Helpful Score: 4
great read...lots of mystery surrounding a discovered Michelangelo sketch, looted art from WW2, and the Vatican...would recommend it!
-Mirah W.
-Mirah W.
Helpful Score: 4
From Amazon.com's Reviews:
Life may imitate art...but death follows it.
While studying art history at New York University, brilliant and beautiful Finn Ryan makes a startling discovery: a Michelangelo drawing of a dissected corpse-supposedly from the artist's near-mythical notebook. But that very night, someone breaks into her apartment-murdering her boyfriend and stealing the sketches she made of the drawing. Fleeing for her life, Finn heads to the address her mother had given her for emergencies, where she finds the enigmatic antiquarian book dealer, Michael Valentine. Together, they embark on a desperate race through the city-and through the pages of history itself-to expose an electrifying secret from the final days of World War II-a secret that lies in the dark labyrinthine heart of the Vatican.
Mistry's Opinion: Not a favorite. It jumped around too much for me. I would have liked to see the heroine explored more. She had potential to be a great character, but it didn't get there for me. Worth a read if you like a mystery/thriller.
Life may imitate art...but death follows it.
While studying art history at New York University, brilliant and beautiful Finn Ryan makes a startling discovery: a Michelangelo drawing of a dissected corpse-supposedly from the artist's near-mythical notebook. But that very night, someone breaks into her apartment-murdering her boyfriend and stealing the sketches she made of the drawing. Fleeing for her life, Finn heads to the address her mother had given her for emergencies, where she finds the enigmatic antiquarian book dealer, Michael Valentine. Together, they embark on a desperate race through the city-and through the pages of history itself-to expose an electrifying secret from the final days of World War II-a secret that lies in the dark labyrinthine heart of the Vatican.
Mistry's Opinion: Not a favorite. It jumped around too much for me. I would have liked to see the heroine explored more. She had potential to be a great character, but it didn't get there for me. Worth a read if you like a mystery/thriller.
Helpful Score: 2
Loved it! Could barely put it down. If you love "Dan Brown" type books, you will love this one!
Helpful Score: 2
If the author could quit obsessing about one of the main characters bodies, we might actually have a decent story. He has her pose nude and jump into bed with a man she met a few hours before "even though she knows it's not going anywhere". Any woman who actually does this does not behave in the manner this woman does. She goes from being independent and surviving on her own in NY to being totally dependent on this man she doesn't know. Amazing! Are we actually supposed to believe this? He describes her every bodily feature, but we are left wondering if she has a brain.
The other main character seems underdeveloped. He has no past, no future ambitions. You're not sure if he is anything other than an intelligent slug until our author decides to turn him into an action hero. Amazing!
I wouldn't read another of his books. I can usually finish this type of book in a few hours.... this one took me 4 days. I kept waiting for it to get better. I can not say who is the bigger fool, me or the person who wrote this book.
The other main character seems underdeveloped. He has no past, no future ambitions. You're not sure if he is anything other than an intelligent slug until our author decides to turn him into an action hero. Amazing!
I wouldn't read another of his books. I can usually finish this type of book in a few hours.... this one took me 4 days. I kept waiting for it to get better. I can not say who is the bigger fool, me or the person who wrote this book.
Helpful Score: 2
Fans of the DaVinci Code should check out this book in the same vein.
Sabrina J. (RavenousReader) reviewed Michelangelo's Notebook (Finn Ryan, Bk 1) on + 7 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Interesting concept but a bit slow going. However, my husband thought it was a great book!
Helpful Score: 1
Good summer read!
Helpful Score: 1
The best part of the book was the back cover. The story started out good but it just seemed to get worse and worse. I love the Da Vince Code (although Angels and Demons was way better) and the Last Templar by Raymond Khoury was fantastic. This book just didn't live up the back cover for me.
Rhonda
Rhonda
Christopher Hyde pen name
Akin to the Da Vinci Code, but fewer fantastical plot elements. Well written. Be sure to read the afterward, also. I learn something new every day!
While studying art history at New York University, brilliant and beautiful Finn Ryan makes a startling discovery: a Michelangelo drawing of a dissected corpse-supposedly from the artist's near-mythical notebook.
But that very night, someone breaks into her apartment-murdering her boyfriend and stealing the sketches she made of the drawing. Fleeing for her life, Finn heads to the address her mother had given her for emergencies, where she finds the enigmatic antiquarian book dealer, Michael Valentine. Together, they embark on a desperate race through the city-and through the pages of history itself-to expose an electrifying secret from the final days of World War II-a secret that lies in the dark labyrinthine heart of the Vatican.
While studying art history at New York University, brilliant and beautiful Finn Ryan makes a startling discovery: a Michelangelo drawing of a dissected corpse-supposedly from the artist's near-mythical notebook.
But that very night, someone breaks into her apartment-murdering her boyfriend and stealing the sketches she made of the drawing. Fleeing for her life, Finn heads to the address her mother had given her for emergencies, where she finds the enigmatic antiquarian book dealer, Michael Valentine. Together, they embark on a desperate race through the city-and through the pages of history itself-to expose an electrifying secret from the final days of World War II-a secret that lies in the dark labyrinthine heart of the Vatican.
Valesca L. (FitMommyOf2) reviewed Michelangelo's Notebook (Finn Ryan, Bk 1) on + 85 more book reviews
To be honest, I couldn't even finish the book! I wanted to like the book and kept reading, but for some reason it didn't do it for me. (I usually read books with that amount of pages within 2 days -this one I've read on and off in over 1 week and still didn't finish it.)
Yes, I know, it's not fair to compare it to Dan Brown's book, and yet I was hoping it would somehow would be along the same lines... It had all the 'ingredients' for being a great book, but for me the result just didn't work. I could have read better books in that time.
Yes, I know, it's not fair to compare it to Dan Brown's book, and yet I was hoping it would somehow would be along the same lines... It had all the 'ingredients' for being a great book, but for me the result just didn't work. I could have read better books in that time.
very good read
If you like Dan Brown's Angels & Deamnons you will love this. I just wish Paul had some more out there, I haven't looked yet, but I will be looking for more by this author!
I loved this book - great read, really interesting.
Very disappointing. the title is deceptive, the heroine annoying, the hero(?) cartoonish, and the ending is the reason for the 'very disappointing' remark.
First of Paul Christopher's I have read. I enjoyed it very much.
This thriller combines my art interest and my interest in World War II. The secrets uncovered and the fast pace definitely make this a page turner.
Life may imitate art...but death follows it. While studying art history at New York University, brilliant and beautiful Finn Ryan makes a startling discovery: a Michelangelo drawing of a dissected corpse-supposedly from the artist's near-mythical notebook. But that very night, someone breaks into her apartment-murdering her boyfriend and stealing the sketches she made of the drawing. Fleeing for her life, Finn heads to the address her mother had given her for emergencies, where she finds the enigmatic antiquarian book dealer, Michael Valentine. Together, they embark on a desperate race through the city-and through the pages of history itself-to expose an electrifying secret from the final days of World War II-a secret that lies in the dark labyrinthine heart of the Vatican.
short version of davinci code
A perfect-paced intriguing story about the art world and art theft with a surprise ending. This was one of those bookks I had trouble putting down. I recommend it as an absorbing read with twists and turns that keep one's attention.
It was a hard read, but the story line is great. It is worth the read.
Life may imitate art...but death follows it.
While studying art history at New York University, brilliant and beautiful Finn Ryan makes a startling discovery: a Michelangelo drawing of a dissected corpse-supposedly from the artist's near-mythical notebook. But that very night, someone breaks into her apartment-murdering her boyfriend and stealing the sketches she made of the drawing. Fleeing for her life, Finn heads to the address her mother had given her for emergencies, where she finds the enigmatic antiquarian book dealer, Michael Valentine. Together, they embark on a desperate race through the city-and through the pages of history itself-to expose an electrifying secret from the final days of World War II-a secret that lies in the dark labyrinthine heart of the Vatican.
AMAZON.COM BOOK DESCRIPTION
While studying art history at New York University, brilliant and beautiful Finn Ryan makes a startling discovery: a Michelangelo drawing of a dissected corpse-supposedly from the artist's near-mythical notebook. But that very night, someone breaks into her apartment-murdering her boyfriend and stealing the sketches she made of the drawing. Fleeing for her life, Finn heads to the address her mother had given her for emergencies, where she finds the enigmatic antiquarian book dealer, Michael Valentine. Together, they embark on a desperate race through the city-and through the pages of history itself-to expose an electrifying secret from the final days of World War II-a secret that lies in the dark labyrinthine heart of the Vatican.
AMAZON.COM BOOK DESCRIPTION
Life may imitate art...but death follows it.
While studying art history at New York University, brilliant and beautiful Finn Ryan makes a startling discovery: a Michelangelo drawing of a dissected corpse-supposedly from the artist's near-mythical notebook. But that very night, someone breaks into her apartment-murdering her boyfriend and stealing the sketches she made of the drawing. Fleeing for her life, Finn heads to the address her mother had given her for emergencies, where she finds the enigmatic antiquarian book dealer, Michael Valentine. Together, they embark on a desperate race through the city-and through the pages of history itself-to expose an electrifying secret from the final days of World War II-a secret that lies in the dark labyrinthine heart of the Vatican.
While studying art history at New York University, brilliant and beautiful Finn Ryan makes a startling discovery: a Michelangelo drawing of a dissected corpse-supposedly from the artist's near-mythical notebook. But that very night, someone breaks into her apartment-murdering her boyfriend and stealing the sketches she made of the drawing. Fleeing for her life, Finn heads to the address her mother had given her for emergencies, where she finds the enigmatic antiquarian book dealer, Michael Valentine. Together, they embark on a desperate race through the city-and through the pages of history itself-to expose an electrifying secret from the final days of World War II-a secret that lies in the dark labyrinthine heart of the Vatican.
