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The Malice Box: A Thriller
 
 
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The Malice Box: A Thriller [Hardcover]

Martin Langfield (Author)
3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)

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Book Description

September 1, 2007

An ancient conspiracy links the secret alchemy of Isaac Newton to modern day New York.

When Robert is sent what seems to be a simple copper puzzle box, he has no idea his life is about to undergo a violent transformation. That night an acquaintance commits suicide in curious circumstances; the following day an old friend reveals the existence of an arcane weapon that could destroy all of New York City.

The responsibility of hunting down and destroying this weapon, this Malice Box, lies with Robert. The weapon is primed to explode in seven days and Robert must undergo a spiritual and physical quest—a series of trials around Manhattan—in order to track down the keys that will prevent detonation. In a desperate race against the clock, Robert scours the streets of New York while plagued by doubts of the motives of those closest to him. Robert has only Terri, a beautiful and mysterious psychic, to guide him.

Intricately plotted and brilliantly imagined, The Malice Box is the debut novel by a new master of the thriller.

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Owing an obvious debt to Dan Brown's megablockbuster The Da Vinci Code, Langfield's ambitious debut incorporates elements of supernatural mystery, Dante-esque journey and apocalyptic thriller, but the pieces fail to come together into a satisfying whole. With a powerful alchemical weapon primed to detonate in a week's time, Robert Reckliss must unlock seven puzzles and find seven keys hidden around Manhattan before the Malice Box unleashes some unspecified evil on the inhabitants of New York City. Standing in his way is the Brotherhood of Iwnw (pronounced yoonu), otherworldly scavengers of the soul bent on remaking civilization with themselves as overlords. Two-dimensional characters, contrived situations and a mishmash of plot-threads—a potentially world-altering discovery involving a recovered document written by Isaac Newton, secret societies, gateways between worlds, America's war against terrorism, Christian and Islamic mysticism, ley lines—make this one of the weaker contenders in the crowded religious thriller field. (Nov.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

Brilliantly clever. -- Library Journal

Full of puzzles and moves at a good lick. -- The Observer [London] --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 432 pages
  • Publisher: Pegasus (September 1, 2007)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1933648481
  • ISBN-13: 978-1933648484
  • Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.4 x 1.4 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,701,571 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I am the author of two novels, The Malice Box and The Secret Fire, and am working on a third, provisionally called Cordiver's Key.

I was born in eastern England in 1962.

I've been a foreign correspondent, editor and bureau chief for Reuters, the international news service, since 1987, working mostly in the Americas, and have reported from El Salvador, Nicaragua, Mexico, Peru, Cuba, Madrid, Miami, London and New York. I now work with the company's Breakingviews commentary team.

At university I majored in French and Spanish languages and literature. I've also worked as an English teacher in Paris and studied indigenous literature in Mexico. I currently live in New York.


 

Customer Reviews

7 Reviews
5 star:
 (2)
4 star:
 (4)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
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Average Customer Review
3.9 out of 5 stars (7 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Fun, If Not Perfect, December 22, 2007
By 
Timothy Haugh (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   
This review is from: The Malice Box: A Thriller (Hardcover)
I was surprised by how much I liked this book because it really isn't the kind of thing to which I'm usually drawn. In general, this sort of psychic/spiritual quest story doesn't really appeal to me. In fact, if I'm being honest, the only reason I started reading it is because it is set so closely in Manhattan and, having lived on the island for about six years now, I am interested in reading about it--it's history, legends and mysteries.

In any case, that got me going; however, the excellence of the writing is what kept me going. The characters here are quite well-drawn and interesting--Robert, our hero; his wife, Katherine; Adam; Terri; Horace, the Watchman; and Tariq, the maker of the Ma'rifat--the Malice Box--are all memorable. The weaving of Tariq's story into the story of the others is particularly subtle and well done.

As for the plot, the first two-thirds of the book play very well. I ripped through these pages quickly and enjoyed them immensely. The moving between different times worked, sustained mainly by the precision with which Langfield takes us through the days in 2004, using events of the time to ground his supernatural story in realism. The last third of book were a bit harder going for me. Things became less grounded and it was more difficult for me to suspend my disbelief. Still, overall, this is an enjoyable book and well worth the read.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent! A thrilling and engaging read, November 23, 2007
By 
Amanda Leong (Rochester, NY USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Malice Box: A Thriller (Hardcover)
While many people may critique Langfield for jumping on the "DaVinci bandwagon," it is clear from the depth and the sheer amount of research in this book that he had already begun the creative process long before the DaVinci phenomenon. It is a thrilling read and the way Langfield weaves the mystical elements of "the malice box" within the cityscape of New York is incredible--it will make one wish there was a walking tour of New York based off this book. A gripping adventure complete with a rich cast of characters that the London Times was right to compare to "Brideshead Revisted." I can only hope there will be a sequel!
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Engaging and thought-provoking, September 3, 2007
By 
Andrew Paxman (Jackson, MS, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: The Malice Box: A Thriller (Hardcover)
A supernatural thriller that transcends the genre, "The Malice Box" combines compelling drama with well-rounded & likeable characters and thought-provoking discussions. There's also a superb feeling for setting (Manhattan, NYC and Cambridge, England) and the dialogue is often witty. Langfield spins a journey of discovery that operates on several levels: a murder-mystery tale; a series of intellectual puzzles; the protagonist's quest for truth about his friend, his wife and himself; and a growing realization that recent historical events, such as 9/11, have a significance beyond the headlines. All interwoven within a well-paced, forces-of-light-and-darkness narrative. A good read.
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