Pandora's Temple (Blaine McCracken Novels, #6)

by Jon Land

Blaine McCracken races to keep dark matter out of the wrong hands in a page-turner that “should be mandatory reading for all thriller aficionados” (Steve Berry, New York Times–bestselling author).

Rogue special-operations agent McCracken has never been shy about answering the call, and this time it comes in the aftermath of a deepwater oil rig disaster that claims the life of a onetime member of his commando unit. The remnants of the rig and its missing crew lead him to the inescapable conclusion that one of the most mysterious and deadly forces in the universe is to blame: dark matter, both a limitless source of potential energy and an unimaginably destructive weapon.

Joining forces again with his trusty sidekick, Johnny Wareagle, McCracken races to stop two deadly enemies who want the dark matter at all costs. A powerful energy magnate and the leader of a Japanese doomsday cult both seek the ultimate prize for their own nefarious reasons, and McCracken and Wareagle’s mission to defeat them takes the duo on a nonstop journey across the world and thousands of years into the past where the truth lies in the ancient Pandora’s Temple, built to safeguard the world’s most powerful weapon.

McCracken’s only hope to save the world is to find the mythical temple. Along the way, he and Wareagle find themselves up against Mexican drug gangs, killer robots, an army of professional assassins, and a legendary sea monster. The hero of nine previous bestselling thrillers, McCracken is used to the odds being stacked against him, but this time the stakes have never been higher.

• ISBN10: 1453224653
• ISBN13: 9781453224656
• Publish Date: 20 November 2012 (first published 1 January 2012)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Open Road Media
• Imprint: Open Road Media Mystery & Thriller
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 412
• Language: English

Reviews

Pandora's Temple is my first experience with one of Jon Land's books and I am impressed! This is a classic tale of high stakes adventure where the hero is literally fighting for the fate of the world. The book is the latest is a series that features Blaine McCracken, now approaching the age of 60. But the man hadn't lost a step. I give Land credit for writing a book that features a protagonist that some might consider past his prime. As part of the plot, McCracken wonders himself if he might have outlived his usefulness. That only adds to the adventure as he faces his personal concerns and looks back at the eventful life that brought him this far.

As McCracken contemplates some of his past experiences, the reader gets a hint at the history this character has experienced throughout the series. But Land doesn't dwell on McCracken's back story. He drops just enough references to make things fun for fans of the series. And his references have me thoroughly hooked. I can't wait to start the series from the beginning. Land's writing is just that that engaging and his McCracken character is so richly nuanced that I want to experience the series from the start.

If you are a fan of the series, you have to read this book. If you haven't read any of the McCracken books, this is a fantastic place to start. It was my first exposure to the series and I am nothing short of impressed!