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The Emerald Scepter (A Matinicus “Matt” Hawkins Adventure Book 1) by [Paul Kemprecos]

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Paul Kemprecos

The Emerald Scepter (A Matinicus “Matt” Hawkins Adventure Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Paul Kemprecos (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

475 ratings

Book 1 of 2: A Matinicus “Matt” Hawkins Adventure

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“ 'The Emerald Scepter' just might be the perfect speculative thriller, offering up a seasoned blend of legend and folklore mixed brilliantly with actual historical fact. James Rollins and Clive Cussler have nothing on Paul Kemprecos who has been and continues to be a master of the form and then some. This is everything a great read should be, a riveting, tried-and true tale of quests and daring-do, of great heroes and equally contemptuous villains. There’s a reason why Kemprecos is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and it’s all on display here.”
—Jon Land, bestselling author of ”Pandora’s Temple”

“A brilliant mystery that combines suspense with exciting adventure. Intriguing plot twists from beginning to end shrouded under genuine history.”
—Clive Cussler, New York Times bestselling author of “Zero Hour”

Something bad happened to Matinicus "Matt" Hawkins in Afghanistan.

The ex-SEAL was grievously wounded in an ambush that killed men under his command and almost ended his life. When he pushed for an investigation, he was kicked out of the Navy with a psychiatric discharge. The doctors put his shattered leg back together, but the bitterness destroyed his marriage.

Five years later, Hawkins is jerked out of his tranquil life as a designer of undersea robots. A super-secret government group wants him to go back to Afghanistan on a strange and dangerous mission.

A Georgetown University historian has unearthed evidence that could lead to the fabulous treasure of Prester John, a legendary Christian ruler of an eastern empire.

The historian has disappeared, and the government wants Hawkins to track down the treasure as a matter of national security. The centerpiece of the trove, an emerald-encrusted gold scepter, is the linchpin in the Prophet's Necklace, code-name for a plot that is intended to kill more people than the attack on the Twin Towers and rally others to the terrorist cause.

Hawkins sees his mission to foil the plot as an opportunity to search for answers. He pulls together an eclectic team that includes his ex-wife, a former comrade-in-arms and a mentally unstable computer whiz.

Backed by his unlikely team, Hawkins will travel thousands of miles and hundreds of years on an amazing time-space odyssey. He'll face off against a cold-blooded killer. Probe the underwater secrets of an ancient tomb. Navigate the treacherous stands of an unimaginable conspiracy. And in the process, will discover that there are treasures even more valuable than gold.

Print length

500 pages
Language

English
Publication date

May 18, 2013
File size

2867 KB
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

“The Emerald Scepter” is the fifteenth novel by Paul Kemprecos. He collaborated with Clive Cussler, the "Grandmaster of Adventure," in writing eight books in The New York Times bestselling NUMA Files adventure series. He is the author of a six books in the Aristotle “Soc” Socarides detective series. His first novel, “Cool Blue Tomb,” won a Shamus award for best original paperback from the Private Eye Writers of America. He and his wife Christi live on Cape Cod, Mass. --This text refers to the paperback edition.

Product details

ASIN : B00CWMLVXO
Publisher : Suspense Publishing (May 18, 2013)
Publication date : May 18, 2013
Language : English
File size : 2867 KB
Simultaneous device usage : Unlimited
Text-to-Speech : Enabled
Screen Reader : Supported
Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
X-Ray : Enabled
Word Wise : Enabled
Print length : 500 pages
Lending : Enabled

Best Sellers Rank: #424,637 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #20,187 in Historical Fiction (Kindle Store)
- #26,096 in Action & Adventure Fiction (Kindle Store)
- #37,449 in Action & Adventure Fiction (Books)

Customer Reviews:
475 ratings

Customer reviews

5 star		57%
4 star		30%
3 star		10%
2 star		2%
1 star		1%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Kindle Customer

I Found a New Author!!!

Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2018

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I'm a great fan of Clive Cussler and this story is in the same vein as Cussler's NUMA series. Then I find out that Kemprecos is a colleague of Cussler's. Win-win!

I like tying a story to a piece of ancient history of folk lore. Kemprecos did a good job.

There's a reason, though, that I gave this four stars. I have traveled the Million Dollar Highway. I have been to Silverton and Ouray many times. I can also tell you with no stuttering at all that the Alpine Loop is a jeep road. A 1948 Harley -Davidson motorcycle would not be able to back the loop. Jeeps, ATVs, dirt bikes...yes. A street bike...no.

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Kindle Customer

Wow!!!

Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2018

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Absolutely loved this book. Definitely will read more by this author. This book was the first book I have read by this author. Then I read the "about the author" section at the back of the book, and discovered that I have read several others in addition to this one. While reading The Emerald Scepter I kept thinking how much the story reminded me of the early Clive Cussler books that I loved, with Dirk Pitt and NUMA. Turns out this author worked w Cussler, and has written books in that long series. If you like lots of action with historical possibilities and treasure thrown in, this book is definitely for you.

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rsb in texas

Excellent Reading...Not To Be Missed!

Reviewed in the United States on November 16, 2018

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it didn't dawn on me at first, but the more I read the more I felt like I was with an old friend. Then I looked at the name of the author once again. Paul Kemprecos is one of my favorite authors. I started reading Clive Cussler's Dirk Pitt novels and then wound up reading the NUMA files series from Cussler and Kemprecos...that is how I know the author. The Emerald Sceptor is really an excellent and satisfying read with great character development, a well-thought-out and fast-moving plot, and just enough twists and turns to keep you flipping the pages one after another. Do yourself a great favor and don't miss this book.

Helpful

Fred R. Lang

A new hero in the tradition of Dirk Pitt and Kurt Austin.

Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2018

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Paul Kemprecos has co-authored the best of Clive Cussler's Numa Files adventure novels. On his own, he created an engaging private investigator Aristotle "Soc" Socarides, who sleuthed through eight novels based on and around Cape Cod, MA. With The Emerald Scepter, Kemprecos has spun a yarn that is every bit as good as any of Cussler's novels. It's hero, Matinicus "Matt" Hawkins can stand toe to toe with Dirk Pitt or Kurt Austin any day. Blending actual historical fact with a fast-paced imaginative yet believable storyline, Kemprecos has crafted an enjoyable read that is quite hard to put down. I am looking forward to The Minoan Cypher, the next in his Matt Hawkins series, and I hope there will be more on the horizon.

3 people found this helpful

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ijh

A Very Nice Adventure

Reviewed in the United States on April 9, 2017

Verified Purchase

<Spoiler Alert - plot elements will be discussed> This is a thoroughly enjoyable book. I had encountered the work of Mr Kemprecos in collaborative efforts he had done with the legendary Clive Cussler. This solo work upholds that longtime standard of excellence, and that is high praise indeed. The characters are well developed and the reader genuinely becomes concerned for their welfare. The plot is a bit serpentine, but certainly gets the reader's attention and makes the reader want to reach the conclusion without delay. The United States is in jeopardy from within and without as various nefarious characters have plotted against her. Archaeological adventures and some military style antics keep the story moving while the characters attempt to save the situation. The hero of the book is likeable and capable - ex-special forces type that seeks adventure, but is well read and has a somewhat scientific orientation. I hope there will be a continuing run of more books featuring these characters in similar adventures. I applaud Mr Kemprecos for not engaging the characters in any overt sexual activities. Based on this book, I will definitely read the second in the series. And hope for many more. Good read.

7 people found this helpful

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F. Spinney

Kemprecos does it again

Reviewed in the United States on May 27, 2013

Verified Purchase

I have been a huge fan of Paul Kemprecos since his first "Soc" novel, Cool Blue Tomb. Paul has a way of writing about diving that paralleled Cussler. It was only fitting that the two team up to create the Numa files of Kurt Austin. But after reading The Emerald Scepter I would say that Kemprecos has surpassed Cussler and is king of this genre. This novel has it all, the hunt for the legendary treasure of Prester John, a disgraced Navy Seal looking for redemption and a government conspiracy. Who could ask for more. Kemprecos has already developed two of my all time favorite nautical character. thanks Paul for creating this new character that I hope goes on to have his own series. Love being back in Boston and the Woods Hole connection. I would recommend this book highly to anyone who is looking for a new men's adventure novel and loves diving and treasure hunting.

4 people found this helpful

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mpoppins

Highly improbable

Reviewed in the United States on July 28, 2013

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I think it’s a good book for teenagers and the lovers of James Bond and Spiderman heroics. The book is action packed, the language is vivid and the places are depicted with meticulous details. But all the main characters are real superheroes who find themselves in life threatening situations and come out of all perils, be they in the air, on the land or under the water, literally unscathed. I‘d prefer a bit of probability. Nevertheless the book may be interesting for those who like intrigues and the breakneck speed with which the action develops but for the last chapter. To put it in a nutshell, the latter a recap of the whole book and in the end good guys overcome bad ones. To give the author credit he does manage to keep you guessing who is who. If you are a fan of treasure hunting that’s the book for you.

7 people found this helpful

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F. K.

Exciting and twisted

Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2018

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It's often easy to forget or not pay attention to what the extremely wealthy powerful people desire and the extremes they are willing to go to to achieve something. It's almost a madness.
Many of us become their pawns and this book was a perfect example of perversion, insanity, friendship and loyalty.
A story that travels the world. Well written and action packed.

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

mark crosby

Barnstorming Adventure

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 4, 2015

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The lure of hidden treasure an archaeological prize of unimaginable value if it exists and if it can be found would be an engaging tale on its own . Add the shadowy goings on of government security and intelligence departments , plus the efforts of a terrorist organisation also looking for the treasure and ' eliminating witnesses ' on the way ; throw in a retired navy SEAL and some friends that are very good looking after themselves and you a recipe for adventure , life threatening danger and cold blooded murder . A thoroughly enjoyable read !

6 people found this helpful

Kindle Customer

Seeking Prester John's treasure.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 19, 2019

Verified Purchase

Weaving historical fact together with modern day methods and circumstances, Paul Kemprecos has produced a new, but flawed, hero in Matt Hawkins. Utilising the underwater robotic technology he had developed, the search for a fabled treasure lost in Afghanistan en route to Pope Alexander from the legendary king , Prester John, sweeps across the world. But others are on the same quest, and their methods are literally deadly. Twists and turns in the plot will keep the reader enthhralled to the end.

Alan Marston

Great fun.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 19, 2015

Verified Purchase

Paul Kemprecos has written a lively and energetic novel that moves at a rapid pace, reflecting the talent that Clive Cussler must have seen when he persuaded Kemprecos to co-write his NUMA novels. This book precedes those that he wrote with Cussler and, interestingly, is very much marine based as are the NUMA novels. The plot is well woven, and the characters are developed thoroughly. The whole issue of Prester John and his fabled treasure is well covered, with the Sceptre itself playing a major role in the storyline. The problem of what to do with it in resolving the story is well handled, and the people who would misuse it are dealt with in a very satisfactory manner.
Great fun.

3 people found this helpful

Kindle Customer

Interesting, but

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 13, 2018

Verified Purchase

While I quite enjoyed the story I really got annoyed by the excess detail which made the book far longer than it needed to be. Every weapon, in minute detail, clothing (each item) even food. Do we need a full description of a burger? Back stories of characters help pad out the personality, but interrupting a chapter which a half cheaper of back story or history is tedious and distracting.

caro

An Adventure Mixed With History.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 8, 2020

Verified Purchase

This well written book weaves the adventures of some interesting characters, which are new to me, and a good story entrenched in history.
Highly recommended and I look forward to reading another by this author.

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