c’entra veramente poco dato che lei pochi secondi prima pensava a quanto ami marito e figlio!!
Insomma non posso dire che mi sia piaciuto anche se è scivolato via in fretta.
L’unica minima nota positiva è la scoperta fatta nella miniera riguardo questo nuovo sconosciuto materiale, che per un momento mi ha fatto chiedere se non sia ciò che succede davvero, prima di ripiombare nella noia.
Altro particolare è la conclusione, di cui non ho compreso davvero bene il fine, se non di ipotizzare potesse essere quello di rilevare come il potere una volta ottenuto porti chiunque a compromettersi.
Ho letto che il primo libro di questo autore abbia ottenuto un discreto successo ma immagino che l’ambientazione in Tibet abbia permesso di creare una trama molto più originale.
Con questo però mi dispiace ma proprio non ci siamo!
Ma andiamo con ordine.
Luca è uno scalatore che ha smesso di scalare e si è ritirato dalla vita sociale dopo aver perso un amico durante una loro impresa. Viene contattato da un amico per la scomparsa nella foresta del Congo, di un caro amico d’infanzia con cui è cresciuto, Joshua, con la preghiera di rintracciarlo.
Beatrice Makuru è figlia di un francese e di un’indigena, e pilota e tecnico minerario che viene coinvolta nelle indagini per le misteriose e continue esplosioni delle miniere.
Poi ci sono i francesi e gli americani e i cinesi che sfruttano le lotte intestine tra le varie popolazioni indigene per arricchirsi e depredarli delle loro risorse mentre questi si fanno la guerra con le loro armi, altri bianchi che fregano i loro simili credendosi più furbi e contrabbandano, e ci sono i gruppi dell’LRA che cercano di riprendersi i loro territori dai muzungu.
Insomma è tutto una serie di cliché e luoghi comuni che non inventano nulla.
Si indubbiamente sarà anche il fatto che non è esattamente il mio genere ideale ma i romanzi di avventura scritti da altri scrittori, tipo Berry e Buticchi mi piacciono, perché hanno non solo storie originali ma soprattutto trame complesse e costruite a regola con tanti diversi tasselli che contribuiscono a spiegare e motivare ciò che accade.
Invece qui tutto questo manca, basandosi su una trama trita e ritrita e senza spiegare in effetti bene nemmeno i retroscena.
Su tutti in particolare non ho apprezzato che la figura di Jean-Luc che è l’unica che sia più caratterizzata e che abbia un certo spessore, venga lasciata, buttata lì così senza far capire effettivamente cosa sia accaduto in Sierra Leone per cambiarlo in quel modo.
E c’è di più: i cliché sono anche quelli dei classici romanzi o film di avventura, dove deve esserci il protagonista tormentato che deve vincere i propri timori per salvare la bella in pericolo, e ci sono la scena di guerra e le armi e gli elicotteri (che sì abbiamo capito che lo scrittore ne capisca ma a noi che ce ne frega di sentire i nomi di tutti i mezzi e i fucili e l’armamentario?), c’è la tipa impulsiva che si caccia nei guai e le scene di sesso che non devono mancare mai perché fanno leva sul testosterone di chi di solito li guarda o legge, ma che poi qui c’entra veramente poco dato che lei pochi secondi prima pensava a quanto ami marito e figlio!!
Insomma non posso dire che mi sia piaciuto anche se è scivolato via in fretta.
L’unica minima nota positiva è la scoperta fatta nella miniera riguardo questo nuovo sconosciuto materiale, che per un momento mi ha fatto chiedere se non sia ciò che succede davvero, prima di ripiombare nella noia.
Altro particolare è la conclusione, di cui non ho compreso davvero bene il fine, se non di ipotizzare potesse essere quello di rilevare come il potere una volta ottenuto porti chiunque a compromettersi.
Ho letto che il primo libro di questo autore abbia ottenuto un discreto successo ma immagino che l’ambientazione in Tibet abbia permesso di creare una trama molto più originale.
Con questo però mi dispiace ma proprio non ci siamo!
February 9, 2022
So my 1st read of 2022 is a 2011's 410 pgs long adventure-action fiction called THE SECRET CHAMBER, written by Patrick Woodhead. It is also my first read of this writer, and its 2nd book of the hero Luca Matthews' series, though by reading the story seemed completed, there are some references here and there, but not sure if they're referring 1st book or not, since I haven't read it.
The name of the novel is misleading, at first after reading the name and synopsis I thought it to be some mystey-adventure kind of book, but this is not a mystery. The writer started it that way, but soon it become clear that's its just a book over existing happenings and based out of Africa's mines. Story goes like this - something is happening in DRC, what? no one knows but chinese are involved and the militias are involved and our hero Luca is in search of someone, and he got Beatrice aka Bear as his partner in finding out what's happening in the jungles of DRC. Yeah synopsis gave that mystery feel. I got a little bit disappointed after knowing that no mystery was there, but nonetheless this book's english was fine, and it is kind of easy and fast read, and you will not get bored. However the writer used some lines repeatedly explaining one style of character's action, which gave a feel that it's the only action author know. Characterization was fine. I rate this book a 3/5, you can try!
The name of the novel is misleading, at first after reading the name and synopsis I thought it to be some mystey-adventure kind of book, but this is not a mystery. The writer started it that way, but soon it become clear that's its just a book over existing happenings and based out of Africa's mines. Story goes like this - something is happening in DRC, what? no one knows but chinese are involved and the militias are involved and our hero Luca is in search of someone, and he got Beatrice aka Bear as his partner in finding out what's happening in the jungles of DRC. Yeah synopsis gave that mystery feel. I got a little bit disappointed after knowing that no mystery was there, but nonetheless this book's english was fine, and it is kind of easy and fast read, and you will not get bored. However the writer used some lines repeatedly explaining one style of character's action, which gave a feel that it's the only action author know. Characterization was fine. I rate this book a 3/5, you can try!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 28, 2022
Like the first Luca Matthews book, the Forbidden Temple, I read this book in about 3 days. It starts slowly but i felt it picked up pace well towards the end. I did wonder what the chamber was - i always envisaged a chamber to be a room but in this book i believe it referred to the mine. The big plus point of this book is the descriptions of the scenery etc - the author has obviously done a lot of research into the area. I really could visualise the surroundings the characters were in, I think this book would make a great movie.
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September 8, 2021I would love to say this book was amazing and I enjoyed it thoroughly, but having been away from Goodreads for a three or four years, I honestly cannot remember reading this book.
That said, if I cannot remember it, then I am surprised because I remember almost every book I read, even if it is to my children.
If you have read it and would like to share with me your thoughts, I would love to hear from you!
And apologies to Patrick for not being able to give a review.
That said, if I cannot remember it, then I am surprised because I remember almost every book I read, even if it is to my children.
If you have read it and would like to share with me your thoughts, I would love to hear from you!
And apologies to Patrick for not being able to give a review.
January 21, 2022
It started off well but the plot became sluggish .
April 21, 2013
It took me 3 weeks to get through this book which is a sure indication that I shouldn't have started it in the first place. The secret chamber of the title was anything but a secret as nearly every character in the book seemed to know where and what it was. The plot was very predictable - hero with emotional baggage, strong female who he falls in love with, nasty government type out to line his own pockets etc etc. Not bad enough not to finish but not different enough to leave any lasting impression. I certainly won't be going out of my way to read more from this author.
September 23, 2016
This is one that I have read before. I had previously read it before reading the first and although they are technically stand alone stories, reading the first one gives more of a sense of what has shaped Lucas character and why he behaves as he does. A really good plot and some interesting characters make this a good read and it is very well written.
July 29, 2013
The title of this is somewhat misleading, as you quickly learn that is is an entire area of country that people disappear into owing to the presence of a ruthless rebel army. It was an interesting story but very bloodthirsty.
June 22, 2012
Review to follow.
February 28, 2013
An adventure with a few thrills and plenty of clichés. A high-octane ride spoilt by a moment of ridiculous passion in the jungle. Silly.
May 9, 2013
Not as good as the first !
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews