A review by jlynnelseauthor
The Rosetta Key by William Dietrich

1.0

I really, really tried to read this book. Pegged as an "Indiana Jones-like adventure," I really wanted to like it. The title sounds great! Unfortunately, I did not realize when I got it from the library that it was book 2 in a series. Yet unlike other serial books, this book does not adequately sum up what happens before so readers can be up to date on the present storyline. I read "Hand of Isis" which is actually the second book of that author, which relates back to her previous, "Black Ships." "Grave Goods" by Ariana Franklin is another example of book three in a series that is easily a stand-alone novel as well. This book did not transition the readers into the story.

The opening few pages were good attention grabbers. Good opening portion. But afterwards I found I just did not like the main character. All he ever talked about was his "pride" on remaining celibate because he's in love (so excited for you, man) and his friend Ben Franklin. I got so sick of hearing "My friend, Ben Franklin, once said..." I got about 1/4-way into it and decided it was not worth the effort anymore.

The characters were shallow and the plot was too slow to develop in my opinion.