Title: Altar of Bones
Author: Philip Carter
Publisher: Gallery
Publication Date: March 8, 2011
Hardcover: 464 pages
ISBN: 978-1439199084
Genre: Fiction, Suspense, Thriller
From the Publisher:
“They didn’t have to kill him…He never drank from the altar of bones.”
Cryptic dying words from a murdered homeless woman in present day San Francisco unlock a decades-buried secret that changed history. Now a pair of ruthless assassins are sent to cut the few living “loose ends.” And a young, resourceful woman on the run encounters a determined man with his own connected past and vengeful agenda. Forced to partner for survival and answers, a fast-paced and deadly game of cat and mouse ensues, taking them across the globe from the winding streets of Paris to the faded palaces of Budapest to the frozen lakes of Mongolia…where destiny, passion, and further betrayal await them.
The Altar of Bones has it all: The Russian mob. KGB spies. Presidential assasination. A doomed Hollywood legend. Deathbed confessions. Corrosive power. Shattered families. Guardians of an ancient religious icon housing a secret others will kill to possess. The dark promise of immortality. And it delivers on its ambitious premise to leave you stunned and breathless at the end.
My Review:
An action-packed adventure mystery novel, Alter of Bones is filled with greed, lust, power and a race, which spans the globe. Had Alter of Bones been a movie I would have liked it a lot more. As a book I just did not enjoy the conspiracy theory theme mixed with a magical theme of an ancient tribe of reindeer herders who have a secret cave behind a waterfall on a lake in Siberia, “which is not on a map”, and men have been trying to locate this magical alter, while the Keeper, passed down through generations of women has protected it. For those who enjoy an action packed adventure mystery, Altar of Bones has something for everyone. The book opens in present day San Francisco where Katya Orlova is murdered, making her granddaughter, lawyer Zoe Dmitroff the new Keeper, placing her in peril. The author flashes back to 1937 Norilsk where pregnant Lena Orlova is employed and about to embark on an escape with her lover Nikolai Popov. As I mentioned the books is action packed filled with NKVD, KGB, CIA, and a dizzying array of people all after the sacred alter. The two central characters; Zoe, the new keeper, and Ry O’Malley, black-ops hired to protect Zoe and is her lover. As I mentioned, this book has a little something for everyone, especially violence, a lot of travel, and sex. The book covers a lot of territory. While Alter of Bones kept my attention for the most part, admittedly I skipped the sex scenes as they are really unnecessary to further the plot. The book progressed nicely, but it was simply not a book I was invested in. I felt there was far too much occurring, leaving little room for character development. For those who enjoy a rapid fire action adventure with a hint of mystery, mysticism, conspiracy theories and a lot of romance thrown in, then Alter of Bones may be the book you are looking for.
Philip Carter is a pseudonym for an internationally renowned author.
I received a complimentary copy of Altar of Bones by Philip Carter from Gallery Books to offer my honest review of the book. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned book.
Maybe I’ll take a pass on this one
I can see that. There was a lot going on. While not a prude, the sex was too effusive, and there was so much going on. Dan Brown meets Ian Fleming meets (insert a romance author). I liked the idea of the book and I tried to like the book as a whole, but it just did not work for me.
I’m sorry to hear that you passed on this tome, you missed out on a really great story.
You may want to give it a chance. It is a very action packed, thriller and you will definitely get an adrenaline rush! I would love to see a movie version!
Fab review! I enjoyed reading your thoughts. I also have this book, it’s just the sort of book I love to read. And, like you, I’ll probably skip all the boring/unnecessary sex scenes.
Carole
Carole, I too am glad I had the chance to read this, it was a great read. I am at the local library every two weeks and am a member (of the best-ever) book club: BOMC2 and am tired of too often getting books that just turn out to be too, too boring or, often just stupid.
What a shame that it missed the mark – it sounded like it was going to be my kind of book, but I think I’ll stick with Dan Brown! xx
I have read Dan Brown’s books and enjoyed them immensely. Check other reviews, I may be in the minority with my opinion.
Historical thrillers have just not been doing it for me lately, and I feared it would be the same with this one. I think, after reading your review, that I was right to pass on it! Thanks for the honest review!
You are welcome. You may want to check other reviews, I have not yet.
I would love to know whom the author of this novel truly is. It kept me at the edge of my seat inspite of the times w/Munroe and Kennedy. Action packed; a truly great read. If I knew his name, I’d surely read his other books.
“knittinmomof3″ are you positive this book was also written by Dan Brown?
Him I’ve read before, enjoyed some more than others but this one will surely keep readers up late into the night!!
I have no idea the identity of the author and I did not once name a book written by Dan Brown.
This was a terrific book. I loved the author’s style and the fast pace it kept. And I felt it actually ended the story which so many books do not. I couldn’t stop reading. I, too, would like to know who the author is.
I agree with this review. The book got off to a promising start, but then became silly with the conspiracy theories, Marilyn Monroe plot line, and unnecessary sex scenes.
Also, based on the style, I’m fairly sure it’s written by a woman. Possibly Penelope Williamson based on information I found online.
As a voracious reader, this one one kept me on the edge of my seat. I like that it mixed romance, fantasy, adventure, historical data all in one book.
Fast-paced, I could not put it down!!! It did what a story should, it entertained and I think it would make a super movie…in the genre of Girl with the…..tatoo…
Try it…you might enjoy it!