The Eighth Day [Paperback]

John Case (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 2003

"And on the Seventh Day He rested." - "Genesis 2: 2-3". "The Eighth Day" is an explosive, compulsively readable novel of suspense that plunges a clever young man into a web of mystery and international deceit, bringing him face to face with the ultimate evil. Danny Cray is a struggling 28 year-old sculptor/video artist who lives in Washington DC. To make ends meet, he does occasional freelance work as a researcher for a large firm of private detectives. When one of their most powerful clients approaches him with a job, the money is too good to resist. All he has to do is learn what a recently deceased university professor was working on when he died. But Danny stumbles on far more than he expected when he discovers that the professor was in touch with the Vatican about a remote tribe of Kurds who worship the Peacock Angel - Satan. (This tribe does indeed exist.) After others connected to the professor start to disappear, Danny finds himself in great peril and must travel into the ancient land where this tribe still lives in order to discover what is truly at stake in his investigation. A mesmerizing blend of science, religion, history and suspense, "The Eighth Day" confirms John Case's position as a master of intelligent commercial fiction.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

When part-time legal investigator and full-time artist Danny Cray gets a chance to pick up some extra cash trying to trace the source of a smear campaign against a mysterious European tycoon, he jumps at it eagerly. But all is not as it seems in this taut, intricately plotted thriller--except Danny, of course, who turns out to possess unexpected resources of grit and brains. The action moves from Washington to Geneva to that volatile area of Turkey where tribal politics, religion, and corruption collide with explosive results. John Case mixes strong descriptive prose, interesting characters, a powerful narrative, and a dramatic denouement to come up with a sure winner in his fourth novel, one fans of Ludlum and le Carré are sure to enjoy. --Jane Adams --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

When starving but hopeful 26-year-old artist Danny Cray upgrades his part-time work as a private investigator to full-time, his blind acceptance of misinformation coupled with a readiness to plunge headfirst into situations unknown transform a charming na‹vet‚ and spirit of spontaneity into fatal shortcomings that threaten to curtail a burgeoning career and endanger his life. In Case's new thriller (after The Syndrome), Cray embarks on escapades that are zesty and riveting, moving from the streets of Washington, D.C., to the Vatican Library to an entire city buried deep under eastern Turkey where a treasured religious object lies hidden. Ostensibly hired to protect the image of a famous businessman by discovering who is behind the smear campaign targeting his client, Cray quickly discovers that he has become involved in an imbroglio far more sinister than anything he expected; instead of the quick and simple high-profit, low-risk deal he envisioned, Danny is confronted with suspicious and terrifying deaths, dangerous technology and evil incarnate. Fast-paced and crammed with descriptions of experimental devices and potentially devastating scientific advances, the novel is unfortunately also saddled with repetitive language, some unrealistic stretches and improbable responses upon which the story line depends for further action. Still, the pieces fit nicely together and Case's fourth thriller is a satisfying and gripping read.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Ballantine Books (Mm) (April 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345463323
• ISBN-13: 978-0345463326
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (49 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,948,817 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars story line always goes at hyperspeed, December 16, 2002

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Eighth Day (Hardcover)

In his mid twenties, Danny Cray cringes at the image of the starving artist as he has chosen to supplement his meager earnings as a sculptor with sleuthing. His latest customer, charismatic and wealthy attorney Jude Belzer hires Danny to do some research into whom and why someone has been attacking the reputation of a client. Danny easily succeeds and in return receives a nice fee.

Jude asks Danny to dig deeper so the part time detective flies to the Vatican to conduct more research as lure of the first class accommodations are too impossible to resist. However, Danny uncovers a lot more than he was supposed to and he now knows the deadly game his benefactor plays. His discovery leads to Belzer sending his thugs to dispose of Danny, who now flees for his life.

When it comes to an action-packed thriller, the writing team of John Case is as sure a bet as fans will find out. The latest tale, THE EIGHTH DAY, never eases off the throttle as readers follow Danny walk deeper into trouble one step at a time. Though this theme of relative innocence deluded by glamour into a deadly scenario is as old as the bible, readers will root for Danny to defeat his much more powerful foe even if it takes unrealistic spins for him to have a slim chance. The case on this book and previous novels by this writing duo (see THE SYNDROME and THE GENESIS CODE) is that the story line always goes at hyperspeed driven by a likable hero in over their head against a clever villain.

Harriet Klausner

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A disappointment, March 21, 2005

By 

Elizabeth Schweitzer (Florissant, MO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Eighth Day: A Thriller (Mass Market Paperback)

I'm a John Case fan and this one was a real disappointment. I liked the Genesis Code so much I read it twice, and the others were very readable too, but this one just became way too unbelievable to be enjoyed. The story was contrived and the main character a little too stupid. Sorry - this one made me think twice about running out to get the next one.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Eighth Day read in one., December 17, 2002

By 

Konrad Kern (OFallon, MO United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Eighth Day (Hardcover)

See book description above.

A John Case novel never seems to disappoint my reading fix. His scientific thrillers are timely, and once you start reading, hard to put down.
One of the main subjects in the book is nanotechnology. This subject has been the theme of several books over the last couple years but Case does a superb job by taking you all over the world on an adventure that includes everything from 'The Contrade' (a brutal horse race in Italy) to the land of the Kurds. There is also talk of Yezidis', Anchorites, 'Black Writing', and more.
A well rounded thriller sure to keep you entertained.

Highly recommended.