Amazon.com.au:Customer reviews: The Vatican Secret: The brand-new, completely gripping, fast-paced action adventure thriller series (Joe Mason, Book 1)

Amazon Customer

Great read and gripping

Reviewed in Australia on 27 May 2022

Verified Purchase

Loved the book great read very exciting

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Stefan Vucak

Serious readers will drop this lame book after the first 50 pages!

Reviewed in Australia on 11 June 2022

Marduk, the self-proclaimed monarch of the ancient Babylonian sect, the Amori, is determined to destroy the Vatican and Christianity, exposing it as a lie. Rising from the resulting chaos, the Amori would rule the world. To achieve his goal, he organizes a team to steal the ‘Book of Secrets’ hidden inside the Vatican’s Secret Archives. Joe Mason and Roxy Banks, haunted by their past, are given a job to protect Professor Pierce Rusk and his daughter Sally for seven days while they’re engaged on a research project inside the Archives. While there, they encounter Marduk’s thief and Professor Rusk is killed. Bent on avenging her father, accompanied by Joe and Roxy, they embark on an action-packed search for Marduk’s New Babylon in an attempt to retrieve the ‘Book of Secrets’ and prevent destruction of Christianity.

Marduk is revealed as a megalomaniac within the first two pages of ‘The Vatican Secret’, and his team of thieves exaggerated caricatures who lack any credibility. Joe Mason and Roxy Banks carry so much psychological baggage from their past lives, it is a wonder they are able to function at all. In a totally incredulous attempt to retrieve the ‘Book of Secrets’, Sally Rusk manages to easily decipher five clues left in five famous churches that would reveal location of Marduk’s New Babylon. Always one step ahead of Marduk’s assassins, ‘The Vatican Secret’ is filled with car chases, lots of physical action, gunfights, and miraculous escapes. Finally, Joe Mason’s ragtag team confronts Marduk in a climax that will leave readers shaking their heads, relieved they managed to reach the last page of this totally fanciful work that should never have survived the slush pile. The book’s plot has more holes than a kitchen sieve, but David Leadbeater hopes this will not be noticed as each new page thrusts the reader into a new round of totally unreal action sequences. ‘The Vatican Secret’ is a great read for those simply interested in wild chases and gunfights, unencumbered by detailed plotting, characterization, and a believable story. A thoroughly disappointing book from David Leadbeater.

Helpful

Happy to recommend to anyone that likes a fast paced, thriller.

Reviewed in Australia on 10 March 2022

This book is for lovers of stories like The Da Vinci Code, lots of action, story pivotal to religion and a stoic hero or two. Joe Mason has a military career that killed his friends and destroyed his marriage. He now works for a private security firm, and is sent to Vatican City as the personal protection of a researcher, Professor Rusk who along with his daughter Sally as a research assistant, has been granted access to the Vatican archives.
While on duty with his fellow security person Roxy (a woman he is trying to figure out), someone breaks into the archives and steals a well guarded secret book. The chase is then on. Joe and Roxy soon form an alliance as they set off on a journey with the daughter of the researcher, Sally trying to piece together clues to lead them to the book.
The story moves through Israel, Paris and Iraq at a cracking pace. There are multiple 'car chase' scenes and each time our heroes seem to bounce back only to come up against the next obstacle.
Happy to recommend to anyone that likes a fast paced, thriller.

Helpful

action thriller which traverses Europe

Reviewed in Australia on 3 March 2022

The first of two books published this year, The Vatican Secret by David Leadbeater is the first of the new Joe Mason series. Joe is an ex-MI5 operative and gets a job guarding an elderly professor and his daughter in Rome. A cushy task until the professor is killed and an ancient manuscript taken, forcing Joe to decide whether to hunt down the killer. Teaming up with an unwanted partner, they decide to follow the clues and solve the mystery. An action thriller which traverses Europe in order to find the manuscript and help the daughter save her father’s legacy. An enjoyable action adventure with likeable characters and fast paced narrative that makes for a three-and-a-half-star rating. With thanks to Avon Books UK and the author, for an uncorrected advanced copy for review purposes. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own and freely given, without persuasion.

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Kindle Customer

Action packed adventure.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 March 2022

Verified Purchase

Action packed adventure and so much more can be found in this the first book of a new series, which I'm sure will be another bestseller for David Leadbeater. this book introduces a mixed bunch of characters, tasked with a babysitting job which rapidly becomes something completely different. A wee cheeky mention of a certain Yorkshire man didn't go unnoticed either. I am looking forward to reading the second book in the series. (which is on pre-order) and won't disappoint.

2 people found this helpful

Elena

Spoiler Alert

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 31 May 2022

Verified Purchase

This all started out so well. Liked the Characters, fast paced, good read..then it gets spoiled by the usual drivel, the Church hiding that they found the body of Christ. I love a good mystery attached to the Church but really! It's becoming old hat, a different take would be great, what if someone actually wrote pro Christianity, it would be much more novel (pun intended).

One person found this helpful

Caroline atkins

Gripping story telling

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 April 2022

Verified Purchase

Join Mason and his motley crew as they chase the clues leading them to The Book of Secrets around the world. Will they stop an ancient sect from destroying Christianity and will they find themselves and move on with their lives? Great action and story line. I'll be reading the next in the series as soon as its released.

One person found this helpful

Kindle Customer

Awful

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 June 2022

Verified Purchase

Histrionic characters too unlikeable and unbelievable.

If there's another adjective to describe one of the character apart from 'Raven haired American' I didnt find it.

I couldn't finish this book. The characters were caricatures and not the slightest bit empathetic.

The plot flew off into wild fantasy.

I dont like putting bad reviews but I really could not finish this book.

J. A. Green

Definitely NOT dinosaurs waffle

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 March 2022

Verified Purchase

Was really excited to read this new adventure thriller from my favourite author. I love the way the story pulls you in quickly, bringing the characters to life, painting the story and wrapping it up with a little history. Am hoping there is a lot more to come from Joe, Roxy and the team.

One person found this helpful

kev Allen

Great new characters

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 April 2022

Verified Purchase

Some new characters and a new series from one of my favourite authors. This new book takes a bit of time to introduce you to some new characters but keeps the pace of the story going all the time. Can’t wait for some more adventures from them

One person found this helpful

5 star		43%
4 star		32%
3 star		17%
2 star		5%
1 star		2%

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