What do you think?
Rate this book
Area 51 #5
The Grail
The Holy Grail -- is it the key to a miracle ... or a terrifying truth?
The Great Wall of China, the immense carvings on Easter Island, Egypt's pyramids, UFOs. What is the chilling connection? The answer, unearthed by an elite band of soldiers and scientists based at Area 51, is rewriting human history -- to include the aliens who shaped it!
Now, in this heart-pounding novel, Area 51 personnel embark on a top secret search for the Holy Grail, a glittering artifact with the power to save the world ... or lead to its destruction.
Special Forces officer Mike Turcotte has paid his dues in battle and in blood. Now assigned to Area 51, he fights the toughest enemy of his the alien race who arrived on earth millennia ago and have returned to claim the planet.
Mike has dodged bullets and faced weapons of mass destruction to give humanity another day of reprieve. But when his lover, scientist Lisa Duncan, falls into evil hands, Mike must decide which prize means the most to him -- the woman he loves or the legendary Grail. It's a decision that could damn him ... or damn us all.
The Great Wall of China, the immense carvings on Easter Island, Egypt's pyramids, UFOs. What is the chilling connection? The answer, unearthed by an elite band of soldiers and scientists based at Area 51, is rewriting human history -- to include the aliens who shaped it!
Now, in this heart-pounding novel, Area 51 personnel embark on a top secret search for the Holy Grail, a glittering artifact with the power to save the world ... or lead to its destruction.
Special Forces officer Mike Turcotte has paid his dues in battle and in blood. Now assigned to Area 51, he fights the toughest enemy of his the alien race who arrived on earth millennia ago and have returned to claim the planet.
Mike has dodged bullets and faced weapons of mass destruction to give humanity another day of reprieve. But when his lover, scientist Lisa Duncan, falls into evil hands, Mike must decide which prize means the most to him -- the woman he loves or the legendary Grail. It's a decision that could damn him ... or damn us all.
328 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 6, 2001
203 people are currently reading
550 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
January 15, 2019
Sci-Fi action galore!
What a great series. Aliens, hi tech gadgets and plenty of action. Plus history and lost treasures. Things look bleak for mankind. Caught in the middle of a time spanning galactic war. Onward to Book 6.
What a great series. Aliens, hi tech gadgets and plenty of action. Plus history and lost treasures. Things look bleak for mankind. Caught in the middle of a time spanning galactic war. Onward to Book 6.
March 21, 2013
What I really admire is that despite this book being the 5th in the series, the author still manages to pull it off. There's as much tension, mystery and action as ever. It's not easy to hold the reader's attention throughout one book, let alone a whole series, and Bob Mayer does it like no one else. Even though there's not much character development, I still love the little eccentric group fighting off the big threat: an African professor, an old Chinese archeologist, a Russian military man and - of course - a bunch of Americans, including the main characters, Mike Turcotte and Lisa Duncan. Everybody is hiding something, nothing is what it seems, the war is raging on. There's no time to stop and think - the pace of the book is incredible, and the military details are also pretty impressive. Great book, great series.
March 11, 2021
I enjoyed this book a bit more than the others so far in the series. There were a couple of great scenes, such as the battle at Easter Island. The editing seemed tighter and as a whole the story wasn't as disjointed as some of the previous books.
February 21, 2015
The Grail, the fifth book in the Area 51 series by Bob Mayer, continues the saga of earth as interfered with by aliens known as the Airlia. Artad or Aspasia, which one is the right one to side with? Is that even the right question? Who is the mysterious man in black that scares everybody? Why is Lisa Duncan stuck underneath the Sphinx? What's going on at Easter Island? Egypt? China? Area 51?
This book wound up being as enjoyable as the previous books. Initially, however, I was bored and had a tough time getting into the story. It just wasn't grabbing me or my imagination. But I remained committed to completing the book, and I'm glad I did. About the 40% mark is when I started being engaged in the story. And the setup for the next chapter is immense. I can't imagine where the story goes next.
I recommend the book, but only in order. You don't have to know all that has come before, but it will be mighty confusing if haven't followed the series so far. 3-1/2 stars gets a 4.
This book wound up being as enjoyable as the previous books. Initially, however, I was bored and had a tough time getting into the story. It just wasn't grabbing me or my imagination. But I remained committed to completing the book, and I'm glad I did. About the 40% mark is when I started being engaged in the story. And the setup for the next chapter is immense. I can't imagine where the story goes next.
I recommend the book, but only in order. You don't have to know all that has come before, but it will be mighty confusing if haven't followed the series so far. 3-1/2 stars gets a 4.
October 9, 2012
This is the 5th book in the Area 51 series. I'm still finding these to be very enjoyable to read, though in a somewhat different way. After 5 books you really start getting comfortable with the reappearing characters, ultimately wanting to know more and more about them, and the larger story. It's really something I enjoy, and one reason why I tend to favor very long series, regarding them as some of my favorite books. And this series continues to deliver an entertaining storyline, that keeps you guessing as to what is really going on. It's definitely one of those "guilty pleasure" style series for me. I recommend it to anyone that enjoys reading these type of books.
June 6, 2013
Will civilization end as we know it? Who really is the bad guy? This series is an absolute mind blower!
August 31, 2019
The tying point of this book has to do with rescuing Duncan and possibly the Ark and the Grail both of which are underground in the hidden chamber under the stone Sphinx. Turcotte is working furiously to achieve this while also trying to locate the other fractions of the Airlia, one of which is working on releasing Artad from his slumber in the tomb of Quien Ling. Professor Mualama who had escorted Duncan to the Hall of Records and had been released by Asparia's Shadow, who finds a way to get the Grail activated by Duncan by getting the two stones that are missing from the Hall of Records. Mualama still has the Burton manuscript which he begins to translate which gives the team group more information about the inner conflict between them, plus gives them better information about how the guardians work and their technology can do. But the translation is not fast and Turcotte is impatient. They do get information about a Watcher headquarter where they can get a Watcher Ring which will help them gain entry into the tunnels leading to the Hall of Records but they aren't told of how to avoid or destroy the foo driven mechanical creature which guards the tunnels. Turcotte alone survives but fails to rescue Duncan. Using both descriptions from the translations made by Mualama and the mathematical equations made by Nabinger but modified to Airlia math, they are able to figure out most of the locations of where guardians are on the entire planet and eventually figure out the key headquarter site of the Mission, where Asparia's Shadow has taken Duncan to wait for the results of her transformation from using one stone with the Grail. Meanwhile, Artad and his army have fully awakened. We learn from the translations that Artad used multiple disguises over the ages and one of them was the mythical Arthur of Camelot. At that time, he was attempting some kind of unity using the Ark, the Grail, and Excalibur but was thwarted in his endeavors. Turcotte is able to get where the Mission is (on Mount Sinai) and is able to gain entry but because they don't have a blueprint of the interior, Turcotte arrives too late in the action to save Duncan from being shot. It appears that she dies from the gunshot wound that Yakov shot through her to get to Asparia's Shadow to get him to drop her. They do also rescue the Ark which the Israels take. Asparia's Shadow escapes with the Grail. Turcotte goes into a depressed state of mind which all of the team try to talk him out of, which doesn't work until they are all called to the new room set up at Area 51 where Duncan's body was being examined. To their surprise, Duncan is sitting up and awake and unharmed.
April 8, 2020
Amazing as always. Now, EXCALIBUR!!!
These books have encapsulated all manner of things Fortean and created a story that links them all together in a believable way (well, believable to some, anyways.) Each book has surprised and shocked me many times and I'm looking forward to see how the story enfolds in the next book in the series, Excalibur. Very intelligent and entertaining read.
These books have encapsulated all manner of things Fortean and created a story that links them all together in a believable way (well, believable to some, anyways.) Each book has surprised and shocked me many times and I'm looking forward to see how the story enfolds in the next book in the series, Excalibur. Very intelligent and entertaining read.
December 28, 2022
Dragged on a bit
I usually enjoy these stories but this one seemed to drag a bit ,also just as your getting in to the story and meeting New characters next thing they are all dead ,the author introduces special forces from all over the world only to kill them of in the next chapter the main characters are dangerous to be around but they always get lucky when things go wrong not so much the people around them,saying that I'll cary on with the series and see if it picks up.👽
I usually enjoy these stories but this one seemed to drag a bit ,also just as your getting in to the story and meeting New characters next thing they are all dead ,the author introduces special forces from all over the world only to kill them of in the next chapter the main characters are dangerous to be around but they always get lucky when things go wrong not so much the people around them,saying that I'll cary on with the series and see if it picks up.👽
March 2, 2025
I'm lost and tired. In all fairness, that may say as much about my approach to the book as the book itself. I'm tired of trying to keep up with the sub-plots and characters coming and going. Yes, there are moments of excitement and drama, but reading this series has become a lot of mental work. It almost seems as if the storyline has disappeared. I doubt I will finish the series. I've lost confidence in the author's ability to reach conclusions.
April 19, 2018
Five down....
It seems at every turn, the bad guys are one step ahead of everyone else. I get more and more anxious wanting Turcotte and his team to get some payback. Five books into the series, and I want more. I'm wondering why someone isn't making a movie yet. On to the next book.
It seems at every turn, the bad guys are one step ahead of everyone else. I get more and more anxious wanting Turcotte and his team to get some payback. Five books into the series, and I want more. I'm wondering why someone isn't making a movie yet. On to the next book.
August 31, 2017
Great read and adventure.
I have read five of the books in the series and have not been disappointed. The books stay true to the players and storyline. I am looking forward to the next book.
I have read five of the books in the series and have not been disappointed. The books stay true to the players and storyline. I am looking forward to the next book.
July 27, 2017
Intense and hard to see how they can get out of this
So intense that I had to skim pages ahead to see how some scenes came out (I'm a wimp, but still). Great storytelling
So intense that I had to skim pages ahead to see how some scenes came out (I'm a wimp, but still). Great storytelling
July 22, 2018
I stand by my assessment of the last book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 1, 2018
Very interesting. Nice technical details .
December 20, 2018
I like how things are still going. I was worried about Duncan and loved how things went in the end...though I'm still worried.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 21, 2019
These are some amazing books.
Love this series... Haven't read anything this good in a long long time. Can't wait to read the next one!!!
Love this series... Haven't read anything this good in a long long time. Can't wait to read the next one!!!
August 20, 2022
8/10: Excellent read, well written, fell right into the fictional world created.
March 4, 2017
Good read!
Aliens, ( some good, some evil) religion, detailed information on aviation ,scuba, ships, parachuting etc. It was a learning experience for me, the authors SEAL expertise is evident- guys will LOVE it, but I liked it too! There's fighting but not gory. I enjoyed the way all the mysterious places and historical figures take on new meaning in this "what if" story, can't wait to read the next one!
Aliens, ( some good, some evil) religion, detailed information on aviation ,scuba, ships, parachuting etc. It was a learning experience for me, the authors SEAL expertise is evident- guys will LOVE it, but I liked it too! There's fighting but not gory. I enjoyed the way all the mysterious places and historical figures take on new meaning in this "what if" story, can't wait to read the next one!
February 28, 2017
Not as fun as the first three, definitely a lack of actual content with too much lore being shoved in as padding
February 13, 2014
Often by this point in a series (book #5) they start to grow stale or repetitive but this one seems to be holding steady and even becoming better each time. The author mixes up the plot and introduces new characters well but probably the sheer scope of the material is what allows it to keep going at a nice pace. After all there is a lot you can do when you come to understand that the entire history of our planet and every significant event was actually shaped and manipulated by aliens.
Still quite a bit of military-style action to suit those fans but this entry in the series delved more into the historical aspects of what’s really been happening throughout human history. The author used a cool technique this time around to help give us some excellent backstory on the alien history. He uses the famous explorer from history, Sir Richard Francis Burton, to tell us the story. But rather than use some kind of flashback tool, the characters of the story translate some of his lost material throughout the course of the novel, feeding us awesome pieces of the puzzle one translated chapter at a time. I happen to be a huge fan of Burton and have read several biographies of him. He had an amazing life and if you haven’t had the chance to really “discover” him yourself I urge you to do so. The author of this novel could not have chosen a better historical figure to enhance the plot here.
Looking forward to the next with continued hopes that this series doesn’t peter out.
Still quite a bit of military-style action to suit those fans but this entry in the series delved more into the historical aspects of what’s really been happening throughout human history. The author used a cool technique this time around to help give us some excellent backstory on the alien history. He uses the famous explorer from history, Sir Richard Francis Burton, to tell us the story. But rather than use some kind of flashback tool, the characters of the story translate some of his lost material throughout the course of the novel, feeding us awesome pieces of the puzzle one translated chapter at a time. I happen to be a huge fan of Burton and have read several biographies of him. He had an amazing life and if you haven’t had the chance to really “discover” him yourself I urge you to do so. The author of this novel could not have chosen a better historical figure to enhance the plot here.
Looking forward to the next with continued hopes that this series doesn’t peter out.
November 21, 2015
Another very fun read in the Area 51 series. I've decided for this one to switch over my tags from sci-fi and military to sci-fi and fantasy. This novel had less in the area of military ops (though the battle armor was pretty wild!), and more in the area of fantasy. It's amazing to me that Bob Mayer can move from Egyptian history to Arthurian legend and it all somehow works! And, for a Dragon lover like me, it was awesome how he managed to even work in Dragons, in a new way. Really looking forward to the next in the series to see what Artad is all about, and what's going on with Lisa!
May 12, 2016
This one really feels like it exists only to move the story to the next book. It's way, way more expository than the previous entries in the series with huge sections of the novel just characters reading from the secret manuscript of Richard Francis Burton. I have no doubt that the pertinent information from this one will be repeated in the next book in between describing specter gun ships and the back stories of characters who are destined to die in three pages so I'd probably recommend skipping this one if you decide to read the series.
October 14, 2012
Things are finally coming together with this book. I think I'm finally following who everyone is: the Airlia, Aspasia and Artad wise at least. So many things that start with 'A'.
In this book you finally get to see more sides of characters and learn more about the history of the aliens. It does leave you with more questions and wanting to read the next book to find out what happens to the characters next.
In this book you finally get to see more sides of characters and learn more about the history of the aliens. It does leave you with more questions and wanting to read the next book to find out what happens to the characters next.
August 30, 2014
Pick a few myths & legends, mix with SciFi & aliens, data dump from a translated diary every other chapter, then shoot some sh!t up. I kinda like the action scenes, but the data dumps were very tiresome. And the mix & match of myths and legends - Dracula's coming in the next few episodes I reckon as he got heavily hinted at in this one - just got plain annoying for me I'm afraid, which is why it took so long to finish.
December 23, 2022
Exciting story
I would recommend this book to anyone following the area 51 series. The book can stand alone but is best read as a continuation of the story as this gives the reader a fuller understanding of what is going on. I would wholeheartedly recommend anyone to read this book even if they hadn't started the series from the beginning. They will still be enthralled by the story shown in this book independently.
I would recommend this book to anyone following the area 51 series. The book can stand alone but is best read as a continuation of the story as this gives the reader a fuller understanding of what is going on. I would wholeheartedly recommend anyone to read this book even if they hadn't started the series from the beginning. They will still be enthralled by the story shown in this book independently.
June 20, 2013
What I'm starting to love about these novels other than the alien aspect is how the author does such a brilliant job of integrating different ppl and events in history into the story. Burton's journals almost made it feel like I was reading a mini novel within the novel and with Artad now in play, I'm that much more eager to get to sixth book.
December 20, 2013
Yet another installment in the history spanning Area 51 series. Giving just enough closure to be labeled a novel, yet leaving you with a fade-to-black "Executive Producer Chris Carter" X-Files ending. Always gifting you more questions than answers. If the goal was to keep me reading; it's working!
Damn you Mayer!
Damn you Mayer!
January 23, 2013
Everything just keeps coming faster and faster. Multiple groups in play with multiple plans operating over multiple books has created some kind of four player chess game where not only do the humans not know all the rules but only have pawns and knights on the board. Can't wait to see what's next.
August 31, 2013
"The Grail (Area 51, #5) by Robert Doherty was enjoyable SF reading. Wish I had started with book #1 as it would have made more sense from the start. I've read a couple of other Area 51 books and will probably go back and read the rest of the series at some point.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews