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peter_gagne's review
2.0
The idea and plot were good. The writing, however, was like listening to someone describe a movie, not reading the screenplay.
kcfromaustcrime's review
3.0
The blurb for THE LAST TESTAMENT reads along the lines of "The Biggest Challenger to Dan Brown's Crown" and "A brilliant new high-concept religious conspiracy theory thriller", which might put some readers off, or at the very least set you up with some pre-conceived conceptions about the book. Ignore all of that and you'll be getting a fast paced, believable thriller which sets itself within a current day conflict in a very realistic manner.
In the dying days of the regime in Iraq, the Baghdad Museum of Antiquities is looted. A young boy takes an ancient clay tablet, hidden away in a forgotten vault.
At a rally for the signing of an historical peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians, Israeli security forces shoot dead a Jewish man, pushing his way through the crowd towards the Israeli Prime Minister. Instead of a gun, the man they thought was an assassin held a blood-stained note, addressed to his old friend the Prime Minister.
The peace negotiations falter as a series of tit for tat killings start up in both the Palestinian and Jewish territories. Washington takes the rather unusual step of calling in once star negotiator Maggie Costello, despite the fact that her last involvement in official negotiation ended in semi-disgrace. Costello arrives in Jerusalem and is instantly plunged into a mystery rooted in the last unsolved riddle of the Bible, with extremists on both sides not afraid to kill and menace to push the negotiations in the direction that they want.
THE LAST TESTAMENT is a thriller with a certain level of suspension of disbelief required from the start. Early on the reader is really wondering why on earth Maggie would be called back to work as a negotiator - her personal life and her previous entanglements in other negotiations would seem to make her a bit of a liability! On the other hand, when she arrives in Jerusalem and basically heads off out of the negotiation arena, on her own private quest to solve a riddle, you're really wondering what on earth is going on for a while. But, ultimately, if the test of a good thriller is whether or not you're more than happy to let some of the niggling inconsistencies roll whilst the story drags you along, then THE LAST TESTAMENT delivers in spades.
Sure there's a premise at the base of THE LAST TESTAMENT that has the potential to cause religious debate and maybe even controversy, making it another potential entrant in the "stirring up religious debate" category of thrillers that have been doing the rounds recently. Whether or not that's a category of book that suits you will be very dependent on each individual reader.
Maggie's not a bad character - she's a bit flawed, a bit insecure, a bit useless when it comes to sorting out her own life - but she knows it and she's not self-pitying about it. The other main character, Uri - son of the murdered suspected assassin is a bit ethereal in the book - there's a little of his background, enough to flesh him out a bit, but not enough to ever really let the reader inside his head too far and that's a bit tantalising. There are some other secondary characters that are interesting, some that are perhaps a little too predictable, but they fit within the general persona of the novel and the location it is set in.
Where THE LAST TESTAMENT appealed was in the realistic feel of the location of the story, and the way that the events moved rapidly. There are some twists and turns at the end, some of which were predictable and some were not. Even the more predictable elements weren't bland though, there were some nice gotcha moments that gave them some spark and interest.
In the dying days of the regime in Iraq, the Baghdad Museum of Antiquities is looted. A young boy takes an ancient clay tablet, hidden away in a forgotten vault.
At a rally for the signing of an historical peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians, Israeli security forces shoot dead a Jewish man, pushing his way through the crowd towards the Israeli Prime Minister. Instead of a gun, the man they thought was an assassin held a blood-stained note, addressed to his old friend the Prime Minister.
The peace negotiations falter as a series of tit for tat killings start up in both the Palestinian and Jewish territories. Washington takes the rather unusual step of calling in once star negotiator Maggie Costello, despite the fact that her last involvement in official negotiation ended in semi-disgrace. Costello arrives in Jerusalem and is instantly plunged into a mystery rooted in the last unsolved riddle of the Bible, with extremists on both sides not afraid to kill and menace to push the negotiations in the direction that they want.
THE LAST TESTAMENT is a thriller with a certain level of suspension of disbelief required from the start. Early on the reader is really wondering why on earth Maggie would be called back to work as a negotiator - her personal life and her previous entanglements in other negotiations would seem to make her a bit of a liability! On the other hand, when she arrives in Jerusalem and basically heads off out of the negotiation arena, on her own private quest to solve a riddle, you're really wondering what on earth is going on for a while. But, ultimately, if the test of a good thriller is whether or not you're more than happy to let some of the niggling inconsistencies roll whilst the story drags you along, then THE LAST TESTAMENT delivers in spades.
Sure there's a premise at the base of THE LAST TESTAMENT that has the potential to cause religious debate and maybe even controversy, making it another potential entrant in the "stirring up religious debate" category of thrillers that have been doing the rounds recently. Whether or not that's a category of book that suits you will be very dependent on each individual reader.
Maggie's not a bad character - she's a bit flawed, a bit insecure, a bit useless when it comes to sorting out her own life - but she knows it and she's not self-pitying about it. The other main character, Uri - son of the murdered suspected assassin is a bit ethereal in the book - there's a little of his background, enough to flesh him out a bit, but not enough to ever really let the reader inside his head too far and that's a bit tantalising. There are some other secondary characters that are interesting, some that are perhaps a little too predictable, but they fit within the general persona of the novel and the location it is set in.
Where THE LAST TESTAMENT appealed was in the realistic feel of the location of the story, and the way that the events moved rapidly. There are some twists and turns at the end, some of which were predictable and some were not. Even the more predictable elements weren't bland though, there were some nice gotcha moments that gave them some spark and interest.
ritafontes's review
challenging
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
martyfried's review
4.0
Great start for first in series. I'm definitely planning to keep reading.
There was a lot going on here, which is probably expected considering the locale, Israel and Palestine. Peace talks going on, people getting killed, and the last will and testament of Abraham, leaving his land to... one of his sons. Is it Isaac or Ishmael? How will it affect the peach negotiations? Good question, read it and find out.
Maggie is an interesting heroine - smart, non-violent, and persistent. And in this story, the persistence comes at a price, possibly her life.
Oh, and the narrator, George Guidall, was perfect for this book. He's a great narrator, but also he's Jewish and has a good Jewish accent that adds to this story.
There was a lot going on here, which is probably expected considering the locale, Israel and Palestine. Peace talks going on, people getting killed, and the last will and testament of Abraham, leaving his land to... one of his sons. Is it Isaac or Ishmael? How will it affect the peach negotiations? Good question, read it and find out.
Maggie is an interesting heroine - smart, non-violent, and persistent. And in this story, the persistence comes at a price, possibly her life.
Oh, and the narrator, George Guidall, was perfect for this book. He's a great narrator, but also he's Jewish and has a good Jewish accent that adds to this story.
whatvictoriaread's review
DNF at 30%. It just wasn’t grabbing me and I also wasn’t enjoying the way that the author was describing the female main character. Not for me.
speesh's review
2.0
It wasn't great - even in Danish.
There was a distinct lack of tension, and it didn't grip me at all. Took practically an eternity to get through, and I only finished it 'cause the library sent me an email saying it'd gotta go back!
It's set in the Middle-Dast of course, and is connected with Middle-East peace talks. Given that we all know they'll never have peace down there, not while anyone from either side is alive/believes that their god gave them exclusive rights to the area; it can hardly be expected to generate any tension based on something potentially de-railling the latest round of talks/mud-casting.
So, it's gotta be better in other areas, in tension, in action, in personal relationships, and while it tries, it can't quite believe enough in itself to pull it off.
Then, the final revelation of what the whole thing turned on, that has been not quite revealled many times previously, was a bit ho-hum, as well. Especially, as it doesn't take a 5-year-old to tell you that no matter what it is, either side will denounce it as a fake anyway.
I read one of his previous books (in English); The Righteous Men, and as a Dan Brown photocopy, it wasn't half bad. But this...well, I won't be rushing to check out any more. Even free from the library.
There was a distinct lack of tension, and it didn't grip me at all. Took practically an eternity to get through, and I only finished it 'cause the library sent me an email saying it'd gotta go back!
It's set in the Middle-Dast of course, and is connected with Middle-East peace talks. Given that we all know they'll never have peace down there, not while anyone from either side is alive/believes that their god gave them exclusive rights to the area; it can hardly be expected to generate any tension based on something potentially de-railling the latest round of talks/mud-casting.
So, it's gotta be better in other areas, in tension, in action, in personal relationships, and while it tries, it can't quite believe enough in itself to pull it off.
Then, the final revelation of what the whole thing turned on, that has been not quite revealled many times previously, was a bit ho-hum, as well. Especially, as it doesn't take a 5-year-old to tell you that no matter what it is, either side will denounce it as a fake anyway.
I read one of his previous books (in English); The Righteous Men, and as a Dan Brown photocopy, it wasn't half bad. But this...well, I won't be rushing to check out any more. Even free from the library.
ifranckd's review
4.0
A great book, with many religious/historical details.
The only thing I can complain is the ending - which can be easily planned unfortunately.
The only thing I can complain is the ending - which can be easily planned unfortunately.
n_t_sh_'s review
1.0
Boring protagonist, repetitive plot, white guy writing a female character and a culture hasn't any idea about...
macindog's review
3.0
The discovery of a Babylonian cunieform tablet amidst peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians in Jersusalem results in both sides and the US mediators desperatly trying to get possession of the document.
On top of this, someone is killing off anyone remotely connected to the discovery. Why? It is the last will and testament of Abraham and could either deliver Jerusalem to one side or the other.
The last Testament is a decently paced thriller with enough action and even a few twists to keep you guessing. Airport lounge fodder but entertaining enough.
On top of this, someone is killing off anyone remotely connected to the discovery. Why? It is the last will and testament of Abraham and could either deliver Jerusalem to one side or the other.
The last Testament is a decently paced thriller with enough action and even a few twists to keep you guessing. Airport lounge fodder but entertaining enough.
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