Quest [Paperback]

Richard Sapir (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Sapir (The Far Arena offers a modern retelling of the quest for the Holy Grail. It's a pleasure to watch his heroine, Claire Andrews, grow from an innocent, Tennysonesque, "castle-bound" maiden into a self-confident woman. Her lover, NYPD detective Artie Modelstein, becomes her reluctant Percival; their part-adversary, part-ally, Captain Harry Rawson of her Majesty's Argyle Sutherlanders, is the flawed knight Lancelot. After the murder of her father and theft of his jewel-encrusted Elizabethan saltcellar, Claire decides to track and reclaim the treasures. Artie, far from embracing Claire's voracious quest, wants an easy life. Like Claire, Rawson lays claim to the missing saltcellar, whose jewels begin mysteriously appearing in New York just as a series of sadistic murders rocks the city. The novel is laced with some well-turned historical flashbacks, suspense and humor. For the most part, the Grail allegory works, but eventually it becomes, like Rawson's character, a victim of overplotting. The contrived upbeat ending is particularly disappointing, since it deprives the appealing Claire of opportunities for further development.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown UK Paperbacks (January 21, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0708836453
• ISBN-13: 978-0708836453
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 3.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unforgettable Historical Fiction!, September 17, 2000

By 

Douglas Ritterling - See all my reviews

This review is from: Quest (Onyx) (Paperback)

Richard Ben Sapir is a master of historical fiction and "Quest" is his masterpiece. This simply is one of the best novels I have ever read. "Quest" is the modern-day search for the Holy Grail. The Cup of Christ is followed throughout history, resulting in the rise and fall of governments, fortunes won and lost, and inevitably, murder and international intrigue. The characters are extremely engaging and actually became a part of me as I read. If you enjoyed "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade," find and absorb this thriller.

Another exellent novel by Richard Ben Sapir-"The Body," a novel of historical fiction set in context of an archeological dig. A crucified body is discovered in a rich man's tomb; the discovery reveals information that changes the lives of all in the encounter. Breathtaking and spiritually enriching!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Little Known Gem, November 25, 2007

By 

critical reader (Indiana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Quest (Hardcover)

Imagine a search for the Holy Grail, with the pure-of-heart "knight" an ex-cheerleader from Ohio and the "Arthurian" figure a New York City Cop. Throw in a James Bond-like Brit, lots of lore about jewels through history, mix with humor, suspense, and a love story, and you have this witty, intelligent thriller, which makes the Da Vinci Code look like simplistic nonsense it is. Although some of the contemporary references will seem a bit dated, this is one of the most entertaining and enjoyable books I've read. It's a shame it's out of print; if you find a copy, grab it, enjoy, and tell more people.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Run in and get if your house is on fire, October 26, 2006

By 

H. Connelly "spaworks" (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Quest (Onyx) (Paperback)

One of the best books I have ever read. I have bought, loaned, recomended and given away several copies, and still enjoy re-reading it every couple of years. Buy it.