2 Book Lovers Reviews

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Contemporary Adventure

I’ve had a fascination with archaeology and ancient history since I was a kid.  Yeah, I wanted to be Indiana Jones when I grew up…there’s nothing wrong with that.  But then I grew up and learned that, well, Indiana Jones is not exactly what archaeology is; it’s more digging in trenches and hoping to find thousand- year old trash than finding lost cities of gold.  That is the fun in reading a book by David Gibbins; the technology is now available to discover, recover (choose your word) all of the treasure that has been out of reach at the bottom of the ocean floor.  It’s fun to be that kid again who goes on an adventure to find the treasures of history.

Testament is the ninth book in the Jack Howard series.  When a series is approaching double digits, it can be intimidating if you haven’t read the previous books.  I always want to know if it can be read as a stand-alone.  Is there essential information that I need to know?  Will I be lost?  This is my second book by David Gibbins, and I can assure you, they can be read in any order.  The author has created a completely self-contained story.  The characters make passing references to past adventures, but nothing that will impact this story.

David Gibbins knows his stuff:  his history, archaeology, and his diving.  He pieces these all together to create an incredible adventure for his readers.  In this regard, he is second to none.

Jack Howard is not my favorite type of protagonist.  Don’t get me wrong, he is complex and well developed.  He is just a little too “Superman” for me.  He is a kind of James Bond meets Ghandi.  Personally, I like my protagonists with a bit more baggage; their own demons to struggle with, but hey, that’s just me.

In the end, David Gibbins wrote an interesting, superbly researched story.  I learned some new facts/theories on Carthaginian navigators and World War II.  I would have liked a bit more on the entertainment side.  Testament wasn’t my first Jack Howard story, and it will not be my last.

*4 Stars

Testament 

By David Gibbins

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