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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Paul Christopher is a pseudonym of Christopher Hyde, wbo has had a varied career working as a researcher, editor, TV interviewer specialising in stories on technology, intelligence and the enviroment. He has written a number of books under the name of Hyde. He is a new author to me whether he be writing under the name of Christopher or Hyde.
This book could be classed under many different titles, adventure story, thriller and archaeological mystery. It has a little bit of everything and although the format is similar to many other books on the market qt the moment it is none the worse for that. I can think of several books that follow a very similar storyline, but this one is as well written as any of them and I found it both interesting and exciting.
The plot of the book revolves around an archaeological dig in Egypt. Finn Ryan is on the way to participate in the dig. She is to be the cartographer and illustrator for the team of archaeologists. On the plane she happens to meets Hilts, a pilot and photographer who is also heading for the site. Over dinner he gives Finn some background information about the expedition. Part of the detail is that the last team to occupy the site was an Italian team. They were looking for the tomb of a monk believed to be the Apostle Thomas. The expedition disappeared in a sandstorm and nothing was ever heard of them again . . .
I personally enjoyed the book, particularly as I have a long standing interest in archaeology in general and Egypt in particular, but for some reader's the storyline (race against time to find a hidden relic and save the world from the bad boy's) is a much used one, particularly recently and may be wearing a bit thin by now. On the plus side the book is action packed and grabs the attention from virtually the first page. The author manages in the main to keep the story believable and does not stray too much into the realms of fantasy.
This book could be classed under many different titles, adventure story, thriller and archaeological mystery. It has a little bit of everything and although the format is similar to many other books on the market qt the moment it is none the worse for that. I can think of several books that follow a very similar storyline, but this one is as well written as any of them and I found it both interesting and exciting.
The plot of the book revolves around an archaeological dig in Egypt. Finn Ryan is on the way to participate in the dig. She is to be the cartographer and illustrator for the team of archaeologists. On the plane she happens to meets Hilts, a pilot and photographer who is also heading for the site. Over dinner he gives Finn some background information about the expedition. Part of the detail is that the last team to occupy the site was an Italian team. They were looking for the tomb of a monk believed to be the Apostle Thomas. The expedition disappeared in a sandstorm and nothing was ever heard of them again . . .
I personally enjoyed the book, particularly as I have a long standing interest in archaeology in general and Egypt in particular, but for some reader's the storyline (race against time to find a hidden relic and save the world from the bad boy's) is a much used one, particularly recently and may be wearing a bit thin by now. On the plus side the book is action packed and grabs the attention from virtually the first page. The author manages in the main to keep the story believable and does not stray too much into the realms of fantasy.
5 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
I'm glad I was on holiday when I read this. It has elements of a decent thriller, and when the author gets down to it, he can write, but there's still a huge amount of work to be done.
The characters are believable up to a point, although their interaction strains at the bounds of credulity. The storyline is acceptable, although several of the elements are covered more convincingly in other works.
The main issue with the book is the continuity of the action, or rather, lack of it. The narrative seems episodic, with substantial challenges simply ignored in the ether between the end of one chapter and the beginning of the next.
I will most likely read more of the author's work, but not if I'm looking for something other than pulp fiction.
The characters are believable up to a point, although their interaction strains at the bounds of credulity. The storyline is acceptable, although several of the elements are covered more convincingly in other works.
The main issue with the book is the continuity of the action, or rather, lack of it. The narrative seems episodic, with substantial challenges simply ignored in the ether between the end of one chapter and the beginning of the next.
I will most likely read more of the author's work, but not if I'm looking for something other than pulp fiction.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
19 reviews
21 of 24 people found the following review helpful
More adventure than revelation
30 Aug 2006
Format:Mass Market Paperback
If you're a Dan Brown fan and are looking for more revelations, mysteries and puzzles, be warned that this isn't the book for you. Sure, the cover says "The Lucifer Gospel" and the blurb says "an earthshaking truth", but in fact this is more an Indiana Jones-type archaeological adventure with the requisite bad guys, secret passages and creepy crawlies, except that some of them are underwater.
The star, Finn Ryan, is female (which is great) with a multi-purpose macho sidekick to do the rough stuff, but she quickly proves that she's not going to hide in his shadow at crunch time. Starting with an archaeological expedition in the Sahara, Finn and Virgil (the macho sidekick) find a lot more than they originally bargained for, and when they uncover an ancient medallion with an inscription about a secret gospel, their adventure takes them across continents to an under-whelming finale.
Author Paul Christopher won't win any kudos from the tourism boards of Egypt and the Bahamas, and although this is a fast paced action/adventure, if you're buying this based on the blurbs, you'll find it a devilish deception.
Rated: 3.5 stars
Amanda Richards, August 29, 2006
The star, Finn Ryan, is female (which is great) with a multi-purpose macho sidekick to do the rough stuff, but she quickly proves that she's not going to hide in his shadow at crunch time. Starting with an archaeological expedition in the Sahara, Finn and Virgil (the macho sidekick) find a lot more than they originally bargained for, and when they uncover an ancient medallion with an inscription about a secret gospel, their adventure takes them across continents to an under-whelming finale.
Author Paul Christopher won't win any kudos from the tourism boards of Egypt and the Bahamas, and although this is a fast paced action/adventure, if you're buying this based on the blurbs, you'll find it a devilish deception.
Rated: 3.5 stars
Amanda Richards, August 29, 2006
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
shallow yet entertaining
29 Aug 2006
Format:Mass Market Paperback
I picked up this novel in the Orlando Airport and had managed to finish 1/3 of it by the time my plane touched down in Albany. Mr. Christopher is very adept at setting up scenes and moving the action along at a breakneck pace. The weakness of this novel is Mr. Christopher's inability to flesh out his characters and plot which would have turned this novel into a first rate Preston/Child thriller rather than a sketchy travelogue.
Not to say that "The Lucifer Gospel" isn't entertaining. The novel is a fast read with locales stretching from Egypt to the deserts of Libya, Italy, France, the Bahamas and Illinois (how does Illinois fit in with those exotic locations? You'll find out!) Finn Ryan is hired onto an archeological expedition in Libya led by the enigmatic and mysterious Mr. Adamson, the grandson of an infamous evangelist who just happens to be a little bit crazy. She meets photographer Virgil Hilts who also happens to be working on the dig and together they endure numerous Indiana Jones style troubles pertaining to the discovery of a long lost gospel carried by a Roman soldier named Lucifer Africanus (Anyone thinking that the Lucifer in the novel was THE Lucifer will be sorely disappointed)that will reveal stunning revelations that will rock the world... The plot has been repeated many times the past five years but those who like this sort of book will still be intrigued even though the last third of the book is a tremendous let down.
Like "The Da Vinci Code", Mr. Christopher's novel is a nice bit of reading for a summer day, not to be taken too seriously as it is not deep or well written enough to merit serious consideration.
Not to say that "The Lucifer Gospel" isn't entertaining. The novel is a fast read with locales stretching from Egypt to the deserts of Libya, Italy, France, the Bahamas and Illinois (how does Illinois fit in with those exotic locations? You'll find out!) Finn Ryan is hired onto an archeological expedition in Libya led by the enigmatic and mysterious Mr. Adamson, the grandson of an infamous evangelist who just happens to be a little bit crazy. She meets photographer Virgil Hilts who also happens to be working on the dig and together they endure numerous Indiana Jones style troubles pertaining to the discovery of a long lost gospel carried by a Roman soldier named Lucifer Africanus (Anyone thinking that the Lucifer in the novel was THE Lucifer will be sorely disappointed)that will reveal stunning revelations that will rock the world... The plot has been repeated many times the past five years but those who like this sort of book will still be intrigued even though the last third of the book is a tremendous let down.
Like "The Da Vinci Code", Mr. Christopher's novel is a nice bit of reading for a summer day, not to be taken too seriously as it is not deep or well written enough to merit serious consideration.
10 of 12 people found the following review helpful
don't buy this - borrow it from the library first
10 Oct 2006
Format:Mass Market Paperback
I was so disappointed in this book. Story lines were left unfinished and explanations were lacking. The female main character, Finn, was supposed to be brilliant but there were times she seemed completely clueless and actually dumb. This author is a Dan Brown wannabe without success. The characters were not particularly likable or unlikable. Certain references using teenage lingo are unnecessary, for example, what is a "wifebeater" as a piece of men's clothing. To me, a wifebeater is an abusive man who should be in jail. SInce I don't know what a 'wifebeater" is in men's clothing, I guess I'm just too old for this book. In addition, the two main characters, finn and Hilts, spend the majority of the book just running from various pursuers and little time was spent developing what the Lucifer Gospel really was. Don't buy this book - borrow it.
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