The book I am sharing today – The Sacred Vault – is one I read and reviewed a while ago (well, more than a decade). I decided it is time to dust this old post from the archives (with minimally needed edits) since this book was definitely a fun read!! It is also a book I mentioned in another post as something I will watch on screen for its totally cool action scenes and the invariably beautiful settings a movie based on this will need.
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The Book Review
The Sacred Vault
Book Info
Title: The Sacred Vault
Author: Andy McDermott
Length: 512 pages
Genre: Action Thrillers
Publisher: Hachette
Description
The world is in shock when Michelangelo’s David is stolen from a museum in Florence, Italy. The latest in a series of audacious thefts of historical treasures, it’s only a matter of time before another priceless artefact is targeted.
When the Talonor Codex-a great Atlantean explorer’s account of his
travels-is stolen, it becomes clear that the thefts form only part of the raiders’ ultimate plan. The codex holds clues to the location of the Vault of Shiva and its fabled contents-the legendary Shiva-Vedas, the chronicles of the ancient Hindu god of destruction.
Witnesses to the latest daring robbery, archaeologist Nina Wilde and former SAS soldier Eddie Chase are forced into a treacherous hunt across the world to discover the vault before its secrets fall into dangerous hands. The vault’s prize is a treasure beyond price, but it may also be the catalyst for global annihilation
My Thoughts
It had been almost forever since I read an adventure-action-thriller type of book. I picked it up at the airport on my way back from India earlier this year during a trip over a decade ago.
This is the first book of the series that I have read; and I have to say, I am looking for the other titles to read now. (see addendum below!)
The different titles for the book in India and for the rest of the world did surprise me. I am guessing the Indian title – The Vault of Shiva (my copy) would have done well for everywhere else too. The title outside India is The Sacred Vault.
That said, I enjoyed this book. A series of audacious heists start off this book to a action-packed story. Stealing Michelangelo’s David is the latest and most daring one yet! The quickly unfolding events lead Nina Wilde and Eddie Chase on a ‘wild chase’ halfway across the world from San Francisco to the Himalayas. And the book reveals multiple interesting characters whose stories meld in easily to make it more enjoyable.
Weapons (both modern and ancient) zip and zoom around the daring and
super-human heroes and heroine as well as the despicable villains of the book throughout making it a true action thriller! Granted, there are quite a few ‘over-the-top’ scenes in the book but when a book is such a great
entertainer, all these flaws can be forgiven.
Action-packed, fast flowing, with bits of comedy and humor thrown in along with some romance and marital conflict(!), this book is perfect for reading by the beach, on a hammock in the garden, or while traveling. This is a movie waiting to happen!
Addendums
Feb 2021:
- I did look for other books in the series at the time. And when I could not find them for a while, I forgot over time. Now the search for the others in the series begins fresh!
- There are 15 books in this series now!! While a few reviews mention it gets formulaic and repetitive, I think I will enjoy the others anyway. Since the purpose of these books is to read them when you need that high-action, over-the-top, totally implausible escape.
In Summary
A perfect read for enjoying action-packed adventures while in quarantine, or anytime really!!
Get It Here
BookDepository || BookShop || IndieBound
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Related Reads
- Vertigo
- Da Vinci Code
- Where Eagles Dare
- and so many more..
And Now, the End of this Post
Dear reader, what are your thoughts on the featured book? Have you read this or other similar books? Any recommendations for me.
As always, your thoughts and suggestions are welcome!
I know someone that I will recommend this book to. Great review.
please do,,, 🙂 and do let me know if they have recommendations
That sounds interesting, and yes, perfect for a vacation read. It makes me think of Dan Brown.s books which I enjoyed.
Isn’t it interesting how they change book titles for different cultures/countries? The most controversial one I’ve seen is in the Harry Potter world: Sorcerer’s Stone vs Philosopher’s stone for the first in the series. People love to argue about it!
🙂 I have seen those discussions on the differently titled books.. but I do like to understand and know why publishers/authors make these choices..
A new series to start looking at! I love Michael Connelly, Lee Childs, James Patterson, Paul Christopher (the Knights Templar series are fascinating). The best for supernatural adventure in my view, Katherine Kurtz, The Adept series.
Thank you for the insight.
thanks for the suggestions.. While I know all these authors, I think I have only read a couple by James Patterson (including his book with Kwame Alexander for middle graders about Muhammad Ali)..
I will definitely look for the Knights Templar series..
Wow, an impressively long series! Excellent review.
I was surprised to see there were so many books as well!!
agree!!! I might just read a couple more for now (if I find them)
15 books would be a considerable commitment! I saw David and I cannot imagine how anyone could steal him, he is huge, magnificent, but huge.
lol! But that is one more of the over-the-top things in this book!! and I think I will read a couple books at a time.. not all 15 together (That would be too much at the same time)
I was thinking that too. Plus the size of truck they would need wouldn’t fit into Florence’s tiny streets. Perhaps they stole him by helicopter!! I’m intrigued now.
lol!! While I want to say I don’t want to reveal everything to spoil the book for you, I honestly also don’t recall the details (as I mentioned, this review is a dusting off of my archives!!!)
But your comments have me wanting to go check that out now 🙂
This book looks exciting!
it definitely is action packed 🙂
Great review. I love the sound of this book. I’m off to see if I can get a copy.
🙂 while I don’t recall all the details, I do recall I felt like I was watching an adventure movie full of action-scenes
Oh! This sounds like something my husband would like! He is always asking me for recommendations!
This sounds like it would be a fun read. It makes me think of Dan Brown’s books which I really enjoyed.
I love Dan Brown’s books as well..
I love adventure-action-thrillers! This seems like a great read will definitely check it out.
thanks Ghanashyam.. you should