We are all too familiar with the formulae of these grail-type search novels and The Last Gospel by David Gibbins [ISBN 978 0 7553 4734 6] is no exception. Here are the newly-found artifacts/scraps of stuff hidden in secret places, codes and cryptic clues, dashing about all over the world AND being followed closely by baddies who are trying to stop them. The difference appears to be that Gibbins is an archaeologist and knows his stuff about excavations – though its just as fanciful as if he didn’t know-and folks who know their facts have to just shoehorn it into the text, which can be as artificial as it is tedious in places.
We are all too familiar with the formulae of these grail-type search novels and The Last Gospel by David Gibbins [ISBN 978 0 7553 4734 6] is no exception. Here are the newly-found artifacts/scraps of stuff hidden in secret places, codes and cryptic clues, dashing about all over the world AND being followed closely by baddies who are trying to stop them. The difference appears to be that Gibbins is an archaeologist and knows his stuff about excavations – though its just as fanciful as if he didn’t know-and folks who know their facts have to just shoehorn it into the text, which can be as artificial as it is tedious in places.
Claudius (who didn’t die when we thought he did) was in Herculaneum the night before Vesuvius blew together with Pliny. He had a scroll given to him by Jesus he wanted Pliny to keep for him. (Though in fact he had hidden it anyway). The villa was covered in ash and nothing discovered until Jack Howard and his chums found clues after an earthquake shifted stuff in the underground dig in Herculaneum. But someone wants the secret to remain hidden so Jack and friends are pursued all the way as they follow the dotted line to the secret.
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