Glenn Cooper (1) (1953–)

Well! This book had me down a rabbit hole!

From Elizabethan magus John Dee’s notebooks to modern‑day scryers and ruthless enemies, Cal is thrust into a race to find the showstone before it’s used to unleash catastrophe. Expose the secret, and risk the end of everything—or bury it forever.

Cal Donovan is an interesting character. And to be honest, I didn’t much like him. He is a an alcoholic and he cheats on his girlfriend…BUT, he is smart as a whip and he is determined to find out show more where this stone came from and why people are getting killed for it.

I have never read this author. He has quite a few books out there and let me tell you… I am about to read them all. It has been quite a while since I have read a book in this genre, archeological/religious relic mystery. I loved all the research this book had me looking up, including the angel language, and yes, that is real! Plus, it takes you all over the globe in multiple time periods. And I was researching all of it.

This is book four and as I said before, I have not read the others in this series and I did not feel lost at all.

Need a fast paced thriller that just might teach you something….THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel for a honest review. show less

This first book in the trilogy is part thriller and part fantasy-adventure and is a saga that transport the reader to a world they never experienced.

The story:

John Camp is head of security at the largest super-collider tunnel around London. High in his priorities is his relationship with Emily Loughty, the research director. When the collider inexplicably continues powering much higher…in a blink of an eye Emily disappears and a rough-looking man appears in her place…..thus the mystery show more starts….with John embarking on a mission and goes looking for his hot Scottish babe…..down in hell.

My thoughts:

This story is definitely a thought provoking read. The author does a great job pulling pieces of history to make this thriller captivating. Crossing John’s path, the author throws a bunch a famous people in his storyline as he travels from kingdom to kingdom in search of his Emily.

The author excels in building well-fleshed out characters and putting them in situations where tension is at its max. Particularly interesting where the characters who stuck the longest with the main hero and of course, the story leaves a lot of dead bodies along the way. Every page brings a different set of evil people but when you finally think good is around the corner…all bets are off.

It surely quite entertaining even if there were a lot of unsolved issues and ended in a cliffhanger…. excellent way to start the ball rolling I must say. Very clever to pique our interest in book#2. I surely did the trick with me.

I am not a hard science fiction junkie nor a fantasy fanatic one although no doubts I enjoyed this one …quite mesmerizing by a long shot…

Well-said and well-done show less

What an interesting and entertaining concept this high-stake thriller gives us. A story with cutting-edge science and an unforgettable adventure into the heart of ancient mystery. The main character in archaeologist David Birch who can be described as mix between Dr. Henry Jones Jr. in” Indiana Jones and Robert Langdon in” The Da Vinci Code”.

In “The Cosmos Keys” we are in the depths of Turkey’s ancient underground city of Derinkuyu where David Birch unearths an intricate bronze show more object. He turns to renowned expert on ancient technology, Eleni Lillakis, for help. Their search brings them across Europe but they are not the only one seeking this mysterious artefact…danger awaits at every turn. No force will keep David and Eleni to unravel the secrets behind the Destiny Machine before it is too late for humanity.

The author’s background in archaeology shines, no way to deny that his experiences and studies are behind this story. I find it to be a bit overwhelming at times, my lack of knowledge in Greek historical and religious beliefs definitely did not help. Although the author played well around the subjects by giving us an adventure filled with some excitement.

As for the pacing it keeps a steady tempo even when extensive explanations on history, mythology are at the forefront. In hindsight, not my favourite parts I have to admit that I skimmed pretty fast over some.

I like the characters they are well define and their action visual. I could really imagine their every move. Reading this book I though I was watching a movie on the big screen, popcorn and a soda beside me....dream on.

What a crazy concept ….a contraption that can foresee catastrophes…doesn’t this pique your interest…..

I received this ARC from the Book Whisperer for my thoughts: this is the way I see it. show less

Three Marys by Glenn Cooper is a religious conspiracy thriller that cuts right to the heart of Catholic faith. Read the story from a review copy, and here's what I thought.

The story is a blend of theological intrigue, high-stakes drama, and puzzling mystery. It begins with Pope Celestine calling Harvard professor Cal Donovan to look into something truly bizarre. Three teenage girls, all named Mary, all virgins, all pregnant.

Its plot is spread across completely different corners of the world show more – Ireland, Peru and Philippines. And it was complicated to understand who’s who. It takes a little while to find its footing and get all the pieces on the board.

The book is straightforward and easy to follow, just like the previous book in the series. Glenn has a fast, cinematic style of writing. Religious references were woven in without feeling like a lecture.

Even though it was a fast-paced thriller, it turned out to be genuinely fun.

In between all the trickery and treachery, the friendship, banter and pantomime among the three Marys made the story hilarious. That warmth was unexpected and utterly charming.

However, it felt that the book ended a little too quickly. Every character and every event came up together neatly, of course. But it felt a bit hurried. Loved the book anyway.

It’s a solid pick for anyone who enjoys religious thrillers and complicated puzzles. If Dan Brown is your kind of author, this one is worth your time. show less