Clark's Bookshelf.

The Secret Crown

Chris Kuzneski

G. P. Putnam's Sons

375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014

www.penguin.com

9780399157455, $25.95, www.amazon.com

Historical fiction blended with thrilling characters will keep your attention from cover to cover. "The Secret Crown" by Chris Kuzneski is such an outstanding continuation of adventures by Jones and Payne who are master sleuths with panache for extreme violence.

Starting in 2002 with the first of a series of novels about the exploits of Payne and Jones, Chris Kuzneski's other books include "The Lost Throne," "Sign of the Cross," "Sword of God," and "The Plantation." He is an international bestselling author.

This pair is at home in Pittsburgh with seemingly, nothing pressing to do, when they are summoned by an old friend in Germany who reveals little to them when he wants them to join him. Knowing about him from their past encounters, they knew he would provide them excitement and profit! Jonathon Payne and David Jones are ex Special Forces operatives with many talents, which they utilize as they discover a long hidden stash of treasures buried in a remote location in the Bavarian Alps, Germany.

One of the outstanding features of this book is the authenticity of accurate historical references and the blending of the black swan, an emblem of the Swan King: King Ludwig II of Bavaria placed the emblem onto objects central to the theme of this thriller. History buffs will thoroughly enjoy the mastery employed by Kuzneski as he weaves a web of intrigue, which travels from place to place in Germany capturing the imaginations of Payne and Jones as they seek to discover more hidden treasure, the titular Secret Crown. In their quest, they confront a treacherous killer who will stop at nothing in his attempt to wrest it from them.

Of course, there is a damsel! What kind of thriller would there by without a damsel in distress who becomes a part of the scheme of things? Even with an action packed mystery, there is a certain blend of light hardheartedness making the pair of explorers real. In addition, there is a daring rescue scene where their talents stretch to the limit when they attempt to save their benefactor.

Seldom do readers have the opportunity to experience excellent visual writing like this. Chris Kuzneski delivers the optical experience on the written page like very few authors. You can envision the castles, Alps, and helicopters meld together bringing a collage of centuries past into the present! This delightful experience can easily script into a kaleidoscopic movie enjoyed by fans of Payne and Jones. There will be some vivid scenes of mayhem, but this is to be expected from an action packed thriller that deserves 5 stars. "The Secret Crown" is highly recommended along with the previous books in this series.

Heat Rises

Richard Castle

Hyperion Books

77 West 66th Street, New York, NY 10023 6298

www.hyperionbooks.com

9781401324438, $25.99, www.amazon.com

Reviewing books that are written by known authors, or authors who are newly entering the literary market, has been the theme of this column for some time. Many excellent books receive accolades attributed to authors for their creativity, imagination, character development, and just plain old good writing. However, "Heat Rises" by Richard Castle does not fit the mold of authorship. It is a fiction! The characters are fiction, the author is fiction, the plot is fiction, and the only thing real about this book is that it is hardcover, costs $25.99, and you can buy it!

The characters are book adaptations of the television show. There is a ploy on Richard Castle who named Jameson Rook in this book, and the female detective is Nikki Heat. If you follow the television series then you will know there are references to the book's characters as Richard Castle in the show is a writer and his books describe the exploits of Nikki Heat and the relationship with Rook.

Similarity between the book and the television show becomes murky since the lives of Heat and Rook are romantically entwined lovers. Adult scenes described in tasteful detail are still too steamy which would be out place in primetime!

Basically, "Heat Rises", is an exciting thriller. Flowing descriptions and characters who act and react to encounters with the bad guys keeps the reader moving through the pages. However, it was a slow start. At about 75 to 80 pages into the book the action finally picked up and moved along thereafter at breakneck speed. In fact, the beginning was quite boring until the author, whoever that may have been, got into the book. Once over that hurdle of dullness, the storyline was an adventure.

One of the outstanding features of the book was the use of bold print! When the author felt it was important to a particular paragraph, the lead in sentence was in bold type. Usually bold is for headings or a whole section. This was a nice touch. Another feature was the use of environmentally friendly text stock that the publisher said was certified as coming from the forests that are managed to ensure the protection of the people and wildlife dependent upon them.

If you are an avid reader of this column, you will know that there are very few books panned by Clark's Eye on Books. With this economy, we always face choices when making purchases. Taking the time to sit down and read a good book is one of those considerations plus the actual cost. This is a mediocre book, which would fall in the 2 star category. It is suggested you pass on this book and watch the television show instead!

Clark Isaacs

Reviewer