The Hunt for Atlantis

The Hunt for Atlantis by Andy McDermott
Random House Publishing Group, 2009
Mass Market Paperback , 544 pages
ISBN-13: 9780553592856

Wilde & Chase series #1

http://www.andy-mcdermott.com/

highly recommended

Synopsis:

A LOST CIVILIZATION.
A DANGEROUS QUEST.
A DEADLY SECRET.
It’s one of history’s most enduring and controversial legends—the lost city of Atlantis. Archaeologist Nina Wilde is certain she’s solved the riddle of its whereabouts—and with the help of reclusive billionaire Kristian Frost, his beautiful daughter, Kari, and ex-SAS bodyguard Eddie Chase, she’s about to make the most important discovery in centuries. But not everyone wants them to succeed: a powerful and mysterious organization will stop at nothing to ensure that a secret submerged for 11,000 years never resurfaces.
More than one would-be discoverer has already died in pursuit of Atlantis’s secrets—including Nina’s own parents. Failure isn’t an option. From the streets of Manhattan to the Brazilian jungle, from a Tibetan mountaintop to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, Nina and Eddie will race against time—and follow a trail of danger and death to a revelation so explosive, it could destroy civilization forever….

My Thoughts:

The Hunt for Atlantis by Andy McDermott represents a genre that is one of my guilty pleasures: action/adventure novels. As Publisher's Weekly said, McDermott "raises the bar to please adventure junkies who prefer to mainline their action." And that is the reality here. The Hunt for Atlantis is a fast paced, globetrotting novel that has plenty of action. It is like a merge of Indiana Jones and 24. Really. The novel goes from one adventure plus narrow escape to another.

Let me be honest here. When reading action/adventure novels I'm not necessarily looking for great character development or subtle plot shifts. I want the pure adrenaline rush that non-stop action and narrow escapes provide. That's it. And McDermott delivers the goods. It is also very humorous at times and McDermott, a former movie critic, includes lots of movie references.

You do have to suspend disbelief to enjoy the story, after all, the action is the whole point, but I did have to roll my eyes several times. One good example occurred when the characters are in Paris, and are going to see the sights. They only spend the morning at the Louvre, go shopping in the afternoon, and Nina still had time to be back at her room in the afternoon for a nap. Yeah... But, if you are just seeking escapism and can overlook the characters ping-ponging across the globe with seemingly little or no preparation, narrowly surviving every fatal circumstance, then you're going to enjoy The Hunt for Atlantis.

The Hunt for Atlantis was on my wish list for a couple years so I was pleased to see that currently there are five books in the series, with more due out. I guess we all know what I'll be looking for at my local used book store. In the mean time I know a couple other people who will enjoy The Hunt for Atlantis.

Highly Recommended

Quotes:

The sun had not yet risen above the Himalayan peaks, but Henry Wilde was already awake. opening

The Golden Peak - until today nothing more than a legend, a piece of ancient folklore - was the final piece in the puzzle Henry had been assembling his whole life. Exactly what he would find there, he wasn't sure. But what he was sure of was that it would provide him with everything he needed to reach his final goal

The ultimate legend.

Atlantis. pg. 3

"This justifies us coming here all in its own!" He jumped to his feet and let out a triumphant whoop, then hugged Laura. "We did it! We actually found proof that Atlantis wasn't just a myth!" pg. 17

"...I cannot allow you to continue your search. The risk to the world is far too great. My apologies." He lowered his head for a moment, then stepped back. "It's nothing personal."

The laser lines fixed on Henry and Laura.

Henry opened his mouth. "Wait-"

In the confines of the tomb, the noise of the automatic weapons was deafening. pg. 20

"It had to be done," said Qobras. "The Brotherhood can never allow Atlantis to be found." pg. 22

She let down her hair, then huddled up on the couch under a large knitted blanket. All she needed to complete the portrait of a sad, lonely loser was a CD of sappy, depressing songs. And maybe three or four cats. pg. 36

She clenched her teeth. "What the hell's going on?"

"Short version? Bad guys want to kill you. Good guys want to stop them. I'm one of the good guys."

"Why do they want to kill me? What did I do?"

"It's not what you've done, Doc. It's what they're afraid you might do..." pg. 51