Sun 1 Jun 2008
Reviewed by Walter Albert: PAUL CHRISTOPHER – Rembrandt’s Ghost.
Posted by Steve under Authors , Reviews[6] Comments
PAUL CHRISTOPHER – Rembrandt’s Ghost.
Signet, paperback original, 2007.
It’s been a while since I’ve read a really good adventure novel, with a search for a fabulous treasure, an island that’s concealed in uncharted seas, and with “ruthless adversaries” pursuing an archaeologist and her newly acquired relative and co-heir to the ends of the earth (i.e., those uncharted waters in the South Pacific).
I suspect that fans of the TV series Lost might enjoy this book, but so would pixilated armchair adventurers eager to find a legendary island like the one in King Kong, and anyone who finds the novels of James Rollins and Clive Cussler to be guilty pleasures and is longing for something a bit more grounded in believable characters and without the fate of civilization hanging in the balance.
This is number three in a series that began with Michelangelo’s Notebook and The Lucifer Gospel, and is promised to continue in 2008 with The Cortez Mask.
I’ve since read The Lucifer Gospel (Onyx, 2006), which is perhaps even nuttier, with a lost gospel, fallen angels, and Nazi fanatics (yes, I know that’s a redundant expression), culminating in a grand chase and flight sequence in a cavernous maze in a remote area of Illinois where the last Keeper of the Lucifer Gospel is sequestered with his incalculably precious manuscript.
June 6th, 2008 at 11:48 pm
[…] more hard-science series than the more romantic adventure series by Paul Christopher, reviewed here not long […]
August 23rd, 2009 at 7:02 pm
I can’t find any other reference to “The Cortez Mask”, by Paul Christopher. Was it published?
Thank You
Chris
August 23rd, 2009 at 8:21 pm
I’ve found a reference online that says that the paperback edition of Rembrandt’s Ghost includes an excerpt at the end from “The Cortez Mask.” No, it doesn’t appear that a book of that title ever came out, but there is a book in the series entitled The Aztec Heresy that was published in 2008. I’ll bet there was a name change and that’s the one that Walter was referring to.
— Steve
April 15th, 2012 at 10:12 am
Like others, I found a reference to a forthcoming novel entitled ‘The Cortez Mask’ in a paperback edition of ‘Rembrandt’s Ghost’, which led me to this website.
I only recently discovered the author’s Templar novels, which led to these Finn Ryan novels… which then led to a wealth of yet unread novels authored by Christopher Hyde and A J Holt.
I truly enjoy the skillful manner in which this author incorporates a variety of historical facts and opinions into his stories. I applaud his unique usage of languages. I suspect I will eventually read everything he has published.
Is there a forum, or blog, or other website where a fan might converse with this author?
– Kooch
April 15th, 2012 at 10:45 am
Kooch
Sorry to say, I can’t find any online presence for Christopher / Hyde / Hoyt at all, whether website, blog or any other forum.
September 23rd, 2022 at 7:29 am
The Cortez Mask was name changed and published as the Aztec Heresy. Just read the excerpt at end of Rembrandts Ghost and the beginning of Aztec Heresy and they are same.