Customer Reviews

Cleopatra's Needle

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Like some of the other reviewers who have read this book, there were parts that I enjoyed about this novel....unfortunately, after reading it, I'm far too focused on the faults.

The story starts off promising. We are introduced to archaelogist Dan Rawlins, the beautiful Mossad agent Jacinda, and to the main antagonist of the book, the terrorist Salameh. Things become more interesting when some sort of demonic bird kills at Dan's museum, and then Jacinda is attacked by mummies....it's X-Files-esque, sure, but fun.

At this point, however, the author decides to switch to ancient Egypt, to give a lengthy account of the Horite Cross and how it destroyed the life of one of the Pharaohs in a narrative told in the words of Amenehab, the Pharaoh's general and life-long friend. Unlike some of the other reviewers, I actually enjoyed the "flashback" story. Perhaps it is my own interest in Egyptian history, but I thought that the flashback story was actually the most entertaining part of the book. The negative side of this, however, is that it doesn't fit in with the rest of the novel. It's placement in the text is just awkward. The author interrupts the flow of the plot to insert an entirely different story (though one that does have bearing on the current plot, as the reader discovers) in the middle of the book. Then, after he's completed this separate narrative, he expects to just pick up where he left off. It doesn't come across well, at least not for me.

As for the final third of the book.....well, it ruined the entire novel for me. Salameh is really Sennemet? Seems a bit like a daemon ex machina. And wait, the hero suddenly discovers that he's part of a historic sect (by birthright) that has prophesied his battle with the evil sorcerer? Please. The last third seemed far too rushed. Siebert could have expanded upon it substantially.

As for his writing style....I applaud him for his portrayal of the ancient Egyptians. He attempted to breathe life into them, and made them seem realistic. The other characters should have been as developed. Finally, and this is just a pet peeve of mine, but Siebert seems to be a member of the "exclamation point!" faction. Perhaps it's a technique he carried with him from his comic book writing days, but not all action scenes have to use an exclamation point liberally to create suspense. However, this is his first feature novel, so he has room to improve.

Overall, I give the book 3 stars, cause it looked like Siebert was trying at least for the first 2/3rds of the book. If you want to read it, save the money and just check it out at your local library.

I think perhaps that my expectations were too high for this novel. The book summary hooked me because it sounds so interesting: Mossad agents, Egyptian mythology, modern-day technology, and a power-hungry terrorist seeking an ancient relic that threatens to destroy the world as we know it. I was even interested in the story for the first 75 pages or so. And then it was downhill from there.

Siebert has some great ideas for this novel. However, there are, in my opinion, too many ideas because none of them seems to be fleshed out for a sufficiently tight story. The continent and time jumping are distracting, and it is difficult to keep up with each character any of which could support a book on his/her own. There is a section devoted to characters in ancient Egypt--it is fascinating (even with modern vernacular) and provides information to tie all the characters together. I think this would have been a better way to begin the novel because it seems too out of place shoved into the middle of this lengthy story. The writing itself is not bad, but the book would benefit greatly from more observant editing! There are many distracting typos and repeated bits of text that kept throwing me off of the storyline. A cat that opens a window nearly caused me to give up on this story, and the murderous Ba was diminished by its annoying modern-day taunts.

I give this 2 stars because, as I said, I like the basic ideas presented in the story. I think Siebert has the potential to create a fascinating story. I'm sorry to say that this one didn't do it for me. I let myself be swept up in "The Mummy" craze, but I'll be a bit more discerning when choosing my next Egyptian tale.

I picked up "Cleopatra's Needle" in the library and was intrigued by the idea of a thriller combining ancient Egypt, the Mossad, and the occult.. The book sounded like a fun read--a nice way to while away a few hours. Unfortunately, it didn't live up to its billing. The book does have some high points, but they're few and far between.

The book is divided into three parts. The first and last take place in the present and the middle in 18th dynasty Egypt. This middle section seems like a detour, but it's essential to understanding what's going on in the present. It's probably the most interesting part of the book and the best written, but there are large chunks that seem irrelevant to the main plot line. In the other two sections, the pacing is fast--basically what one would expect from a screenwriter-author who may have had hopes of turning the book into a script. Unfortunately, the story isn't fleshed out enough to carry the plot. It just hurtles on at breakneck speed, throwing out ideas and motifs and then dropping them almost as quickly. Too many intriguing elements are left underdeveloped.

Also, those hoping to catch a glimpse of Cleopatra will be disappointed. The needles mentioned in the title refer to obelisks generally, and this particular Egyptian queen makes no appearance (there are a few references to Hatshepsut, however).

I enjoyed the book. It was fast paced and I particularly liked the jump to the past. After that I thought it was going to be pretty predictable with the whole reincarnation story but it managed to surprise me!

When I read the summary of this novel, I was very excited and couldn't wait to read it. I'm totally fasinated by anything having to do with ancient Egypt and I thought that the added twist of a demonic bird, mummies coming back to life and an ancient cross would only add to the excitement.

This book starts off well with the introduction of Dan Rawlins, an archaelogist with famous parents, and the murder of Dan's assistant. From there we start on a search to find the ancient Horite cross, which some believes has the power to resurrect the dead.

The book does have its exciting moments and I liked the way the writer took us back in time to see the life of Amenehab, the Pharaoh's general, but I thought that dedicating the entire middle of the book to this ruined the flow of the story. When we finally returned to modern time, I had to flip back to the first third of the book to catch where the last part of the story picked up. I thought it would have been better if we had gotten glimpses of ancient Eygpt throughout the story.

I really liked Jacinda, the beautiful Mossad agent. She was tough and strong and didn't frighten easily. She gave the book the kick-ass attitude that kept the adrenaline of the story going.

If I could give this dog a "0" I would because it ismindless, boring, contrived and a useless waste of time. That prettymuch describes "Cleopatra's Needle". I was turned off as soon as people began to be mysteriously killed and then just turned to dust. Or how about the guy who is riddled with machine gun bullets, but miraculously is alive. Hmmm??? Then there are the killings in the museum featuring a cat, something with alot of feathers etc. Oh please!! Enough. I found as I read more that I cared nothing about the characters including Dan, the museum man, who seemed to be as dumb as his assistant who was killed by something resembling a bird of prey. Sort of reminiscent of Jarassic Park only with a long wing span.Then there was the ship that the Israeli agent boarded only to wake up and find that hoards of "The Undead" had taken over, but she was miraculously rescued by a heliocopter just in the neck of time and then. . . . . .Oh well. . . . . . . . .

Liam McKay showed Dan Rawlins, a renowned archeologist (at least among the masses), a picture of an ancient Egyptian ankh. Using his computer, Dan matched the picture with that of a half of an ankh owned by the museum. He asks his assistant, Marcy Lanford to find the museum's segment of the ankh. However, instead of giving the ankh to Dan, Marcy's corpse is found near CLEOPATRA'S NEEDLE in Central Park. Other individuals including Liam are also killed.

At the same time in Cairo, Israeli agent Jacinda El-Bahri steals the other half of the ankh from the supporters of the dangerous PLO assassin Salameh. Soon Jacinda becomes a hunted person as Salameh's men try to regain the lost ankh. Salameh, who led the 1992 Munich Olympic massacre wants to combine the two segments of the ankh into a weapon of unsurpassed might that has not seen this planet since the days of the bible. Jacinda and Dan will soon meet up as seemingly the only forces in the way of the terrorist succeeding.

CLEOPATRA'S NEEDLE is an exciting non-stop thriller that will elate fans who relish a tale that mixes the magic of the ancients with the power of modern communication. The story line never gives readers a chance to catch their breath as they hop around the world. The characters are intriguing and intelligent, adding to the overall fun. With the millennium rapidly ending, Steven Siebert provides fans with a fabulous tale.

Harriet Klausner

Forgetable characters & creatures performing forgetable feats! I felt more for the dying elephant than I did for Dan, Jacinda, Mother Superior & all the sisters put together.

The author managed to make a book out of ancient Egypt and modern technology. The characters are well-developed and the story grabs and won't let go. The part where the demonic bird attacks the people at the museum was the best part of the book. READ THIS BOOK!!!

I brought this book because I also love books about Egypt and its past. But like another reviewer, I didn't like Dan from the start and although I like the middle section,it was too long and drawn out for a background story. I also hate books where all the women are perfectly shape and ready to jump into bed with the hero straight away.