Product Description

In the bestselling tradition of The Da Vinci Code, The Rule of Four and The Historian, with the pace of an Indiana Jones film, The Lost Temple promises a breathtaking adventure across the ruins of the post-war Mediterranean, through the myths and literature of lost civilisations, and into the heart of an ancient mystery.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1201 in Books
• Published on: 2007-10-18
• Original language: English
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• 400 pages

Synopsis
For three thousand years, the world's most dangerous treasure has been lost. Now the code that reveals its hiding place is about to be broken ...Sam Grant is a disgraced ex-SOE soldier and an adventurer by trade. But he has a secret: six years ago, a dying archaeologist entrusted him with his life's work - transcripts of mysterious writing found in a hidden cave on Crete. Deciphered, it could lead to one of the greatest prizes in history. But the treasure is as dangerous as it is valuable. The CIA wants it; so does the KGB. Helped by a brilliant Oxford professor, and a beautiful Greek archaeologist with her own secrets to hide, Grant is plunged into a labyrinth of ancient cults, forgotten mysteries and lost civilizations. But time is running out. The secrets of the distant past may hold the key to the newest threats of the modern world...

From the Back Cover
For three thousand years, the world's most dangerous treasure has been lost. Now the code that reveals its hiding place is about to be broken ...

Sam Grant is a disgraced ex-SOE soldier and an adventurer by trade. But he has a secret: six years ago, a dying archaeologist entrusted him with his life's work - transcripts of mysterious writing found in a hidden cave on Crete. Deciphered, it could lead to one of the greatest prizes in history.But the treasure is as dangerous as it is valuable. The CIA wants it; so does the KGB.Helped by a brilliant Oxford professor, and a beautiful Greek archaeologist with her own secrets to hide, Grant is plunged into a labyrinth of ancient cults, forgotten mysteries and lost civilizations.But time is running out.

The secrets of the distant past may hold the key to the newest threats of the modern world...

About the Author
Tom Harper (real name Edwin Thomas) won the CWA debut award in 2001 for The Blighted Cliffs. He also wrote The Mosaic of Shadows, Knights of the Cross, and Siege of Heaven, published by Random House.

Customer Reviews

Lost Temple - Tom Harper
This was a good read, although it never got truly gripping or compelling. A previous reviewer (11/01/08) has mentioned the siege of Antioch, but he/she is mistaken as that event does not appear anywhere in this book, nor is this novel set in the Crusades. Indeed he/she seems to be reviewing a different book. Previous reviewers have done an adequate job in describing the novel, the plot and its good and bad points, so I shall keep this brief.

The book is different in that the secret or historical mystery is not concerned with Christianity, but with ancient Greece and Mycenae, the age of heroes and of Homer, and the Linear B text. In this respect the novel is an original, and welcome, addition to the historical thriler genre. The book remained interesting, and there was plenty of pace. However, things did get predictable and you could spot the bad guy a mile off. Most disappointing of all was the weak ending - a bit of a cop-out - and it made all that had gone beforehand irrelevant and perhaps a waste of time.

In conclusion, I would recommend the book, but be prepared for a let-down at the end!

I wanted to like this book
The main character is weakly drawn, the murder mystery not quite believable in development or finish; it does not generate any who-dunnit interest or surprise. But the author has done alot of homework to set the scene of the Christian siege of Antioch and then, through a real life turn of events, the Christian defense against a siege as they are trapped inside Antioch, all with a actually-happened miraculous ending. The grit, sweat and barbarity of the first crusade is solidly told. Interesting book for a crusade story, not much for a Medieval murd3r mystery, as in the Da vinci code!! If you missed Da vinci code go and read it, if you've already read it, read Tino Georgiou's bestselling novel--The Fates!

I think some of the other reviewers are a bit generous on this.
This book is not up to the strength of the other Harper books. It is an enjoyable summer holiday read, but if you have seen the Indiana Jones films and read the Da Vinci Code you know precisely what is going to happen before it does in the book. It is pretty well written and readable but very much a mixture of previous fictional plots.