The Vault

A Novel

By: Boyd Morrison

Narrated by: Boyd Gaines

Length: 12 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's Summary

Tyler Locke's routine commute on a Washington State ferry is interrupted by a chilling anonymous call claiming that his father has been kidnapped and that a truck bomb is set to detonate on board in twenty minutes. When Tyler, a former army combat engineer, reaches the bomb on the boat's car deck, he's stunned to find classical languages expert Stacy Benedict waiting for him. She's received the same threat and her sister has also been taken. In order to disarm the bomb, they must work together to solve an engineering puzzle - a puzzle written in ancient Greek. Preventing the explosion is only the first step. They soon learn the entire setup is a test created by a ruthless criminal who forces them to go on a seemingly impossible mission: uncover the legendary lost riches of King Midas.

Tyler and Stacy have just five days to track down the gold. Armed with an ancient manuscript penned by brilliant Greek inventor Archimedes, they begin a quest to unravel a 2,000-year-old mystery whose answer is hidden within the workings of a cryptic artifact: the Antikythera mechanism, a device designed by Archimedes himself.

To save their loved ones and prevent their captors from recovering a treasure that will finance unspeakable devastation, Tyler and Stacy head to Italy, Germany, Greece, and finally the streets of New York City in a race against the clock to find the truth behind the story of King Midas.

©2011 Simon & Schuster (P)2011 Boyd Morrison

Fun escape-fiction

If you enjoy fun, popcorn-ready thrillers, then Boyd Morrison is writing for you. I think that you will get a kick out of "The Vault," while even learning a bit about the third-century-B.C. genius, Archimedes, and the (probably) mythical King Midas — he of the "golden touch." Morrison writes successful thrillers, because he gives us really bad bad-guys, whom we can hate unconditionally, while his heroines and heros have strengths, weaknesses, flaws, and vulnerabilities ... like us! In the case of "The Vault," Morrison gives us a despicable villain aptly named Jordan Orr (get it?), who lusts after the Midas touch. Morrison also provides us with a formulaic -- but, none-the-less enjoyable -- plot, where the reluctant hero and heroine (falling in love along the way, of course) must chase all over the western world, searching for the crypt of King Midas, in order to save their loved-ones from the clutches of the evil Jordan Orr. Satisfyingly, good triumphs over evil in the end; and the bad guys get their just deserts, while the good guys live happily ever after. The narrator, Boyd Gaines, does an adequate -- if not spectacular -- job of reading "The Vault." He has a nice voice, while lacking the range of voices and accents needed for a story like "The Vault;" but he reads slowly and enunciates clearly. I would have preferred that he worked up a little more thespian excitement during the edge-of-your-seat nail-biting parts of the story; but the plot, itself, made up the difference. In summation, I recommend "The Vault" to all thriller-lovers; and I will probably listen to it again sometime.

Another great adventure by Morrison

What did you like best about this story?

I like the way Morrison uses myths as the bases for his stories

Any additional comments?

Morrison always uses historical facts or myths in his book such as Noah's Ark and the Midas Touch.

He doesn't use the standards like Atlantis Which I like because how many times and way can you find Atlantis.

Thrilling

This book is another fast paced, action filled Tyler Locke adventure. It has it all! Tyler is such a great character and so modest, I thoroughly enjoyed this book now onto the next one in the series. The narrator Boyd Gaines does a fantastic job with it.

The Midas Touch

Where does The Vault rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

The story line is not quite as good as The Ark, but is very exciting.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Tyler Locke, he has a relationship with a very pretty girl.

Have you listened to any of Boyd Gaines’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Good, but his female voices need work.

Okay, not great

I don't remember when or why I put this book in my wish list. It had been there a long time, though, so I finally bought it. The story was okay but not great. One must suspend a lot if belief to take the plot seriously. For instance, one must believe that ancient markings and structures left 2500 years before would remain in place and undisturbed through the millennia. The science behind a crucial part of the plot was simply ludicrous. It was an okay thriller, but there are much better ones out there.

FICTION OR FACT

Would you consider the audio edition of The Vault to be better than the print version?

I feel that the audio versions immerse the reader into the story line more so that your imagination can visualize what is happening.
I feel Boyd Morrison writes an excellent story and give you a good understanding of not only what is going on around the characters but of the strengths and weaknesses of the characters,

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Yes, I only stopped long enough to eat and sleep than ontinue on.
I personally feel Tuler Locke is a better character than Jack Reacher whom I also reader I finish all three of Boyds audio books,

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

I would say similar to the description of the title.
But please use a stronger character than Tom Cruz (biger and wider) whom I think is one of the greastest,

Any additional comments?

I almost cried at the end of the book from letdown and the end of the story wanting more,
As I did when i finished the ARK, I went right into this one, and have already downloaded the ROSWELL CONSPIRACY,
thanks Mr Morrison.

FYI I am a 56 year old male, who served as an E2 in the USAF during the viet nam era stateside.
As a person with an extensive mechanical background, many certificates and an AS degree, I volunteered as a EMT and Firefuighter (ll) before I became a PARAMEDIC.
With the premed education to go on to nursing school (was accepted for 2003) I permanently injured myself on an ambulance doing work as a paid PARAMEDIC.

Only needing a few classes to complete my BS degree at CCSU, in CT., I am now a homeboby with a lot of pain and free time. the downside is I can no longer work or lift.
No Sympathy required, just keep those great books coming.

Excellent Change of Locale and Series

The Vault is aptly named for there are a dozen or more vaults involved in the high- octance-paced story. The author reminds the readers that myth is sometimes based in far deeper truths.

The story is full of villains and heroes, action, rollercoaster moments, and the biggest bad guy really getting his at the end.

Well done!

More of a review for the Arc. Book 1

Just starting The Vault, but already hit “send” before adding a note on The Arc review. The story was fine for this genre. I didn’t connect with the narrator. Or maybe it was post production. I found bumping the playback speed to 1.2 made for a more reasonable listen. B Gaines has a deep voice, so it doesn’t really hurt, and he read so slow I found it difficult to listen with book 1. So just bump the playback speed up a bit. Starting book 2 now. Feel the same so far. 1.2 and listen away.

Fantastic

Great read, definitely compares to two of my other favorite authors Clive Cussler and Jack Du brul

woo-wee!! you will enjoy the ride!!

This is flat-out a great story, with characters locations in plots that will just leave you wanting more. I'm so happy that they put a hero/ protagonist in the story who is a man of science and reason. I cared about all the characters in this book for they were very interesting and I wanted to find out what happened to them. I was invested every facet of the story , of how someone could write something that could take us out of our mundane and everyday world and transport us into a world of; "hey this could actually happen." This is a satisfying roller coaster ride that you will take over and over again buckle up you are in for the thrill of a lifetime! Tyler lock is the man as well as his sidekick Grant you will love this story. I loved the entire series involved around Tyler, it focuses a lot on engineering research, Discovery and detective work, magnificent. I love how they take all the things legends, and folklore and write them with an air of possibility on a scientific level. this is storytelling at its best, on a practical intangible level just wonderful craftsmanship in writing a believable story. enjoy :-)!