THE 6 SACRED STONES
Matthew Reilly
Simon & Schuster
Thriller
ISBN: 9780743270540

If you’ve read Matthew Reilly’s work, then you know it’s probably wise to have a defibrillator close by. His narratives are fast-paced, absorbing, all-encompassing --- and doubly so in his latest novel, THE 6 SACRED STONES.

This is a nominal sequel to 7 DEADLY WONDERS; while it’s not crucial to have read the first book before beginning the new volume, your sense of enjoyment will be much greater if you do. THE 6 SACRED STONES marks the return of Jack West Jr., who saved the world in 7 DEADLY WONDERS from a global catastrophe of cosmic proportions. Well, that’s not exactly accurate. He did save it, but a group of bad guys undo his work at the beginning of THE 6 SACRED STONES, and as a result there is a really big disaster --- one of those “Hide! Hide! I Want My Mommy!”-sized disasters --- lurking out in the cosmos and heading our way.

The good news is that West and his capable Doc Savage-like team know how to stop the threat. The bad news is that the means by which the threat can be halted is scattered throughout the world; they absolutely must complete the first step within a matter of days, and then carry out the remaining tasks according to a strict schedule. West and company are aligned against some heavy-duty guys, some of whom want to stop the threat for their own nefarious reasons, while others want to bring the world to a cataclysmic end.

If nearly impossible deadlines and apparently insurmountable foes aren’t enough to get your heart racing, West also has a traitor or three on the team. If explosions and karate are your thing, then this book is just what the doctor ordered. Those with an interest in astronomy, anthropology and archaeology, however, will absolutely love the novel as well.

Reilly combines Stonehenge, Egyptian monuments, Ethiopian diamond mines and planetary alignment to create both a threat and a solution unlike any you have encountered. He also combines the best of Indiana Jones, Tarzan and the aforementioned Doc Savage with a double dose of caffeine-charged adrenalin to create a story and characters you will never forget. You’ll even forgive him for leaving us all hanging at the end of THE 6 SACRED STONES. But not to worry --- the sequel will be along in due time.

    --- Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub

Click here now to buy this book from Amazon.com.

© Copyright 1996-2008, Bookreporter.com. All rights reserved.

Back to top.