The reviews below were selected from the Amazon and Barnes & Noble websites.
5.0 out of 5 stars The Alkano Letters
The Alkano Letters was a highly enjoyable read. While Erin, her grandfather, along with six grad students try to unravel the mystery behind letters discovered in an archeological dig on the Island of Alkano, along with other letters found at other sites earlier, Craig and a team of mercenaries are hired to provide security at the site for the team members.
A theory of who authored the letters begins to unfold. If proven accurate, it would rock the foundations of Christianity. Unknown to Erin's grandfather, a group, with roots dating back two thousand years, has been intercepting e-mail correspondence between Erin's grandfather and CV, the man financing the operation.
Craig and Erin are immediately attracted to each other upon Craig's arrival on the island. Charged with protecting Erin and the team, he has his hands full when the group intercepting the correspondence decides the true meaning of the letters can never be made public. It's a race against time to prove the authenticity of the letters, where they were written, and release the information. After coming under attack, the team is forced to leave the island and seek safe harbor elsewhere while attempting to decipher the letters. Codes in the margins of the letters appear to hold the key to who authored them.
Unfortunately, for Erin, Craig and the grad students, the group after them is well connected and continues to stalk the team. The level of attacks increase and the threat is ever present as Craig attempts to use his experience as an ex-military major and ex-CIA agent to protect the woman he is falling in love with, not to mention all of the other team members. Just when Erin and the grad students believe they have everything they need to go public, all hell breaks loose.
This story made me think back to when I read the Da Vinci Code. This THE ALKANO LETTERS is the first in a three book series. After finishing reading it, I immediately began reading the next book in the series. I gave this first book five stars because the plot kept me interested, the story moved fast, and the characters are likeable.
4.0 out of 5 stars The Carthage Connection "The story of this treasure is two-thousand years old."
The archaeological backdrop is perhaps the best part of this mystery/treasure hunt. The reader will learn a bit about the ancient cities of Alexandria, Egypt; Ephesus, Turkey; and Carthage, Tunisia and their historical contexts, commerce and about a speculative connection via the Cult of Tanit.
Teicher tells us:
"It is a rather ancient Cult born in what has become the country of Tunisia. They count their founding to the ancient city of Carthage, almost three-thousand years ago. Tanit was the Carthaginian lunar goddess and also a mother goddess and symbol of fertility. She was the Patron of Carthage." (We note that a devotee of Tanit figures prominently in a Flaubert novel, too.) Aristotle found Carthaginian politics quite interesting, as does this book. It delves into modern geo-political intrigue, North African rivalries for possession of ancient scrolls, how ownership is established and even a rather tenuous connection to The Mossad.
A peek into the mechanics of an archaeological dig, the imagined inner circle of a terrorist organization, and the mind of "Chief Inspector Genco Aydin, of the Turkish Police" earn this book a solid four stars. Either Mr. Teicher has first-hand knowledge of the environs, or he has done extensive research. In either case, those with a predilection for antiquities will enjoy this book.
5.0 out of 5 stars Carved in Stone is another excellent story
This book follows the previous story, with the characters now in Peru. The author maintains a great level of suspense, mingled with occasions of clever humor and provides interesting flavors of the local settings. You will enjoy it.
4.0 out of 5 stars Solitude - An Amusing Read
Solitude is an engineered world designed to be a retirement home for the wealthy of the 25th Century. But, despite all the technology that made it possible, something is literally rotten to the core on this idyllic planet. And that’s because of a greedy, mega-rich industrialist who wants the place all to himself.
In part, at a high level, the book is a testament to human hubris, exposing what happens when evil injects itself into man’s quest for utopia. It’s also a story of clandestine operatives, androids, spoiled rich folks, tech turned to the Dark Side, desperate engineering feats, and a little romance.
While I found the theme to be somewhat limited in scope, I enjoyed the by-play between the agents and the gradual development of the mystery presented in the early chapters. Deliberately, I suppose, most of the residents weren’t very likeable, but that’s to be expected when one’s biggest concern is residing too far from the beach!
Recommended for folks who want something different from the usual SF fare.
5 .0 out of 5 stars The Yesterday Tree is a wonderful book
I loved this book and how incorporates genealogy. The author gives a reason why it has suddenly become so popular.
The story jumps back and forth from the two groups of people. One from the future and one from the past. I really became involving with wanting to know what happens to each group and normally would jump ahead to their chapters and read them but I read this on a kindle so no such luck there.
My only problem with this book is that it ends before answering all the questions. Not sure if there is a sequel.