Curse of the Pharaoh
(Brock Stone Adventures #3)
by David Wood (2023)

A pharaoh’s curse reaches out from the grave!

A mysterious artifact hidden by a legendary archaeologist points the way to the tomb of Yineput, the Night Queen. But adventurer Brock Stone and his friends are not the only ones searching for the queen’s final resting place. Stone’s enemy, John Kane also seeks the lost tomb. But is he working for the Germans, the Illuminati, or himself?

The third in the series feels more like Indiana Jones. It’s the same breathless adventure !

Destiny
(Rogue Angel #1)
by Mel Odom

Archaeologist and explorer Annja Creed’s fascination with the myths and mysteries of the past leads her to a crypt in the caves of France, where the terrifying legend of the Beast of Gevaudin hints at the unimaginable.

It’s a female Indiana Jones. With all the powers of Ninja, marksman and superhero. The first book of a franchise with 57 books (so far).

The comparisons with David Wood are apparent. Lots of history warped to fit the story, improbable coincidences and the obligatory villain,

Thankfully the writing is clear and keeps up the pace throughout, providing an exciting and adventure with all the plot twists to keep the reader  happy.

Absolute Power
by David Baldacci (1995)

A cat burglar gets trapped inside the bedroom closet of one of the world’s richest men only to witness, the killing of the billionaire’s wife.

It certainly started off with an intriguing premise. And the pacing made it an interesting read. Then more characters got added, and not of the Police variety, but political.

Unfortunately this 160k word book just got dragged down by too many side plots and cooperate  machinations that were not of interest. After 1/3 of the way through, it seemed that the Crime/Thriller aspect has been lost.

Assault on Alpha Base
Doug Beason (1990)

At the home of America’s nuclear stockpile, over 5,000 warheads are protected by a high-tech security system deep in the salt flats of Nevada.

If Alpha Base is ever penetrated, no one on earth will be safe.

And it will be.

Told from both sides of an attack on the base, this feels like an episode in a second rate TV thriller series. There are all the clichés and tropes of the army and the terrorist group. Trouble is, the action parts aren’t that well written, often confusing and bland.

Then it all ends in a few pages. So not the best example of the genre.

Did I Ever Tell You This?
Sam Neill (2023)

Sam Neill tells the story of how he became one of the world’s most celebrated actors, who has worked with everyone from Meryl Streep to Isabel Adjani, from Jeff Goldblum to Sean Connery, from Steven Spielberg to Jane Campion.

A fascinating scattershot memoir of sorts. Talk while recovering from cancer surgery. It has pretty much everything you would expect,

Revenant
(Jake Crowley Adventures #3)
David Wood & Alan Baxter (2019)

Archaeologists excavating a mass grave in a historic New York City cemetery make a gruesome discovery: stacked like cord wood are skeletal remains going back decades, but all have one thing in common. Each skull bears a hole in the exact same location. When their friend is murdered investigating this bizarre discovery, Jake Crowley and Rose Black set off in search of the killer. Their path will take them to abandoned hospitals, hidden chambers, and into the depths of the strange world that lies beneath New York City in search of Edgar Allan Poe’s secret journal.

Anubis Key
(Jake Crowley Adventures #2)
David Wood & Alan Baxter (2017)

When Rose Black’s sister goes missing, she once again calls upon Jake Crowley for help, but the two get more than they bargained for. The search takes them on a twisting journey, where danger lies at every turn.

From ancient pyramids to lost cities, deadly cultists and conspirators lie in wait as Jake and Rose navigate depths few have dared on a pulse-pounding search for the Anubis Key!

Yet more improbable situations are thrown at the dynamic duo as they fend off disaster at every turn. Plus a very inevitable twist at the end. But it’s still good fun.

Blood Codex
Jake Crowley Adventures #2
David Wood & Alan Baxter (2016)

When Jake Crowley rescues Rose Black from assailants on the streets of London, the two find themselves embroiled in a mystery that could cost them their lives. People are dying, and all the victims have one thing in common with Rose: a birthmark in the shape of an eagle.

From beneath the streets of London, to castle dungeons, to the heart of Christendom and beyond, Jake and Rose must race to stay alive and rewrite as much ancient history as possible.

All the usual fun and mayhem as expected. This one a bit more violent than most.

Sanctum
(Jake Crowley Adventures #1)
David Wood & Alan Baxter (2020)

Trying to escape his past, veteran Jake Crowley takes a teaching position in the village of Market Scarston. But his slow rehabilitation is interrupted when a group of students are apparently attacked by Black Shuck, the legendary demon dog, and Crowley attracts the attention of a secret society dating back to the days of the Roman Empire.