Indiana Jones and the Secret of the Sphinx by Max McCoy
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Book Reviews of Indiana Jones and the Secret of the Sphinx
Book Review: Bring back Rob MacGregor!!!!!!
Summary: 3 Stars
I've read all of the books by Max McCoy and I must say that they've all been worth about three stars each. This doesn't say very much when all of Rob macGregor's books were worth five stars each. I just thank God that Martin Caidin didn't last. What happened to Rob? We want him back!!!!!!!Book Review: Needs editor
Summary: 3 Stars
Not a bad rollicking story for Indy fans, but where were the editors that allowed constant references to "Pakistan" in a story set in 1934(!) and Joan of Ark(note spelling) among other things. Ouch!Book Review: Spoiler-free review; wish the book was spoiler-free, too
Summary: 2 Stars
Most important advice before you buy: you evidently have to read these novels in order. Whoda thunk? This was my first, and I did not thunk, and it revealed the death of some unknown, but apparently important, character in a previous installment. Whoops.
(Before I criticize, here's my full disclosure: I'm an Indiana Jones meganerd; I'm an adult; and genre fiction is primarily what I read -- that is, I'm no literature snob.)
I think anyone would agree that tension, excitement and spectacle are three things any Indiana Jones story needs to do right. There's one early scene that's successful at building excitement, but it's all downhill from there. The climax had begun and ended before I realized anything had even happened, and what it lacked in tension it did not make up for in dynamism. What should have been incredible set pieces were fulfilled tersely, workman-like, as if the author was meeting a quota.
On the more practical side of criticism, Max McCoy seriously needs to embrace the contraction. "You will," "did not," "I have," and so on don't make for exciting (or authentic) dialogue.
On the bright side, Indy does visit a couple of interesting, exotic locales. Unfortunately, they're wasted (one in boring, unimaginative execution, and the other in brevity).
I wouldn't recommend this book even to fellow die-hards, but I guess if you're a daydreamer it might help fuel your fantasies. If nothing else, it might challenge you to do better. (And you might be able to.)
Book Review: Secret of the Sphinx should stay a secret
Summary: 2 Stars
To say that I am disappointed with the "Secret of the Sphinx" is an understatement. As I made my way through the book I wondered if this was indeed the same author who gave us "Philospoher's Stone" and "Dinosaur Eggs". Indy's travels to India and Egypt were quite underdeveloped (especially when compared to his action-packed stay in China) resulting in a storyline that just did not "flow" naturally. Don't even get me started on that completely misplaced time-travel bit at the end... The book also presented a tired, older and less-spirited Indy (who apparently had never been married before (which is false)) which was a terrible departure from the adventurous, sometimes maladroit, professor we have come to know. It's a shame that McCoy's last installment was so poor - it reminded me a little of Caidin's attempts at the IJ series a few years ago. What ever happened to MacGregor anyway?Book Review: Give it up Max!!!!
Summary: 1 Stars
Holy jesus Max McCoy, where do I begin. I started out reading your original three Indy books several years ago, it was just awful awful drivel that wasn't worth killing those poor trees for. I refused to pick up another of your books but after all this time I thought hey maybe you could mature and write something worthy of print. So I picked up this book, Ooops I was wrong. Snap your pens and pencils in half and let a semi run over your typewrite your finished