On the Fifth Day
by A.J. Hartley
For Thomas Knight, discovering how his brother, Father Ed Knight, died begins as a simple puzzle to fill the
vacant days Thomas’s recent unemployment has created. Soon, however, he finds himself in the middle of
international intrigue, political posturing, religious controversy, archaeological hoaxes, and suspicion of
breaching homeland security. His inquiry takes him to Italy and Japan, and eventually to the island where his
brother died. Accompanied in his quest by Father Jim Gornall and his angry ex-wife, Kumi, Thomas is pursued by
the CIA and some very nasty, almost demonic, individuals.
This is the premise of A. J. Hartley’s second novel, On the Fifth Day. It is a breathtaking race to
find answers and solve some of the interior problems Thomas has been harboring for years. Though many readers
will expect this to be just another Da Vinci Code clone because it deals with religious artifacts and an
exploration of radical theories about the early church and what is occurring today, those readers will be greatly
surprised with what Hartley has produced. It is a fresh concept, embellished with some dastardly villains and
some ordinary people showing remarkable courage.
I found On the Fifth Day to be very satisfying with believable characters, even the sinister ones.
There were exotic places, even if some of them were chillingly creepy, and enough twists and turns to keep me
guessing right to the very end. Though I did expect a huge revelation at the end that did not come, the answers
that were revealed were plausible and fit Hartley’s plot and premise.
Well done! I will have to look up his first novel, The Mask of Atreus, which deals with another
archeological mystery surrounding curator Deborah Miller, who makes an appearance in On the Fifth Day.
Let’s hope Hartley keep producing these page-turners. They are rich with accurate detail and adventurous
as any Gregg Hurwitz thriller. |
The Book |
Berkley |
July 2007 |
Paperback |
0425216284 / 978-0425216286 |
Mystery |
More at Amazon.com |
Excerpt |
NOTE: |
The Reviewer |
Janie Franz |
Reviewed 2007 |
NOTE: Reviewer Janie
Franz is the author of Freelance Writing: It’s a Business, Stupid!and co-author of
The Ultimate Wedding Reception Book and The Ultimate Wedding Ceremony Book.
Coming Soon: The Ultimate Wedding Workbook. |
|