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Event Group Thriller #8
Carpathian
Rumors of the seemingly magical victory that allowed the Exodus of Israelites from Egypt have resonated through the archaeological world for decades. Now evidence has been discovered that explains how the ancient Hebrews destroyed the unstoppable army of Pharaoh—a tribe of warriors who disappeared after the destruction of the City of Jericho, taking with them the most valued treasures of a people without a homeland.
Today a treasure of a different kind is unearthed at the lost ruins of Jericho, one that will change the history of God’s Chosen people for all time—the petrified remains of an animal that could not exist. Enter the Event Group. Led by Col. Jack Collins, the Group's brilliant men and women gather to discover the truth behind not only the Exodus, but also the magnificent animals that led the defeat of Pharoah’s army. On a whirlwind race to save the most valuable treasure and artifacts in the history of the world from those who would destroy them, the Event Group will come face to face with every myth, legend and historical truth that has ever unfolded in the mythic and larger than life Carpathians—or as the area was once known—Transylvania, the land of Vlad the Impaler.
Today a treasure of a different kind is unearthed at the lost ruins of Jericho, one that will change the history of God’s Chosen people for all time—the petrified remains of an animal that could not exist. Enter the Event Group. Led by Col. Jack Collins, the Group's brilliant men and women gather to discover the truth behind not only the Exodus, but also the magnificent animals that led the defeat of Pharoah’s army. On a whirlwind race to save the most valuable treasure and artifacts in the history of the world from those who would destroy them, the Event Group will come face to face with every myth, legend and historical truth that has ever unfolded in the mythic and larger than life Carpathians—or as the area was once known—Transylvania, the land of Vlad the Impaler.
665 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 30, 2013
64 people are currently reading
802 people want to read
About the author
David L. Golemon
26 books532 followersDavid L. Golemon (a.k.a. David Lynn Golemon ) is the author of the Event Group Thrillers, including Event, Ancients, Leviathan and Primeval. Legend, the second book in the series, was nominated for a RITA award for paranormal fiction.
Golemon learned an early love of reading from his father, who told him that the written word, unlike other forms, allows readers to use their own minds, the greatest special effects machines of all—an idea Golemon still believes. The only thing he loves more than writing is research, especially historical research, and he sees the subtext of his Event novels as being that understanding history allows us to create a better future. Golemon grew up in Chino, California, and now makes his home in New York.
Golemon learned an early love of reading from his father, who told him that the written word, unlike other forms, allows readers to use their own minds, the greatest special effects machines of all—an idea Golemon still believes. The only thing he loves more than writing is research, especially historical research, and he sees the subtext of his Event novels as being that understanding history allows us to create a better future. Golemon grew up in Chino, California, and now makes his home in New York.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
December 26, 2016
4.5 Stars
THAT ENDING...WHAT!!!!!!!
THAT ENDING...WHAT!!!!!!!
November 29, 2014
I think David Golemon needs a copyeditor. Or a proofreader. Something. Anything.
I started the Event Group series with the expectation that it would be silly fun, and nothing more. The first few books were silly, but they were also mildly entertaining, so that's fine. Unfortunately, as time passed, the books became less about the unexplained and more about the incomprehensible ... writing. For example, in Ripper (taking the beaten-to-death and back again trope of Jack the Ripper), I literally could not understand what was going on in some scenes. Here's a link to my review, because I honestly cannot fathom going over that gelatinous globby mess of a book again.
And yet, there's something masochistic in my reading nature. I'll get burned by a book and then pick up the sequel wondering, "Can it really get any worse?"
Newsflash to myself: Yes, it can. It will. I promise. Enter: Carpathian.
To be fair, Golemon seems to have overcome his allergy to commas, for most of them populate the proper places in this book. Usually. Now we have some truly epic sentences, containing about four independent clauses strung together by random marks of punctuation. There are also completely baffling "sentences" like this one: "The large soldier stood at attention barely Bible in the shadow-inducing tallow-fueled lamp as it spit out its weak light." It took me a full minute to realize that "Bible" is probably supposed to be "visible." How is a lamp "shadow-inducing"? Would a lamp, be it very weak, not drive away shadows? How does one "induce" a shadow, anyway? I would also have thought that a lamp used by the Roman Empire would be fueled by oil, not animal fat (tallow). Per this article from the Craven Museum in the UK, oil lamps were an alternative to tallow or beeswax candles. You can't really pour tallow into a lamp, as it is solid at room temperature.
I'm sure you didn't start this review with the expectation of reading about tallow versus oil in Roman army lamps, but nitpicky is nitpicky.
And that's just one sentence.
The general premise of this book is that Israel's Exodus from Egypt didn't have divine assistance, but rather a "Lost Tribe" called the Jeddah who commanded armies of werewolves, called Golia. Okay, let's just run with this for a moment. It's the Golia who destroy the Egyptian army as they cross the Red Sea (which is more of a marsh than anything), and the Golia who destroy Jericho. After the Jericho business, though, the Golia tell Joshua they're sick and tired of doing all the dirty work, so they request permission to leave and take with them a holy relic. Joshua says, "Hmph, fine" and the Jeddah disappear, trekking north to end up in the Carpathian mountains.
Question: if the Israelites had the Jeddah and their Golia at their disposal, why did they wait so long to get the heck out of Dodge? I mean, if you had giant killer wolves, wouldn't you say, "Right, I'm not going to be a slave/servant/hired worker any longer!" and sic them on the Egyptians pronto?
Anyway. What Carpathian posits is that the Jeddah become "Gypsies" (the author's words, not mine). All through the book it's Gypsy-this and Gypsy-that and Gypsy Queen and oy vey. As far as I understand it, "gypsy" is a racial slur and has been used in really horrible ways. I believe Rom or Roma is the preferred usage. I felt so uncomfortable with all of the mysterious "Gypsy" ways. You couldn't be bothered to check whether that was an acceptable term or not? Ugh.
Aside from that, there is really no story. Colonel Jack Collins, head of security for the Event Group, is being all flouncy about not letting his friends help him track down his sister's murderer (I guess his sister died in the last book? Missed that). He finally accepts that Sarah is not in love with the Evil Frenchman, Henri Farbeaux, and sexytimes are had. Jack's best friend, Carl Everett, requests a transfer out of the Event Group, and Alice, their spunky octogenarian secretary/lady of many secrets commits a serious security breach involving an embedded spy at the Vatican. While these characters were never exceedingly multilayered, this is like watching shadow puppets. There's no depth at all. A character appears, says stuff, and leaves. It's like they used up all of their character in the first few books and are now just cardboard cutouts. The "plot" isn't much better or any more believable.
For example, Carl Everett and Jason Ryan (who is referred to as both "Jason" and "Ryan," often in sentences directly abutting one another), fly a military jet to Rome to extract their compromised spy, realizing that a top Mossad operative is on his tail. After many shenanigans (like, no one brought a map of Rome), they get ambushed by the Bad Mossad Guys but manage to escape. At this point, the spy says he wants to stay at the Vatican even though he might be compromised, and Carl and Jason are like, "Okay, dude. That's your choice." NO. Why did you fly to Europe to rescue someone who didn't want to be rescued and then you just leave him there as a bleeding open door to security? This makes no sense!
The aforementioned Mossad operative is a dangerously beautiful woman with heterochromia iridium (two differently-colored eyes) which is referenced all the time. I get it. Her eyes are two different colors. Congratulations! Her name is Mika Sorotzkin, and as you may have guessed, she is in fact a "Gypsy Princess" working to gather information for the Jeddah. Now, here's another thing that bothered me, although I could be totally wrong about this, and feel free to correct me. "Sorotzkin" is a Slavic name. I found a book called Jewish Family Names and Their Origins: An Etymological Dictionary by Heinrich and Eva Guggenheimer that listed "Sorotzkin" as a derivative of Soroka, which is a Russian last name, or Sokja, which would be Czech. However, Mika is originally from Romania,where they speak Romanian (duh). Romanian is actually the fourth Romance language (along with Spanish, French, and Italian) and is not related to Slavic languages like Czech or Russian. So why she would have a Russo-Czech last name is just beyond me--presumably she speaks neither Russian nor Czech, but does speak Romanian and Hebrew. Secondly, how did she end up in the Mossad without any past history? I don't think they let just anyone walk in off the street, say they're Israeli, and then join up. Her main abilities seem to be: having two differently-colored eyes and not aging.
I made it a third of the way through the book and nothing happened. There was all this weird setup with a casino in Transylvania and the Russian Mafia (naturally), but nothing really ... happened. I assume things happened in the end, because I read the last few chapters. And dangit. The teaser for the next book sounds slightly interesting, so help me. That's the problem with Golemon's later books: interesting ideas but atrocious execution.
In my review of Ripper, I called it a "viscous glob of high fructose corn syrup, contaminated with e.coli and coated with hairballs." Carpathian isn't as bad as that; rather, it's more of a neverending river of flavorless flummery spotted with stomach-churning flecks of mold.
I started the Event Group series with the expectation that it would be silly fun, and nothing more. The first few books were silly, but they were also mildly entertaining, so that's fine. Unfortunately, as time passed, the books became less about the unexplained and more about the incomprehensible ... writing. For example, in Ripper (taking the beaten-to-death and back again trope of Jack the Ripper), I literally could not understand what was going on in some scenes. Here's a link to my review, because I honestly cannot fathom going over that gelatinous globby mess of a book again.
And yet, there's something masochistic in my reading nature. I'll get burned by a book and then pick up the sequel wondering, "Can it really get any worse?"
Newsflash to myself: Yes, it can. It will. I promise. Enter: Carpathian.
To be fair, Golemon seems to have overcome his allergy to commas, for most of them populate the proper places in this book. Usually. Now we have some truly epic sentences, containing about four independent clauses strung together by random marks of punctuation. There are also completely baffling "sentences" like this one: "The large soldier stood at attention barely Bible in the shadow-inducing tallow-fueled lamp as it spit out its weak light." It took me a full minute to realize that "Bible" is probably supposed to be "visible." How is a lamp "shadow-inducing"? Would a lamp, be it very weak, not drive away shadows? How does one "induce" a shadow, anyway? I would also have thought that a lamp used by the Roman Empire would be fueled by oil, not animal fat (tallow). Per this article from the Craven Museum in the UK, oil lamps were an alternative to tallow or beeswax candles. You can't really pour tallow into a lamp, as it is solid at room temperature.
I'm sure you didn't start this review with the expectation of reading about tallow versus oil in Roman army lamps, but nitpicky is nitpicky.
And that's just one sentence.
The general premise of this book is that Israel's Exodus from Egypt didn't have divine assistance, but rather a "Lost Tribe" called the Jeddah who commanded armies of werewolves, called Golia. Okay, let's just run with this for a moment. It's the Golia who destroy the Egyptian army as they cross the Red Sea (which is more of a marsh than anything), and the Golia who destroy Jericho. After the Jericho business, though, the Golia tell Joshua they're sick and tired of doing all the dirty work, so they request permission to leave and take with them a holy relic. Joshua says, "Hmph, fine" and the Jeddah disappear, trekking north to end up in the Carpathian mountains.
Question: if the Israelites had the Jeddah and their Golia at their disposal, why did they wait so long to get the heck out of Dodge? I mean, if you had giant killer wolves, wouldn't you say, "Right, I'm not going to be a slave/servant/hired worker any longer!" and sic them on the Egyptians pronto?
Anyway. What Carpathian posits is that the Jeddah become "Gypsies" (the author's words, not mine). All through the book it's Gypsy-this and Gypsy-that and Gypsy Queen and oy vey. As far as I understand it, "gypsy" is a racial slur and has been used in really horrible ways. I believe Rom or Roma is the preferred usage. I felt so uncomfortable with all of the mysterious "Gypsy" ways. You couldn't be bothered to check whether that was an acceptable term or not? Ugh.
Aside from that, there is really no story. Colonel Jack Collins, head of security for the Event Group, is being all flouncy about not letting his friends help him track down his sister's murderer (I guess his sister died in the last book? Missed that). He finally accepts that Sarah is not in love with the Evil Frenchman, Henri Farbeaux, and sexytimes are had. Jack's best friend, Carl Everett, requests a transfer out of the Event Group, and Alice, their spunky octogenarian secretary/lady of many secrets commits a serious security breach involving an embedded spy at the Vatican. While these characters were never exceedingly multilayered, this is like watching shadow puppets. There's no depth at all. A character appears, says stuff, and leaves. It's like they used up all of their character in the first few books and are now just cardboard cutouts. The "plot" isn't much better or any more believable.
For example, Carl Everett and Jason Ryan (who is referred to as both "Jason" and "Ryan," often in sentences directly abutting one another), fly a military jet to Rome to extract their compromised spy, realizing that a top Mossad operative is on his tail. After many shenanigans (like, no one brought a map of Rome), they get ambushed by the Bad Mossad Guys but manage to escape. At this point, the spy says he wants to stay at the Vatican even though he might be compromised, and Carl and Jason are like, "Okay, dude. That's your choice." NO. Why did you fly to Europe to rescue someone who didn't want to be rescued and then you just leave him there as a bleeding open door to security? This makes no sense!
The aforementioned Mossad operative is a dangerously beautiful woman with heterochromia iridium (two differently-colored eyes) which is referenced all the time. I get it. Her eyes are two different colors. Congratulations! Her name is Mika Sorotzkin, and as you may have guessed, she is in fact a "Gypsy Princess" working to gather information for the Jeddah. Now, here's another thing that bothered me, although I could be totally wrong about this, and feel free to correct me. "Sorotzkin" is a Slavic name. I found a book called Jewish Family Names and Their Origins: An Etymological Dictionary by Heinrich and Eva Guggenheimer that listed "Sorotzkin" as a derivative of Soroka, which is a Russian last name, or Sokja, which would be Czech. However, Mika is originally from Romania,where they speak Romanian (duh). Romanian is actually the fourth Romance language (along with Spanish, French, and Italian) and is not related to Slavic languages like Czech or Russian. So why she would have a Russo-Czech last name is just beyond me--presumably she speaks neither Russian nor Czech, but does speak Romanian and Hebrew. Secondly, how did she end up in the Mossad without any past history? I don't think they let just anyone walk in off the street, say they're Israeli, and then join up. Her main abilities seem to be: having two differently-colored eyes and not aging.
I made it a third of the way through the book and nothing happened. There was all this weird setup with a casino in Transylvania and the Russian Mafia (naturally), but nothing really ... happened. I assume things happened in the end, because I read the last few chapters. And dangit. The teaser for the next book sounds slightly interesting, so help me. That's the problem with Golemon's later books: interesting ideas but atrocious execution.
In my review of Ripper, I called it a "viscous glob of high fructose corn syrup, contaminated with e.coli and coated with hairballs." Carpathian isn't as bad as that; rather, it's more of a neverending river of flavorless flummery spotted with stomach-churning flecks of mold.
April 25, 2015
Originally read 3 August 2013; listened to via Audible 25 April 2015 (knowing what comes in the following book made this a bit harder to listen to, but it also made me realise something amazing for future books... cannot wait!!!)
How the hell am I going to last before the next book?? Even though this adventure is resolved, "Carpathian" ends with a massive cliffhanger, which, if you're anything like me, you are going to be absolutely desperate to read!
But to focus on this book, the Event Group are this time on the search of the treasures of the Biblical Exodus, and to see if some of the legends about the Carpathian Mountains are real. As before, I feel like I'm back with family as the group interacts in sometimes sad, sometimes humorous ways. And the die hard romantic in me was thrilled to see Jack realise that Sara was not the least bit interested in Henri, and their romance is continuing strongly.
Mr Golemon, please write quickly!!! I have been so drawn back into this series that I plan to start from the beginning again, with the original novel "Event".
How the hell am I going to last before the next book?? Even though this adventure is resolved, "Carpathian" ends with a massive cliffhanger, which, if you're anything like me, you are going to be absolutely desperate to read!
But to focus on this book, the Event Group are this time on the search of the treasures of the Biblical Exodus, and to see if some of the legends about the Carpathian Mountains are real. As before, I feel like I'm back with family as the group interacts in sometimes sad, sometimes humorous ways. And the die hard romantic in me was thrilled to see Jack realise that Sara was not the least bit interested in Henri, and their romance is continuing strongly.
Mr Golemon, please write quickly!!! I have been so drawn back into this series that I plan to start from the beginning again, with the original novel "Event".
December 29, 2013
Excellent plot ruined by faulty research, lousy writing, and sloppy editing. The author has set the stage for the next installment, but it will be a tough slog, no doubt...
August 4, 2013
If you like myths, legends, secret societies and covert government groups mixed in with some science then this book is for you. The Event Group is an ultra-secret government group approved by the president to investigate the truth of ancient historical mysteries and the impact it can have on our world.
This event has to do with an ancient tribe of Israel and a secret weapon they have that was used during the Exodus and the Fall of Jericho. The mystery leads them to the Carpathian mountains where the group discovers the reality behind some of the legends there and the treasure they are protecting.
This was a fun, thrill ride that ends on a tremendous cliffhanger! I cannot wait for the next book to come out!! Highly recommended!
This event has to do with an ancient tribe of Israel and a secret weapon they have that was used during the Exodus and the Fall of Jericho. The mystery leads them to the Carpathian mountains where the group discovers the reality behind some of the legends there and the treasure they are protecting.
This was a fun, thrill ride that ends on a tremendous cliffhanger! I cannot wait for the next book to come out!! Highly recommended!
August 26, 2013
I look forward each year to the newest release in the Event Group Series. The adventures are always fun, the characters are enjoyable and the science fiction/historical aspect to Mr. Golemon's series are informative and entertaining.
Generally, I purchase the hard cover of this series as soon as they're out, but this time I read it on my Kindle. One of my ongoing criticisms of this series is that each one has seemed to suffer from lack of a good proofreader. The Kindle version did not differ from the print versions in this aspect. I found constant errors. There were multiple typos in Carpathian. The fact that I found them at all makes me think there are many more that escaped my notice. Golemon has a tendency in this one to alternate his pronouns when referring to the animals featured in the plot. In one sentence he uses "he" and the next sentence, "it," even when the story is told from the animal's own point of view.
Reading on the Kindle always makes novels seem longer than reading the print versions. Carpathian was slightly longer in page count than previous Event Group novels, but the fact that the first third of the novel weighed heavily toward the villains and another group of characters involved in the story made it seem a slog. I wanted to get to my beloved Event Group personnel. This factor, in addition to a very lengthy action sequence at the end made me think that in addition to a proofreader, Golemon might benefit from a new editor. For all of these reasons, I can only give this three stars. For the first time, I just wanted to finish an Event Group novel. Previously, I've not wanted them to end.
All of that said, the payoff as to the "treasure" was quite good, although not unexpected. Golemon's recurring characters were on point and made me laugh out loud, as always. The end of Carpathian sets up the next novel - one I'm definitely looking forward to reading.
Generally, I purchase the hard cover of this series as soon as they're out, but this time I read it on my Kindle. One of my ongoing criticisms of this series is that each one has seemed to suffer from lack of a good proofreader. The Kindle version did not differ from the print versions in this aspect. I found constant errors. There were multiple typos in Carpathian. The fact that I found them at all makes me think there are many more that escaped my notice. Golemon has a tendency in this one to alternate his pronouns when referring to the animals featured in the plot. In one sentence he uses "he" and the next sentence, "it," even when the story is told from the animal's own point of view.
Reading on the Kindle always makes novels seem longer than reading the print versions. Carpathian was slightly longer in page count than previous Event Group novels, but the fact that the first third of the novel weighed heavily toward the villains and another group of characters involved in the story made it seem a slog. I wanted to get to my beloved Event Group personnel. This factor, in addition to a very lengthy action sequence at the end made me think that in addition to a proofreader, Golemon might benefit from a new editor. For all of these reasons, I can only give this three stars. For the first time, I just wanted to finish an Event Group novel. Previously, I've not wanted them to end.
All of that said, the payoff as to the "treasure" was quite good, although not unexpected. Golemon's recurring characters were on point and made me laugh out loud, as always. The end of Carpathian sets up the next novel - one I'm definitely looking forward to reading.
March 28, 2013
Wow! Mr. Golemon has done it again.
An encounter on a yacht in Hong Kong Harbor 47 years ago seeking to stop the illegal sale of antiquities sets the stage for the latest Event Group investigation. The team travels to a remote part of Romania, once called Transylvania, on a quest to verify the existence of one of the Lost Tribes of Israel. What they find there shakes the very foundations of Biblical history and there are factions that will prevent that discovery from ever being brought to light no matter what the cost. Also added to the mix is a ruthless Russian gangster intent on plundering what has been guarded and kept a secret for over 3,500 years.
It's well worth reading and now I can't wait for the 9th book in this series as you will find out for yourself as the Event Group prepares for its next investigation into the distant past.
An encounter on a yacht in Hong Kong Harbor 47 years ago seeking to stop the illegal sale of antiquities sets the stage for the latest Event Group investigation. The team travels to a remote part of Romania, once called Transylvania, on a quest to verify the existence of one of the Lost Tribes of Israel. What they find there shakes the very foundations of Biblical history and there are factions that will prevent that discovery from ever being brought to light no matter what the cost. Also added to the mix is a ruthless Russian gangster intent on plundering what has been guarded and kept a secret for over 3,500 years.
It's well worth reading and now I can't wait for the 9th book in this series as you will find out for yourself as the Event Group prepares for its next investigation into the distant past.
August 22, 2013
The Event Thrillers are always entertaining. David keeps the story evolving & the action mounting to a crescendo's pitch!
August 13, 2016
My least favorite book in this series so far. Normally with these books you dont want to put them down, but this one did not have that same feel for me.
April 24, 2014
Mehh - nothing great
April 18, 2014
Couldn't finish it.
November 27, 2022
The Event Group gets to deal with all the cool monsters from myth and legend. In this novel, the team is sent into the Carpathian mountains in the area once known as Transylvania, in search of a treasure referenced in the Bible. When Alice was first working for Event Group, she and Garrison attended a black market antiquities sale and she first learns of a treasure in this area as well as a suggestion that the treasure may be that which Moses took from Egypt. Now, decades later, after Garrison is gone, Alice requests an Event be declared to investigate this legend. They get more than bargained for, as they are competing to find this treasure against a rogue Mossad group lead by a violent, ruthless man. The Event group learns that a community of Romani in the area may have information about the treasure, as well as information about the legendary soldiers that protected the treasure. Throw in a Russian mob guy building a totally tacking, enormous hotel and casino in the area, and there are volatile elements waiting to blow up. And they, the Event Group learns that the legendary soldiers may in fact be man-like wolves, based on an artifact that Alice found years before. Lots of scheming, gun and other fights and danger, and a very plausible explanation for the existence of werewolves. Familiar and likeable characters, a blistering pace (you can't get bored) and a challenging story.
April 1, 2021
I really liked this book, the usual action-packed and really cool storyline. Although i didn't care much for this new couple, and I didn't appreciate Jack not leading this book! It felt like that since the author gave more room to the new couple. Jack will always be my favorite character here so I kinda missed him, even tho he was part of the Event.
Now. THAT ENDING!!!!! OMG, I don't know how people managed it when they had to wait for the next book, I'm so happy I don't have to! LOL. Starting the next one, right now. Nasty cliffhanger!! I love it.
Now. THAT ENDING!!!!! OMG, I don't know how people managed it when they had to wait for the next book, I'm so happy I don't have to! LOL. Starting the next one, right now. Nasty cliffhanger!! I love it.
May 31, 2022
This was an entertaining installment in the Event Group Series. This time around, the Group must venture into the region of the legendary Vlad the Impaler. However, between Russian and Eastern European gangsters, the Israeli Intelligence Agency and Special Forces and a tribe of ancient bloodline and their howling protectors emerge from the nightmares of old. Will all members return back from that mysterious mountain?
This book ends on an interesting point that leaves reader wanting to read the next chapter of the series.
I look forward to the next installment.
This book ends on an interesting point that leaves reader wanting to read the next chapter of the series.
I look forward to the next installment.
November 13, 2019
If you came into this series for the cool sci-fi thriller stories, and you made yourself sit through the weird Jekyll and Hyde horror-lite business of "Ripper", go ahead and quit now. Carpathian has established werewolves and vampires as this novel's weird junk, and I'm not going to bother to finish it. Horror is not my cup of tea. Hard pass on the rest of this series.
October 17, 2017
Golemon is an excellent storyteller. The Event series is a phenomenal series. It has everything I love. Great action, well developed characters, humor, mystery and so much more. Every book in the series keeps me fully engaged from start to finish.
May 1, 2025
A very interesting thought provoking take on the exodus. So many things in our world we know little of other than what we are told. So it is through the imagination that perhaps truth seaps through. Enjoyed the action pact story.
May 6, 2017
Visions of Fonzie water skiing wearing a leather jacket.
March 1, 2018
Weak three stars for this one. You could probably cut at least 1/3 of the pages and get a better story.
July 29, 2018
What a great story, the authors blending of historical events and mythology gives the story a realism that hooks the reader and doesn't let go. This may be my favorite Golemon book so far.
April 24, 2019
Golemon definitely knows how to get you to read the next book! I didn't see that coming.
October 30, 2019
Very original storyline idea I think. Quite a good read.
November 10, 2020
The Event group takes on werewolves, nuff said
June 5, 2022
This book has slightly gone out of control from the author and became longer than it should be but in the end it was summed up in a good way
May 28, 2025
This story would make a good thriller movie!
June 18, 2025
this was a really good one
June 19, 2014
THIS book is very intriguing. I am an aficionado of werewolf stories so this one definitely fills my occasional need for the vampire or werewolf drama. The author is a gifted strategist in that the plot is well-developed and meted out in such a way so as to keep the reader on edge. Every werewolf story - in this case they are called GOLIA - has its origin myth and in this case it was superb. The creatures originate among the early Egyptians and assist the children of Israel in fleeing their Pharoahnic servitude and through a compelling and complex storyline end up in the Carpathian Mountains.
IT seems to me that the more sophisticated storytellers, including the present author, but extending to Anne Rice (The Wolf Gift & The Wolves of Midwinter) and of course Glen Duncan (Talulla Rising & The Last Werewolf) know how to bridge the relationship between humans and dogs. Clearly dogs were the first domesticated animal some 10,000 years ago consequently wolves/dogs have been there alongside humans at the beginning of civilization and are thus part of our ‘cultural DNA.’ The werewolf writer must tap into that relationship in order to capture the modern reader. This story makes the wolf/man connection intertwined and symbiotic.
THE reason that this book did not get a 5 star rating from me is due to its obvious anti-Jewish sentiments. The multi-tiered plot often dealt with Israelis (Mossad and Sayeret Matkal and even the Israeli Prime Minister) as sinister beings. Ben-Nevin was a major player in this drama, this was a character who turned against his own people and killed for avarice. In fact, every Jewish character in this book was bad or evil. That’s right, there was not one good or even neutral Jewish character in the book. Anya, the Gypsy princess, was originally portrayed as an Israeli Mossad agent but 2/3 of the way through the book, the reader discovers that she is really a Gypsy and was being used by the Israeli government. Even the Sayeret Matkal, who have been involved in very public and heroic missions to save Jews such as the incident in Entebbe, were portrayed in the book as the ‘worlds fiercest killers’ and as ‘death squads.’
HOW can it be that the author showcases some ‘good’ gypsies and some ‘bad’ ones, some ‘good’ Romanians and some ‘bad’ ones, some ‘good’ Americans and some ‘bad’ ones and so forth yet the reader is given to believe that there is not one good Jew or Israeli alive – or at least not worth mention, even within the space of one sentence is this 437 page book.
OH, and it gets better (read: sarcasm). The reader is treated to the especially dubious narrative that the Israelis (collectively) want the secret of the Gypsies kept on the hush-hush because it will call into question their ‘chosen-ness.’ As a result the Israeli government gives the order to destroy the Gypsy temple and the Golia in order to keep the truth a secret from the world that the Jews were not chosen by God. Sounds like a whole lot of sour grapes to me and all of it is completely unnecessary.
IT seems to me that the more sophisticated storytellers, including the present author, but extending to Anne Rice (The Wolf Gift & The Wolves of Midwinter) and of course Glen Duncan (Talulla Rising & The Last Werewolf) know how to bridge the relationship between humans and dogs. Clearly dogs were the first domesticated animal some 10,000 years ago consequently wolves/dogs have been there alongside humans at the beginning of civilization and are thus part of our ‘cultural DNA.’ The werewolf writer must tap into that relationship in order to capture the modern reader. This story makes the wolf/man connection intertwined and symbiotic.
THE reason that this book did not get a 5 star rating from me is due to its obvious anti-Jewish sentiments. The multi-tiered plot often dealt with Israelis (Mossad and Sayeret Matkal and even the Israeli Prime Minister) as sinister beings. Ben-Nevin was a major player in this drama, this was a character who turned against his own people and killed for avarice. In fact, every Jewish character in this book was bad or evil. That’s right, there was not one good or even neutral Jewish character in the book. Anya, the Gypsy princess, was originally portrayed as an Israeli Mossad agent but 2/3 of the way through the book, the reader discovers that she is really a Gypsy and was being used by the Israeli government. Even the Sayeret Matkal, who have been involved in very public and heroic missions to save Jews such as the incident in Entebbe, were portrayed in the book as the ‘worlds fiercest killers’ and as ‘death squads.’
HOW can it be that the author showcases some ‘good’ gypsies and some ‘bad’ ones, some ‘good’ Romanians and some ‘bad’ ones, some ‘good’ Americans and some ‘bad’ ones and so forth yet the reader is given to believe that there is not one good Jew or Israeli alive – or at least not worth mention, even within the space of one sentence is this 437 page book.
OH, and it gets better (read: sarcasm). The reader is treated to the especially dubious narrative that the Israelis (collectively) want the secret of the Gypsies kept on the hush-hush because it will call into question their ‘chosen-ness.’ As a result the Israeli government gives the order to destroy the Gypsy temple and the Golia in order to keep the truth a secret from the world that the Jews were not chosen by God. Sounds like a whole lot of sour grapes to me and all of it is completely unnecessary.
January 24, 2016
For those unfamiliar with the David Lynn Golemon book series, the Event Group is a team of people who are trying to uncover the real truth behind greatest myths and stories in human history.
His latest book "Carpathian" is set in the Middle East and begins with Moses exodus of the Israelites out of Egypt and across the Red Sea. They are pursued by the Egyptian prince Amun-her-khepeshef who was the firstborn son of Pharaoh Ramesses II and Queen Nefertari, and his army. When the Egyptians tried to cross the Red Sea, the tide came in and the Egyptian army began drowning. The Egyptian prince also finds himself faced to the creature known only from the Hebrew stories used to frighten Egyptian children - a Golia.
The book setting is changed, many years had passed when Nun's son Joshua met Kale of the Tribe of Jeddah, seeking his help to conquer the city of Jericho. At first, Kale will refuse him because his tribe has suffered a lot of casualties, including their valuable Golia whose number was also greatly reduced. Eventually, Kale will be persuaded by Joshua to help and in return Joshua promised to his tribe they will be allowed to leave to some other places not to be followed are asked to help. Three of the Golia would also be sent to help Joshua but his fate would be unfortunate...
Thousands year later, after World War II In 1949, secret meeting would take place on a yacht near Hong Kong when few chosen men were invited to observe some great valued history artifacts, few of them part of the Event Group. One of the displayed artifact is a stone allegedly excavated from the Jericho site and within this stone fossilized remains of some creature is found, although similar to wolf's it brings great mystery from the past...
Golemon's "Carpathian" is an interesting book that on a fantastic way is giving further details of the events from distant past, about the seeking of truth what happened to the people of the Jeddah and did the extraordinary Golia really existed, what they were... As in all other previously published Event Group book series, during they search they will uncover some truths deeply buried and quite disturbing.
This science fiction book has nice pace and especially in this long summer nights was exciting to read. The way book is finished was in a way "cherry on the top" and adds to the excitement of the book.
It is intended mostly for the fans of the series but will not disappoint those who will encounter for the first time this unusual group of people and participate in their exciting adventures. Recommended.
His latest book "Carpathian" is set in the Middle East and begins with Moses exodus of the Israelites out of Egypt and across the Red Sea. They are pursued by the Egyptian prince Amun-her-khepeshef who was the firstborn son of Pharaoh Ramesses II and Queen Nefertari, and his army. When the Egyptians tried to cross the Red Sea, the tide came in and the Egyptian army began drowning. The Egyptian prince also finds himself faced to the creature known only from the Hebrew stories used to frighten Egyptian children - a Golia.
The book setting is changed, many years had passed when Nun's son Joshua met Kale of the Tribe of Jeddah, seeking his help to conquer the city of Jericho. At first, Kale will refuse him because his tribe has suffered a lot of casualties, including their valuable Golia whose number was also greatly reduced. Eventually, Kale will be persuaded by Joshua to help and in return Joshua promised to his tribe they will be allowed to leave to some other places not to be followed are asked to help. Three of the Golia would also be sent to help Joshua but his fate would be unfortunate...
Thousands year later, after World War II In 1949, secret meeting would take place on a yacht near Hong Kong when few chosen men were invited to observe some great valued history artifacts, few of them part of the Event Group. One of the displayed artifact is a stone allegedly excavated from the Jericho site and within this stone fossilized remains of some creature is found, although similar to wolf's it brings great mystery from the past...
Golemon's "Carpathian" is an interesting book that on a fantastic way is giving further details of the events from distant past, about the seeking of truth what happened to the people of the Jeddah and did the extraordinary Golia really existed, what they were... As in all other previously published Event Group book series, during they search they will uncover some truths deeply buried and quite disturbing.
This science fiction book has nice pace and especially in this long summer nights was exciting to read. The way book is finished was in a way "cherry on the top" and adds to the excitement of the book.
It is intended mostly for the fans of the series but will not disappoint those who will encounter for the first time this unusual group of people and participate in their exciting adventures. Recommended.
August 11, 2013
Alice, a member of the top secret government agency known as the Event Group, has been fascinated with a relic since 1949 that was found in the wall at Jericho. It was the remains of an animal that she has been told cannot be.
Fast forward to present day, and Project Grimm is born as Alice continues to research the animal and the associated events of the Exodus. Things come to a head and she is forced to share her research with the team before she is quite ready. The evidence shows that it leads to a small town in the Carpathian mountains. Reluctantly it seems, an Event is declared, and they are off. The team will find themselves racing against time and dangers in the land of the legends of vampires and more particularly werewolves.
One of the best lines in the book was: "Major Mica Sorotzkin followed what she believed were the Mossad agents and the archival priest out of the square and into the darkest of hours that would conclude somewhere in the mountains of Eastern Europe."
Overall this is a good book. It's fast paced. The characters are interesting and well developed. It ends in a heck of a cliffhanger that has nothing to do with the current story other than that the characters involved are the same. The blurb says that readers of Clive Cussler would enjoy the book, and I agree. I give this book 4 stars out of 5.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased opinion.
Fast forward to present day, and Project Grimm is born as Alice continues to research the animal and the associated events of the Exodus. Things come to a head and she is forced to share her research with the team before she is quite ready. The evidence shows that it leads to a small town in the Carpathian mountains. Reluctantly it seems, an Event is declared, and they are off. The team will find themselves racing against time and dangers in the land of the legends of vampires and more particularly werewolves.
One of the best lines in the book was: "Major Mica Sorotzkin followed what she believed were the Mossad agents and the archival priest out of the square and into the darkest of hours that would conclude somewhere in the mountains of Eastern Europe."
Overall this is a good book. It's fast paced. The characters are interesting and well developed. It ends in a heck of a cliffhanger that has nothing to do with the current story other than that the characters involved are the same. The blurb says that readers of Clive Cussler would enjoy the book, and I agree. I give this book 4 stars out of 5.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased opinion.
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