The Gold of Troy

by Robert L. Fish

Determined to locate the Schliemann Treasure for the Metropolitan Museum, director Ruth McVeigh and Gregor Koupak from the Hermitage must outwit international agents and wrest the secret of the treasure from a man prepared to kill to keep it

401 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1980

About the author

Robert Lloyd Fish was an American writer of crime fiction. His first novel, The Fugitive, gained him the Mystery Writers of America's Edgar Allan Poe Award for best first novel in 1962, and his short story "Moonlight Gardener" was awarded the Edgar for best short story in 1972. His 1963 novel Mute Witness, written under the pseudonym Robert L. Pike, was filmed in 1968 as Bullitt, starring Steve McQueen.

Reviews

[Stephanie Ann Marcotte · Rating 1 out of 5]

Worst book I have read about archaeology. The author did more research about European geography than archaeology. The spy aspect is completely superfluous and down right stupid. 75% of the book focuses on the beauty of the main female character and her personality leaves much to be desired. None of the characters are particularly smart or even palitable. The ending is worst of all- archaeology completly ignored and international spies reduced to squabbling children. In short a terrible read.

[Tim Nuyens · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spionageroman, geschreven rond het jaar 1979-1980. Opbouw in het begin was flink doordacht en daardoor interessant. Gaandeweg kon het die belofte voor mij niet meer volledig vervullen. Sommige plotwendingen vond ik namelijk wat geforceerd. Maar ik heb mij wel nog geamuseerd, bijvoorbeeld ook met de Koude Oorlogelementen (KGB vs. CIA) en het gebrek aan moderne technologie (de butler die de telefoon met een lange draad naar de kasteelheer brengt...:-)).

[Renee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun little thriller from 1980. It's the completely unrealistic tale of the director of the Metropolitan Museum and a Soviet archeologist teaming up to hunt down the gold treasure Heinrich Schleman dug up in Troy. It's pretty silly. I did get a good chuckle when representatives from all the major museums meet up to discuss who should get the treasure. The Met director (idiotically) thinks she can get everyone to agree to buy the treasure together and share custody. The one true part of the book is that no one who thinks they have the slightest claim to a treasure will ever be willing to admit anyone else should have a similar legitimate claim.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this classic cloak and dagger. It has a recovered ancient treasure, ownership squabbles between countries, and again between renowned museums, over ownership, trusts betrayed, swindlers, rich vs poor, and in the midst of all of this a touch of Romeo and Juliett as true love appears despite being on competing sides. Collaboration is the key to success, even if the collaboration is inadvertent - but collaboration between who. Hmmm...