David Gibbins Crusader Gold

Crusader Gold

David Gibbins

Bantam, Sep 2007, $6.99

ISBN: 9780440243939

The International Maritime University controls the best archeology digs and funds its top guns like highly regarded archeologist Jack Howard with the best equipment and people money can buy. Funding is never an issue when IMU decides to support a dig.

A watery clue off of Istanbul enables Howard to believe he has located an ancient Hebrew relic, the Menorah of the Temple of Jerusalem taken IAW Josephus as part of the spoils of war by the Romans. The religious relic surfaced in Constantinople in the thirteenth century but during a Crusade vanished. Centuries have passed since the Menorah disappeared, but now Howard believes he can locate and retrieve it although he lacks some critical information. However, he is not entirely prepared for a Neo-Nazi group who has nefarious plans to use the ancient artifact as a symbolism to cause disruption and hatred in the Middle East; killing Howard and his team is a reasonable and valid part of their plan.

CRUSADER GOLD is a fun hyperspeed archaeological religious thriller that stars an Indiana Jones type hero and stereotypes the Nazi bad guys so much so they appear more like amusing caricatures with incredible connections than complex vicious adversaries. The story line is fast-paced as Howard follows the obscure trail using a medieval map and the water clue while classic ancient ruins go the way of imploding buildings. Still sub-genre fans will appreciate this entertaining Jones-like search for the ancient Hebrew Menorah.

Harriet Klausner