The Bones of Odin

Matt Drake, Book 1

De: David Leadbeater

Narrado por: Nigel Patterson

Did ancient Gods like Odin and Zeus and Thor once really exist?

The time has come for a grand adventure filled with high excitement and explosive action.

Matt Drake, a retired SAS officer, must unravel a mystery older than time in his search for the Nine Pieces of Odin. Though scattered aeons ago, it is believed that once the Pieces are reunited they will show the way to the Tomb of the Gods - the greatest archaeological find of all time.

From a rocket attack on the Louvre to a battle in a Swedish cavern, from a daring helicopter raid on New York's National History Museum to an assault on a gangsters mansion in Hawaii, Matt Drake must find the world's oldest treasure in one of the wildest places on earth, searching for the very bones of the gods with the spoils of victory being the entire world.

©2012 David Leadbeater (P)2014 David Leadbeater

How to rate this?

As I sit here writing a review I have not yet rated it because I just don't know how. I am sure that the story is worth 4 stars (I think Mr. Leadbetter has a little more growing to do as an author) and I liked the narrator even though I found his pronunciation of some words distracting. Not his fault, I am not English. So an easy 4 there. So why not an overall 4? Sorry but that would constitute a spoiler so I'm not going to tell you any more. But it's why the overall is a 3!!!

Pleasantly Surprised.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I didn't have the highest expectations going into this book but as I said I was pleasantly surprised.I was quickly drawn into a really fun and fast paced story. All the characters were very like able and I was left quite satisfied with the ending. I really hope audible produces the rest of Leadbeater's series.

What does Nigel Patterson bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He did amazing work with character accents. That being said his female New Yorker could use a little work, haha.

Great Opener for a Series

Leadbeater creates interesting and fun characters. I especially like the integrity of his heroes and the importance friendship plays in their lives.

If you like his newer series The Relic Hunters, you will probably enjoy this series as much or more.

If you can, get the Audible version as it adds much to the reading experience.

The bones of odin

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Bones of Odin?

A thrilling story told in a fast paced style with action on almost every page. A great audio book for those who like action, mystery, adventure, etc. Lots of fun to listen to.

In Character

What other book might you compare The Bones of Odin to and why?

Dirk Pitt series by Clive Cussler is the obvious comparison. Hero with Government help. A not so weak female companion and mythical basis for storyline.

Which scene was your favorite?

The unveiling of the tombs was interesting.

Any additional comments?

I would have been interested in the Author finishing his premises regarding the Gods rather than leaving them up to the reader/listener.

Non-stop Action from start to end! Well acted!

The Bones of Odin: Matt Drake, Book 1 by David Leadbeater. Narrated by Nigel Patterson. I just have to say right out of the gate I was hooked. This book is right up my genre alley! Knew when I was given the opportunity to listen to this for an honest review that this book would affect me. Now it will have me sizing other books of this type against others. I was so enthralled with the action, the humor and a bit of romance. I don’t know why some readers seem to find that there was so many pot holes throughout the book. THIS IS A FANTASY READERS! They need to listen to the book for the context that it was written in. (Did purchase the book to read it as well and Whispersync) Found this is in the style of Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child using an artifact or myth as the base of the book.

Matt Drake a retired SAS officer just trying to have a near normal life. Working as a photographer for the fashion industry. His roommate Ben, a computer geek and assistant is on a photo shot. Models under the staging of Odin’s shield. Then he hears the thunk, thunk of the blades. Some kind of publicity stunt was Matt’s first thoughts. When their world is turned upside down when helicopters come in and start to land in the middle of his photo shot. Not just any helicopters but, Apaches. Soldiers dropping down from them. Guns. First what Matt thought was a promo turns out to be as real as the Germans that were coming off of them.

Let me back up first! Prologue – a myth behind the story. Odin is a god from the Viking era. (I was hook from this point) and the search for the 9 parts that are thrown to all points of the wind. Then the author proceeds throughout more time periods surrounding the myth of the pieces of Odin. Then the book starts bringing in more gods throughout out history. I just love this stuff. Blend of history with myth.

Now returning back to the body of the book. So now Matt wants to know what is going on. At a bistro he discusses this with his roomie Ben. Being overheard pulls in the next character of the book, Kennedy Moore, NYC cop that is on a force leave. She interrupts the conversation between the men. Asking questions that only a cop would do. Hesitant on Matt’s part. Wondering if she is someone that was planted. Questioning her and before she and even Matt realizes is now a part of the team. Wait, the last thing Matt wants is to be drawn into anything that he so wanted to leave behind. His former military life. Or is this something that he never left? Calling and confirming with his contact at the SAS slowly, they get him involved. No book spoilers here! Once you start to listen you will not want to pause it for a moment.

This story is very fast pace with an evil doer that wants all nine pieces of Odin. That “I want to rule the world scenario”.

What I love about David Leadbeater is he throws in the humor with the Ben’s character throughout the book. His parents always calling him at the wrong time. Gun fight, crawling thru caverns, and planes. Yet, this character does show other emotions showing him as a real person. Matt Drake and Kennedy are as driven as their past/present careers would have them. Yet, they find themselves re-evaluating those careers. About their slow moving attraction to each other or is it just a close building friendship.

What I would have love to seen was a timeline throughout the story. I think it was needed it. It was a driven story and the pace was quick throughout. Had that in one book I listened to and the real time at the beginning of each chapter made it like the show 24 hours? The additional cast of characters all seem to have some connection to Matt or Kennedy. It now has me wanting to listen to any of the other books that he has written. Now in my wish list.

The narrator Nigel Patterson did an excellent job acting out the parts of the book. Really after years of listening to audio calling the narrators is not really the correct term in my words. It is not like a documentary. It is a book with a cast of characters that relies on acting them out. That is exactly what Nigel did. A bit week on the female voices. Most men do and it is understandable. However, I did like Kennedy’s voice reminded me of my New Yorker friend. Real Manhattan voice. Well done! Mr. Leadbeater and Mr. Patterson!

This audio book was provided to me by the narrator Nigel Patterson for an honest review. All the views above are strictly mine and in no way was I influenced by others. I encourage you to leave a comment if you found this review helpful or not.

Don't mess with Matt Drake

I received this audiobook free of charge in exchange for an unbiased review

I have read all the Matt Drake books and seen the character development and interactions grow. This is a good fast paced adventure and the series only gets better.

This is the first audiobook by Nigel Patterson that I have listened to, he brings a new dimension to the series. He is easy to listen to and understand, creating different accents is hard but he does it well. I am looking forward to the next one.

High octane stupidity

Upon starting this book I was hoping for something along the lines of Matthew Reilly's "Seven Ancient Wonders". It sounded very similar - star SAS (although one is Australian SAS one is British) soldier investigates an ancient mystery while dealing with evil military opponents. Is it unfair to compare this to a book by the master of the genre? Probably. But the overarching story is too similar not to. And Matthew Reilly quality this is not.

I didn't really buy many of the characters deciding to get involved. Drake is wrong place at the wrong time but he happens to be the guy with the skills - and he knows one of the baddies too, just to cap it off. There are reasons given, but nothing rings true. Then hes joined by a NYC cop (who is in Paris at the time) who doesn't question joining some random guy (who doesn't actually explain to her who he is or how he got involved in this mess) gallivanting from Europe to the us and back. Reasons are given and they don't ring true.

Many of the action set pieces are not given their due. In an effort to keep the book fast paced and full of lots of locations and set pieces we breeze past them all quickly. All the detail is removed so that we can see 'the next cool thing'. Yet all it does is serve to make all the 'cool things' boring. Others are non-nonsensical. The team wander around searching an area for ages then find out that the area is booby trapped and right after then find out it goes off. Why hadn't it gone off earlier when they were disturbing the area? who knows.

The book lacks any real foreboding. We get talk of Ragnarok but it never feels like a true danger looming. there are some rough deadlines "we know this place will be next" (how we know? don't ask that! we just know!) but there is no countdown. No "Ragnarok will happen at time x if we don't stop it". Its just "when all the pieces are together and at a certain place" but that could happen any time. In fact one guy says something along the lines of "I've been doing this for 20 years". He had no urgency to him. Why should we?

And then the villains... if one sat there and twirled a mustache during the book i would not have been surprised.

So, how was the narrator? Ever seen an awful movie with a good actor and you think "well, they did the best they could with that script?" that applies here. Patterson was enjoyable to listen to and was enough to keep me listening despite everything mentioned above. He provides a variety of accents (American, British, German and others), generally all pretty good. Although maybe the German one added to the mustache twirling feel. female voices are okay, not great. I think the combination of doing a foreign accent and female sounding was too much so the main female sounds like an American man.

There was a little flourish that I liked that I think is worth mentioning. At one point someone hears people around the room whispering about them. In the book you would likely get one thing said after another. Patterson slightly overlays each one. Not so much that you can't understand what is said but enough that it gives the clear impression of lots of people talking at ones as the person focuses from one to the next. I thought it was a clever thing to do.

James Bond without the Gadgets and Smugness

If you could sum up The Bones of Odin in three words, what would they be?

Action Packed Awesomeness

What other book might you compare The Bones of Odin to and why?

I havent read/listened to another book in this genre, so I can't compare it. But it is action packed, lots of mythology and a few twists.

What does Nigel Patterson bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He brings the characters warmth, depth and a bit of quirk

Action packed in the most literal sense.

Any additional comments?

I really liked the Norse mythology in this book. It was quite a change of pace. However, I felt there was a bit too much action. Normally, that wouldn't be a bad thing, but there was no breathing room. By the time you started to settle down and breathe the bad guys would swing in and start shooting again.

I listened to the audio version of this book and I enjoyed listening to Nigel Patterson. I'm a sucker for a British accent and it really seemed to work for this story.

Action packed in the most literal sense.

**I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.**