Customer Reviews

The Shroud of Heaven

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Intriguing title. When the concept of the shroud is masterfully revealed, it will make you ponder the major questions that have plagued mankind from the beginning of time about God and religion.

But more than its intriguing concept, Shroud is a thriller packed full of adreneline pounding action. Although the plot is intricately constructed, the heart pounding action doesn't take second fiddle to the story.

The constant danger threatening the main character, Nick Kismet, is reminscent of Indiana Jones. Thriller junkies will definitely be satisfied with Sean Ellis's new novel.

Imagine Clive Cussler or Dan Brown plots packed with the nonstop action of Indiana Jones and you get a pretty good idea what The Shroud of Heaven is all about.

If you're like me and you find most book endings unsatisfactory, you'll be pleasantly surprised with Shroud. The ending itself is worth the read, which is hard to say about many other books.

Nick Kismet is definitely a character I'd love to see permanently find his place in the literary world alongside the likes of Dirk Pitt and James Bond.

We can only hope more Nick Kissmet novels make it to print in the near future.

The Shroud of Heaven is an action-packed thriller. Nick Kismet is a resourceful hero who is tough in a pinch. Ellis blends two things I love: the archaeological mystery and the military thriller. Exotic locales, a shady secret society, great fight scenes, and twisting plot. A great summer read for the thriller fan!

The Shroud of Heaven is a fast-paced thriller with lots of action. Shroud opens with hero Nick Kismet on a mission in the first Gulf War. He makes a life-changing discovery, from which experience his future path is changed. From then on, he seeks to learn more about the Prometheus Group, a shadowy organization that seeks out ancient relics and knowledge, which seemingly has designs on Kismet. Moving forward in time, Kismet is brought to Iraq by Pierre Chiron, seeking Kismet's help tracking down looted artifacts. As the story progresses, there is plenty of action, and a sinister plot to be unraveled.

There is much to like about The Shroud of Heaven. The action begins almost immediately, with battles, escapes, and mystery, with a beautiful woman along for the ride. The pacing is good, with no real "slow places" to speak of. Ellis's military experience shows through at times, and fans of the military thriller will appreciate his attention to detail in respect to weaponry and its uses. Ellis chooses a surprising but spectacular locale for the final showdown.

I would have enjoyed a deeper exploration of Kismet's character. He is tough and resourceful, but I did not feel that I understood what makes him tick. The mystery angle is good, though the archaeological/ancient mystery aspect does not match up with what seems to be promised in the prologue. That is a matter of reader's preference, and I fall on the side of heavier ancient mystery and sense of wonder. The final scene, however, is well-done and makes up for some of what I would have enjoyed reading in the middle portion of the book.

Overall, The Shroud of Heaven is a solid entry into the genre, and will be an entertaining read for anyone who enjoys fast pacing and a heavy dose of action.

I'm not sure if I've just became a fan of the military thriller genre, or that I've just become a fan of author, Sean Ellis. I would suspect that it's both.

Under the cover of darkness, just prior to the bombing of Baghdad during the first Gulf War, a military operation is being carried out. It's objective, to extract an Iraqi informant. It is here where we first meet Nick Kismet, a US Army Lieutenant. That night, Kismet would get a glimpse of what may be his destiny.

In "The Shroud of Heaven", the author, Sean Ellis provides his readers with an action packed adventure that grabs your attention at the very beginning and holds it till the very end. With practiced precision, he brought together a plot, with a cast of characters that often weren't whom they seemed to be and turned it into an exhilarating story that is anything but predictable. And if you were to ask me what really made it work, was the author's attention to detail. From the dust along a desert road to the last Humvee, Ellis gave me the sense that this could really happen.

There's something to be said about a novel that enables the reader to create a movie in his/her mind, and "The Shroud of Heaven" did just that for me, with each explosive scene. It's a great read, even in if you're not into the military thrillers.

The Shroud of Heaven is an action-packed thriller. Nick Kismet is a resourceful hero who is tough in a pinch. Ellis blends two things I love: the archaeological mystery and the military thriller. Exotic locales, a shady secret society, great fight scenes, and twisting plot. A great summer read for the thriller fan!

From beginning to end one word sticks in my mind, WOW!!! This has action from start to finish that will leave you guessing to the very last sentence of the book. You'll walk away from this book feeling smarter, the research is flawless and well placed with the action. This book will leave you begging for another Nick Kismet adventure!

Loved this one. A bit of mystery, plenty of action, and like a good action movie, a high enough bullet count to keep the pace up. Don't start it unless you have time to finish it, because you're not likely to put it down.

The book is a fun read. The story is filled with action, characters that draw you in, and an interesting plot. If you like thrillers, action, or adventure stories this book is for you. I personally read the Kindle version, and feel it was fully worth the price I paid for it. Bottom line is I enjoyed the book, and would read it again. I try not to give away any of the plot in my reviews, to keep from spoiling the experience of anyone who may want to pick it up. But I can tell you, I would bet money on the fact that you will enjoy this book. This is not the author's only good piece of fiction either. My personal favorite from this author is his Dodge Dalton book, which you can find here: The Adventures of Dodge Dalton in the Shadow of Falcon's Wings

To quote Basil Rathbone from the 1939 film, THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES, "Lady Conyingham gives the kind of party where one comes away from with the feeling one hasn't been anywhere." That's similar to the feeling one gets reading THE SHROUD OF HEAVEN. It's just a series of random action set pieces (designed, no doubt, by "author" Sean Ellis for a major film studio to pick up for a movie franchise. Let's hope that happens when pigs sprout wings) that have no literary value other then to illustrate the inadequacies Ellis has in becoming a serious writer of this or any other genre. I mean, really. An ancient artifact with unimaginable power,oh, no !! A lone hero, hardened by combat with a mysterious past, who can only save the day with a beautiful woman on his arm,oh my !! A pseudo intellectual spate of hokey religious mumbo jumbo, oh, yes !! If this excuse for a novel was any more original, the sky would be littered with the aforementioned flying pigs. This genre is better served by the likes of James Rollins,Matthew Reilly, Jack Higgins, and Lee Child with his Reacher series, among others. You, as a reader, have much better ways to spend your precious reading time and, in this economy,much better ways to spend your money.