Lucifier’s Machine
by Steven Savile (2013)
Co-written with Rick Chester

During the basking summer heat a university-based archaeology team uncovers an ancient box bearing the image of Baphomet. They are on a remote French island with strong links to the Knights Templar story. The image of Baphomet itself goes a long way to proving those links as far as the team lead by Dr Kytain are concerned, especially as the Templar were accused of devil worship during their trails. Could this box-a crude yet sophisticated machine centuries ahead of its time-be a vital link to discovering the true nature of the knights relationship to the horned devil? Before they are able to decipher the box’s secrets the entire team are butchered horrifically, and all indications are that an extremist group, Al Aler’eyh, are behind the slaughter. A second linked murder in the hallowed halls of Cambridge University tips off Control to the threat. Tasked with finding the Lucifer Machine and putting an end to this particularly fundamentalist wing of the terror organisation, Noah and Orla find themselves in the adult playground of Dubai, fighting for their lives…

Review

This is a better book due to it’s straight-forward story. There is a bit of torture and excessive violence, but without tipping it out of the thriller genre. The series ends (#5 is an origins story) with one of the best in the series.

WarGod
by Seven Savile (2012)
Co-Written with Sean Ellis

It’s the middle of the night. Ronan Frost receives a plea for help from his former commanding officer, an outspoken opponent of globalization who is fascinated in Arthurian lore. Frost’s old comrade is the target of agents of a shadowy conspiracy trying to prevent him from finding the Crocea Mors, the sword of Caesar, and perhaps the very blade that King Arthur pulled from the stone. Frost is sceptical, most of what Denison claims strikes him as bullshit, plain and simple, but there’s no denying that someone is trying to kill him. So he’s going to help. No matter the risk. That’s just who he is.

This book takes things even more into the Dan Brown territory. Ancient swords with magical powers, Caesar, King Arthur and global conspiracies. It all comes together a bit too quickly to have the character development of the previous novels. Still, it’s a damn good thrilling ride with great action pieces and just a bit too much Machiavellian planning to be believable. Still Recommended.

Solomon’s Seal (Ogmios Team Adventure #2)
by Steven Savile (2012)

With the discovery of the long lost Seal of Solomon Konstantin Khavan and Orla Nyren find themselves in Jerusalem and Palestine fighting for their lives with enemies on all sides. They don’t know who they can trust. They don’t know which way to turn next. All they know is they have to find the Seal while diverting the detonation of a dirty bomb at one of Jerusalem’s most holy sites. Which would be fine, but Orla’s been here before, during the worst days of her life when she was a prisoner in Jenin, a refugee camp on the border.

Review

This is more like ‘Crucible’, at 44,000 words it come in a novella length. It’s about a single operation to retrieve a piece of jewellery. May sound like nothing, but Savile ramps up the action to suitable levels to satisfy.  At times there is a but too much violence, pushing into the horror genre, especially its depiction of the actions against the female agent.

In the end, a decent but not complicated action thriller.

Silver (Ogmios Team Adventure #1)
by Steven Savile (2010)

Two thousand years ago, thirty Tyrian shekels were paid to secure the most infamous betrayal of all time. Melted down by the grandsons of Judas Iscariot, Menahem and Eleazar ben Jair, in the dark heart of the Sicarii fortress, Masada, the silver was re-forged as a dagger.

When Sicarii zealots committed mass suicide in AD73, the dagger of Iscariot and the truth of his sacrifice were lost. Until now. A religious cult calling itself the Disciples of Judas has risen in the Middle East. Its influence is pernicious, its reach long. In thirteen cities across Europe, thirteen people martyr themselves in the name of Judas, promising forty days and forty nights of terror.

Review

There is more than a hint of Dan Brown’s ‘The Da Vinci Code’ in this book. In fact  in the author notes Steven Savile states that he felt he was overshadowed by Dan Brown as the books came out around the same time.  But this is a better story. It lacks the over the top breathless quality of Dan Brown.

Savile really knows how to deliver an action sequence, they are tense, gripping and usually have an unexpected way out for the protagonist.

What I have noticed in the writing it that he will spend more time on setting and the environment that most authors. This results in a more immersive read, but without the dreaded info-dump some indulge in.

The only negative aspect was the amount of Christian/Jewish history included beyond my minimal knowledge of the era.

Still a great thriller with an unexpected ending.