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The Map
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Product Description
Book Description
From the author of 2010's biggest-selling thriller debut, an ingenious, exciting adventure in the tradition of Kate Mosse's Labyrinth and Raymond Khoury's The Last Templar
Product Description
Mazes, riddles, witchcraft . . . and centuries-old secrets
An Oxford classics scholar has discovered an ancient scroll.
A band of black-magic worshippers has gathered in London.
A map to three labyrinths hidden within Europe has been unfolded.
And an ancient mystery is calling . . .
Pursued by spies and secret agents, guarding the map from unseen enemies, August Winthrop plunges headlong into a Europe ravaged by war. But the map will lead him farther than he ever dreamed - into a series of labyrinths with the power to change the world.
From the Top 10 bestselling author of Sphinx comes the most dazzling novel of the year - a sophisticated, relentlessly exciting story in the tradition of Dan Brown, Robert Harris and Kate Mosse.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition
I was intrigued by the premise and realised that it wasn't going to be a great work of literature. However, this book just plods along, always appearing to be on the verge of something exciting but never getting there.
The hero is unengaging bordering on repellent. The style is pure Dan Brown at his worst at times but I think I expected that. There was a point where I began to think it was an English language translation such were the grammatical and punctuation mistakes but after about 100 pages those problems disappear so I suppose it simply hasn't been proof read properly.
Style quibbles aside, this ought to have been a romp - a guilty pleasure - but on the whole it is just dull.
The hero is unengaging bordering on repellent. The style is pure Dan Brown at his worst at times but I think I expected that. There was a point where I began to think it was an English language translation such were the grammatical and punctuation mistakes but after about 100 pages those problems disappear so I suppose it simply hasn't been proof read properly.
Style quibbles aside, this ought to have been a romp - a guilty pleasure - but on the whole it is just dull.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I don't normally leave negative reviews but felt compelled on this occasion! Do not waste your time and money on this book!
There seems to be a story developing for the first 580 pages (out of 590) and then everything suddenly just comes to a halt without any plausible explanation as to:
1) who exactly was Olivia, why she betrayed Shimon's family to the Inquisition but was rather sympathetic to August and what is her connection to Tyson;
2) who killed Professor Copps and why?
3) why was Olivia and Tyson following August?
4) where and when did Gabirel try the plant that gave him the "sight"?
5) who ordered Charlie's execution and why?
6) how did August make his way back to England to prove his innocence?
I believe that the three embarrassingly rushed "romantic" scenes towards the end of the book should have been replaced with passages answering at least some of questions above - but it looks like the page count was sadly more important than logical composition of the plot to the editors.
The characters are boring and not very believable - rather stereotyped and predictable and not very likable, either. I thought I might like Izarra but she didn't cut it in the end with her crazy act of pointless martyrdom.
The author wanted to demonstrate her knowledge of the Tree of Life but even that was done rather clumsily.
Several other reviewers mentioned that the book is poorly researched from historical point of view and I have to agree - Ottomans in the 8th century? Elvis popular in Germany in 1953? Please!!!
Oh, and the "marvellous bonus" chapter has got a number of spelling mistakes without adding any value to the storyline.
There seems to be a story developing for the first 580 pages (out of 590) and then everything suddenly just comes to a halt without any plausible explanation as to:
1) who exactly was Olivia, why she betrayed Shimon's family to the Inquisition but was rather sympathetic to August and what is her connection to Tyson;
2) who killed Professor Copps and why?
3) why was Olivia and Tyson following August?
4) where and when did Gabirel try the plant that gave him the "sight"?
5) who ordered Charlie's execution and why?
6) how did August make his way back to England to prove his innocence?
I believe that the three embarrassingly rushed "romantic" scenes towards the end of the book should have been replaced with passages answering at least some of questions above - but it looks like the page count was sadly more important than logical composition of the plot to the editors.
The characters are boring and not very believable - rather stereotyped and predictable and not very likable, either. I thought I might like Izarra but she didn't cut it in the end with her crazy act of pointless martyrdom.
The author wanted to demonstrate her knowledge of the Tree of Life but even that was done rather clumsily.
Several other reviewers mentioned that the book is poorly researched from historical point of view and I have to agree - Ottomans in the 8th century? Elvis popular in Germany in 1953? Please!!!
Oh, and the "marvellous bonus" chapter has got a number of spelling mistakes without adding any value to the storyline.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
The Map is a page-turning thriller, but it's also a very atmospheric and well researched journey through the Spanish Civil War, Spain under Franco, the Basque country and its people, all seen through the eyes of a great hero who is a vulnerable, thinking person's Indiana Jones. And there's some romance thrown in for good measure. I loved it.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Boring couldn't even finish it
It is very rare that I stop reading a book mid way, but The Map just did not do it for me. The plot was slow and the story seemed to take ages to develop. Read more
Published 1 month ago by SaraGL
Good read!
I enjoyed this book tho it was far fetched in parts.Didn't like the beg as not so keen on historical genre, but after that was captivated. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mrs. J. A. Smawfield
Too many problems
To be honest I was really looking forward to this book as I love a thriller mystery that takes you on a journey as well as giving you a huge pay off in a search for an item. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Gareth Wilson - Falcata Times Blog
Great read
Having read and loved 'Sphinx' by TS Learner I was very excited when I heard about 'The Map.' A fabulous read which didn't disappoint. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Aleks
The Map is a fantastic reading odyssey!
I have just finished reading "The Map" and felt compelled to share my excitement. The story takes you on a spell binding journey through the Spanish Civil War of the Thirties and... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Clavius
Boring
I didn't enjoy this book at all. Very ponderous. Barely worth a star. Not an author I would rush to read again or recommend.
Published 2 months ago by Mr. Frank Sanders
The Map
I have enjoyed The Map as a yarn, think of Dan Brown & the gamut of writers that have emerged in recent years all telling similar tales. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Terence B
Confused
A very good plot with lot's of twists & turns & very well written, but it would benefit greatly from a diagram explaining the sephirot. Read more
Published 2 months ago by A. Bibby
Not nice to critizise but.....
Gernica was bombed in 1937 not 1935. The international brigade fighters escaped in 1939 not 1936 and in fact defended Madrid in 1937. Read more
Published 2 months ago by readalot
The Map
An interesting book where the story continued to develop. Can recommend it as worthwhile, difficult to put down once started.
Published 2 months ago by Thomas P. Southall
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