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The Lost Temple
by
Tom Harper
For three thousand years, the world’s most dangerous treasure has been lost. Now the code that reveals its hiding place is about to be broken . . .
Greece, 1947. Europe is just beginning to heal after World War II, but the fighting in Greece continues as a civil war is waged. Sam Grant, a disgraced ex–Special Operations Executive soldier and an adventurer by trade, is lur...more
Greece, 1947. Europe is just beginning to heal after World War II, but the fighting in Greece continues as a civil war is waged. Sam Grant, a disgraced ex–Special Operations Executive soldier and an adventurer by trade, is lur...more
ebook, 336 pages
Published
October 28th 2008
by Thomas Dunne Books
(first published 2007)
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About 50-60 pages into the book, I stopped reading it. I selected it based on the summary on the dust jacket, thinking it would be something like The Da Vinci Code. It was, sort of, but it was so full of explosions and shootings, the puzzle and mystery became secondary to the plot.
At the beginning of the novel, 1941, I learn that Sam Grant is a British special forces sort of soldier who was bodyguarding the king of Greece. He meets an archeologist during the German invasion of Crete. The archeol...more
At the beginning of the novel, 1941, I learn that Sam Grant is a British special forces sort of soldier who was bodyguarding the king of Greece. He meets an archeologist during the German invasion of Crete. The archeol...more
Cheese that would make the master cheesemakers in my area proud. The unashamed illegitimate love child of Dan Brown/WEB Griffin/Indiana Jones. It's got the cliche cast of: disgraced mercenary special forces type. Gorgeous dark voluptuous Greek resistance fighter that must be, of course, the male protagonist's EX lover. The usual over thinking academic type. The usual bad German 'archaeologist' described in porcine terminology. The usual Soviet baddies. The usual spy baddies. The end of the world...more
I loved the premise of this, Achilles armour and shield. That was what grabbed my attention in the first place. I was sad to say I never connected with the characters. For me to enjoy a book, I have to have that connection.
Grant, the main character was lackadaisical in my eyes, he never quite got the whole hero of the story down pat. Reed, the archaeologist...there were parts I wanted to shoot him, myself. The rest of the characters where so bland if I chose to mention them here, I would have to...more
Grant, the main character was lackadaisical in my eyes, he never quite got the whole hero of the story down pat. Reed, the archaeologist...there were parts I wanted to shoot him, myself. The rest of the characters where so bland if I chose to mention them here, I would have to...more
It ain't Shakespeare, but if you happen to be a Classics nerd, I definitely recommend this: post-World War II hunt for a lost substance that the Minoans found on a meteor, which is the basis of Homer's story of Achilles' shield. My favorite scene (somewhat spoiler-ish, so I'll hide it), which, if you're a Classicist, should help you understand what the attraction of this book is:
(view spoiler)...more
(view spoiler)...more
The Lost Temple is an energetic romp around the Mediterranean for historical adventurers. If the island of Crete, Minoans, Greek gods, Linear B, Nazis, Turks and Soviet operatives are your thing, then you will enjoy the book. If not, then you will find it to be worth the three stars that I gave it.
For me, I lived on Crete, visited Knossos, and know of the Nazi airborne invasion and a lot of the archaeological references. I enjoyed the book, but I am not sure that I am overly excited about it. A...more
For me, I lived on Crete, visited Knossos, and know of the Nazi airborne invasion and a lot of the archaeological references. I enjoyed the book, but I am not sure that I am overly excited about it. A...more
Uneven pacing and an ending that seemed rushed detract a bit from what is otherwise a solid thriller with an interesting historical perspective. In this one, which is mostly set in 1947, the good guys are on the hunt for the shield of Achilles. Yes, that Achilles. Seems there was more truth to the Iliad than many would have believed. In any case, it seems that one of the shield's components has some less savory uses in 1947, and both the Soviets and Americans are after it. All in all, a fun outi...more
Oct 27, 2010
Brian
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
adventure,
historical-fiction
This novel takes place in post-war Europe in 1947. A number of years ago Sam Grant is given a leather notebook by a dying archaeologist. When the KGB starts looking for this notebook, Grant decides to go on his own expedition to find the shield made for Achilles. He is helped by an Oxford professor, Arthur Reed, and a beautiful Greek archaeologist, Marina.
This was a fun adventure novel with the Russians on their tail, they travel all around Europe following clues that will take them to the templ...more
This was a fun adventure novel with the Russians on their tail, they travel all around Europe following clues that will take them to the templ...more
I was rather wary of reading this after seeing the reviews on here, but I am glad I stuck it out and got into it. It is rather slow in the beginning even though it jumps into a lot of action from the beginning. You never develop an attachment to the characters, but it does not detract from the story. Rather, you watch the events from a detached perspective. I will say that most of the twists and turns were not very surprising, but what sold this book to me is the Homeric connection and quest fo...more
"The palace of Knossos was no longer the labyrinth it had been in legend, but there were still ways to lose yourself in it, and Pemberton knew the layout better than any man alive." Sadly, a pedestrian read but with enough gems of brilliance to keep me reading. Born in 1977, Harper studied History at Oxford and published this book in 2007. Harper commented on this book as follows "1.6.07 - The Bookseller claims that the novel is 'an unashamed Da Vinci Code rip-off'. That's mostly untrue - it's a...more
My review of this book isn't really fair. I found Goodreads right in the middle of it and I was far more interested in filling my "shelves" than reading the book. That it didn't hold my attention over this application says something. Gave it 2 stars, it was just OK.
I liked the concept - The hunt for an ancient artifact that we believe is only myth...
Biggest criticism - disjointed, awkward dialog sections where who was talking wasn't exactly clear.
I liked the concept - The hunt for an ancient artifact that we believe is only myth...
Biggest criticism - disjointed, awkward dialog sections where who was talking wasn't exactly clear.
During World War II the Germans attack an English archaeologist in Crete in an attempt to secure tablets indicating the presence of a mythical Greek shield. After the war, ex-OSS agent Sam Grant is sprung from prison to aid the joint English-American search for the shield. The Russians are trying to retrieve it themselves. Both groups chase all over the Mediterrain in the search. Plenty of action and violence mixed in with some classical poetry.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I picked this book up at BEA last year as it looked like something I would like. I was right. I thought it was great. It's a historical adventure set just after WWII, and is a fast-paced, Indiana Jones type story. The character development was a bit slow, but once the book gets moving, it doesn't stop and kept me turning the pages! I'm going to look into other Tom Harper novels to see if they are similar.
Aug 16, 2012
Andronicus Kok
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
books-ive-read-in-2011
Finished reading Tom Harper's - The Lost Temple. An ex special ops soldier is entrusted with a leather notebook filled with an archaeologist life work which contains a deadly secret. He sets out to find why he has died protecting it and what's it worth behind the secret even though its in ancient Greek and mysterious symbols. A so so read disappointed with the story flow. Sigh :(
I never really get tired of the Indiana Jones type of story. A frantic search for a treasure of antiquity that holds a secret power. Post WW2. This time the shield of Achilles, which is made of a rare radioactive metal from a meteorite, that turns out to be capable of producing a mega-nuclear bomb. Stalin wants it, can't let him have it. Good airplane book.
This book was meh....not bad but failed to hold my interest for more than a couple chapters at a time. The hunt for the missing artifact was drawn out and the ending expected. However, I did enjoy the concept behind the novel and overall would recommend it to someone who has nothing else to read. I guess what I am trying to say is that it is worth the read.
Audiobook. Finally finished. If I wasn't listening with someone I think I'd have given up. It's interesting enough, but the author has certain style traits that get frustrating. Particularly his habit of killing off anyone he doesn't know what to do with. Everyone dies in this book - as soon as they've wrapped up helping the plot, they die.
Unsatisfying ending, I don't believe the scholar would have behaved that way. But anyway, finished.
Unsatisfying ending, I don't believe the scholar would have behaved that way. But anyway, finished.
I finished the book last night to find out how it ended even skipping a section to "get it done!" This book has a LOT of action: some of the tunnel and underwater sections gave me the heebie jeebies!
The story is set in 1947 and I found the background of post-WW2 very interesting.
The story is set in 1947 and I found the background of post-WW2 very interesting.
Here's a book jumping on the coattails of the success of The Da Vinci Code (which was a poorly written book with a fascinating plot). This is slightly better written, but not terribly believable. I don't know why I keep picking these books up--I'm just hoping to find the treasure, I guess.
Hard to follow at times, but a good adventure. Talked a lot about Homer, which was cool. Good story about Classic "Heroes" but I didn't Like the ending. Borrowed this book from the library and am hesitant to add to my collection. Maybe only if I find it cheep.
Приятен приключенски роман,с известно количество екшън,героите се впускат в търсене на артефакт. Действието се развива в Гърция и черноморието, а в основата му са разплитането на тайни, залегнали в древногръцките митове и легенди. През цялото време докато я четях, си представях сюжета филмиран :)
This book was fairly disappointing. I kept falling asleep while reading it! There was a LOT of dialogue... too much in fact. The characters weren't well developed... they were more like charactures.
The Greek linear B writing still fascinates some.It's a book about the search for a Temple,...involves trips to the White Isle of the Black Sea,and to the Azov Sea...; and constant references to Greek mythology: Achilles and Helen,Ulysses,Athena,Perseus....Greek nostalgia.
A little bit of mystery in life is supposed to be good but it seems it can be a reason for a lot nasty stuff also. Loved reading this and was hard pressed to stay with my half hour a day schedule of reading.
I enjoyed how the author entwined some of the Greek classics into the story. Homer's Odyssey, the legend of Achilles, etc. I learned some things about Greek Mythology that I didn't know before.
Good read, short book but worth it.
Deals with Ancient Greek poetry - it's all about Achilles.
Characters are good, need a little help here and there but it wasn't bad.
Deals with Ancient Greek poetry - it's all about Achilles.
Characters are good, need a little help here and there but it wasn't bad.
I enjoyed this book tremendously and hoped that the author would come out with another book I really liked, but he hasn't. I found this book intriguing.
Took a bit to get into. Nothing special, and wouldn't tell anyone to run out and get it, but wouldn't tell anyone to run away either.
I found this a good read - not brilliant and but quick and easy which appeals to my need to finish at least 2 books every week. As they have to fit round crafting, housework etc. one of them must be a reasonably easy read.
Solid, Indiana Jones-esque, adventure. The characters are OK without being overly deep. Plot moves quickly and suspension of disbelief is required and easily enough given.
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Tom Harper was born in West Germany in 1977 and grew up in Germany, Belgium and America; he now lives in England. He is chair of the Crime Writers' Association and also a member of the Historical Novels Society and the Society of Authors.
Tom Harper also writes historical adventures as Edwin Thomas.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thre...more
More about Tom Harper...
Tom Harper also writes historical adventures as Edwin Thomas.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thre...more
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Jan 09, 2009 06:20am
May 06, 2013 08:43am