The Doomsday Prophecy by Scott Mariani

  BOOK THREE OF "BEN HOPE"

Well, I've read this book months ago but I haven't written the review til now. When I'm not in the mood... yeah, I'm really not doing it. Anyway, I'll write the reviews of all these books I've read since November.
I really love Ben Hope. He's this kind of character that's impossible not to fall for. And he always happens to be in danger or in a rush. That's the thing with main characters in thrillers - they're like real magnets for trouble literally.
In the third book of the series, Ben decides to finish his... let's say 'career' with kidnapping and ransom business of his. Instead of action, he chooses to complete his abandoned theological studies and maybe find some peace after some many years. Yeah, maybe some other lifetime of his. That 'reality' slips away the moment his professor and friend asks him to help find his missing daughter - a very promising young archaeologist Zoë Bradbury. However, Ben declines the offer because he's not in this anymore (yeah, he can lie to himself as much as he wants...). That's why he proposes the case to his former SAS mate Charlie Palmer. I was betting with myself when exactly Ben will step and take the case, it was a matter of time. Just according to plan, when Charlie runs into trouble on the Greek island of Corfu, Ben has no choice but join him to find out what might have happened to Zoë. And that's exactly when the action and race begin. Hey, don't' you think it would be so simple?
Ben realizes that Zoë’s most recent archaeological discovery of an artefact related to the book of Revelation is at the heart of her disappearance. Religion is always hitting a raw nerve. I remember The Da Vinci Code and if you got the right or more like the wrong topic you'll get the most unwanted attention. And you have to be damn good to prevent the upcoming disaster. And Ben is.
I was rather annoyed at Zoë because she's acting so childish by doing such stupid things. Having love affairs, spending a lot of money, caring not about anything but her... instead of fulfilling her even now a glamorous career. Besides, her actions were the reason for so much death... she has to be really, really guilty. The book is called The Doomsday Prophecy and Zoë was going to cause something beyond the imagination of her rather small selfish brain.
The investigation leads Ben to Savannah, Georgia then to the holy city of Jerusalem, and he soon discovers that it’s not just Zoë’s life on the line but those of millions if he doesn't act fast. It's really a pity such important places as Jerusalem can't be visited peacefully because of those stupid terrorists who are only narrow-minded idiots causing too much trouble. That's why I think I liked the part with the removal of certain religion, I see no good in it and it'll be better without it.
But political intrigue... man, that's the banalest historical fact. Every single ruler and war in history is for power. No exception. Yet those hell-bent for political gain will soon face the ultimate reckoning in Ben Hope and I don't think this variable was ever in the equation. Geez, and it's the most unpredictable one who can make everyone's life a living hell. That's what I love the most with Ben - he's a real badass and is perfect in his job.
The book is very exciting and there's a lot of tension as well. I like Scott Mariani's books and I'm already looking towards the next one.

The Mozart Conspiracy by Scott Mariani

  BOOK TWO OF "BEN HOPE"

  Absolutely in the spirit of the first book. Scott Mariani dives us in another death hunt where a secret society rules underhand and doesn't like... obstacles. That usually means an intruder or witness who must be taken care of(and we all know how this kind of people deal with "obstacles").
  There're at least three different covers! But I think this one is the best, it suits the series. I like the idea of the partly transparent background, it's light and nice. Besides, there'are different elements in the whole image as the running man, the eye, the cloaked figure. It makes sense and it looks good - what else can I want?
It looks like there's a new mystery for Ben Hope to solve but this time is the death of a close friend. Oliver Llewellyn has died in a very ridiculous incident back in January. Yet, neither detective Marcus Kinski nor Ben Hope thinks it's an incident at all.
I'm always impressed how the author combines the characteristics of this type of thrillers I've read and the reality at the same time. There's none of the almost fantasy stuff which I've read in some books, the subjects are pretty real and possible as well as the explanations. It may seem almost extraordinary and ancient but they're more like the conspiracy theories(well, I don't find it hard to believe them, why don't imagine that there exist some supernatural things, etc?).
  I've already read a book about another famous composer - Vivaldi. The book was called The Violinist of Venice by Alyssa Palombo and it was a historical romance. This one is more like a mystery and investigation about Mozart's death. And Oliver's death has much to do with it, too. I hardly ever find anything more amusing than a well-written crime to be uncovered.
  Am I the only one who thinks freemasons are too suspicious? I just can't believe they're so innocent. I've watched a reality of TLC and it was pretty real - a few teenagers were escaping the so-called freemasons because they're too isolated from the outside world as if everything was bad and they shouldn't allow anything in their closed society. So the teens wanted to live a normal life outside their underdeveloped small town in the US(yeah, it was in the USA). I can't believe how such narrow-minded people still exist in the 21st century! Well, it's not so hard to believe it, look at the Middle East - it's pretty real. I hate narrow-minded people because they're so absorbed in something so stupid. So, it was a little deviation from the topic but I just wanted to give reasons why I don't think this... group of people isn't as innocent at all and I trust some of the books I've read - they do have interfered in the political world, I don't think otherwise. So enough of Freemasons, that's a topic which annoys me a lot.
  I came to the conclusion that Ben isn't going to make some huge historical discovery as Atlantis or Excalibur, or something else. In fact, there's always some pretty rich and authoritative people who want power using something supposed to be unreal or mythic. Here Ben comes, the smart handsome badass who kicks the bad guys and has a pretty good sense of humour. And I like Scott Mariani's books, it's another type of thrillers and I find myself to like it pretty much.

  P.S. Highly recommended reading Ben Hope series.

  - Melly

The Alchemist's Secret by Scott Mariani

   BOOK ONE OF "BEN HOPE"

  After a whole month without reading a single book, I've decided to start reading on the bus (I use it twice a day which makes almost an hour spent wandering through the window.) So, it's something, after all, I may finish the books a little slower but I'll be reading (I was afraid the next time I'm reading a book would've been at Christmas holiday!) Last week when I came up with this statement, I opened my folder with ebooks and I'd already known I wanted to read a thriller and I settled on Ben Hope's series. And I don't regret at all.

  Wow, quite a nice cover, I like it. Some mist and mystery(there's even a rhyme!) and the running man - very appropriate.

  The Alchemist's Secret wasn't like anything I've read before. It's pretty different unusual. Ben Hope is an ex-SAS soldier which is so cool, I like professional warriors. He reminded me a bit of Eddie Chase (Nina Wilde & Eddie Chase series by Andy McDermott) due to his profession. They're both badass characters (my favourite!). The book also reminded me of Dan Brown's books since the main protagonist is a man yet Ben Hope's not a historian nor scientist, but he's doing very well with solving the riddles and mysteries. I like his appearance, he's blonde with blue eyes and I'm obsessed with this combination. How can't I like him even more?

  The Alchemist's Secret is some kind familiar and not at the same time. It may sound strange but that's how I felt it. This... secret(I'm not giving any spoilers) is quite different from what I've read before - it isn't an ancient artefact, I think it's more like... metaphysical maybe? I'm not or was not so familiar with alchemy, but I've read The Blackthorn Key by Kevin Sands and I know some stuff.

  One thing I didn't like a lot was the physical torture and I understood my thriller book with a serial killer looks like a child's book in comparison with Franko Bozza. I've read exactly this chapter on the bus stop and later this day went to a museum in Aberdeen which is actually a 17/18th-century prison and I was like - no, I'm not getting any further. After reading it I even felt nausea(it was too much for me).

  But the whole potential of the series is great and I can see how I'll be reading these books the next couple of weeks (but I'll try not to overdo it because I'll be fed up). I like the plot and the conception, it's very interesting and has this flavour of excitement I love the most in thrillers as well the funny side and the mysterious one. I may say I recommend this book and I'm already looking forward to the next one - in fact, can't wait to get into it (I'm only at the beginning).