The Hunt for Atlantis

Rarely have I enjoyed a book so much yet hated it at the same time. From its flat cartoonish characters to its impossible---LITERALLY IMPOSSIBLE---narrow escapes, McDermott takes the corniest bits of Lara Croft and Indiana Jones, douses them in testosterone and estrogen (yay grrrrl power!) then sets the whole thing on fire. Yet I couldn't put the book down even as it sped headlong towards an ending so spectacularly ridiculous that I found myself actually rooting for the bad guys...after all, I can only stomach so many Mary Sue moments before I start calling out B.S. If I ever get around to reading the next instalment in this series (it's staring at me from the bookshelf as I type this) at least I now know to park my brain in neutral and show more just hop on the rollercoaster. show less

The Hunt for Atlantis by Andy McDermott represents a genre that is one of my guilty pleasures: action/adventure novels. As Publisher's Weekly said, McDermott "raises the bar to please adventure junkies who prefer to mainline their action." And that is the reality here. The Hunt for Atlantis is a fast paced, globetrotting novel that has plenty of action. It is like a merge of Indiana Jones and 24. Really. The novel goes from one adventure plus narrow escape to another.

Let me be honest here. When reading action/adventure novels I'm not necessarily looking for great character development or subtle plot shifts. I want the pure adrenaline rush that non-stop action and narrow escapes provide. That's it. And McDermott delivers the goods. It is show more also very humorous at times and McDermott, a former movie critic, includes lots of movie references.

You do have to suspend disbelief to enjoy the story, after all, the action is the whole point, but I did have to roll my eyes several times. One good example occurred when the characters are in Paris, and are going to see the sights. They only spend the morning at the Louvre, go shopping in the afternoon, and Nina still had time to be back at her room in the afternoon for a nap. Yeah... But, if you are just seeking escapism and can overlook the characters ping-ponging across the globe with seemingly little or no preparation, narrowly surviving every fatal circumstance, then you're going to enjoy The Hunt for Atlantis.

The Hunt for Atlantis was on my wish list for a couple years so I was pleased to see that currently there are five books in the series, with more due out. I guess we all know what I'll be looking for at my local used book store. In the mean time I know a couple other people who will enjoy The Hunt for Atlantis.
Highly Recommended; http://shetreadssoftly.blogspot.com/ show less

I have to admit that coming from an archaeological background I rolled my eyes a little bit at the premise of this book. There are just so many lunatic conspiracy theories revolving around Atlantis that I didn't really believe a novel could be written about it that didn't throw all rationality or semblance of reality to the wind. Still, I picked this one up because it sounded thrilling (and I do love a good thriller) and as much as I may regret it sometimes, I just can't say no to a bit of archaeological intrigue. In this case, I definitely didn't regret it.

The Hunt for Atlantis does have its flaws--it is extremely predictable, character development is pretty sparse, and it will never be confused with great literature--but by chapter show more two I didn't care. McDermott is an unparalleled master of the unrelenting breakneck plot and whatever shortcomings his writing may have fall away in the face of the hurtling force of his story. I found myself continually surprised at how quickly the 500+ pages of this book slipped by, and found it extremely difficult to pause long enough to catch my breath between chapters. I was also quite pleasantly surprised at how handily McDermott managed to keep his Atlantis theories sane and logical.

Andy McDermott's books are like candy for the action/adventure lover, and though I am not really a regular consumer of the genre, I will definitely be keeping my eye out for the rest of this series. An all-around fun read! show less

I give this a higher rating than I would expect to simply because it is better written than it needs to be. The plot is a page turner, but ultimately silly. The Great Scary Bad Guys Plot, if one takes only a moment to think about the ramifications, is absurd. However, it did keep me turning the pages, and kept me awake through a long airplane flight.

I kept thinking that it was one step away from a screenplay, with a lot of the dialogue right out of buddy movies. Then I found out the author had been a film critic. Figures. I doubt if I'll seek out any more of his books, but if one fell into my hands (as this one did) I'd read it.

I'm always on the search for exciting novels similar to the ones Matthew Reilly writes. And Andy McDermott's "The Hunt for Atlantis" comes pretty close. The book could probably lose 50-75 pages near the front, but once the adventure begins, it's pretty fast paced!

Nina Wilde is following her late parents' footsteps in searching for Atlantis. When the Frost Foundation agrees to fund her theory as to where the lost city resides, a globe hopping adventure with close calls, wild weapons, and crazy stunts ensues. This is due primarily to Eddie Chase, a Brit who's been hired by Frost to protect Nina. He's ex-Special Ops and a regular alpha-male, wise-cracking, bad-ass, similar to Reilly's Shane Schofield and Jack West, Jr. But of course there show more are bad guys too, and they're determined to keep the secrets of Atlantis drowned forever.

As with Reilly's characters and stories, you must leave reality at the door because there's no place for it here. What McDermott's characters go through--and survive--is wholly silly but lots of fun. Give it a shot and you'll be hooked! show less

I enjoy reading thrillers, the well-written ones that keep me turning the page even when I know I have to major league suspend belief. I have sort of stopped reading Clive Cussler because I want Dirk to just take a nap...he keeps going even after multiple beatings, running for what seems like days on end, never tiring....take a nap Dirk, dagnabbit!

Nina and Eddie actually get some rest from time to time and the action is almost non-stop, but is believable with a weensie bit of suspension of that there belief. I really like the chemistry and growing camaraderie of the pair.

I have been fascinated with the Atlantis legend for what seems like forever. The search for the lost city, the good guys trying to keep ahead of the bad ones, some show more very cool explosions, Nina learning how to climb through a sewer, Eddie's snarks....Nina's comebacks....

Five lost city thriller fun beans...... show less

What is it that they always say “A non-stop action adventure” well finally a book that lives up to the hype. This book is a frenziedly ride around the world with a cast of characters that you would defiantly like to know, or not know, depending on which person we were talking about! The places mentioned are exotic and interesting with the color and scope wide and inviting, except of course, for the moments when those locations turn hostile and threatening. A scene on the Amazon is one minute peaceful and charming until you notice the eyes in the water looking back at you with lunch in their minds and you are on the menu! I found myself looking forward to the next destination as I was pulled along by the actions and emotions of the show more cast… for that is how the book spoke to me. It was as if an epic movie was playing in the back of my head as I turned the pages. show less