The Malta Escape

Payne & Jones Series, Book 9

By: Chris Kuzneski

Narrated by: David Colacci

An ancient treasure

While visiting the scenic country of Malta, Jonathon Payne and David Jones bump into an old friend, who has come to the islands to search for a long-lost treasure of the Knights Hospitallers, an organization that dates back to the First Crusade in 1099 AD.

A vengeful criminal

When Ivan Volkov - the ruthless leader of a Russian crime syndicate - is betrayed, he is willing to do anything to get retribution. Protected by a team of hackers and henchmen, he travels to the Mediterranean, where he leaves a trail of bodies in his wake.

A final showdown

Before returning home, Volkov learns about the ancient hoard, one with possible ties to Paul I and the Russian Empire. With pride and riches on the line, he focuses his wrath on the only people who stand in his way, but Payne and Jones refuse to back down as they try to locate one of the most important treasures of antiquity, while battling one of the world's most dangerous criminals in a deadly fight to the finish.

Filled with action, adventure, history, suspense, and side-splitting humor, The Malta Escape is Chris Kuzneski at his very best.

©2018 Chris Kuzneski, Inc. (P)2019 Tantor

So wanted to like it

I've enjoyed so much of Chris Kuzneski's work, but there was just something about this book that I couldn't really get into. I kinda got lost in all the bakground information and even some of the characters got a bit blurry at times. I like Payne and Jones so much but they just didn't seem like "them." There were moments I really enjoyed the book, and others I had to struggle to get through. I did finish it and was glad I did. I will look forward to Chris' next book as I always do with my favorite authors.

Superb story... lackluster performance

If you’re a fan of the series, this book may be the best yet, but the performance of the narrator is nothing like the other audio books. Still a hugely entertaining book! I’d love to see this as a movie!

a lot of filler

I typically enjoy the amount of back and forth between the characters, but this time it was too much almost 60% of the book was just back and forth banter. I also did not enjoy the new narrator.

Can't go wrong with Payne and Jones!

I've read all fo the Kuzneski books I can get my hands on, and am used to Dick Hill as the narrater, so when I turned this one on and heard Colacci, I was disappointed, but only briefly. As Payne and Jones came to life, the same trademark banter was there that I loved so much. While this was not the most breath-taking adventure they have taken me on, it is was still as enjoyable as the rest. Occasionally a writer creates characters that just come alive and become part of your world. This is what Kuzneski has done with the Payne and Jones series. I can't wait for the next adventure I can share with them.

Story is good but reading is flat.

This narrator reads very flat leaving the book without much excitement. The actual store is not bad but the reading makes it boring.