Somehow, I ended up with TWO ARC’s for William Dietrich’s THE ROSETTA KEY which is an April hardcover release from HarperCollins. If you visit the husband’s blog, you will have seen this book on his sidebar under “now reading” (even though he finished it a couple of weeks ago and has moved on to THE LUST LIZARD OF MELANCHOLY COVE).
The husband is not a big reader. Or I guess I should say book reader because he would read internet news, blogs, articles, etc., 24/7 if I let him. He keeps up with all things political, scientific, pop culturish, etc. and has usually told me several things during the day that I’ll later hear on the evening news – or even the next day’s news. He IS my source for news. Anyhow, he read THE ROSETTA KEY, and enjoyed it enough that he finished it, which is really the telling marker for him. I read the first chapter in the car while the husband dashed into the store, and then he took it over and I moved on, but what I read was fun.
Surviving murderous thieves, a nerve-racking sea voyage, and the deadly sands of Egypt with Napoleon’s army, American adventurer Ethan Gage solved a five-thousand-year-old riddle with the help of a mysterious medallion. But the danger is only beginning. . . .
Gage finds himself hurled into the Holy Land in dogged pursuit of an ancient Egyptian scroll imbued with magic, even as Bonaparte launches his 1799 invasion of Israel, which will climax at the epic siege of Acre. Pursuing Napoleon to France, where the general hopes ancient secrets will catapult him to power, the wily and inventive Gage faces old enemies with unlikely new friends, and must use wit, humor, derring-do, and an archaeological key to prevent dark powers from seizing control of the world.
Entertaining and vividly evocative, The Rosetta Key is William Dietrich at his fast-paced, cliff-hanger best. For lovers of stirring historical adventure laden with intriguing mystery and puzzles galore, The Rosetta Key is a terrific thrill ride not to be missed.
The Publisher’s Weekly review says:
Last seen in Dietrich’s Napoleon’s Pyramids, fleeing the forces of evil in a runaway hot-air balloon over Egypt, Ethan Gage undergoes further life-threatening adventures in this rollicking sequel. Nine months before the balloon incident, Gage arrived in the Holy Land with his benefactor, Napoleon Bonaparte. After various misunderstandings involving the secrets of the Great Pyramid, Bonaparte became his implacable enemy. Now, accused of treason by Napoleon’s minions, Pierre Najac and Najac’s boss, the French-Italian count and sorcerer Alessandro Silano, Gage flees to Jerusalem, where he searches for his former lover, Astiza, who he fears has fallen into Silano’s hands. Gage is also hunting clues that may lead him to the fabled Book of Toth, an ancient tome that promises to reveal the secrets of the universe. Ever the incorrigible gambler and all-around scamp, Gage makes an irresistible antihero. The ending promises more volumes in what one hopes will be a long series.
Post a comment here if you’d like to be entered to win an advanced readers copy of THE ROSETTA KEY. Winner will be drawn, Sunday night, May 18, 2008, at 8:00 p.m.ish CDT.
You don’t need to enter me, I’ll grab it from the library, but it sounds a little like Clive Cussler’s books, which I used to love in a big way.
by Angela James May 14th, 2008 at 10:58 amYou know, action-wise, it might be. Did Cussler use real historical figures though, because Dietrich does and in SUCH cool depth. Really fun details of history that I knew nothing about.
by Alison May 14th, 2008 at 11:00 amWow… this does sound like something my DH would like, too–very cool! Thanks for the info, Alison!
by Fedora May 14th, 2008 at 11:13 amIt sounds great. I would love to read it.
by Susan May 14th, 2008 at 11:17 amThis sounds really fascinating and I haven’t read this author’s work before. Always nice to learn about authors and titles I’d be interested in.
by Little lamb Lost May 14th, 2008 at 11:53 amHave you ever read any of the ‘Jack Absolute’ books by C C Humphries?
by Angie-la May 14th, 2008 at 1:04 pmI love those! This sounds like something along the same lines…..
I haven’t, no, but I have heard of them. (And Angie-la, your box should be going out tomorrow at long last!)
by Alison May 14th, 2008 at 1:13 pmI have not read this author. I do enjoy historical adventure stories.
by Estella May 14th, 2008 at 2:57 pmyour box should be going out tomorrow at long last!
LOL!!
by Angie-la May 14th, 2008 at 3:00 pmAhh, Alison! I told you I was a patient person.
No worries! :)
This would be another new author for me, thanks for the introduction!
by Teresa W. May 14th, 2008 at 4:03 pmNeat! I’d try it out. :)
by Jess May 14th, 2008 at 5:44 pmSounds like a great book. I’ve never read anything by Dietrich.
by Liza May 14th, 2008 at 6:56 pmI’ve read other books of his and definitely interested in this one, stories like this appeal to me.
by Pam Pellini May 14th, 2008 at 9:26 pmI would like to read this one. I haven’t read any of his books.
by Amelia May 14th, 2008 at 11:10 pmCount me in – this is an author I have not read before but the excerpt sounds great!
by Barbara-Jo May 15th, 2008 at 8:15 amwho can resist historical adventures, intriquing mysteries and puzzles; count me in.
by RobynL May 15th, 2008 at 9:47 amThat sounds like a very interesting and entertaining read!
by limecello May 15th, 2008 at 10:43 amWhat a great giveaway. Thanks. I would be very interested in this new release. I enjoy historical mysteries.
by ruth May 15th, 2008 at 10:55 amClive Cussler used historical events, often things that have some mystery surrounding them, as the basis for all of his Dirk Pitt books. Every book started with a “prologue” of an event that happened in the past, and then the rest of the book centered on something having to do with that event. His books are very…Indiana Jones, in the sense that they’re quite sweeping in the adventure sense, and the situations the hero/characters get into (and out of) are a bit over the top but absolutely fun. And like Indy, Dirk Pitt could never seem to stick with a woman.
They’re fun.
by Angela James May 15th, 2008 at 3:03 pmSounds good, include me please.
by Dina May 16th, 2008 at 10:04 am