Poor Nelson DeMille. He’s become so popular—soooo popular—that he can’t turn out books fast enough to satisfy his fan base. What’s an author to do when his agent and publisher pester him to speed things up? How about dig out a 40 year-old novel that did so-so first time out but is guaranteed to be a best seller this time around. Trouble is, DeMille attracts a sophisticated, well-read audience who knows when it’s been duped. DeMille’s The Quest follows the exploits of a newspaper trio risking their lives to land the story of a lifetime. After this, however, DeMille may be on a quest of his own, to recapture his loyal following.
For those who have never read a DeMille novel (a great DeMille novel) go to his page and start at the top. Gold Coast is terrific, but DeMille truly delights fans with John Corey, his wise cracking former NYPD Homicide detective and special agent for the Anti-Terrorist Task Force, who manages to outsmart his colleagues and terrorists alike. Each Corey outing features colorful characters, plentiful plot twists, and lots of Corey one-liners. Just when you are ready to crawl under the covers, Corey delivers a zinger that breaks the tension and takes the story to another level.
The main character in The Quest, Frank Purcell could be seen as John Corey before he became somewhat cynical and very funny. It’s September, 1974, in a war-torn Ethiopia and Purcell and his colleagues, journalist Henry Mercado, and Henry’s girlfriend/photographer, Vivian, are covering the civil strife, trying to remain observers and not get caught up in the violence. While refreshing themselves amid the ruins of a Roman bath, they encounter a dying priest who tells them a tale straight out of Indiana Jones: the chalice used by Christ at the Last Supper is being watched over by monks in a black monastery. The priest had been enlisted by the pope to bring the chalice back for safekeeping to the Vatican, but has been imprisoned for the last 40 years. Now dying, he implores Purcell, Mercado, and Vivian to continue his task. Vivian, most of all, buys into the idea that they have been chosen to find the chalice, no matter what dangers they may encounter.
Just like in Raiders of the Lost Ark, evil forces, in this case, a ruthless General Getachu, whose forces have already imprisoned the Emperor Haile Selassie, also want to possess the chalice and will stop at nothing, including killing and torturing anyone who gets in the way. Add to the excitement wandering bands of Gallas who like to castrate and cut up their enemies, and the stakes become extremely high. The three barely make it out of Ethiopia, retreating to the safety of Rome. By now, Purcell and Vivian are an item, Mercado not happy about losing his partner. Despite the high stakes involved in returning to Ethiopia, they are on a mission. They will risk everything to find the chalice.
In all fairness to DeMille, The Quest is a great tale. Those unfamiliar with the turmoil in Ethiopia during the 1970s, will learn much from this history lesson. DeMille is a master at upping the tension with each page turn. While some may see the quest for the Holy Grail as cliched, it’s a topic that never fails to engage the reader. Who hasn’t wondered if the cup still exists and, if so, where it resides? DeMills produces one theory that seems plausible.
Fans who have voted thumbs down on this DeMille novel, need a reality check. You wanted another DeMille novel, you got one. It may not be DeMille’s best, but it’s good enough. And the next John Corey thriller, hopefully, will follow soon.
The Quest
Nelson DeMille
Source:
http://www.womanaroundtown.com/sections/reading-around/nelson-demilles-the-quest-leaves-his-fans-searching-for-his-next-great-thriller
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