Review: The Egyptian - Layton Green

Series: Dominic Grey #2

Genre: mystery/suspense

Pages: 327 (ebook)

Date Published: August 27th 2011

Source: For review

Review by Lis

At a mausoleum in Cairo’s most notorious cemetery, a mercenary receives a package containing a silver test tube suspended in hydraulic stasis. An investigative reporter tracking rogue biomedical companies is terrified by the appearance of a mummified man outside her Manhattan apartment. A Bulgarian scientist who dabbles in the occult makes a startling discovery in his underground laboratory.

These seemingly separate events collide when Dominic Grey and Viktor Radek, private investigators of cults, are hired by the CEO of an Egyptian biomedical firm to locate stolen research integral to the company’s new life extension product. However, after witnessing the slaughter of a team of scientists by the remnants of a dangerous cult thought long abandoned, Grey and Viktor turn from pursuers to pursued.

From the gleaming corridors of visionary laboratories to the cobblestone alleys of Eastern Europe to a lost oasis in the Sahara, Grey and Viktor must sift through science and myth to uncover the truth behind the Egyptian and his sinister biotech – before that truth kills them.

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*Squee* Remember how a while back I reviewed Layton Green’s The Summoner? Remember just how much I loved it and recommended you read this book too? Well a while back B. was contacted by the author to do a pre-release of the author’s latest book: The Egyptian. Let me tell you, I was one happy happy woman when she got me that request. Needless to say I got right down to reading, but the knights put me of from writing the review. So here I am with my notebook full of squee about this book. Let’s see if I can get you to squee right along with me.

To tell you the truth, this book is not a girly, squee, romantic kind of book. It’s quite the thoughtful and scary story, full of details of myths and history, occultism, background and world building, and a mystery to rival The DaVinci Code.

Remember Dominic Grey? In The Summoner he worked for the Diplomatic Service, but since then he started working for our other hero: Professor Viktor Radek, who specializes in religious phenomenology. Basically, he consults high ranking clients on dangerous, obscure cults. Grey is James Bond to Viktor’s Indiana Jones and together they make one heck of a team.

This time the mystery involves a mummy. Alright, I’m kidding. There is a mummy but the mystery goes much deeper than that. Initially Grey and Radek are hired by an Egyptian company to locate stole research on something oh so interesting – I’ll let you find that out for yourself – but it isn’t long before they run into a dangerous cult and things get real interesting real quick. You know how cults, religion and science make a very bad mix? Well you ain’t seen nothing yet!

Like in the first book there is a lot of information in this book. There is a lot of background on myth, history and the occult and cults (and the cult featured in this book actually made my skin crawl). The flow of information in this book is well balanced by both the story and the characters. Grey is just as interesting and rogue as in the first book and Radek is just as mysterious. While they are the main characters in this story, they are supported by a well-balanced cast. These characters are not just your average story characters. They are complex, interesting and mysterious. The author gives you just enough to keep you wondering as to what they role in the story really is. One character I found most interesting was Veronica.

The setting in The Egyptian is breathtaking. Layton knows how to write the characters’ surroundings in such a way that it almost feels as if you’re actually there. Just like in The Summoner this story takes you places: from Egypt to Eastern Europe. It’s nice to see a setting that doesn’t feature America predominantly.

The Egyptian is a rare gem that puts the DaVinci Code to shame. It’s a story that keeps you on the edge of your seat, makes you want to grab your teddy bear and hide under the covers just as it keeps you from putting it down because you want to know what happens next. I sure hope this author keeps writing!

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A quick Note from me regarding this weekend and a great deal. The Summoner (which is the first book) and this book, The Egyptian will be

On Sale for $.99 for The Release Weekend Only!

GuestReview: The Summoner - Layton Green

Series: The Dominic Grey Novels 1

Genre: Mystery, suspense

Pages: 332

Published: March 2011

Review by Lis

A United States diplomat disappears in front of hundreds of onlookers while attending a religious ceremony in the bushveld of Zimbabwe.

Dominic Grey, Diplomatic Security special agent, product of a violent childhood and a worn passport, is assigned to investigate. Aiding the investigation is Professor Viktor Radek, religious phenomenologist and expert on cults, and Nya Mashumba, the local government liaison. What Grey uncovers is a terrifying cult older than Western civilization, the harsh underbelly of a country in despair, a demagogic priest seemingly able to perform impossibilities, and the identity of the newest target. Himself.

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Oh my! That’s what I thought several times while reading this book! It was a surprise to learn that this book was self-published, because hot darn people, it’s good! Not that self-published books are bad, but they usually have editing issues and are badly spellchecked. None of that in The Summoner. It’s a well edited, well written, edge-of-your-seat, eye widening and mind blowing book. Yes, it’s just that good. Of course, now you want to know why, right? Well, keep on reading!

The novel is set in Zimbabwe and features Dominic Grey who is diplomat security for the ambassador to Zimbabwe. He is assigned to solve the mystery of a missing American diplomat, also the golf buddy for the ambassador. He is joined by Nya, a local Department of Foreign Ministry agent and Viktor an expert on cults and a religious phenomenologist. A what you ask? Wikipedia told me this: “The phenomenology of religion concerns the experiential aspect of religion, describing religious phenomena in terms consistent with the orientation of the worshippers.” What unfolds is a well-crafted mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat!

The story is interspersed with religious and occult facts and story to support the subject of the story. That worked well for me because it not only shows the author did his research, but also gives the story claim and makes it believable.

The characters are just as mysterious as the plot itself. They come with backgrounds, have motivation, are complex and there is a rare depth to them that you don’t often see. All of that without the author laying it all out there for you to read. The author gives you just enough tidbits to keep you guessing but enough that it makes the characters believable. The sexual tension between Dominic and Nya…hot damn people!

The story is mostly centered on Dominic, but there is enough of Nya and Viktor that they aren’t just the support cast. I found myself really like Dominic. He is the epitome of dark and mysterious that you so often see in detectives.

Let’s just say that this book surprised me a lot. The writing and style of writing is excellent. It’s not flat, there’s no circular narrative. Instead it’s paced just right and imaginative. The author paints a vivid picture of the characters’ surroundings and I almost found like I was right there with them!

So yes, this book sure deserves the praise it gets and it’s worth reading if you like a good mystery with even more mysterious characters. I even liked the cover! It suits the story. All in all I was very glad B. sent this book over! 

[1] Wikipedia phenomenology of religion: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phenomenology_of_religion