thebooktrail88's review against another edition
4.0
Ooh the locations in this book will make your head spin! (in a good way)
Peter James I do love your books and still have Perfect People as my favourite. This is my new favourite. There’s something delicious about a conspiracy theory book and this one looks at the existence of God. Someone claims to have absolute proof that He exists.
Now I’m not religious by any means and I suppose you will get something different out of this book depending on what you believe, but this is still a riproaring thriller which questions the existence of God. Fast paced and action packed. I just loved the way in which there was an actual trail to follow with map coordinates and everything! The geek in me rubbed my hands with glee,going from one place to another, map in hand and legends falling from the pages.
There’s a lot to like in this book – maps, manuscripts, monuments, monks and murder. Think the 5 M’s might be an idea for an alternative title.
Subject wise it’s a bit Dan Brown but it’s definitely got the Peter James stamp of gold on the front. It’s clever, addictive and a race around the world with locations and legends dripping out of the pages.
There IS Absolute Proof that this is a thriller you won’t want to miss!
jhaber03's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.75
naiessha's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Honestly, it was a great page turner and very thought-provoking. I was expecting a grander ending than what it actually was, but it's definitely realistic.
The writing style was perfect and I commend the author for that, especially the bite-sized chapters idea. Them being short allowed me to get through such a long book with relative ease whilst keeping it engaging. It was a bit repetitive at times, but fairly okay.
It was very suspenseful the first 500 pages and I liked the diverse perspectives it addressed+ the plot twists, but not nearly as good as the Da Vinci Code and not worth 600 something pages for that ending. Idk..... I'm a little underwhelmed because the first 500 pages raised my expectations. Not bad though. A good read.
The writing style was perfect and I commend the author for that, especially the bite-sized chapters idea. Them being short allowed me to get through such a long book with relative ease whilst keeping it engaging. It was a bit repetitive at times, but fairly okay.
It was very suspenseful the first 500 pages and I liked the diverse perspectives it addressed+ the plot twists, but not nearly as good as the Da Vinci Code and not worth 600 something pages for that ending. Idk..... I'm a little underwhelmed because the first 500 pages raised my expectations. Not bad though. A good read.
tdk's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
kirkw1972's review
4.0
This is a weighty book and in more ways than one. I think your enjoyment of it will depend on your religious leanings and your reaction to the subject of absolute proof of God. I didn’t grow up in a house of any faith, my mum only finding a religion in her mid-50’s so the subject doesn’t affect me. I do find the idea fascinating though and this, despite being a novel, gives a lot of food for thought.
It is long although the chapters are short so easy to pick up and put down. It drags a bit in the middle and repeats itself a bit. I’m still not entirely sure we needed the wife and baby subplot. For me it didn’t add anything. However I did find it to be a page turner. I enjoy religious conspiracy as a genre so this was always going to work for me in that respect. I was kept hooked by the idea of how we were going to get the absolute proof as the author comes up with ideas and debunks them as he goes along and I quite liked the answer we got here.
Overall for the most part I loved it and would recommend if you are a fan of this genre
It is long although the chapters are short so easy to pick up and put down. It drags a bit in the middle and repeats itself a bit. I’m still not entirely sure we needed the wife and baby subplot. For me it didn’t add anything. However I did find it to be a page turner. I enjoy religious conspiracy as a genre so this was always going to work for me in that respect. I was kept hooked by the idea of how we were going to get the absolute proof as the author comes up with ideas and debunks them as he goes along and I quite liked the answer we got here.
Overall for the most part I loved it and would recommend if you are a fan of this genre
kath61's review against another edition
2.0
I was looking forward to this as I like the Roy Grace series and the Dan Brown book and am interested in the subject matter. Sadly it didn't meet my expectations. It seemed a bit repetitive and long, there was not the thrilling chapter ends I am used to in this genre and I didn't get involved with the various characters, with disparate threads. It got more exciting towards the end but I found the actual ending rather silly and disappointing. A pity.
thebooktrail88's review against another edition
4.0
Ooh the locations in this book will make your head spin! (in a good way)
Peter James I do love your books and still have Perfect People as my favourite. This is my new favourite. There’s something delicious about a conspiracy theory book and this one looks at the existence of God. Someone claims to have absolute proof that He exists.
Now I’m not religious by any means and I suppose you will get something different out of this book depending on what you believe, but this is still a riproaring thriller which questions the existence of God. Fast paced and action packed. I just loved the way in which there was an actual trail to follow with map coordinates and everything! The geek in me rubbed my hands with glee,going from one place to another, map in hand and legends falling from the pages.
There’s a lot to like in this book – maps, manuscripts, monuments, monks and murder. Think the 5 M’s might be an idea for an alternative title.
Subject wise it’s a bit Dan Brown but it’s definitely got the Peter James stamp of gold on the front. It’s clever, addictive and a race around the world with locations and legends dripping out of the pages.
There IS Absolute Proof that this is a thriller you won’t want to miss!
syren1532's review against another edition
4.0
Ross Hunter is a journalist. Dr Harry Cook contacts him and asks for Ross’ help in showing the world absolute proof that God exists. A gripping story full of conspiracy and intrigue. I really enjoyed it.
Thanks to Netgalley, Macmillan and Peter James for the ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
Thanks to Netgalley, Macmillan and Peter James for the ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
bookish_brooklyn's review against another edition
3.0
I received a copy of this book from Pan Macmillian Australia in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
I was initially definitely impressed by this book, although the premise deals heavily with God and proving God’s ultimate existence is a topic I’m not exactly well versed in, I couldn’t help but admire Peter James’ deep and thought provoking writing! I feel like this is a topic I’ll think more about now that I’ve read this, and this story will definitely stick in my mind, along with its cast of curious characters, all of whom had an array of page time.
I mean, even the beginning of this book was memorable, meeting a magician who we are not exactly given a back story of until a pivotal point in the story, which totally threw me!
Peter James, you brilliant man.
No but in all earnest, what I loved most in this book was how all of these characters were weaved together, how Ross (our main character and who we predominantly see the story from), manages to weave himself out of these nearly deadly but super risky situations, all whilst having to deal with personal losses and fractured relationships, I mean there were times when I really felt for him. I found myself questioning a lot of other character’s motives, as he was, and thinking throughout about this whole second coming of Jesus, wondering if it was actually going to happen and would Ross find the answers he was seeking?
Yet, where this one fell flat for me, was some of the scenes that focused on the greedy Televangelist, I mean his back story was interesting enough, but I thought his whole reasoning for seeking out Ross didn’t make a lot of sense, aside from his own greed. That, and I felt like he wasn’t particularly likeable, wanting to profit off an audience of people that thought he was an almighty creation and could help and heal them.
All throughout the book, I felt like this was leading up to something huge, and there were definitely some twists and turns aplenty! I found myself to be in awe of about 3/4 of this book, but by the end I was getting a bit frustrated with how things were getting drawn out.
However, this book was definitely a thought provoking experience and I’ll definitely be looking to read more from this author! Whilst I didn’t think this book was wholly for me, I just can’t help but admire the detail he puts into his books!
Thank you again to Pan Macmillian Australia for providing me with a copy of this book to review.
I was initially definitely impressed by this book, although the premise deals heavily with God and proving God’s ultimate existence is a topic I’m not exactly well versed in, I couldn’t help but admire Peter James’ deep and thought provoking writing! I feel like this is a topic I’ll think more about now that I’ve read this, and this story will definitely stick in my mind, along with its cast of curious characters, all of whom had an array of page time.
I mean, even the beginning of this book was memorable, meeting a magician who we are not exactly given a back story of until a pivotal point in the story, which totally threw me!
Peter James, you brilliant man.
No but in all earnest, what I loved most in this book was how all of these characters were weaved together, how Ross (our main character and who we predominantly see the story from), manages to weave himself out of these nearly deadly but super risky situations, all whilst having to deal with personal losses and fractured relationships, I mean there were times when I really felt for him. I found myself questioning a lot of other character’s motives, as he was, and thinking throughout about this whole second coming of Jesus, wondering if it was actually going to happen and would Ross find the answers he was seeking?
Yet, where this one fell flat for me, was some of the scenes that focused on the greedy Televangelist, I mean his back story was interesting enough, but I thought his whole reasoning for seeking out Ross didn’t make a lot of sense, aside from his own greed. That, and I felt like he wasn’t particularly likeable, wanting to profit off an audience of people that thought he was an almighty creation and could help and heal them.
All throughout the book, I felt like this was leading up to something huge, and there were definitely some twists and turns aplenty! I found myself to be in awe of about 3/4 of this book, but by the end I was getting a bit frustrated with how things were getting drawn out.
However, this book was definitely a thought provoking experience and I’ll definitely be looking to read more from this author! Whilst I didn’t think this book was wholly for me, I just can’t help but admire the detail he puts into his books!
Thank you again to Pan Macmillian Australia for providing me with a copy of this book to review.
emmasbates98's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0