As an antique map dealer in a small English town, Harry Blake appreciates the quiet life. But when a local landowner asks him to value a 400 year old journal and twelve hours later he is brutally murdered, Harry's peace of mind is shattered. What does the dusty journal contain that is a matter of life or death? Why is someone prepared to pay Harry a fortune to steal it? He turns to marine historian Zola Khan to uncover the mysteries. The trail of the journal leads him into a world of deadly Elizabethan conspiracies, and the thread of history takes him through a thousand years of religious intrigue back to the blood-soaked Crusades. And he finally learns that at stake are millions of dollars and a plan to trigger nothing less than war...
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Review
"'The most exciting book I have ever read' Arthur C. Clarke 'Outrageously exciting. A cunningly devised tale' Literary Review 'Written by a leading astronomer, THE LURE combines electrifying thrills with issues of real concern to the scientific community and all of us...An intelligent, thought provoking and satisfying 'what if adventure' Irish Independent 'It's excellent fiction: a way to catch up on some physics and planetology while an entertaining and gripping story unfolds. The story has a gritty authenticity' New Scientist"
About the Author
Bill Napier is an astronomer at Armagh Observatory and an honorary professor at Cardiff University. His three previous thrillers, NEMESIS, REVELATION and THE LURE, have all been published by Headline. He lives in Ireland with his wife.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By J. Chippindale
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback
When I had this book given as a Christmas present I did not think it would be my cup of tea. How wrong can you be? Bill Napier is a new author to me, so I had no pre-conceived ideas of his writing style or accomplishment as a story teller and really loved the book.
Harry Blake is an antique map dealer in a small town in England and rarely becomes involved in anything outside his field of expertise. But when he is asked to value a 400 year old journal by a local landowner who is subsequently murdered, Harry's peace of mind is shattered.
What is contained in the dusty old journal that warrants a murder?
The journal leads him into a world of deadly conspiracies in Elizabethan times and on through more than a thousand years of religious intrigue, back to the Crusades and a secret location of a holy relic.
Can Harry find the missing puzzle in the jigsaw that is attracting some particularly unscrupulous adversaries. At stake are millions of dollars and a terrorist plot . . .
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By Gina Skinner
Format:Paperback
This is such an exciting book. I picked it up because it said on the cover it was similar to The Da Vinci Code (by Dan Brown), which I loved. I must say, Shattered Icon is indeed, at least partly, similar to the Code, but it has so much more. While TDVC stays firmly in the present, Shattered Icon delves into the 16th century time and again, where it explains the famous Roanoke expedition as seen and experienced by the 15 year old scottish farmer's son James Ogilvie. This novel really does have it all. Suspense, educational elements, mysteries, ruthless killers, tiny fragments of love and romance (any more would have been cheesey) and a satisfying ending. A real pageturner. Very impressive!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Jimbo Klang
Format:Paperback
I loved this book and cant wait to read more of Bill Napier's books. If you like fast paced intelligent and enjoyable books this is the one for you. I am sitting writing this review because its a good book and deserves a positive review.
I think the paragraphs and layout make for a fast paced read - if you love long enormous endless verbose philosophical flaccid dense paragraphs that go slowly thoroughly and tediously, indirectly and passively nowhere then this ISNT the book for you, and Finnegans Wake is always available!
If however you like pacey thrillers, that are enjoyable, written with vigour and enthusiasm, and show clever thinking and entertaining ideas, I would say buy and read this book. Its great stuff and well worth the money.
It has a great beginning, lyrical and evocative and the story races along with great speed with gripping ideas and wide ranging intelligent themes, from the ethos of Christianity, Elizabethan skullduggery, and what people may do for a tantalising view of some profound and life changing truth. Now thats what I want in a book - and I really loved it. I dont know what more you might want!!
This is a good thrilling read, a real pleasure and not a chore, with a pacey story that doesnt let up. Really its cracking stuff.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent book
This is a book that involves the hunt for a 400-year-old journal. The story switches between the past and the present. Read more
Published on 14 May 2006 by BC
2.0 out of 5 stars
Shattered Icon
I picked this book up partly because of the reviews on this site and the cover description.
However, I'm afraid I found it incredibly dull. Read more
Published on 17 Mar 2006 by Scoobytooby
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fast Paced Da Vinci Code Like Thriller
Having reading and really enjoyed a couple of Napier's other books ("Revelation" and "Nemesis") I thought I'd give this one a go.
There are two stories in one. Read more
Published on 5 Feb 2006 by Scottish Dave
2.0 out of 5 stars
Enid Blyton meets the Da Vinci code
This book has a reasonable plot and was generally a fairly decent read. Unfortunately it was badly let down by some of the most unconvincing dialogue I have ever read. Read more
Published on 26 Jan 2006 by D. S. Imrie
3.0 out of 5 stars
Lots of fun, but the plot makes no sense
Bill Napier, author of "Shattered Icon", seems to be trying to be Britain's answer to Dan Brown, author of the super-success "The Da Vinci Code". Read more
Published on 14 Jan 2006 by Rennie Petersen
1.0 out of 5 stars
laughable
What a totally farcicle plot. Who would risk being killed for a customer you didn't even like? who would, after having their life threatened, not go to the police - for no... Read more
Published on 27 Dec 2005 by M. Breakwell
3.0 out of 5 stars
Napier showing signs of slowing down
"Shattered icon" is a good read - flowing,tense and with a nice dual narration of our hero and the manuscript he finds,both in the first tense. Read more
Published on 6 Feb 2004
4.0 out of 5 stars
BEAUTY!
This is really a good read. It's that simple. It's a genuine page turner that keeps you enthralled as to what the outcome of the adventure will be. Read more
Published on 21 Nov 2003
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