Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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11 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Insofar the best thriller by Kuzneski, 30 Dec 2008
"The Lost Throne" follows the expected pattern: a secret, short chapters, different guys following the same story from different angels. Those having read his two previous novels one meets again Payne and Jones and Nick Dial.
The book is written with a great flow and indeed makes a gripping yarn, easy to read and not at all boring. The style is however not as flat as it used to be Kuzneski managed to give its eading personalities a bit of depth, even tough that is very so slighty. But he can not really get around to describe persons in terms of stereotyps. His writing is always a bit like a film script and one can see the space for the commercial breaks.
In his first book Kuznewski asked the question: Why did Americans have to make a joke out of everything? - yes, why indeed and why Kuznewski too. The book is plastered with this kind of lines, but at least he gives a reason for it. Maybe I am just to European for it.
All in all, it is a book which clearly entertains the reader, it is fast running thriller, but in terms of language, style and personalities much remains missing. But he has become better and is indeed quite entertaining.
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22 of 34 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic Adventure, 1 Dec 2008
One of my absolute favourites novel types, by one of my favourite authors. Chris Kuzneski has snuck into the adventure and UK market with two of his other books, The Sign of the Cross and Sword of God.
The boys, as I fondly refer to Jonathan Payne and his colleague and good friend, David Jones, reprise their roles as adventurers (one time military men with Payne being the leader of an elite special forces team) in this non-stop action novel about missing treasure, where Chi does indeed mark the spot, eccentric historians, deadly warriors who cling to an ancient way of life, crazy Kafka drinking Finns, an Interpol agent and mysterious Greek Orthodox Monks.
The reason why the two main characters work so well (this being Payne and Jones) is that their banter is such fun to read. The dialogue had me on more than one occasion laughing out loud. They form a good unit, complimenting each other's strengths whilst working towards negating their weaknesses.
In this instance Jones and Payne find themselves in St Petersburg (Russia) helping Alison uncover the mystery surrounding the death of her employer Richard Byrd. I have to say that the author knows how to tease out the clues, set up scenes and create an atmosphere of Bourne-like thrill and adventure, even if you are sitting on your train commuting into work. The action moves from St Petersburg to Greece at breakneck speed as the clues are reasoned out and the next stage of the plot is revealed.
What I loved about this is that the author walks away from the now tired set-up of the Crusades, Templars, blood of Christ and Mary Magdalene, the scripture, lost scrolls in the Holy Land etc., and has found a new enigma for our seekers to hunt. It makes a brilliant change and allows other parts of history to be examined by readers who might not be as familiar with the "new" treasures being sought.
I found the history of the Lost Throne very entertaining and genuinely enjoyed how the author incorporated a well known eccentric historian, Heinrich Schliemann (he "discovered" Troy and Mycenae) who used Homer's books as inspiration for his discoveries, into the storyline.
I am hesitant to make comparisons, but I can't help but point out that if you like Scott Mariani, Steve Berry, (the most dreaded comparison of all) Dan Brown, Will Adams, David Gibbins and Sam Bourne, then you will thoroughly love and enjoy Chris Kuzneski's The Lost Throne.
It is a well researched novel and it takes an interesting (and I hope fictional) view of an ancient warrior society in Greece. I found that the author treated the monastic society in the Aegean with great care, never vilifying them, which made a nice and interesting change from a reader's point of view, leaving you with enough information in the novel, to make your own mind up. I really am looking forward to the next novel as there will be repercussions from the end of this one to follow through. (note to author: hurry up and write!)
I would highly recommend reading The Lost Throne for good escapist fun, especially if you like your adventure stories with good dollops of history, lost treasure and a bit of conjecture.
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5 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Cliched, 23 Jan 2009
I seem to be going against the flow of comments on this book but I found the writing very cliched, the characters uninteresting (the main ones unbelievable and, in most respects, too perfect) and the historical side a fantasy. As a detective/action novel, the plot had some good points but was far too coincidental. I finished it only because I am interested in the topic (Ancient Greece). I would not buy another novel by the same author.
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