Review & $20 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway: The Four Books of Etretat by Matt Chatelain

Original Title: The Four Books of Etretat
Series: The Caves of Etretat #2

Author: Matt Chatelain

Release Date: May 1st 2012
Genre: Thriller, Adventure

The Secret of Immortality Revealed.

In 'The Caves of Etretat', Canadian bookstore owner Paul Sirenne was thrust into a quest for answers in the town of Etretat, France, on the trail of a hundred year old mystery hidden in the pages of 'The Hollow Needle', by Maurice Leblanc. Together with Leblanc's great-granddaughter, Sirenne unearthed puzzles, codes and historical mysteries, exposing a secret war for control of a cave fortress in Etretat's chalk cliffs.

In Book Two, 'The Four Books of Etretat', Sirenne discovers the reason for the hidden war: the secret of immortality. The Abbey, a thousand-year old organization, dedicated to chasing the oldest immortal on earth, known as the Greyman, has given Sirenne control of the caves and its secrets, apparently preparing him for a confrontation with the Greyman. Unfortunately, the serial killer who killed Sirenne's father, Weissmuller, has discovered this knowledge before Sirenne. Now an immortal and constantly dogging Sirenne's steps, Weissmuller seems to be playing a game of his own.

'THE FOUR BOOKS OF ETRETAT' is the second in a four-book epic adventure following Paul Sirenne, an average man unknowingly manipulated into becoming the key in the final phase of a complex conspiracy spanning millennia. Inextricably woven into history, the series re-writes everything we know in a non-stop rollercoaster of a ride where nothing is ever as it seems.

The Saga Continues.

REVIEW

Before writing the review, I will have to admit that I haven't read the first book in this series, so I have to guess some things on my own to understand.

Paul, the protagonist of the novel, and his team is in on an adventure to locate a particular cave, which has been searched by many in vain, in history.  Even if someone manages to find the cave, they don't stay alive to tell its tale.  So, such a dangerous task is upon Paul and his team.  The caves are not seeked for decades because of anything materialistic..its the secret of immortality that draws the attention to the caves.  Naturally, the adventure becomes even more dangerous.

It has been very engaging, fast-paced, thrilling and mysterious from the start.  The constant puzzles only make it more fun.  I found myself taking a pen and paper and trying to solve some of the codes and well, you know what..I always got them right (I shall take a peek or two..or more..to the next paragraphs, if I don't know how to solve them ;-) ).

Some scenes are so thrilling, that I was clutching my Kindle so badly with my face, only inches away from it.  And to add to the emotions, there is some romance too.

There were too many characters in the book, and it was difficult to remember the names - but maybe, that was because I didn't read the first book.  I loved Paul's team though - funny, loyal and intelligent.  Well thought-out mystery and well-made characters!

Had fun.. I just regret not starting with the first book.

4.5 stars!

SERIES ORDER

1.  The Caves of Etretat

2.  The Four Book of Etretat

GIVEAWAY

Matt will be awarding a $20 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour as well as to the host whose post receives the most comments (excluding his or the host's) during the tour.

Just comment in this post to enter this giveaway.  Anonymous and Name/URL Comments SHOULD contain their email IDs in their comments.

Giveaway is INTERNATIONAL and ends July 13th!