An excellent start to a suspenseful series! My review of "The Patmos Deception" by Davis Bunn

about the book....

An Ancient Island Holds an Ancient Secret . . .

Nick Hennessy, a young Texas journalist yearning for his big break, finds himself in Europe--his assignment, to investigate the alarming disappearance of invaluable Grecian antiquities. Nick has the credentials--and cover ID--to unearth the truth. And he knows just the researcher to help him...

Carey Mathers, fresh from her studies in forensic archeology, has accepted a job with the prestigious Athens Institute for Antiquities--a dream come true, really, particularly when the Greek isle of Patmos, where the Apostle John received his vision of the Apocalypse, was a particular focus of her research.

Dimitri Rubinos, for whom the Greek islands represent his life, holds on by his fingernails to the family charter boat business. But his country's economic chaos isn't the only thing that has turned his world on its head...

my review....

I must warn you: After starting this book, be prepared to read it straight through to the finish while ignoring the world around you! From the moment I cracked open the cover, I was drawn into the deftly woven tale of Carey, Dmitri and Nick and held captive not only by the action depicted on the pages but by their human journey. Each character is finely crafted, with a depth of emotion that made them seem utterly real. More than in other Bunn novels, there is quite the romance that develops between Carey and each of the men, and yet it develops so naturally that readers who don't normally seek romantic themes in books will appreciate the relationships depicted here. In fact, I found it difficult to know who exactly I should root for, as there is much to like about both Nick and Dimitri. I absolutely love the way Bunn has woven faith into this book, especially in allowing both Nick and Dimitri to wrestle with their beliefs, showcasing the emptiness of a life without God. Amazingly, these spiritual themes and deep emotions are revealed in the midst of a wonderfully suspenseful plot that will have you racing through the pages to see how everything will work out. The combination of interesting historical artifacts with modern day art theft in the midst of a crumbling European economy makes for a fascinating plot indeed!

I certainly am glad we will be able to meet Carey, Nick and Dimitri in future novels! While my favourite Bunn book of the year remains "The Turning", I strongly recommend "The Patmos Deception" as well and award it 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

 about the author....

Davis Bunn is the award-winning author of numerous national bestsellers with sales totaling more than seven million copies. His work has been published in sixteen languages, and his critical acclaim includes three Christy Awards for excellence in fiction. Formerly a business executive working in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, Bunn is now a lecturer in creative writing and Writer in Residence at Regent's Park College, Oxford University. He and his wife, Isabella, divide their time between the English countryside and the coast of Florida.