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Fiction. Suspense. Thriller. Historical Fiction. HTML:�A winner . . . combines the pace and style of Brown�s Da Vinci Code and the densely plotted espionage of Daniel Silva�s Gabriel Allon novels.��The Florida Times-Union Atlanta judge Rachel Cutler loves her job and her kids, but her life takes a dark turn when her father dies under strange circumstances, leaving behind clues to a secret about one of the greatest treasures ever made by man. Forged of the exquisite gem, the Amber Room inexplicably disappeared sometime during World War II. Determined to solve its mysteries, Rachel takes off for Germany with her ex-husband, Paul, close behind. Before long, they�re in over their heads. Locked into a treacherous game with professional killers, Rachel and Paul find themselves on a collision course with the forces of greed, power, and history itself. Praise for The Amber Room �Compelling . . . adventure-filled . . . a fast-moving, globe-hopping tale.��San Francisco Chronicle �Magnificently engrossing . . . pure intrigue, pure fun.��Clive Cussler �Thrilling . . . fast-paced, highly entertaining.��Baton Rouge Advocate.… (more)
User reviews
A full-bodied adventure yarn well worth the time to read.
Greed, lust, treachery, and death are the basis of THE AMBER ROOM. It is the story of what she discovers, revolving around a group of nine very rich men who steal art treasures that have been previously stolen just for the ability to have them on display in their own mansions. Many, but not all the items, were stolen by Hitler and Goring as they looted museums and personal collections of their victims during the Nazi Invasion. The book details how some of the treasures were hidden near the end of the war.
During her trip, Rachel does some self-examination to try to figure out why her marriage failed.
The book is fast-paced and maintains the reader’s interest. There is a little repetition and a couple unlikely scenarios, e.g., when Rachel’s secretary tells a stranger where Rachel is going and when she is leaving. I don’t believe a judge’s secretary would ever be that open.
Rachel and Paul find a secret club who's members collect great art and are willing to do anything to hold on to their treasures.
This book had a wonderful premise but left something to be desired. It was a bit too long and at times too violent. The fascinating details surrounding the Amber Room, however, did make it an interesting read.
I found bits a little tiresome as there was too much description in places rather than
It is fast paced from the start and the Amber Room was portrayed brilliantly through some effective narrative. The plot surrounds Rachel and her ex-husband Paul. Rachel's father dies suspiciously and leaves behind a series of clues to a treasure called the Amber Room. Desperate to find out the truth she heads for Germany with her ex hot on her heels. They meet professional killers and devious art collectors on the adventure of their life.
A bit too neatly tied up at the end but still worth a read.
I enjoy reading mysteries, but have a hard time finding authors who can write passably well. Steve Berry's writing is definitely above average for authors in this genre. I also enjoy mysteries that weave in some history, little-known historical events, and/or artwork, and The Amber Room met these criteria. The characters in this book are fairly flat, but the interesting subject and twists and turns in the plot make up for the lack of good characterizations. Overall, an entertaining read.
In truth, I felt more than a bit dissappointed with the one dimentional characters; especially the two chronically stupid protagonists (a judge and a lawyer) who run off to Europe to investigate the missing amber on rather flimsy evidence. In Europe, they constantly jeopardize their safety just like a bunch of big-boobed blonds in a poorly crafted horror flick. There is no question that the facts about the amber room are far more interesting than Berry's fiction, despite the plug by Dan Brown.
This book was a way too "movie of the week" for me considering the historical gem that supports the premise - but then, I'm hard to please and maybe a bit harsh...
The Amber Room by Steve Berry is a wild, intriguing scavenger hunt through America and Europe. Judge Rachel Cutler’s father has what he believes are clues as to the location of the Amber Room. When he dies unexpectedly, the secrets he has kept are made known. Cutler doesn't believe for a moment that her father's death was due to natural causes, so she and her ex-husband, Paul, go to Germany in search of answers. Little do they know that they're not alone in their quest. Others seek to discover the whereabouts of the Amber Room, including two unscrupulous collectors who compete to find lost or stolen pieces of art.
This was a very action packed thriller and I enjoyed it quite a bit.
During WWII, the amber-panelled room in Catherine's Palace, just outside St. Petersburg, Russia was “stolen”. That is, the panels were stolen and they have yet to be found. This book follows Rachel and Paul as they try to find the Amber Room. Rachel's father was very interested in the
Audio: The narrator should be good, but for some reason, he just can't seem to hold my interest. He has a nice voice and does accents well, but for whatever reason, he just doesn't work for me (I have listened to a couple others he has narrated and I'm pretty sure I felt the same way). Unfortunately, because my interest was not being held, I missed a heck of a lot of the book. Because of that, I can't say I liked it. I was somewhat interested in Rachel and Paul, but other than that, it just wasn't enough to hold my interest. The extra half star mostly comes from the narrator's interview with the author after the book is finished.
It's really too bad because I've been to Catherine's Palace and have seen the Amber Room replica, so I really wanted to like this book. Speaking of that, I bought a small book while there that has photos (not allowed to take our own photos in the room) and the story behind the room... which I still need to read! Hopefully soon.