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A Brit in the FBI #4
The Devil's Triangle
FBI Special Agents Nicholas Drummond and Michaela Caine have a new mandate as the government’s Covert Eyes, assembling a handpicked team of top-notch agents to tackle crimes and criminals both international and deadly. But their first case threatens to tear the fledgling team apart when the enigmatic thief known as the Fox reappears with a plea for help.
Master thief Kitsune has stolen the staff of Moses from the Topkapi Museum in Istanbul, and now that she’s delivered, her clients are trying to kill her. On the run, she asks Nicholas and Mike to help her discover the true identity of her clients and stop the threat against her life. Under strict orders to arrest the Fox and bring her back to New York, the Covert Eyes team heads to Venice, Italy, to meet with Kitsune, and finds nothing is as it seems. Kitsune’s secret clients are the Koaths, a family descended from Moses himself, who will do anything, anything, to find the Ark of the Covenant and wield its power, as their long and bloody history can attest. To execute their plan, they’ve spent years perfecting a machine that can control the weather, manipulating worldwide disasters that spin the entire globe into chaos.
From New York to Venice, from Rome to the Bermuda Triangle, Nicholas and Mike and their team are in a race against time, and nature herself, to stop the Koaths and recover the famous Ark of the Covenant. But can they trust Kitsune, their sworn enemy, to help them save the world from a family of madmen?
Master thief Kitsune has stolen the staff of Moses from the Topkapi Museum in Istanbul, and now that she’s delivered, her clients are trying to kill her. On the run, she asks Nicholas and Mike to help her discover the true identity of her clients and stop the threat against her life. Under strict orders to arrest the Fox and bring her back to New York, the Covert Eyes team heads to Venice, Italy, to meet with Kitsune, and finds nothing is as it seems. Kitsune’s secret clients are the Koaths, a family descended from Moses himself, who will do anything, anything, to find the Ark of the Covenant and wield its power, as their long and bloody history can attest. To execute their plan, they’ve spent years perfecting a machine that can control the weather, manipulating worldwide disasters that spin the entire globe into chaos.
From New York to Venice, from Rome to the Bermuda Triangle, Nicholas and Mike and their team are in a race against time, and nature herself, to stop the Koaths and recover the famous Ark of the Covenant. But can they trust Kitsune, their sworn enemy, to help them save the world from a family of madmen?
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First published March 14, 2017
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March 30, 2017
1,5 stars
I have been reading books by Catherine Coulter for years and years and must say that I have liked most of them. I have also read the first 3 books in her A Brit in the FBI Series that she has co-written with J.T. Ellison.
This series started off pretty good with the first book but by the time I finished book 3, I was feeling a bit up in the "air" about it. However, I couldn't resist when the latest and 4th book, The Devil's Triangle came out.
Was I surprised...and not in a ever good way!!! Talk about lacklustre feels!!! I struggled to finish this book but I kept on in the hope that something would happen...something good that would uplift this story!!
Sadly..it didn't!!! Not even all the action scenes and meeting up with Nicholas Drummond, my favourite FBI Brit and feisty American cop, Michaela aka Mike Caine and even my favourite thief, Kitsune, who was introduced in the first book, The Final Cut, could throw some interest my way!!!
Let me just say the following:
The plot - Beyond Ridiculous!!! Some evil people trying to control the world's weather, throw in a bit of the paranormal, the long search for the so called Ark of the Covenant, stealing Moses, yes, the old Bible Moses' staff from the Topkapi Museum, vanishing islands in the Bermuda Triangle, evil twins.........hell, I lost the plot so many times that after a while I just kept skimming.
The characters - Now, let's talk about the many and many and may one-dimensional characters!!! Everyone has their own POV!!!! Which was beyond irritating!!!
Absurd.........the way the Italian cops are portrayed....I had to laugh otherwise I would be crying about how stupid and inept they are!!! Naturally the Brits/Americans are the only characters that are honest, intelligent and kick ass without a second thought.
Nicholas and Mike spend more time debating about Kitusune and having the most outrages escapades ever!!!! They even get to ride a huge bike in a tunnel underneath a palazzo in Perugia (geez, now I want to go back to Perugia and check out which palazzo it is so I can also go for a ride!!)
The dialogue- No, No, No. Stilted! Unnatural!! Wooden! And I lost count of how many times we are told about Kitsune being a thief, should she be imprisoned......and how clever so and so is...and so on and so on...........
The Epilogue-
PS.........The reason for 1/2 star - because I liked the settings of the book, especially Italy!!!!!
My reviews on the A Brit in the FBI Series
Book #1: **** The Final Cut https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
Book #2: *** The Lost Key https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
Book #3: *** The End Game https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
I have been reading books by Catherine Coulter for years and years and must say that I have liked most of them. I have also read the first 3 books in her A Brit in the FBI Series that she has co-written with J.T. Ellison.
This series started off pretty good with the first book but by the time I finished book 3, I was feeling a bit up in the "air" about it. However, I couldn't resist when the latest and 4th book, The Devil's Triangle came out.
Was I surprised...and not in a ever good way!!! Talk about lacklustre feels!!! I struggled to finish this book but I kept on in the hope that something would happen...something good that would uplift this story!!
Sadly..it didn't!!! Not even all the action scenes and meeting up with Nicholas Drummond, my favourite FBI Brit and feisty American cop, Michaela aka Mike Caine and even my favourite thief, Kitsune, who was introduced in the first book, The Final Cut, could throw some interest my way!!!
Let me just say the following:
The plot - Beyond Ridiculous!!! Some evil people trying to control the world's weather, throw in a bit of the paranormal, the long search for the so called Ark of the Covenant, stealing Moses, yes, the old Bible Moses' staff from the Topkapi Museum, vanishing islands in the Bermuda Triangle, evil twins.........hell, I lost the plot so many times that after a while I just kept skimming.
a couple of pages here and there....because there was so much repetition..........
The characters - Now, let's talk about the many and many and may one-dimensional characters!!! Everyone has their own POV!!!! Which was beyond irritating!!!
Absurd.........the way the Italian cops are portrayed....I had to laugh otherwise I would be crying about how stupid and inept they are!!! Naturally the Brits/Americans are the only characters that are honest, intelligent and kick ass without a second thought.
Nicholas and Mike spend more time debating about Kitusune and having the most outrages escapades ever!!!! They even get to ride a huge bike in a tunnel underneath a palazzo in Perugia (geez, now I want to go back to Perugia and check out which palazzo it is so I can also go for a ride!!)
The dialogue- No, No, No. Stilted! Unnatural!! Wooden! And I lost count of how many times we are told about Kitsune being a thief, should she be imprisoned......and how clever so and so is...and so on and so on...........
The Epilogue-
But let me not discourage you to reading this addition to the series. There are a lot of others who loved it, so you may as well do.........the fact that I didn't enjoy it...well, that's just me!!!!
PS.........The reason for 1/2 star - because I liked the settings of the book, especially Italy!!!!!
My reviews on the A Brit in the FBI Series
Book #1: **** The Final Cut https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
Book #2: *** The Lost Key https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
Book #3: *** The End Game https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
March 19, 2017
This book starts off with a master thief stealing Moses staff from the Topkapi museum. But the people who paid her to steal it try to kill her. She escapes and overhears them bragging about causing a huge dust storm in the Gobi desert that is killing thousands of people in Beijing. She calls the FBI for help when the people who control the weather kidnap her husband.
These insane criminals are searching for the Ark of the Covenant. While I did finish this book, it was just too preposterous to be believable. The first James Bond movie with the crazy Dr. No was clearly tongue in cheek. This book was not. The FBI team was filled with likeable characters, but some of the stunts they pulled were not realistic.
My wife is a big Catherine Coulter fan and didn't finish this book, reading only the first 8 or 9 chapters. She has decided not to read any more books in this series.
Two stars out of five. My wife says one star. Thanks to NetGalley for sending me this book.
These insane criminals are searching for the Ark of the Covenant. While I did finish this book, it was just too preposterous to be believable. The first James Bond movie with the crazy Dr. No was clearly tongue in cheek. This book was not. The FBI team was filled with likeable characters, but some of the stunts they pulled were not realistic.
My wife is a big Catherine Coulter fan and didn't finish this book, reading only the first 8 or 9 chapters. She has decided not to read any more books in this series.
Two stars out of five. My wife says one star. Thanks to NetGalley for sending me this book.
July 6, 2023
I’m rather loving this international FBI thriller series from writing team Catherine Coulter and JT Ellison. In this fourth book in the series, Kitsune, “the fox” grand master thief from the first book is back. She’s still stealing highly valuable objects. Except now she sometimes works with the good guys when it aligns with her purposes. Which was a fun dynamic!
The villains in this one (which focused on a search for the Ark of the Covenant and a sci-fi scenario where a machine has been invented that can control the weather and send terrible hurricanes and sandstorms anywhere in the world) were a boy girl set of twins who were super twisted and evil. And of course, Michaela and Nicholas (and the rest of the team) were always a delight. With kidnappings, archaeological digs, and lots of family drama, this one was a wild ride! I thoroughly enjoyed.
The villains in this one (which focused on a search for the Ark of the Covenant and a sci-fi scenario where a machine has been invented that can control the weather and send terrible hurricanes and sandstorms anywhere in the world) were a boy girl set of twins who were super twisted and evil. And of course, Michaela and Nicholas (and the rest of the team) were always a delight. With kidnappings, archaeological digs, and lots of family drama, this one was a wild ride! I thoroughly enjoyed.
July 27, 2017
It's one thing to predict weather, it's quite something else to manufacture it and I'm not talking about seeding clouds. That's been around for decades. One can only imagine a possible doomsday scenario if such a device actually existed capable of creating and directing vicious storms which fell into the wrong hands. Well, the authors certainly did. The world would literally be held captive. Woe is me - us.
Centuries ago, Leonardo da Vinci gained notoriety for his many inventions. In particular, he had an obsession with weather. He never built a working model but constructed drawings of a crude weather machine. Present-day meteorologists have marveled at his intricate reasoning of weather patterns given it was five-hundred years ago. He was well ahead of his time.
Fast forward to the the latter part of the nineteenth Century, we find noted scientist Nikola Tesla. He had developed his renowned electromagnetic coil, better known as the Tesla coil. This innovation along with da Vinci's early drawings served as inspiration for the development of a weather machine (compliments of the authors) further refined in secret by Appleton Kohath. His true desire of this development was rooted in means for a destructive "Storm Machine".
An unprecedented, engineered sandstorm from the Gobi had covered Beijing with hundreds of feet of sand. Thousands of people perished. FBI agents Nicholas Drummond and Michaela (Mike) Caine had been tasked to the other side of the world with the hope of learning the true nature of this seemingly impossible man-made disaster.
This narrative showed there was great profit to be made from the targeted creation of storms. For one, investment in companies that would be first in line to come to the aid of a devastated city would be in great demand. Secondly, shorting stocks of companies in the storm's path would produce overnight success. As usual, it was all about the money even if it meant the cost of countless lives. Next on the chopping block, a highly valued target in the United States. It was now a race against time - The clock was ticking. This was a captivating read from beginning to end.
Centuries ago, Leonardo da Vinci gained notoriety for his many inventions. In particular, he had an obsession with weather. He never built a working model but constructed drawings of a crude weather machine. Present-day meteorologists have marveled at his intricate reasoning of weather patterns given it was five-hundred years ago. He was well ahead of his time.
Fast forward to the the latter part of the nineteenth Century, we find noted scientist Nikola Tesla. He had developed his renowned electromagnetic coil, better known as the Tesla coil. This innovation along with da Vinci's early drawings served as inspiration for the development of a weather machine (compliments of the authors) further refined in secret by Appleton Kohath. His true desire of this development was rooted in means for a destructive "Storm Machine".
An unprecedented, engineered sandstorm from the Gobi had covered Beijing with hundreds of feet of sand. Thousands of people perished. FBI agents Nicholas Drummond and Michaela (Mike) Caine had been tasked to the other side of the world with the hope of learning the true nature of this seemingly impossible man-made disaster.
This narrative showed there was great profit to be made from the targeted creation of storms. For one, investment in companies that would be first in line to come to the aid of a devastated city would be in great demand. Secondly, shorting stocks of companies in the storm's path would produce overnight success. As usual, it was all about the money even if it meant the cost of countless lives. Next on the chopping block, a highly valued target in the United States. It was now a race against time - The clock was ticking. This was a captivating read from beginning to end.
March 9, 2017
Woo hoo - it's The DaVinci Code meets Indiana Jones - what a doozy of a book! Now that I've finished, seems to me it would make a great movie as well (hint, hint). Should that ever happen, though, my advice, as always, is to read the book first.
Actually, this is the fourth in the authors' "A Brit in the FBI" series. And I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a bit apprehensive about how much I'd enjoy it for that reason; would I be lost because I hadn't read the first three? No doubt I missed a few nuances because of my unfamiliarity, but I needn't have worried: the book and I got along famously - to the point that I nearly cheered when heavy duty winds blew out our cable TV, Internet and landline phone service for a few hours, giving me the perfect excuse to finish the last few chapters with no interruptions.
And did I mention it's a doozy? It's got everything I could ask for: almost nonstop action, likable characters and borderline impossible technology that threatens the planet's very existence. Although this book is way better, at times I was reminded of James Patterson's Private series (most of which I've enjoyed as well). That, I think, comes from the similar focus on a team and banter among the various members, all of whom enormously like and respect one another.
The characters here form the Covert Eyes team - a group of FBI special agents that includes Nicholas Drummond and Michaela Caine. They get a surprise call asking for help from an elusive thief known as the Fox (real name, Kitsune, and I gather she appeared in a previous book or books and isn't exactly a friend of Nick or Mike). After she stole an artifact that has ties to the Ark of the Covenant from an Istanbul museum, she explains, the client who hired her is trying to kill her and she's hiding out in Venice. Moreover, she claims to have overheard a conversation suggesting that a recent and very deadly Gobi Desert sandstorm didn't happen by accident.
Intrigued in large part by the notion that someone out there may be controlling the weather rather than saving Kitsune's hide, Nick and Mike and the team convince their supervisors of the need to find out what's really going on. Right from the start, what they find is danger; apparently, Kitsune didn't exaggerate - someone really is out to get her, and they'll be quite happy to take down Nick and Mike in the process. Clues lead from New York to Venice to the Gobi Desert to the Bermuda Triangle, passing too close for comfort to some very unsavory characters including a particularly nasty set of twins.
All told, it's an exciting journey loaded with near super-human efforts, espionage, a touch of what some might call the supernatural and, of course, that weather control thing. Already, I'm all ready for the next installment! A huge thank you to the publisher (via NetGalley) for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy of this one in exchange for an honest review.
Actually, this is the fourth in the authors' "A Brit in the FBI" series. And I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a bit apprehensive about how much I'd enjoy it for that reason; would I be lost because I hadn't read the first three? No doubt I missed a few nuances because of my unfamiliarity, but I needn't have worried: the book and I got along famously - to the point that I nearly cheered when heavy duty winds blew out our cable TV, Internet and landline phone service for a few hours, giving me the perfect excuse to finish the last few chapters with no interruptions.
And did I mention it's a doozy? It's got everything I could ask for: almost nonstop action, likable characters and borderline impossible technology that threatens the planet's very existence. Although this book is way better, at times I was reminded of James Patterson's Private series (most of which I've enjoyed as well). That, I think, comes from the similar focus on a team and banter among the various members, all of whom enormously like and respect one another.
The characters here form the Covert Eyes team - a group of FBI special agents that includes Nicholas Drummond and Michaela Caine. They get a surprise call asking for help from an elusive thief known as the Fox (real name, Kitsune, and I gather she appeared in a previous book or books and isn't exactly a friend of Nick or Mike). After she stole an artifact that has ties to the Ark of the Covenant from an Istanbul museum, she explains, the client who hired her is trying to kill her and she's hiding out in Venice. Moreover, she claims to have overheard a conversation suggesting that a recent and very deadly Gobi Desert sandstorm didn't happen by accident.
Intrigued in large part by the notion that someone out there may be controlling the weather rather than saving Kitsune's hide, Nick and Mike and the team convince their supervisors of the need to find out what's really going on. Right from the start, what they find is danger; apparently, Kitsune didn't exaggerate - someone really is out to get her, and they'll be quite happy to take down Nick and Mike in the process. Clues lead from New York to Venice to the Gobi Desert to the Bermuda Triangle, passing too close for comfort to some very unsavory characters including a particularly nasty set of twins.
All told, it's an exciting journey loaded with near super-human efforts, espionage, a touch of what some might call the supernatural and, of course, that weather control thing. Already, I'm all ready for the next installment! A huge thank you to the publisher (via NetGalley) for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy of this one in exchange for an honest review.
July 30, 2020
Pure fantasy fiction suspense thriller that has enough flash and sass to cover up the fact that there is very little plot.
4 star cast, flashy European setting, and especially 4 maybe even 5 star fantastic narration by MacLeod Andrews and Renee Raudman who look like the very characters they are narrating. They need their own romance where they fall in love while narrating this series.
Cast:
Nicholas Drummond: Brit in the FBI, Bon Vivant Special Agent Extradonaire. Nicholas is a game chaser FBI agent. He never met a rule he wouldn't break, and does it all with a grin.
Michaela Cain: Special Agent Love Interest. A mere American, she and Nicholas play well off each other with just a hint of romance to add spice.
The amoral European evil twin Masterminds: Cassandra and Ajax. Evil, evil, evil. Ineffective minions are easily dispatched by the flick of a stiletto. Severance pay? We spit on severance pay!
The return of Kitsune: Epic Cat Burglar
Setting:
Venice
Atlantis...maybe
Plot:
Special Agents Nicholas and Michaela along with some other FBI minions have been sent to Europe to help Kitsune and her husband. Kitsune was charged by the evil twins to steal the Staff of Moses which belongs with the…dun dun DUN… The Ark of the Covenant.
Kitsune does steal it; only to find that not only have the twins kidnapped her husband but try to have her killed. Shocking as this breaks the code of honor between thieves and the masterminds that hire them. Why would the FBI help the best/worst Cat Burglar in the world, she who stole the Koh-i-Noor diamond in the first book,
? Not sure, as due to library loans I missed book number three,
. Nuff said, Kitsune is kickass, the narrator does a wonderful job with her Scottish accent, and if she’s not one of the good guys she is certainly not one of the bad guys. Anyway, the Febes arrive in Venice to help her and get involved with a bigger plot.
We have the Lost Ark of the Covenant that can only be opened by certain people. Guess who? The evil twins are descendants and have learned about the Ark from their mother and grandfather. It is their legacy. Toss in a machine that can control the weather, religous icons and mythological places like Atlantis, locales from Venice to the Bermuda Triangle to Cuba, myriads of dead bodies, and you have a suspense novel.
The twins are quite displeased to find the FBI literally at the steps of their Italian villa . Their idea of handling a couple of pesky FBI agents is to demand their grandfather decimate Washington DC with a huge hurricane. Hey, it worked with New Orleans and Katrina! Gramps feels a little bad as he had not factored in the levies breaking down. Gramps is not a whole lot more moral than the evil twins, but tries to point out that destroying the capital of the USA is a tad overkill. The twins do everything but cackle, Mua ha ha ha! and rub their hands together throughout the book.
The story wraps up a little ridiculously, but more is uncovered about the Ark, its whereabouts and who guards it.
Characters drop out and don’t reappear, and some of the actions go far beyond the suspension of disbelief, but the narration was fun, and it kept the story moving.
4 star cast, flashy European setting, and especially 4 maybe even 5 star fantastic narration by MacLeod Andrews and Renee Raudman who look like the very characters they are narrating. They need their own romance where they fall in love while narrating this series.
Cast:
Nicholas Drummond: Brit in the FBI, Bon Vivant Special Agent Extradonaire. Nicholas is a game chaser FBI agent. He never met a rule he wouldn't break, and does it all with a grin.
Michaela Cain: Special Agent Love Interest. A mere American, she and Nicholas play well off each other with just a hint of romance to add spice.
The amoral European evil twin Masterminds: Cassandra and Ajax. Evil, evil, evil. Ineffective minions are easily dispatched by the flick of a stiletto. Severance pay? We spit on severance pay!
The return of Kitsune: Epic Cat Burglar
Setting:
Venice
Atlantis...maybe
Plot:
Special Agents Nicholas and Michaela along with some other FBI minions have been sent to Europe to help Kitsune and her husband. Kitsune was charged by the evil twins to steal the Staff of Moses which belongs with the…dun dun DUN… The Ark of the Covenant.
Kitsune does steal it; only to find that not only have the twins kidnapped her husband but try to have her killed. Shocking as this breaks the code of honor between thieves and the masterminds that hire them. Why would the FBI help the best/worst Cat Burglar in the world, she who stole the Koh-i-Noor diamond in the first book,
? Not sure, as due to library loans I missed book number three,
. Nuff said, Kitsune is kickass, the narrator does a wonderful job with her Scottish accent, and if she’s not one of the good guys she is certainly not one of the bad guys. Anyway, the Febes arrive in Venice to help her and get involved with a bigger plot.We have the Lost Ark of the Covenant that can only be opened by certain people. Guess who? The evil twins are descendants and have learned about the Ark from their mother and grandfather. It is their legacy. Toss in a machine that can control the weather, religous icons and mythological places like Atlantis, locales from Venice to the Bermuda Triangle to Cuba, myriads of dead bodies, and you have a suspense novel.
The twins are quite displeased to find the FBI literally at the steps of their Italian villa . Their idea of handling a couple of pesky FBI agents is to demand their grandfather decimate Washington DC with a huge hurricane. Hey, it worked with New Orleans and Katrina! Gramps feels a little bad as he had not factored in the levies breaking down. Gramps is not a whole lot more moral than the evil twins, but tries to point out that destroying the capital of the USA is a tad overkill. The twins do everything but cackle, Mua ha ha ha! and rub their hands together throughout the book.
The story wraps up a little ridiculously, but more is uncovered about the Ark, its whereabouts and who guards it.
Characters drop out and don’t reappear, and some of the actions go far beyond the suspension of disbelief, but the narration was fun, and it kept the story moving.
March 12, 2017
Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by the Author and Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an fair and honest review.
Mystery, Suspense, Action-Adventure. James Bond meets Indiana Jones. I wasn't sure what or where this book was going, but I sure loved the ride. There are some 'suspend reality' moments and a lot of 'pseudo science', but, hey, it's fiction and a very good plot to boot. The tempo starts fast but lags in the middle. Hang in there because the ending is not to be missed.
Kitsune, the world's foremost thief, can steal anything from anywhere as she proved in The Final Cut. This time she has taken a job that could well end her life. When things go sideways at the hand off, Kitsune barely escapes with thugs hot on her trail. She returns home to find her house ransacked and her husband, Grant (a former Beefeater) kidnapped. Knowing she was in over her head she contacts Michaela, Mike, Caine and Nicholas Drummond for help.
With the international problems that the FBI had recently faced, they have authorized the formation of a new FBI section. Covert Eyes has the ability to operate outside the United States and, more or less, on the dark side of the law, when needed. Mike and Nicholas are the heads and with their hand picked team they head to Venice, Italy to see what Kitsune has gotten herself into when she claims that the sandstorm that has just buried Beijing was man made.
There are two main plot points and they are tied to a family, the Koath's, who, for generations, have been on a quest to find and recover the lost Ark of the Covenant. This family also can control the weather and have used that ability, curtsey of Da Vinci and Tesla to fund their quest. The current family consists of a grandfather, Jason, and his very nasty grandkids, twins Cassandra and Ajax, who have decided to take the Ark quest to the limit and don't really care who dies.
The Covert Eyes Team is attacked in the Piazza San Marco and barely escape. Why all this grief for a thief who delivered the goods? Mike and Nicholas are really in this thing now and the chase takes them to a former Templar stronghold and across the ocean to a mysterious cloaked island. With a killer hurricane bearing down on Washington D.C., they must find a way to stop it before Washington D.C. is destroyed.
Mystery, Suspense, Action-Adventure. James Bond meets Indiana Jones. I wasn't sure what or where this book was going, but I sure loved the ride. There are some 'suspend reality' moments and a lot of 'pseudo science', but, hey, it's fiction and a very good plot to boot. The tempo starts fast but lags in the middle. Hang in there because the ending is not to be missed.
Kitsune, the world's foremost thief, can steal anything from anywhere as she proved in The Final Cut. This time she has taken a job that could well end her life. When things go sideways at the hand off, Kitsune barely escapes with thugs hot on her trail. She returns home to find her house ransacked and her husband, Grant (a former Beefeater) kidnapped. Knowing she was in over her head she contacts Michaela, Mike, Caine and Nicholas Drummond for help.
With the international problems that the FBI had recently faced, they have authorized the formation of a new FBI section. Covert Eyes has the ability to operate outside the United States and, more or less, on the dark side of the law, when needed. Mike and Nicholas are the heads and with their hand picked team they head to Venice, Italy to see what Kitsune has gotten herself into when she claims that the sandstorm that has just buried Beijing was man made.
There are two main plot points and they are tied to a family, the Koath's, who, for generations, have been on a quest to find and recover the lost Ark of the Covenant. This family also can control the weather and have used that ability, curtsey of Da Vinci and Tesla to fund their quest. The current family consists of a grandfather, Jason, and his very nasty grandkids, twins Cassandra and Ajax, who have decided to take the Ark quest to the limit and don't really care who dies.
The Covert Eyes Team is attacked in the Piazza San Marco and barely escape. Why all this grief for a thief who delivered the goods? Mike and Nicholas are really in this thing now and the chase takes them to a former Templar stronghold and across the ocean to a mysterious cloaked island. With a killer hurricane bearing down on Washington D.C., they must find a way to stop it before Washington D.C. is destroyed.
August 30, 2017
1.5 Stars rounded up, but I was tempted to 1 Star as there were a number of occasions that I almost DNF'd.
Let's see, as I was reading I thought of the:
Lara Croft
Cliive Cussler
Indiana Jones
Dan Brown Series - The Da Vinci Code, etc..
Star Trek
Harry Potter
Greek Mythology
Lost city of Atlantis
The Bermuda Triangle
James Bond
But every time I would think of someone else's work, it pulled me out of the story and left a bitter taste in my mouth. This was such a disappointment. I felt like I was reading a Saturday Night Live version that did a parody or spoof of a compilation of other plots, stories and books. It became ridiculously unbelievable. Even the book itself referenced Indiana Jones, Star Trek, James Bond and Harry Potter.
There's a religious angle referencing The Ark (Indiana Jones action but less exciting), and a very brief look at Leonardo's last days to create an historical reference (cue Clive Cussler). But one thing about Cussler's work is that he weaves historical fact and his fiction so effortlessly, that it is difficult to tell where fact stops and fiction begins. This is clearly so much unbelievable fiction, that if there were any real facts, you wouldn't believe them.
We are supposed to buy into a family of geniuses who can find every lost treasure and develop technology to control weather (Katrina anyone?). Opps, but alas the last generation is a set of mad, evil genius twins out to control the world (James Bond villains?). We have shoot outs, kidnappings and amazing technology and hacking going on. Don't forget giant magnets used as cloaking devices…cue Star Trek and the Romulans. Or was it Harry Potter's invisibility cloak? Only we're making helicopters and boats disappear not to mention entire islands. At some point, it became entirely and ridiculously unbelievable.
Plus we have Atlantis and a mention of the gods. I'm surprised that Zeus and Apollo didn't make an appearance or maybe they did and I missed it when I resorted to skim reading.
It was fast pace but it felt more like a way to avoid questionable lack of details, or the time needed to really do more than have the answers drop like manna from the gods into their laps. And the pace was interrupted by historical letters that were rather boring. And for me some of the dialogue was cringe worthy and added to the fact that this wasn't really trying to be a believable story.
And I am so tired of Mike and her bikers boots that I was afraid if they were mentioned again, I would throw the book.
The setting would have been awesome (mostly Venice and I love Venice) but it didn't invoke the feel of Venice as much as just name drop. Yes, we get the Piazzo San Marco, etc and that Europe has Coke Light and not Diet Coke.
And at one point I felt maybe the authors and the publishing company were extremely pretentious that they could pull this off. For me it was a big fail. Yes, the two authors write well, but I felt I stepped into fantasy land. How can I ever take this series or these authors serious after this?
Maybe I'm being too hard, this was almost 500 pages of hard labor, but they can do so much better than this. I just don't know if I'll be giving them another chance.
Let's see, as I was reading I thought of the:
Lara Croft
Cliive Cussler
Indiana Jones
Dan Brown Series - The Da Vinci Code, etc..
Star Trek
Harry Potter
Greek Mythology
Lost city of Atlantis
The Bermuda Triangle
James Bond
But every time I would think of someone else's work, it pulled me out of the story and left a bitter taste in my mouth. This was such a disappointment. I felt like I was reading a Saturday Night Live version that did a parody or spoof of a compilation of other plots, stories and books. It became ridiculously unbelievable. Even the book itself referenced Indiana Jones, Star Trek, James Bond and Harry Potter.
There's a religious angle referencing The Ark (Indiana Jones action but less exciting), and a very brief look at Leonardo's last days to create an historical reference (cue Clive Cussler). But one thing about Cussler's work is that he weaves historical fact and his fiction so effortlessly, that it is difficult to tell where fact stops and fiction begins. This is clearly so much unbelievable fiction, that if there were any real facts, you wouldn't believe them.
We are supposed to buy into a family of geniuses who can find every lost treasure and develop technology to control weather (Katrina anyone?). Opps, but alas the last generation is a set of mad, evil genius twins out to control the world (James Bond villains?). We have shoot outs, kidnappings and amazing technology and hacking going on. Don't forget giant magnets used as cloaking devices…cue Star Trek and the Romulans. Or was it Harry Potter's invisibility cloak? Only we're making helicopters and boats disappear not to mention entire islands. At some point, it became entirely and ridiculously unbelievable.
Plus we have Atlantis and a mention of the gods. I'm surprised that Zeus and Apollo didn't make an appearance or maybe they did and I missed it when I resorted to skim reading.
It was fast pace but it felt more like a way to avoid questionable lack of details, or the time needed to really do more than have the answers drop like manna from the gods into their laps. And the pace was interrupted by historical letters that were rather boring. And for me some of the dialogue was cringe worthy and added to the fact that this wasn't really trying to be a believable story.
And I am so tired of Mike and her bikers boots that I was afraid if they were mentioned again, I would throw the book.
The setting would have been awesome (mostly Venice and I love Venice) but it didn't invoke the feel of Venice as much as just name drop. Yes, we get the Piazzo San Marco, etc and that Europe has Coke Light and not Diet Coke.
And at one point I felt maybe the authors and the publishing company were extremely pretentious that they could pull this off. For me it was a big fail. Yes, the two authors write well, but I felt I stepped into fantasy land. How can I ever take this series or these authors serious after this?
Maybe I'm being too hard, this was almost 500 pages of hard labor, but they can do so much better than this. I just don't know if I'll be giving them another chance.
October 18, 2017
First, I should say I'm new to this series so I know I missed a lot of what these characters have gone through to get them to this point. Saying that I thought it was just ok.
The novel begins when we meet the "Fox", a famous thief. Her real name is Kitsune and she has been hired to steal Moses' staff from the Topkapi museum. She's good at what she does so after stealing it she requires payment and this is where things go wrong. She almost dies in the process and later on, she discovers her husband Grant has been taken by her client.
Kitsune turns for help to the people she knows already. She asks Nicholas Drummond and Michaela Caine for help. These two are part of an elite FBI team, The Covert Eyes. Nicholas and Mike can't say no because they soon will learn that someone is able to control the weather and might be responsible for the storm in the Gobi desert. Mike and Nicholas get closer to the real culprits Cassandra and Ajax, a pair of evil twins who are after the Ark of the Covenant when a threat is issued to Washington DC.
I'm not sure if the series is full of paranormal events but this one has a little bit of it. It took me by surprise, I just wasn't expecting it. Maybe that's why I was not too engaged with the story. I was hoping for more police procedure and the thrill of the chase than expecting a Justice League episode.
Now, to the things I liked. Kitsune. She was great. Love that she is pretty much Neal Caffrey from White Collar but with a darker side. She was smart and resourceful. I didn't view her as an enemy or a bad person but she wasn't good either. She has all these shades of gray which made her very interesting to me.
The two FBI agents, Nicholas and Michaela were also good. I enjoyed their banter and they had good chemistry.
Overall, The Devil's Triangle was a fast-paced novel with enough action. If you like some paranormal thrown into it, then this one is for you.
Cliffhanger: No
2.75/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Pocket Books in exchange for an honest review.
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February 23, 2018
If Michael Bay was two women novelists, this what he/she would create. Everything is EPIC!
- Lots of exotic locations: Venice, Capri, Manhattan, (and I'm sure more).
- Superhuman characters: the world's best thief (uber-rich), uber-rich evil fraternal twins and the brother's super-assassin girlfriend, two super FBI agents who are given a new unit with an unlimited budget.
- A super, doomsday weapon that controls the weather.
- DaVinci Code mystical stuff, including a direct reference to that book.
I have frequently faulted writers who write stuff that is hard to read. I definitely can't fault them here. But while the prose is quite readable, it's slightly insipid and lacks any style or fun.
Just like I can't make it through a Michael Bay movie, I couldn't get past the 5th chapter. With 400 pages left, I got out while the getting was good.
Being cowritten by two best selling female authors, there are a lot of strong female characters. I dig the girl power thing, but it's not enough to stop me from giving up.
That said, while it ain't my cup of tea, you might like it. You can have our copy.
- Lots of exotic locations: Venice, Capri, Manhattan, (and I'm sure more).
- Superhuman characters: the world's best thief (uber-rich), uber-rich evil fraternal twins and the brother's super-assassin girlfriend, two super FBI agents who are given a new unit with an unlimited budget.
- A super, doomsday weapon that controls the weather.
- DaVinci Code mystical stuff, including a direct reference to that book.
I have frequently faulted writers who write stuff that is hard to read. I definitely can't fault them here. But while the prose is quite readable, it's slightly insipid and lacks any style or fun.
Just like I can't make it through a Michael Bay movie, I couldn't get past the 5th chapter. With 400 pages left, I got out while the getting was good.
Being cowritten by two best selling female authors, there are a lot of strong female characters. I dig the girl power thing, but it's not enough to stop me from giving up.
That said, while it ain't my cup of tea, you might like it. You can have our copy.
February 7, 2017
There was a lot of rip roaring action going on while I read this book. And it did not stop. Evil twins set out to rule the world and anybody who got in their way, family or not, they would be dealt with. These twins were psycho. Their grandfather had found a way to control the weather. However, he wasn't using it like they thought he should.
The FBI had ticked them off and they wanted a tsunami, the biggest one ever, to hit Washington, D.C. Their grandfather just wasn't listening to them. They had to find a way to get him to listen to them. They knew he kept the answer they needed in his vault. They just needed to get in there and get it.
Prior to that, they also knew that they were the last Koath's alive. They also knew that if they found the Ark of the Covenant they would have powers greater than any known to man. Their mission was to find that Ark. No matter how many hundreds of thousands dead it took to do so.
Naturally a team of FBI were called in. This team were the good guys and they seemed pretty cool and had worked together before. Of course, they were very likable and I was cheering them on from the very beginning.
Yes, this book had me on the edge of my seat and I was whipping through those pages, holding my breath, sometimes having to go back and making sure that yes, I did read that right. The good guys were in the lake and they almost lost one. My pulse was going so fast that I reading faster than I could comprehend, I was so nervous for my friends trying to take these evil twins down. And the race through the tunnels, I thought I was going to need a defibrillator. My mind couldn't keep up with the words. It was so intense! Yes, this was definitely a great book.
Thanks to Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books for approving my request and to Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest review.
The FBI had ticked them off and they wanted a tsunami, the biggest one ever, to hit Washington, D.C. Their grandfather just wasn't listening to them. They had to find a way to get him to listen to them. They knew he kept the answer they needed in his vault. They just needed to get in there and get it.
Prior to that, they also knew that they were the last Koath's alive. They also knew that if they found the Ark of the Covenant they would have powers greater than any known to man. Their mission was to find that Ark. No matter how many hundreds of thousands dead it took to do so.
Naturally a team of FBI were called in. This team were the good guys and they seemed pretty cool and had worked together before. Of course, they were very likable and I was cheering them on from the very beginning.
Yes, this book had me on the edge of my seat and I was whipping through those pages, holding my breath, sometimes having to go back and making sure that yes, I did read that right. The good guys were in the lake and they almost lost one. My pulse was going so fast that I reading faster than I could comprehend, I was so nervous for my friends trying to take these evil twins down. And the race through the tunnels, I thought I was going to need a defibrillator. My mind couldn't keep up with the words. It was so intense! Yes, this was definitely a great book.
Thanks to Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books for approving my request and to Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest review.
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October 23, 20173.5 stars
Evil twins, family drama, world domination, conspiracies, some science fiction, a little religion, even a little romance - "The Devil's Triangle" was a fun concoction and a whirlwind of a ride.
I had read the first book, missed the next two, then jumped back in with this one, book four. Despite missing two books of the series, this worked fine as a stand-alone. One of the key players in this story, not a member of the FBI team, was also in book one so that helped as I was already familiar with them, and their background (I've no idea if they appeared in book two or three).
Coulter and Ellison whipped a story that was grand in design, sort of an Indiana Jones and the Lost Ark updated and with a science fiction twist to it. No Nazis though, sorry. There is a lot of action, however, as trouble seems to follow Drummond and Caine wherever they go. Plans, both theirs and those of the villains, have a tendency to go awry. Fortunately Drummond, Caine, and their team are all good at thinking on their feet. They also had a tendency to do things that I don't think the real FBI is allowed to do. Though, at least the authors recognize that fact:
"I don't suppose what you're doing is anywhere close to legal?"
"Nope," he said cheerfully. "We're Covert Eyes, remember? I like Nicholas's motto: it's easier to ask forgiveness than to get permission."
Nicholas and his team follow that motto quite a lot during the story but they do keep the brass semi-informed. The case is a doozy and gets crazier as they go along: first, an old adversary asks for their help and to entice them, tells them a story about a man-made sand storm. They're skeptical at first but agree to check it out, just in case. From there, things get wilder and stranger. Coulter and Ellison gave us a cast of characters that is smart, funny, talented, and oh so likeable. Even a few of the bad guys are likable and I was rooting for them. I mean, ultimately I wanted Covert Eyes to be successful and save the world, but I kinda didn't want some of the bad guys to get in trouble. While the character development could have been stronger, particularly that of the twins, they were nevertheless interesting, mostly relateable, and a few of them were rather scary.
The story itself could have been trimmed, it didn't need to be 400 pages, but it was pretty fast-paced nonetheless. Science isn't my strong suit so I don't know how much of what happens is viable and how much is pie in the sky but I'll admit that I had trouble at times with plausibility. I couldn't completely buy into certain elements and that slowed down the story for me. But I enjoyed the mix of elements and the grand scale of the story. One review I read said this would make a good movie and I agree. It reminded me of the thrillers you could watch late at night or on a Saturday afternoon, that mixed action, suspense, and a bit of sci fi and kept you glued to the TV for several hours.
"The Devil's Triangle" was a good old-fashioned thriller that had a little something for everyone. Curl up on the couch, take it to the beach, pack it on your carry-on for your next flight, "The Devil's Triangle" will keep you entertained.
Evil twins, family drama, world domination, conspiracies, some science fiction, a little religion, even a little romance - "The Devil's Triangle" was a fun concoction and a whirlwind of a ride.
I had read the first book, missed the next two, then jumped back in with this one, book four. Despite missing two books of the series, this worked fine as a stand-alone. One of the key players in this story, not a member of the FBI team, was also in book one so that helped as I was already familiar with them, and their background (I've no idea if they appeared in book two or three).
Coulter and Ellison whipped a story that was grand in design, sort of an Indiana Jones and the Lost Ark updated and with a science fiction twist to it. No Nazis though, sorry. There is a lot of action, however, as trouble seems to follow Drummond and Caine wherever they go. Plans, both theirs and those of the villains, have a tendency to go awry. Fortunately Drummond, Caine, and their team are all good at thinking on their feet. They also had a tendency to do things that I don't think the real FBI is allowed to do. Though, at least the authors recognize that fact:
"I don't suppose what you're doing is anywhere close to legal?"
"Nope," he said cheerfully. "We're Covert Eyes, remember? I like Nicholas's motto: it's easier to ask forgiveness than to get permission."
Nicholas and his team follow that motto quite a lot during the story but they do keep the brass semi-informed. The case is a doozy and gets crazier as they go along: first, an old adversary asks for their help and to entice them, tells them a story about a man-made sand storm. They're skeptical at first but agree to check it out, just in case. From there, things get wilder and stranger. Coulter and Ellison gave us a cast of characters that is smart, funny, talented, and oh so likeable. Even a few of the bad guys are likable and I was rooting for them. I mean, ultimately I wanted Covert Eyes to be successful and save the world, but I kinda didn't want some of the bad guys to get in trouble. While the character development could have been stronger, particularly that of the twins, they were nevertheless interesting, mostly relateable, and a few of them were rather scary.
The story itself could have been trimmed, it didn't need to be 400 pages, but it was pretty fast-paced nonetheless. Science isn't my strong suit so I don't know how much of what happens is viable and how much is pie in the sky but I'll admit that I had trouble at times with plausibility. I couldn't completely buy into certain elements and that slowed down the story for me. But I enjoyed the mix of elements and the grand scale of the story. One review I read said this would make a good movie and I agree. It reminded me of the thrillers you could watch late at night or on a Saturday afternoon, that mixed action, suspense, and a bit of sci fi and kept you glued to the TV for several hours.
"The Devil's Triangle" was a good old-fashioned thriller that had a little something for everyone. Curl up on the couch, take it to the beach, pack it on your carry-on for your next flight, "The Devil's Triangle" will keep you entertained.
March 22, 2017
This was a fast-paced, hang onto your hat thriller. Yes, it was a little unbelievable, yes these FBI agents did things that would not really happen, but it was exciting and an enjoyable read.
When Nicholas Drummond and Michaela (Mike) Caine are given carte blanche to pick their own assignments, their own team as well as a private plane and unlimited resources you know they are going to get involved in some unconventional situations. Team up with super-thief Kitsune and not only do they end up flying to Italy to deal with a situation, but the body count rises. Kitsune (The Fox) has been hired to steal Moses' staff from the Topkapi Museum in Turkey. When she shows up to make the exchange for her fee, the clients try to kill her. Enter Nicholas and Mike. When they arrive in Italy, they are met by a team of assassins. If not for Kitsune, they probably would not have survived. As they delve into the situation, they find out it is not what it seems. It gets a little science fiction at points where an eccentric old man has developed a way to control the weather, but it works.
This book has everything I have come to expect from the Britt in the FBI series. There was action, danger, injuries, computer hacking, a few crazy villians, a plot to control the world or destroy it, a little romance, a little humor, some chases across the Atlantic and a little confusion between the good guys (FBI team) and the bad guys (Kitsune) as well as some co-operation. I had a hard time putting this book down once I got into it. I knew good would overcome evil, but how do they get there; who gets hurt or possibly killed on the way, how much danger is the world/US in, what happens to the relationship of Nicholas and Mike? If you like mystery/thriller/suspense and can suspend belief for an enjoyable time, pick this one up, you won't regret it. The publisher provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.
When Nicholas Drummond and Michaela (Mike) Caine are given carte blanche to pick their own assignments, their own team as well as a private plane and unlimited resources you know they are going to get involved in some unconventional situations. Team up with super-thief Kitsune and not only do they end up flying to Italy to deal with a situation, but the body count rises. Kitsune (The Fox) has been hired to steal Moses' staff from the Topkapi Museum in Turkey. When she shows up to make the exchange for her fee, the clients try to kill her. Enter Nicholas and Mike. When they arrive in Italy, they are met by a team of assassins. If not for Kitsune, they probably would not have survived. As they delve into the situation, they find out it is not what it seems. It gets a little science fiction at points where an eccentric old man has developed a way to control the weather, but it works.
This book has everything I have come to expect from the Britt in the FBI series. There was action, danger, injuries, computer hacking, a few crazy villians, a plot to control the world or destroy it, a little romance, a little humor, some chases across the Atlantic and a little confusion between the good guys (FBI team) and the bad guys (Kitsune) as well as some co-operation. I had a hard time putting this book down once I got into it. I knew good would overcome evil, but how do they get there; who gets hurt or possibly killed on the way, how much danger is the world/US in, what happens to the relationship of Nicholas and Mike? If you like mystery/thriller/suspense and can suspend belief for an enjoyable time, pick this one up, you won't regret it. The publisher provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.
May 5, 2018
Action-packed, thriller! A couple of psycho siblings who equate themselves with Moses and the Ark of the Covenant! A grandfather who controls the weather unleashing havoc on various places in the world. Lots of references to the Ark and to Nikola Tesla!
If you've been reading this series, keep reading it. If not, why aren't you!
4 solid stars and 2 thumbs up!
If you've been reading this series, keep reading it. If not, why aren't you!
4 solid stars and 2 thumbs up!
February 25, 2019
This is sooooo good! I'm buying a copy for my library! Nick and Michaela need to get together already! Love the writing. I was sitting in my car longer than necessary just to listen to more of it!
May 8, 2017
Suspenseful, unexpected and x-file paranormal - this latest book with Nicholas and Mike is thrilling. This is a page turner for me as it hits all my happy buttons. Nicholas and Mike are contacted by Kitsune, an extraordinary thief they crossed paths with whilst working on a case. They did not expect her to reach out to them for help. Despite her criminal ways, she possess a certain type of charm which entices the duo to help her out. Because there is no such thing as honour among thieves, as Kitsune's latest job demonstrates.
Every so often, Ms. Coulter flirts with psychic elements in her stories. In this story, she bring it in subtly at first and then it comes in hard and fast. For those who enjoy her romantic suspense and do not like anything psychic or paranormal, pass this book. You will not enjoy it. For those of us who believe "There are more things in heaven and earth" this book will delight. This book blends in two unexplainable phenomena/artifacts that intrigue many. Specifically, the poses answers to The Ark of the Covenant and the Bermuda Triangle. I am amazed at how Ms. Coulter intersects these two different items. The amount of research and creativity needed to construct this story is unfathomable for me. The speculation required to make this possible is truly a remarkable gift. On top of all of this, there are several subplots weaving in and out of the main plot. Plus the character development and the continued world building is complex and rich. Reading this story must be savoured to appreciate and detect the nuances and the hidden gems which may be mentioned in future books in this series. After reading this book, I went back and re-read the first three books and came away with more insight than the first time I read them. Who knows what the next book will bring to light?
Whilst this is a book with Nicholas and Mike in it, the star of the show is Kistune. She reminds me of an Asian Catwoman. Kistune is mischievous, intelligent and dangerous. Her ability to be prepared and to take advantage of any situation is impressive. She is a character who glamourizes the wrong side of the law. She possess a certain moral compass which makes her out to not be a bad guy, but she isn't exactly a good guy either. She is complicated with her motives and now with a husband who sides more with right than wrong, it is changing her. Not sure if the change is all together good because it makes her softer in some ways. Makes her vulnerable to the wrong people. This conflict makes the story more interesting and more believe. Because the untouchable and unflappable Kistune is suddenly not so perfect. It only makes her more appealing.
This suspense story is recommended to readers who enjoy paranormal themes and anti-heroes working with the white knights.
*provided by Edelweiss
Every so often, Ms. Coulter flirts with psychic elements in her stories. In this story, she bring it in subtly at first and then it comes in hard and fast. For those who enjoy her romantic suspense and do not like anything psychic or paranormal, pass this book. You will not enjoy it. For those of us who believe "There are more things in heaven and earth" this book will delight. This book blends in two unexplainable phenomena/artifacts that intrigue many. Specifically, the poses answers to The Ark of the Covenant and the Bermuda Triangle. I am amazed at how Ms. Coulter intersects these two different items. The amount of research and creativity needed to construct this story is unfathomable for me. The speculation required to make this possible is truly a remarkable gift. On top of all of this, there are several subplots weaving in and out of the main plot. Plus the character development and the continued world building is complex and rich. Reading this story must be savoured to appreciate and detect the nuances and the hidden gems which may be mentioned in future books in this series. After reading this book, I went back and re-read the first three books and came away with more insight than the first time I read them. Who knows what the next book will bring to light?
Whilst this is a book with Nicholas and Mike in it, the star of the show is Kistune. She reminds me of an Asian Catwoman. Kistune is mischievous, intelligent and dangerous. Her ability to be prepared and to take advantage of any situation is impressive. She is a character who glamourizes the wrong side of the law. She possess a certain moral compass which makes her out to not be a bad guy, but she isn't exactly a good guy either. She is complicated with her motives and now with a husband who sides more with right than wrong, it is changing her. Not sure if the change is all together good because it makes her softer in some ways. Makes her vulnerable to the wrong people. This conflict makes the story more interesting and more believe. Because the untouchable and unflappable Kistune is suddenly not so perfect. It only makes her more appealing.
This suspense story is recommended to readers who enjoy paranormal themes and anti-heroes working with the white knights.
*provided by Edelweiss
March 29, 2017
This one just seemed a bit too far out there. It might be due to the religious angle, it might be due to the mythical weather aspects, or it could be due to the bat shit crazy twins. Whatever it was I found this one a bit tedious to listen to. I liked how Nicholas, Mike and their team worked, how they figured things out hot on the heels of the twins. By the end though I was glad to be done, felt the ending was almost anti-climatic.
September 16, 2017
It's been a while since I've read a book by Catherine Coulter and was not disappointed with this one. There's a lot of fast-paced action and enough excitement to have me wanting to stay up late and read. Catherine Coulter did a very good job of incorporating the myths and legends about the Ark of the Covenant, the staff of Moses, and the Bermuda Triangle into an interesting crime for Agent Drummond and his FBI team to solve.
July 2, 2017
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. Plenty of action and adventure in this story, a good sci-fi thriller with the nicest and most agreeable FBI agents I have ever read. Even though I will admit to rolling my eyes with some of the storyline/dialog, it is overall a good read.
March 28, 2017
Catherine Coulter’s and J.T. Ellison’s collaboration of a fast moving mystery thriller is a spine-tingler grabbing readers from the first page and throughout the storyline of THE DEVIL’S TRIANGLE. Coulter and Ellison create an incredible adventure for the two protagonists, FBI Agents Nicholas Drummond and Michaela (Mike) Caine. This unique team of agents and their hand-picked support team have been given the task to pursue cases dealing with exceptional circumstances. Their storyline begins with the return of Kitsune, alias the Fox, stealing an artifact dating back to the time of Moses. Instead of fulfilling the payment agreement for stealing the artifact, the people attempt to kill Kitsune at the point of delivery and then kidnap her husband. The authors provide the backstory of the relationships between Nicholas, Mike, and Kitsune including details of why Kitsune would feel she could call Nicholas for help.
The storyline’s momentum increase and adds to the intrigue and suspense with the introduction of support characters and subplots that keep readers on the edge of their seats the danger increases for the team. The Nicholas and Mike’s FBI team and Kitsune travel to Turkey and then to Venice in pursuit of those responsible for the attempts on Kitsune's life and the kidnapping of her husband. Events unfold so fast they take the breath away for readers. Danger and dead bodies seem to be around every corner. Coulter and Ellison continue adding new information about each of the main characters keeping readers interest high. Readers shadow Nicholas and Mike as their investigation uncover details that don’t seem to be possible. They find out more about capabilities of the patriarch of the family of evil antagonists. The authors keep their readers in the dark as to how things will turn out.
THE DEVIL’S TRIANGLE delivers action, murder, out of this world computer technology, romance, humor, and justice for the good guys. Coulter and Ellison bring their story to life as Nickolas, Mike and Kitsune join forces to overcome the antagonists’ plans to destroy cities and kill thousands. The suspense, thrills, and romance keep the story alive to the heartwarming ending. THE DEVIL’S TRIANGLE is a book readers will have a hard time putting the book down. It is must read.
The storyline’s momentum increase and adds to the intrigue and suspense with the introduction of support characters and subplots that keep readers on the edge of their seats the danger increases for the team. The Nicholas and Mike’s FBI team and Kitsune travel to Turkey and then to Venice in pursuit of those responsible for the attempts on Kitsune's life and the kidnapping of her husband. Events unfold so fast they take the breath away for readers. Danger and dead bodies seem to be around every corner. Coulter and Ellison continue adding new information about each of the main characters keeping readers interest high. Readers shadow Nicholas and Mike as their investigation uncover details that don’t seem to be possible. They find out more about capabilities of the patriarch of the family of evil antagonists. The authors keep their readers in the dark as to how things will turn out.
THE DEVIL’S TRIANGLE delivers action, murder, out of this world computer technology, romance, humor, and justice for the good guys. Coulter and Ellison bring their story to life as Nickolas, Mike and Kitsune join forces to overcome the antagonists’ plans to destroy cities and kill thousands. The suspense, thrills, and romance keep the story alive to the heartwarming ending. THE DEVIL’S TRIANGLE is a book readers will have a hard time putting the book down. It is must read.
April 1, 2017
If you're a fan of Catherine Coulter and her Brit in the FBI series, you will love this next installment (don't worry, these books can be read standing alone) Mikaela and Nicholas Drummond have now partnered with Kitsune (The Fox) to save her husband Grant who has been kidnapped. An unlikely pairing for sure - one of the greatest thiefs in the world and Special Agent in the FBI.
I didn't find this an "easy" read and it's for sure not a beach read or one that you'll knock out in a day but don't mistake me saying that for me saying it was a bad book. The story line is a bit complex with a dash of conspiracy level meets reality tossed in. That's the only reason that I gave this 4 stars instead of 5. The conspiracy level stuff was just out of my realm of possible. I get it, it's a fiction book. Fiction means not real, blah blah blah.
Anyhow, the characters are amazing and I just love the chemistry between Mike (Mikaela) and Nick. A really good book. I've been following this series since book 1 and I'm looking forward to seeing it continue!
Thank you Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
I didn't find this an "easy" read and it's for sure not a beach read or one that you'll knock out in a day but don't mistake me saying that for me saying it was a bad book. The story line is a bit complex with a dash of conspiracy level meets reality tossed in. That's the only reason that I gave this 4 stars instead of 5. The conspiracy level stuff was just out of my realm of possible. I get it, it's a fiction book. Fiction means not real, blah blah blah.
Anyhow, the characters are amazing and I just love the chemistry between Mike (Mikaela) and Nick. A really good book. I've been following this series since book 1 and I'm looking forward to seeing it continue!
Thank you Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
April 13, 2017
The Devil's Triangle was such a rollercoaster from beginning to end. Honestly, I can't remember reading about a Kookier family, EVER. Absolutely crazy. Nicholas and Mike and their merry gang are aiding Kutsune, who we met in the first Brit in FBI book. She is in deep trouble and embroiled in a dangerous mission that affects the whole world because the obsession of humans in finding the Lost Arc of the Covenant, which by the way Indiana Jones found and is in Area 51. From Venice to Cuba, the team are trying to stop crazy twins, who think that the power of God is theirs to find, who are on a mission to destroy our world.
March 22, 2017
I have generally liked this series. I listened to this on audiobook, and while the narrators did an amazing job, the story was a bit over the top. Not enough personal interaction for my liking. If this series continues, I hope the next installment will be more interesting.
March 10, 2017
The Devils Triangle is by two authors who brought together what they do best a thrill ride of action the story has very cheesy moments as well as cliche dialogue and absurd but interesting plot twist.
This book will keep reader locked and loaded from beginning to end of the book daring readers to finish it a night.
The endless characters of evil vs good comes to life with each page even if they are a little on the cheesy side. I enjoyed this book and recommend to those who love spy, James Bond type of books.
Advance Copy From Netgalley
This book will keep reader locked and loaded from beginning to end of the book daring readers to finish it a night.
The endless characters of evil vs good comes to life with each page even if they are a little on the cheesy side. I enjoyed this book and recommend to those who love spy, James Bond type of books.
Advance Copy From Netgalley
March 6, 2017
I got this book as an Advanced Reader's Copy with the understanding that I would read and review it.
After struggling to get into a smash-hit novel that is awfully written, I turned to Catherine Coulter and J. T. Ellison' "The Devil's Triangle," the fourth in A Brit in the FBI series. I'd never read any of the other books in the series, but didn't let that deter me.
I was able to follow the plot and deduct the backstory easily enough. Unfortunately, it wasn't particularly engaging, believable, or well-written. The dialogue is cliched and stilted and the plot is, at times, absurd.
The crack extra-legal FBI team headed by Drummond and Mike are hot on the heels of diabolical and insane twins who are scions of a wealthy family with an evil secret-- the ability to control the weather and profit from the aftermath of these "natural" disasters.
All in all, 2 stars. I debated giving it 3, but the dialogue and one-dimensional characters reinforced my initial rating.
After struggling to get into a smash-hit novel that is awfully written, I turned to Catherine Coulter and J. T. Ellison' "The Devil's Triangle," the fourth in A Brit in the FBI series. I'd never read any of the other books in the series, but didn't let that deter me.
I was able to follow the plot and deduct the backstory easily enough. Unfortunately, it wasn't particularly engaging, believable, or well-written. The dialogue is cliched and stilted and the plot is, at times, absurd.
The crack extra-legal FBI team headed by Drummond and Mike are hot on the heels of diabolical and insane twins who are scions of a wealthy family with an evil secret-- the ability to control the weather and profit from the aftermath of these "natural" disasters.
All in all, 2 stars. I debated giving it 3, but the dialogue and one-dimensional characters reinforced my initial rating.
January 11, 2021
What balderdash. Twins, a prophecy, ark of the covenant, cloaking devices, a family orchestrating weather events from a secret cuban bermuda triangle hideaway, even marco polo gets dragged into this far-fetched story.
Agents almost dying back in the field the next day. blah blah blah.
I so wanted to like the series. But I can't go on with this series anymore. The last one about the bombers was believable. But if we're back with ridiculous prophecies beyond what even the wild Dirk Pitt comes up with. I returned the next book w/out even reading it. Thousands of people obviously like it so it's just not my cup of tea.
Agents almost dying back in the field the next day. blah blah blah.
I so wanted to like the series. But I can't go on with this series anymore. The last one about the bombers was believable. But if we're back with ridiculous prophecies beyond what even the wild Dirk Pitt comes up with. I returned the next book w/out even reading it. Thousands of people obviously like it so it's just not my cup of tea.
March 27, 2018
The Devil’s Triangle
Catherine Coulter with J.T.Ellison
2017
A Brit in the FBI Thrillers (With J.T. Ellison)
It is my first foray into A Brit in the FBI – and it took some getting used to. It was a good, crisp read. The story flowed. The characters were just OK for me. Perhaps the bad guys were too bad, and the good guys too good with the exception of Kitsune – she could have me coming back for more!
The book has adventure, mystery, intrigue, history, politics, science and twists of fiction so there is plenty to like.
3.5 stars, Oh, 4 stars!
The Devil's Triangle (A Brit in the FBI Book 4)
From New York Times bestselling authors Catherine Coulter and J.T. Ellison comes the highly anticipated thriller in their Brit in the FBI series, featuring special agents Nicholas Drummond and Michaela Caine in their new roles as heads of the Covert Eyes team—but will their first case be their last when the Fox, the enigmatic and dangerous thief, reappears?
“He who controls the weather, will control the world. He who controls time, will never be around.” —Thomas Frey
FBI Special Agents Nicholas Drummond and Michaela Caine are the government’s Covert Eyes—leading a top-notch handpicked team of agents to tackle crimes and criminals both international and deadly. But their first case threatens their fledgling team when the Fox calls from Venice asking for help.
Kitsune has stolen an incredible artifact from the Topkapi Museum in Istanbul, and now the client wants her dead. She has a warning for Nick and Mike: she’s overheard talk that a devastating Gobi desert sandstorm that’s killed thousands in Beijing isn’t a natural phenomenon, rather is produced by man. The Covert Eyes team heads to Venice, Italy, to find out the truth.
From New York to Venice and from Rome to the Bermuda Triangle, Nicholas and Mike and their team are in a race against time, and nature herself, to stop an obsessed family from devastating Washington, DC.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01INMZL00/...
Notes:
45: Welcome to Covert Eyes.
48:…Czech Republic, the site of the Marcomanni tombs….
66…the Kohaths, also called the Levites….
67: A box or a ship, an ark is essential a container.
94: ….Carabinieri soldiers
159: Tesla’s Coil….
163: TYPO: what TO do (to missing?)
167: …all egress and ingress points…..
199: …Da Vinci had made a weather machine, La Macchina
206: TYPO: …act AS if it IS necessary ( AS & IS missing?)
227: …but the Brit was speaking the Roman more common internationally….
233: Catel Rigone, a small town north of Castiglione del Lago……
276:…the nearby church San Bevignate, that temporarily housed the Templars on the orders of Pope Gregory
Depletion vs. compounding (ie of interest)
291: Whence, then, does it come? Who knows? Who can assign limits to the subtlety of nature’s influence? ~ Nicholas Telsa
294: The Melzi from that period, was Francesco Melzi, and not only a painter himself, he was Da Vinci’s lover and was with him when he was dying.
336: The Siberian explosion in 1908….
385: I asked myself, if a physical magnet can make the tracker go offline, what would an electromagnetic field do to it?
387: “I’ve always thought it kind of stupid, what Sherlock Holmes said. ‘When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.” Now I’m not so sure.
EN: one square ft drilled to the core of the earth would be what in volume?
EN: Sun shines how much energy ever hour to the Earth?
Catherine Coulter with J.T.Ellison
2017
A Brit in the FBI Thrillers (With J.T. Ellison)
It is my first foray into A Brit in the FBI – and it took some getting used to. It was a good, crisp read. The story flowed. The characters were just OK for me. Perhaps the bad guys were too bad, and the good guys too good with the exception of Kitsune – she could have me coming back for more!
The book has adventure, mystery, intrigue, history, politics, science and twists of fiction so there is plenty to like.
3.5 stars, Oh, 4 stars!
The Devil's Triangle (A Brit in the FBI Book 4)
From New York Times bestselling authors Catherine Coulter and J.T. Ellison comes the highly anticipated thriller in their Brit in the FBI series, featuring special agents Nicholas Drummond and Michaela Caine in their new roles as heads of the Covert Eyes team—but will their first case be their last when the Fox, the enigmatic and dangerous thief, reappears?
“He who controls the weather, will control the world. He who controls time, will never be around.” —Thomas Frey
FBI Special Agents Nicholas Drummond and Michaela Caine are the government’s Covert Eyes—leading a top-notch handpicked team of agents to tackle crimes and criminals both international and deadly. But their first case threatens their fledgling team when the Fox calls from Venice asking for help.
Kitsune has stolen an incredible artifact from the Topkapi Museum in Istanbul, and now the client wants her dead. She has a warning for Nick and Mike: she’s overheard talk that a devastating Gobi desert sandstorm that’s killed thousands in Beijing isn’t a natural phenomenon, rather is produced by man. The Covert Eyes team heads to Venice, Italy, to find out the truth.
From New York to Venice and from Rome to the Bermuda Triangle, Nicholas and Mike and their team are in a race against time, and nature herself, to stop an obsessed family from devastating Washington, DC.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01INMZL00/...
Notes:
45: Welcome to Covert Eyes.
48:…Czech Republic, the site of the Marcomanni tombs….
66…the Kohaths, also called the Levites….
67: A box or a ship, an ark is essential a container.
94: ….Carabinieri soldiers
159: Tesla’s Coil….
163: TYPO: what TO do (to missing?)
167: …all egress and ingress points…..
199: …Da Vinci had made a weather machine, La Macchina
206: TYPO: …act AS if it IS necessary ( AS & IS missing?)
227: …but the Brit was speaking the Roman more common internationally….
233: Catel Rigone, a small town north of Castiglione del Lago……
276:…the nearby church San Bevignate, that temporarily housed the Templars on the orders of Pope Gregory
Depletion vs. compounding (ie of interest)
291: Whence, then, does it come? Who knows? Who can assign limits to the subtlety of nature’s influence? ~ Nicholas Telsa
294: The Melzi from that period, was Francesco Melzi, and not only a painter himself, he was Da Vinci’s lover and was with him when he was dying.
336: The Siberian explosion in 1908….
385: I asked myself, if a physical magnet can make the tracker go offline, what would an electromagnetic field do to it?
387: “I’ve always thought it kind of stupid, what Sherlock Holmes said. ‘When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.” Now I’m not so sure.
EN: one square ft drilled to the core of the earth would be what in volume?
EN: Sun shines how much energy ever hour to the Earth?
March 17, 2017
This was a terrific page-turner that had me glued from the beginning. It's a techno thriller ala Michael Crichton with religious elements ala Dan Brown. There's also an FBI teamwork element that was a lot of fun, and a great many action scenes. This book should appeal to both male and female readers.
I haven't read the first 3 books in this series, and while I recognized that the main characters in the FBI team probably had a history together and background in previous books that would have been nice to know, I was able to follow along fine reading this as a stand-alone.
In the story, Nicholas, who runs a new "extreme" task team with the FBI called Covert Eyes, is contacted by Kitsune, a world-class thief he has apparently had run-ins with before. She stole the staff of Moses from a museum for a client, but the client then tried to kill her. When that failed, the client kidnapped her husband. Kitsune needs Nicholas's help to rescue her husband and get the client off her back.
The client who wanted the staff are the main villains of the book--Cassandra and Ajax Koath. They are twins, a brother and sister, who are beautiful and fantastically wealthy. The Koath family has searched for the Arc of the Covenant for generations, believing they are descended from the priests charged with guarding it. Their family is also involved with secret technology to control the weather.
It was the weather-control aspect of the blurb that drew me to read this book, because I like techno thrillers, and that aspect of the story is indeed very well done. There's some hand-waving about the technology, of course, but it involves Leonardo Da Vinci and Tesla and was generally described well enough for me to buy it. There are some big weather events in the book that make it exciting.
The main plot, though, revolves around the evil Cassandra and Ajax. Kitsune, Nicholas, and the FBI team go after them to rescue Kitsune's husband (and also figure out the weather weapon), and the twins repeatedly attempt to kill their pursuers. There are quite a few action sequences and gun battles, which I can get bored with, but I found them fairly exciting and fresh. They never felt like they were there to be page fillers, or that the story was JUST action sequences. There's plenty of plot besides.
The characters are very engaging, especially Kitsune (who I assume will appear again in the series), a female thief who is smart and tough. I liked that the FBI team consisted of both men and women, and all of them were extremely competent and unique. Nicholas, the leader of the team, is an adrenaline jockey who appears to be having great fun when they're in danger (unless someone gets hurt), and that helped make the action sequences more fun than stressful. The team hacker, Adam, and his use of technology felt cutting edge and truly smart, not just like a hacker stereotype.
I also really appreciated the plot. While the pursuit/attack plot points in Venice, Castel Rigone, and then the island were somewhat formulaic, I really liked the originality of the Koath family history, the terrible things Cassandra and Ajax had done, the backstory with their mother, what happened with their grandfather, and the interesting twists at the very, very end. Just cool.
I really love vintage Michael Crichton and miss his books terribly. This book filled that void for me. It felt like one of Crichton's best, and quite heads above some of his lesser works or other thrillers I've read recently. I found it more excited and well-written than Dan Brown's books. This is a brand new release, but I think it will stand the test of time as a classic thriller.
Wonderful job. I will check out the previous books in the series and look forward to more.
I haven't read the first 3 books in this series, and while I recognized that the main characters in the FBI team probably had a history together and background in previous books that would have been nice to know, I was able to follow along fine reading this as a stand-alone.
In the story, Nicholas, who runs a new "extreme" task team with the FBI called Covert Eyes, is contacted by Kitsune, a world-class thief he has apparently had run-ins with before. She stole the staff of Moses from a museum for a client, but the client then tried to kill her. When that failed, the client kidnapped her husband. Kitsune needs Nicholas's help to rescue her husband and get the client off her back.
The client who wanted the staff are the main villains of the book--Cassandra and Ajax Koath. They are twins, a brother and sister, who are beautiful and fantastically wealthy. The Koath family has searched for the Arc of the Covenant for generations, believing they are descended from the priests charged with guarding it. Their family is also involved with secret technology to control the weather.
It was the weather-control aspect of the blurb that drew me to read this book, because I like techno thrillers, and that aspect of the story is indeed very well done. There's some hand-waving about the technology, of course, but it involves Leonardo Da Vinci and Tesla and was generally described well enough for me to buy it. There are some big weather events in the book that make it exciting.
The main plot, though, revolves around the evil Cassandra and Ajax. Kitsune, Nicholas, and the FBI team go after them to rescue Kitsune's husband (and also figure out the weather weapon), and the twins repeatedly attempt to kill their pursuers. There are quite a few action sequences and gun battles, which I can get bored with, but I found them fairly exciting and fresh. They never felt like they were there to be page fillers, or that the story was JUST action sequences. There's plenty of plot besides.
The characters are very engaging, especially Kitsune (who I assume will appear again in the series), a female thief who is smart and tough. I liked that the FBI team consisted of both men and women, and all of them were extremely competent and unique. Nicholas, the leader of the team, is an adrenaline jockey who appears to be having great fun when they're in danger (unless someone gets hurt), and that helped make the action sequences more fun than stressful. The team hacker, Adam, and his use of technology felt cutting edge and truly smart, not just like a hacker stereotype.
I also really appreciated the plot. While the pursuit/attack plot points in Venice, Castel Rigone, and then the island were somewhat formulaic, I really liked the originality of the Koath family history, the terrible things Cassandra and Ajax had done, the backstory with their mother, what happened with their grandfather, and the interesting twists at the very, very end. Just cool.
I really love vintage Michael Crichton and miss his books terribly. This book filled that void for me. It felt like one of Crichton's best, and quite heads above some of his lesser works or other thrillers I've read recently. I found it more excited and well-written than Dan Brown's books. This is a brand new release, but I think it will stand the test of time as a classic thriller.
Wonderful job. I will check out the previous books in the series and look forward to more.
July 13, 2017
I really enjoyed this book. You have to suspend belief a little, because the premise might be a little far-fetched, but I liked that it started with a historical premise, Tesla's Coil, and a biblical element, the Ark of the Covenant, and went out on a limb a little. Mike and Nicholas are just getting their new FBI team, Covert Eyes, up and running when they are contacted by an old nemesis, Kitsune the thief, who they encountered in a previous book and the roller coaster ride takes off from there. It goes from the United States to Venice and other points in Italy, England, and Cuba and involves deadly sandstorms, a hurricaine or 2, a volcano, shootouts, murders, and psychopaths. I found the read enjoyable, just what I needed.
October 11, 2017
When I bought this book, I didn't realize it was one of Coulter's combos with Ellison. This series is not my favorite and here's why--I think Ellison must the the master of the fight scene. They go on and on. I started skimming. At one point one of the minor characters even says it looked amazing, like one of those from a movie. I can see hopes here that Tom Cruise will get the message. Really? Anyway, the plot is intricate. There's a group of insane geniuses who are archaeologists convinced their family should own the Arc of the Covenant. Yes, that old thing. It will give them the power to rule the world. The grandfather of the clan can make weather do as he wishes and lives on an island in the Bermuda Triangle. Oh, that's the Devil's triangle of the title. Clever. Anyway, there's little romance, bummer, but you have to admire the plotting. Readers of thrillers will probably like the book. I stuck with it, glad the ending satisfied.
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