Customer Reviews

The Secret of Excalibur

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The author's writing style is very reminiscent of that of Matthew Reilly. The type of action is also very very similar to Reilly's. The author makes use of short sentences, short paragraphs, and dashes to try and introduce suspense into the plot. However, I find this style of writing frustrating to read and very disjointed. That being said, the plot was interesting. Both authors utilize Indiana Jones type adventure storylines with non-stop hard-to-believe action. As one other review states, at times this gets very old and tends to drag the story out.

As a rip-roaring romping story, the book is recommended. Don't expect any deep plots or truly believable storylines, but the book is indeed a fun read.

<Spoiler Alert> Plot elements may be discussed. At the risk of being repetitious, I must repeat here what I said about the second book in the series: stop with the bickering couple routine already! A book of this type should be about the adventures and daring escapes and world-threatening villians, not some dysfunctional, immature and squabbling couple. I was sorely tempted to put the book down about halfway through, since I had ordered some additional books that I knew I would like better; but in the interest of fairness, I finished it because I was curious to see if the protagonist couple either got professional help or broke up. I will say that I will not rush anytime soon to read the fourth book in the series. And that is unfortunate, because Mr McDermott spins a darn good tale. I really like the fresh take on the legends and the action sequences are truly amazing. There are times when Mr McDermott's action scenes are reminiscent of Matthew Reilly, very high praise indeed. I really want to like this series, but just can't get past the squabbling, bickering protagonist couple. They are just not likeable characters.

I love Andy MacDermott's novels. The best is still Atlantis, but this one's close. The research on the details, the storyline fast-pased and not improbable, and the well developed characters and their connections and transformation is well done. I had a hard time putting it down (as I do with any Aandy McDermott books or Steve Berry books). This one is entrtaining, fun to read, and you might learn a few things along the way.

This book was definitely much better than the Tomb Of Hercules. It actually reminded me of Empire Strikes Back, in which the in-joke of that movie was the hyperdrive didn't work.

In this novel it was when Nina and Eddie were going to set the date of the wedding. Character development was so much better, a few plot twist and senseless deaths along the way, but all in all, it was a fun read! A most interesting notion on the history of Arthur and Excalibur, fact and fiction interwoven into a truly good read.

The bad guys weren't nearly as bad enough and it was interesting to introduce a quadruple agent into the story, that was hilarious!

Highly recommended over Andy's previous novel, and I'm really looking forward to his next 2 books.

I love this book! It is the best he has written so far!!
Non-stop action and humour in all the right places. My book had a sticker on it saying if you don't love this book, you can have your money back.....my book is certinly not geting returned!
Read it! I loved it!

The Secret of Excalibur
By Andy McDermott

Publisher: Bantam Books, U.S.
Copyright: 2008 held by Andry McDermott
ISBN: 978-0-553-59295-5

Is the Arthurian myth true? Does Excalibur really exist? No way! It's a fairy tale or is it? Where there is smoke there is fire? Hmmm...

The opening of our adventure begins in the Oval Office where Dr. Nina Wilde is being bestowed with a presidential honor for her work in uncovering Atlantis. It is here where we learn about Dr. Wilde's character and that of her bodyguard/sidekick now fiancé, Eddie Chase. I love Mr. McDermott's use of the award to tell us about our hero and heroine. There are many plot twists and turns and good characters. I loved Mr. McDermott's sense of humor. In the beginning, I loved the book, but I could have done with at least one or two less plot twists. The book is long, and normally I love long books, but this one could have been shortened by at least 100 pages. I found myself dreading to pick up the book toward the end, and it became a drudgery to finish it. The story has lots of action, romance, interesting tidbits and many, many characters, most of whom are incidental characters, so it is not difficult to keep track of them.

The book takes us around the world with stopping points in Italy, England, Greece, Switzerland, Jordan, Syria, Russia, the Norwegian Sea and back to the United States. Literally, we go globetrotting in pursuit of King Arthur's legendary sword.

We are taken into the world of the past and of the future by Andy McDermott and his ripe imagination. We visit myth and truth on an exciting quest, complete with deadly Russians who are stereotypically drawn from the cold war era.

I do recommend this book, but with a warning, that you too may find it dragging by the end. I am looking forward to reading Andy McDermott's The Hunt For Atlantis to learn about the beginning of Nina Wilde and Eddie Chase's relationship.

This book is book THREE in Andy McDermott's Nina Wilde/Eddie Chase Action packed series. It was a really enjoyable read.I love the plot line...far fetched like the others... but really entertaining.
EXCALIBUR.... What a great artifact to GO in search of. Loved the settings. Loved the flow of the book.

Go Andy McDermott! And Nina Wilde/Eddie chase.

Here is book three of the over-the-top adventures of Eddie & Nina. These books are light on the history/archaeology and heavy on the action. Perhaps a bit too much so as many may find themselves fatigued from the constant gunbattles and showdowns (and perhaps Eddie's attempts at humor). Usually authors have too much exposition, here we have too little. McDermott also has felt the need to increase the usage of "adult" language. Yet if you are looking for a fast-paced action-fest that doesn't stop until the end, this series fills the bill. Better than sitting in front of the television and its brain-deadening, empty programming. For more on the history, see The Holy Kingdom: The Quest for the Real King Arthur and The Isle of Avalon Sacred Mysteries of Arthur and Glastonbury.

After reading review after review here regarding Andy McDermott's stuff, I decided to go out and find one of his books locally...only to discover none of his books were (as yet anyway) printed in the States. This was a bit disappointing, but thankfully I didn't have to wait long, as the Hunt For Atlantis was coming soon, with the Tomb of Hercules followed close behind. What I found with Andy McDermott's writing was very akin to Matthew Reilly's. To be entirely honest, neither author will probably win any literary awards...however, what BOTH writers lack in that category, they more than make up in sheer creativity and literally TONS of action and plenty of adventure.

While I still put Reilly in a class by himself, because while Andy writes way more than the average amount of action, Reilly would best be described as McDermott on a MOUNTAIN of steroids. Both authors write with cinematic style, and once again, lets be honest: you either like that kind of writing, or you just don't. While some may fall in between, the vast majority are not sitting on the post wondering which side they are on. Personally I love a good novel that allows me to escape my life and gives me the opportunity to have fun journey's within my minds eye...and THIS is the kind of fun I truly love to indulge in now and again. Granted, I rarely read too many books like this in-a-row, but when I have a taste for sheer adrenaline-pumpin' action, I KNOW where to turn.

Let me say that one major advantage McDermott has over Reilly is definitely a much more seasoned sense of humor. Sure, Reilly has it, but definitely not to the degree Nina and Eddie expose us to (specifically Eddie) on a fairly regular basis. I must admit, I really like Eddie's sense of humor...especially in the face of (nearly) certain death--which seems to happen on (nearly) every-other-page. Sure, the action borders on the cartoonish at times, but I seriously doubt that Mr. McDermott honestly feels that what he is writing even remotely comes close to what could happen in real life. I believe he has fun typing up scenarios that are purposely difficult to normally conjure up and seeing just how much fun he can have writing his characters out of each increasingly difficult situation.

While I really liked Atlantis, and felt that Hercules was good-but not quite AS good, I was pleasantly surprised to find that Excalibur had exceeded both, by a comfortable margin, too. Now without going into details which would spoil anything--which I just don't understand why some reviewers feel the need to do--allow me the opportunity to be very clear here: This is fine brain candy, no more, no less. If you like your stories to be plot-driven and much less character-driven...toss in a creative storyline featuring the Sword of Excalibur and action sequences that would put the majority of all Bond films to shame--than boy do you have a treat waiting for you here. If you are looking for more than that, I assure you, more than likely you are going to probably feel ripped off. For THIS reviewer, I dearly love my brain candy, and Mr. McDermott writes it with style. Can hardly wait for the next adventure, and thankfully that is hitting the shelves soon as well.

I have read three of Andy's novels. I feel they are a cross between Indiana Jones, James Bond and Laura Croft. They are all enjoyable as light reading...but very predictable. The premises are very good but I would like to see more indepth science in the books and less shoot-em up escapes.