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Puzzle #1
The Istanbul Puzzle
The Istanbul Puzzle is a thriller/mystery novel, first published January 19, 2012. It's the first in a series of novels featuring Sean Ryan and Isabel Sharp, being published by Harper Collins and a series of other publishers around the world.
Buried deep under Istanbul, a secret is about to resurface with explosive consequences...Alex Zegliwski has been savagely beheaded. His body is found hidden near the sacred archaeological site of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. When Sean arrives in the ancient city to identify his colleague's body, he is handed an envelope of photographs belonging to Alek and soon finds himself in grave danger. Someone wants him dead but why? Aided by British diplomat Isabel Sharp, Sean begins to unravel the mystery of the mosaics in the photographs and inch closer to snaring Alek's assassin. Evil is at work and when a lethal virus is unleashed on the city, panic spreads fast. Time is running out for Sean and Isabel. They must catch the killer before it's too late. An electrifying conspiracy thriller which will entice fans of Scott Mariani, Sam Bourne and Dan Brown.
Buried deep under Istanbul, a secret is about to resurface with explosive consequences...Alex Zegliwski has been savagely beheaded. His body is found hidden near the sacred archaeological site of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. When Sean arrives in the ancient city to identify his colleague's body, he is handed an envelope of photographs belonging to Alek and soon finds himself in grave danger. Someone wants him dead but why? Aided by British diplomat Isabel Sharp, Sean begins to unravel the mystery of the mosaics in the photographs and inch closer to snaring Alek's assassin. Evil is at work and when a lethal virus is unleashed on the city, panic spreads fast. Time is running out for Sean and Isabel. They must catch the killer before it's too late. An electrifying conspiracy thriller which will entice fans of Scott Mariani, Sam Bourne and Dan Brown.
400 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
236 people are currently reading
281 people want to read
About the author
Laurence O'Bryan
18 books697 followersThere are five novels in my Puzzle thriller series, three in my series about the life of Constantine the Great and three in my Conspiracy thriller series.
My roots go back to a small estate deep in the Mountains of Mourne, near the Silent Valley, in County Down, Northern Ireland.
I went to school in Dublin, drank way too much, studied English and history, then business, then IT at Oxford University. While a student, I worked as a kitchen porter in a club near the Bank of England.
After that I spent ten years working in the City of London, the creaking hub of world finance.
Now I have three kids and a day job helping writers & publishing companies with their social media and digital marketing.
In 2007 I won the Outstanding Novel Submitted award at the Southern California writer’s conference. That helped.
I founded the Dublin Writers Conference in 2015. My research has taken me all over the world, from San Francisco to deep in the Arab world. I like looking at the stars and listening to the stories of strangers.
My roots go back to a small estate deep in the Mountains of Mourne, near the Silent Valley, in County Down, Northern Ireland.
I went to school in Dublin, drank way too much, studied English and history, then business, then IT at Oxford University. While a student, I worked as a kitchen porter in a club near the Bank of England.
After that I spent ten years working in the City of London, the creaking hub of world finance.
Now I have three kids and a day job helping writers & publishing companies with their social media and digital marketing.
In 2007 I won the Outstanding Novel Submitted award at the Southern California writer’s conference. That helped.
I founded the Dublin Writers Conference in 2015. My research has taken me all over the world, from San Francisco to deep in the Arab world. I like looking at the stars and listening to the stories of strangers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 150 reviews
November 26, 2017
I bought this book and two sequels which I now know I will not read and donate to some good cause for selling It is one of the first recommendations I got on GR back when I arrived. Sadly the book is mostly a Dan brown light novel with an interesting promise that never really delivered the promise after all. It lacked excitement which apparently Dan Brown could manage several books as well [Have not read the new one or seen the Inferno movie so far].
I like historical novels that offer some excitement and new insights on our past. This book did not really offer anything original warranting another visit to his books in the near future, Perhaps the next owner of the three novels will enjoy them way more than I did.
I like historical novels that offer some excitement and new insights on our past. This book did not really offer anything original warranting another visit to his books in the near future, Perhaps the next owner of the three novels will enjoy them way more than I did.
June 13, 2016
I liked TIP much more than the typical thriller for several reasons: (a) the protagonist isn't a superman in respect of physical traits (and he's not a professional spy, either); (b) the plot is fast-paced and sufficiently complicated that the reader has to pay attention (which is a proxy for saying you can't predict the end of the book after the third chapter); (c) there's heaps of historical research and local (Istanbul) color in the book.
While I enjoyed TIP a lot, the decision to give it four rather than five stars hinged on three factors. The verbal interplay among the hero and heroine didn't quite ring true as authentic conversation all the time (though that's probably my ear rather than any inherent weakness in the author's dialog). Second, the bubonic plague is caused by bacteria (noted in the book) and is not a virus (which it is referred to several places); while this is a minor point, it is pretty basic raised the further question as to whether other areas of research (which I know nothing about, e.g. Constantine, Byzantine Greek church history, Istanbul's history) also had holes in them. Finally, the ending appeared truncated. There were lots of loose ends that ended up either dead ends or were simply dropped. It's as if the editor said, "OK, you've written enough here and let's wrap it up over the next 10,000 words." The multiple plot lines were laid out intricately and I would have enjoyed seeing a more detailed denouement.
* * * * *
I don't want to sound too negative. This book is very good and I'm going to buy and read the next couple in the series. I'm a fussy thriller reader probably because I'm an author and I'm always picking my own work to bits. "The Istanbul Puzzle" is easily a top 20%'er for fans of realistic espionage novels set in exotic locales.
While I enjoyed TIP a lot, the decision to give it four rather than five stars hinged on three factors. The verbal interplay among the hero and heroine didn't quite ring true as authentic conversation all the time (though that's probably my ear rather than any inherent weakness in the author's dialog). Second, the bubonic plague is caused by bacteria (noted in the book) and is not a virus (which it is referred to several places); while this is a minor point, it is pretty basic raised the further question as to whether other areas of research (which I know nothing about, e.g. Constantine, Byzantine Greek church history, Istanbul's history) also had holes in them. Finally, the ending appeared truncated. There were lots of loose ends that ended up either dead ends or were simply dropped. It's as if the editor said, "OK, you've written enough here and let's wrap it up over the next 10,000 words." The multiple plot lines were laid out intricately and I would have enjoyed seeing a more detailed denouement.
* * * * *
I don't want to sound too negative. This book is very good and I'm going to buy and read the next couple in the series. I'm a fussy thriller reader probably because I'm an author and I'm always picking my own work to bits. "The Istanbul Puzzle" is easily a top 20%'er for fans of realistic espionage novels set in exotic locales.
March 6, 2021
I sooo wanted to enjoy this. But it felt like it was trying very hard to be a Dan Brown book. It wasn't a terrible attempt, but I'm not a Dan Brown fan and this just didn't do it for me. That said, I did appreciate the very detailed descriptions of Istanbul. You can tell the author has studied every inch of the city.
October 28, 2012
Alek, a photographer is beheaded in Istanbul. A video of his murder is posted on You Tube. Sean Ryan, who works with Alek, tries to find out why he was killed.
There is a nice mix of chapters in this book, with the bad guys having a brief one to keep the reader in the loop and longer chapters written in the first person as Sean tries to solve this mystery. This novel has a good plot where you read what the bad guys are up to something but Alek got in the way. With Sean investigating what went wrong, will he become a victim?
I enjoyed reading this book which is a good conspiracy tale. It is very thought provoking with a realistic scenario. The story is very current day and has an engaging plot involving the war on terror. The reader develops a good expectation that Sean will discover just what Alek had found. But a find worth killing for? You learn to understand Sean's motivation and thoughts because most people would abandon this dangerous search to solve the mystery...
What his father told him afterwards had stuck in his mind; when you’ve done things that can never be forgiven, you become free, because you can never go back, never undo them.
...The story is very realistic with lots of knowledgeable background thrown in...
Heathrow Airport, Terminal 5, the largest free-standing building in the UK, looked as busy the following morning as it had during the nightmare snow storm the previous winter.
The report confirmed the existence of a Yersina Pestis bacterium in the doctor’s blood. That fact alone would not be enough to ring warning bells. Every year many thousands of cases of plague ended up being reported to the World Health Organisation.
... The ending of this story was well explained and reasoned. This book raises issues of fear within our society...
‘Today,’ he began, dispensing with any opening pleasantries, ‘the Muslim faith is the fastest growing of all Europe’s religions. By some projections, within some of your lifetimes, it will be the faith of the majority, given the comparative birth rates. An Islamic Europe may not aspire to tolerance, either. It may well be fundamentalist. And they don’t usually take kindly to dissent. When they offer your granddaughter a burqa, she may have to put it on.’
‘People used to believe the world was full of evil spirits,’ I said. ‘They had no other way to explain things they didn’t understand. That’s my explanation for evil spirits. And I’m sticking to it.’
...The Istanbul Puzzle was written in 2011 and I purchased the 1631 KB Amazon Kindle version. I thought it was a good book and I vote it 4 stars.
There is a nice mix of chapters in this book, with the bad guys having a brief one to keep the reader in the loop and longer chapters written in the first person as Sean tries to solve this mystery. This novel has a good plot where you read what the bad guys are up to something but Alek got in the way. With Sean investigating what went wrong, will he become a victim?
I enjoyed reading this book which is a good conspiracy tale. It is very thought provoking with a realistic scenario. The story is very current day and has an engaging plot involving the war on terror. The reader develops a good expectation that Sean will discover just what Alek had found. But a find worth killing for? You learn to understand Sean's motivation and thoughts because most people would abandon this dangerous search to solve the mystery...
What his father told him afterwards had stuck in his mind; when you’ve done things that can never be forgiven, you become free, because you can never go back, never undo them.
...The story is very realistic with lots of knowledgeable background thrown in...
Heathrow Airport, Terminal 5, the largest free-standing building in the UK, looked as busy the following morning as it had during the nightmare snow storm the previous winter.
The report confirmed the existence of a Yersina Pestis bacterium in the doctor’s blood. That fact alone would not be enough to ring warning bells. Every year many thousands of cases of plague ended up being reported to the World Health Organisation.
... The ending of this story was well explained and reasoned. This book raises issues of fear within our society...
‘Today,’ he began, dispensing with any opening pleasantries, ‘the Muslim faith is the fastest growing of all Europe’s religions. By some projections, within some of your lifetimes, it will be the faith of the majority, given the comparative birth rates. An Islamic Europe may not aspire to tolerance, either. It may well be fundamentalist. And they don’t usually take kindly to dissent. When they offer your granddaughter a burqa, she may have to put it on.’
‘People used to believe the world was full of evil spirits,’ I said. ‘They had no other way to explain things they didn’t understand. That’s my explanation for evil spirits. And I’m sticking to it.’
...The Istanbul Puzzle was written in 2011 and I purchased the 1631 KB Amazon Kindle version. I thought it was a good book and I vote it 4 stars.
January 17, 2012
This review first appeared on the Booksquawk website.
I entered a contest on HarperCollins’ website authonomy.com to receive a proof copy of The Istanbul Puzzle—and I won! Yeah, me! It was doubly nice as I love puzzles and my guilty pleasure has always been religious conspiracy-theory thrillers. This one certainly didn’t disappoint. The book is due to be released the middle of this month, so this is a pre-publication review.
Just as riots break out in London after a minor incident at a local mosque, Sean Ryan learns his partner and co-founder of The Institute of Applied Research, Alex Zegliwski, has been brutally murdered while on assignment in Istanbul. Alex has no next of kin and so the police ask Sean to come to Turkey to identify the body. Once there, Sean meets Isabel Sharp, Alex’s liaison officer at the British Consulate, when she saves Sean from meeting the same fate as his partner. Isabel is not only investigating Alex’s beheading, but also recent chatter on the Internet that threatens to “bring Armageddon to London.”
Is Alex’s death, the riots, and the chatter all connected? The only clue to the mystery surrounding Alex’s death is an envelope containing a USB memory stick and some blown-up photos of mosaics. Who is the enemy and who is the ally? The reader is left guessing. This book does what a thriller is supposed to do—keep the reader on edge with every turn of the page. The Istanbul Puzzle weaves elements together in a plot that is very believable in the current political/religious climate.
What makes this book even more enjoyable is Laurence O’Bryan’s knowledge of Istanbul, which is obvious in his descriptive passages of the city. O’Bryan evokes all the senses, and makes the reader feel as if he/she is right there. I like to learn something when reading a novel—even a thriller—and this book did not disappoint. I feel as if I’ve visited the city and the beautiful Hagia Sophia, the church that had “once been the Islamic world’s St. Peter’s.”
I’m eagerly anticipating O’Bryan’s next novel in the series titled, The Jerusalem Puzzle. He also has a website where he posts puzzles related to the book. What fun!
I entered a contest on HarperCollins’ website authonomy.com to receive a proof copy of The Istanbul Puzzle—and I won! Yeah, me! It was doubly nice as I love puzzles and my guilty pleasure has always been religious conspiracy-theory thrillers. This one certainly didn’t disappoint. The book is due to be released the middle of this month, so this is a pre-publication review.
Just as riots break out in London after a minor incident at a local mosque, Sean Ryan learns his partner and co-founder of The Institute of Applied Research, Alex Zegliwski, has been brutally murdered while on assignment in Istanbul. Alex has no next of kin and so the police ask Sean to come to Turkey to identify the body. Once there, Sean meets Isabel Sharp, Alex’s liaison officer at the British Consulate, when she saves Sean from meeting the same fate as his partner. Isabel is not only investigating Alex’s beheading, but also recent chatter on the Internet that threatens to “bring Armageddon to London.”
Is Alex’s death, the riots, and the chatter all connected? The only clue to the mystery surrounding Alex’s death is an envelope containing a USB memory stick and some blown-up photos of mosaics. Who is the enemy and who is the ally? The reader is left guessing. This book does what a thriller is supposed to do—keep the reader on edge with every turn of the page. The Istanbul Puzzle weaves elements together in a plot that is very believable in the current political/religious climate.
What makes this book even more enjoyable is Laurence O’Bryan’s knowledge of Istanbul, which is obvious in his descriptive passages of the city. O’Bryan evokes all the senses, and makes the reader feel as if he/she is right there. I like to learn something when reading a novel—even a thriller—and this book did not disappoint. I feel as if I’ve visited the city and the beautiful Hagia Sophia, the church that had “once been the Islamic world’s St. Peter’s.”
I’m eagerly anticipating O’Bryan’s next novel in the series titled, The Jerusalem Puzzle. He also has a website where he posts puzzles related to the book. What fun!
August 25, 2015
Βαθμολογία: 7/10
Μέσα στον μήνα το πέτυχα σε πολύ καλή προσφορά στο Public και το παρήγγειλα, διαφορετικά μάλλον δεν θα το αγόραζα, αν και θρίλερ. Δεν έχει και τόσο καλή βαθμολογία στο Goodreads, και καταλαβαίνω λιγάκι τον λόγο, μιας και είχε διάφορα θεματάκια σε πλοκή, χαρακτήρες και γραφή. Σίγουρα πέρασα καλά όση ώρα κράτησε η ανάγνωσή του, διαβαζόταν ευχάριστα και είχε γρήγορο ρυθμό, όμως στο τέλος έμεινα λιγάκι απαθής. Περίληψη της ιστορίας δεν γράφω, την βρίσκει κανείς πολύ εύκολα.
Η αφήγηση χωρίζεται σε μεγάλα κεφάλαια όπου αφηγείται ο πρωταγωνιστής Σον Ράιαν και σε πολύ μικρά κεφάλαια όπου παρακολουθούμε κάποιες από τις κινήσεις των κακών της υπόθεσης. Μου άρεσε αρκετά αυτό το στιλ. Όμως δεν δέθηκα ιδιαίτερα με τον πρωταγωνιστή, μου φάνηκε λιγάκι άοσμος, χωρίς ενδιαφέρον. Και οι υπόλοιποι χαρακτήρες μια από τα ίδια. Και δεν πείστηκα καθόλου από τις προθέσεις των κακών, δεν τους δόθηκε ιδιαίτερη σημασία, απλώς ήταν εκεί για να κάνουν κακό. Επίσης κάποιες μικρές εκπλήξεις και ανατροπές στην πλοκή δεν με εξέπληξαν και τόσο. Η γραφή μου φάνηκε καλούτσικη και σίγουρα ευκολοδιάβαστη, αλλά σε γενικές γραμμές μάλλον αδιάφορη.
Πάντως μου άρεσε που η ιστορία διαδραματίστηκε στην Κωνσταντινούπολη και οι περιγραφές του συγγραφέα ήταν αρκετά καλές. Επίσης η δράση ήταν σε φυσιολογικά και ρεαλιστικά επίπεδα, κάτι που πλέον το εκλαμβάνω ως θετικό. Σε γενικές γραμμές, πρόκειται για ένα καλούτσικο θρίλερ, που όμως δεν ξεφεύγει και πολύ από τον μέσο όρο, ούτε πρωτοτυπεί. Πάντως σε περίπτωση που μεταφραστεί άλλο βιβλίο της "σειράς" θρίλερ του συγγραφέα (π.χ. The Jerusalem Puzzle), θα το έχω στα υπόψιν.
Μέσα στον μήνα το πέτυχα σε πολύ καλή προσφορά στο Public και το παρήγγειλα, διαφορετικά μάλλον δεν θα το αγόραζα, αν και θρίλερ. Δεν έχει και τόσο καλή βαθμολογία στο Goodreads, και καταλαβαίνω λιγάκι τον λόγο, μιας και είχε διάφορα θεματάκια σε πλοκή, χαρακτήρες και γραφή. Σίγουρα πέρασα καλά όση ώρα κράτησε η ανάγνωσή του, διαβαζόταν ευχάριστα και είχε γρήγορο ρυθμό, όμως στο τέλος έμεινα λιγάκι απαθής. Περίληψη της ιστορίας δεν γράφω, την βρίσκει κανείς πολύ εύκολα.
Η αφήγηση χωρίζεται σε μεγάλα κεφάλαια όπου αφηγείται ο πρωταγωνιστής Σον Ράιαν και σε πολύ μικρά κεφάλαια όπου παρακολουθούμε κάποιες από τις κινήσεις των κακών της υπόθεσης. Μου άρεσε αρκετά αυτό το στιλ. Όμως δεν δέθηκα ιδιαίτερα με τον πρωταγωνιστή, μου φάνηκε λιγάκι άοσμος, χωρίς ενδιαφέρον. Και οι υπόλοιποι χαρακτήρες μια από τα ίδια. Και δεν πείστηκα καθόλου από τις προθέσεις των κακών, δεν τους δόθηκε ιδιαίτερη σημασία, απλώς ήταν εκεί για να κάνουν κακό. Επίσης κάποιες μικρές εκπλήξεις και ανατροπές στην πλοκή δεν με εξέπληξαν και τόσο. Η γραφή μου φάνηκε καλούτσικη και σίγουρα ευκολοδιάβαστη, αλλά σε γενικές γραμμές μάλλον αδιάφορη.
Πάντως μου άρεσε που η ιστορία διαδραματίστηκε στην Κωνσταντινούπολη και οι περιγραφές του συγγραφέα ήταν αρκετά καλές. Επίσης η δράση ήταν σε φυσιολογικά και ρεαλιστικά επίπεδα, κάτι που πλέον το εκλαμβάνω ως θετικό. Σε γενικές γραμμές, πρόκειται για ένα καλούτσικο θρίλερ, που όμως δεν ξεφεύγει και πολύ από τον μέσο όρο, ούτε πρωτοτυπεί. Πάντως σε περίπτωση που μεταφραστεί άλλο βιβλίο της "σειράς" θρίλερ του συγγραφέα (π.χ. The Jerusalem Puzzle), θα το έχω στα υπόψιν.
January 30, 2012
This was a great find for all those who like a fast paced action adventure story. This story is in a similar genre as The Davinci Code only with more plausible adventure and more believable characters.
Sean is still traumatised from the death of his wife and his sadness continues at the news of the death of his best friend Alex, who was working on a Turkish heritage site for their academic research. Sean goes out to Istanbul to identify the body and his adventures start there when he meets up with an intriguing foreign office representative who knocks on his hotel door one morning. Adventure ensues and they chase, and are chased, around Istanbul and London.
If you like a fast paced adventure story with a mystery attached, then this is for you. Once you follow Sean to the Turkish capital it becomes a real page turner and you won't stop until you reach the end. O'Bryan makes Istanbul come to life and the information at the end about the city itself is a really nice touch. Looking forward to reading the sequel.
Sean is still traumatised from the death of his wife and his sadness continues at the news of the death of his best friend Alex, who was working on a Turkish heritage site for their academic research. Sean goes out to Istanbul to identify the body and his adventures start there when he meets up with an intriguing foreign office representative who knocks on his hotel door one morning. Adventure ensues and they chase, and are chased, around Istanbul and London.
If you like a fast paced adventure story with a mystery attached, then this is for you. Once you follow Sean to the Turkish capital it becomes a real page turner and you won't stop until you reach the end. O'Bryan makes Istanbul come to life and the information at the end about the city itself is a really nice touch. Looking forward to reading the sequel.
January 17, 2012
The Istanbul Puzzle is gripping and superbly written, with a fluent and judicious storyline building up to a great finale.
The very authentic two main characters are likable and beautifully three dimensional. Their deeds are comprehensible and coherent within themselves.
Laurence obviously loves and knows about Istanbul and its smells and sounds, its dark corners, the century-old history, the diametrically opposed expectations to the future of Occident and Orient just tied together by one bridge. (The walk along chapter at the end is a BRILLIANT idea!)
What a great, great pleasure to read.
I am dead-certain this book and its followers will soon attract some Hollywood attention. Because its like a cool Dan Brown. Only with more Original Ideas and a more sophisticated writing syle!
The very authentic two main characters are likable and beautifully three dimensional. Their deeds are comprehensible and coherent within themselves.
Laurence obviously loves and knows about Istanbul and its smells and sounds, its dark corners, the century-old history, the diametrically opposed expectations to the future of Occident and Orient just tied together by one bridge. (The walk along chapter at the end is a BRILLIANT idea!)
What a great, great pleasure to read.
I am dead-certain this book and its followers will soon attract some Hollywood attention. Because its like a cool Dan Brown. Only with more Original Ideas and a more sophisticated writing syle!
July 6, 2019
Laurence O'Bryan certainly knows a lot about Istanbul. It's very obviously he loves the city and its people. I think he might have been better off writing a non-fiction book about Istanbul. It would be very interesting and definitely more than two.
I really don't think he should have tried to create a Dan Brown style thriller around his admiration of the city. He didn't manage to do it as well as a Dan Brown (which to many isn't a high standard anyway).
I did find the description and history of Istanbul interesting. Enough to read more (elsewhere) about it. I also did fail to notice that thinks Turkish people are friendly. He may have mentioned it once or twice.
I really don't think he should have tried to create a Dan Brown style thriller around his admiration of the city. He didn't manage to do it as well as a Dan Brown (which to many isn't a high standard anyway).
I did find the description and history of Istanbul interesting. Enough to read more (elsewhere) about it. I also did fail to notice that thinks Turkish people are friendly. He may have mentioned it once or twice.
October 13, 2020
3,5⭐
Κινηματογραφική και ανάλαφρη πλοκή τύπου Dan Brown αλλά σε πιο ελαφριά μορφή. Υπέροχες οι περιγραφές της Κωνσταντινούπολης και του Λονδίνου αλλά κάτι έλειπε.... Νιώθεις ένα κενό στην υπόθεση. Παρόλο αυτά θα μου άρεσε στο μέλλον να διαβάσω και τα επόμενά του.
Κινηματογραφική και ανάλαφρη πλοκή τύπου Dan Brown αλλά σε πιο ελαφριά μορφή. Υπέροχες οι περιγραφές της Κωνσταντινούπολης και του Λονδίνου αλλά κάτι έλειπε.... Νιώθεις ένα κενό στην υπόθεση. Παρόλο αυτά θα μου άρεσε στο μέλλον να διαβάσω και τα επόμενά του.
Want to read
April 7, 2017Author's guest post at my blog:
https://bookfare.blogspot.com/2017/04...
https://bookfare.blogspot.com/2017/04...
November 27, 2011
This review first appeared here http://forwinternights.wordpress.com/... and is from a review copy.
The Istanbul Puzzle might be the first novel by Laurence O’Bryan but it is such a confident, atmospheric and thoroughly gripping thriller that I’m relieved to report that the second, The Jerusalem Puzzle, will follow after just a year. That book will continue the adventures of the two extremely likeable leads introduced to us here: Sean Ryan, a director of the Institute of Applied Research in Oxford, and Isabel Sharp, a British diplomat in Istanbul. Their dayjobs are about to get a little unpredictable…
Their task here is to uncover the murderer of Sean’s friend and colleague Alex, whose beheaded body has been found close to the Hagia Sophia. But as they inch closer to revealing the truth, the threat to Istanbul, to London and to the rest of the world increases by the hour. What did Alex stumble across? And what dreadful legacy from the ancient city is about to be unleashed?
The answers to the secrets lie under the very heart of Istanbul, in the Roman and medieval cisterns, sewers and underground tunnels. Sean and Isabel are both very human and attractive protagonists. They don’t face danger and deceit with the bravado of comic book characters and they’re not the stereotypes found in some thrillers. When they’re in the tunnels, trapped under water and nibbled at by terrifying shapes in the dark, their fear and panic are tangible and the pages will fly through your fingers. O’Bryan knows Istanbul, as becomes clear in his enjoyable guide to a day spent exploring the sites of the city that closes the book. This knowledge adds colour and depth to Sean and Isabel’s adventures around and under the city. You can almost taste the damp in the air and feel the crush of the busy streets.
The threat that waits through the novel is all the more frightening because it is something that could conceivably happen as terrorism changes its shape. But it’s also terrifying because humanity has faced this catastrophe before, albeit it inflicted by nature and not by a man pressing a button, in the Middle Ages and in the post-Roman years. It could happen again. The stakes are very high and the clock is ticking. Istanbul, the meeting place of continents, cultures and religions provides the perfect setting.
The Istanbul Puzzle is the first in a series of novels and so we have much to learn about Sean and Isabel’s background and natures. Both are turning a corner in their lives and discovering that they have a great deal to lose. The book is extremely well-written, with prose that manages to be both to-the-point and colourfully descriptive. The dialogue is particularly excellent and there were a couple of lines that made me guffaw out loud. Just as you would expect from a good thriller, The Istanbul Puzzle is indeed unputdownable. I was very sorry to finish it in little over a day and I’m grateful for being given the chance to read an early proof.
Do keep an eye on the author’s website for competitions and further information about the book and its characters.
The Istanbul Puzzle might be the first novel by Laurence O’Bryan but it is such a confident, atmospheric and thoroughly gripping thriller that I’m relieved to report that the second, The Jerusalem Puzzle, will follow after just a year. That book will continue the adventures of the two extremely likeable leads introduced to us here: Sean Ryan, a director of the Institute of Applied Research in Oxford, and Isabel Sharp, a British diplomat in Istanbul. Their dayjobs are about to get a little unpredictable…
Their task here is to uncover the murderer of Sean’s friend and colleague Alex, whose beheaded body has been found close to the Hagia Sophia. But as they inch closer to revealing the truth, the threat to Istanbul, to London and to the rest of the world increases by the hour. What did Alex stumble across? And what dreadful legacy from the ancient city is about to be unleashed?
The answers to the secrets lie under the very heart of Istanbul, in the Roman and medieval cisterns, sewers and underground tunnels. Sean and Isabel are both very human and attractive protagonists. They don’t face danger and deceit with the bravado of comic book characters and they’re not the stereotypes found in some thrillers. When they’re in the tunnels, trapped under water and nibbled at by terrifying shapes in the dark, their fear and panic are tangible and the pages will fly through your fingers. O’Bryan knows Istanbul, as becomes clear in his enjoyable guide to a day spent exploring the sites of the city that closes the book. This knowledge adds colour and depth to Sean and Isabel’s adventures around and under the city. You can almost taste the damp in the air and feel the crush of the busy streets.
The threat that waits through the novel is all the more frightening because it is something that could conceivably happen as terrorism changes its shape. But it’s also terrifying because humanity has faced this catastrophe before, albeit it inflicted by nature and not by a man pressing a button, in the Middle Ages and in the post-Roman years. It could happen again. The stakes are very high and the clock is ticking. Istanbul, the meeting place of continents, cultures and religions provides the perfect setting.
The Istanbul Puzzle is the first in a series of novels and so we have much to learn about Sean and Isabel’s background and natures. Both are turning a corner in their lives and discovering that they have a great deal to lose. The book is extremely well-written, with prose that manages to be both to-the-point and colourfully descriptive. The dialogue is particularly excellent and there were a couple of lines that made me guffaw out loud. Just as you would expect from a good thriller, The Istanbul Puzzle is indeed unputdownable. I was very sorry to finish it in little over a day and I’m grateful for being given the chance to read an early proof.
Do keep an eye on the author’s website for competitions and further information about the book and its characters.
January 17, 2016
Sean Ryan is a broken man, who in the aftermath of his wife's death in Afghanistan has buried himself in his life's work at an institute he started. The latest project is studying mosaics at Hagia Sofia in Istanbul. When Sean gets a call that his best friend and colleague, an outspoken Greek on nationalist views, has been beheaded he is determined to find the truth and not let down his friend in the same manner he feels he let down his wife. At the same time large numbers of Muslims are gathering in London under the auspices of peaceful protests. However, those controlling events in London and Istanbul have much bigger plans and they do not intend to let Sean interfere with its execution.
I don't read a lot of this type of genre. I actually picked it up because I read it is a good book to read if you are planning to visit Istanbul. I would agree. O'Bryan's writing is evocative. Just like the city itself, O'Bryan brings the city's sights, aromas, and sounds to life. He provides excellent history on the city's architecture and Greek-Turkish relations, art history, Istanbul's major attractions and some lesser known ones like Hagia Eirene. It truly is a good guide to the city in a way I've never seen another fictional work serve. He even encourages the reader to reach out to him if he/she visits the city and share his/her impression.
However, the work suffers from the typical pitfalls of the genre. While the structure and historical aspects of the story truly worked the coincidences that allow the protagonist to survive are just way over the top. While I really like Sean, he is a broken man whose sorrow came across quite nicely, it is just really difficult to fully develop characters within the space allowed.
The book definitely had a Dan Brown feel to it, but I think this work is stronger. So, if you are a Dan Brown fan I would highly recommend this. If you enjoy art history or are planning to visit Istanbul at some point in your life I would recommend this work
I don't read a lot of this type of genre. I actually picked it up because I read it is a good book to read if you are planning to visit Istanbul. I would agree. O'Bryan's writing is evocative. Just like the city itself, O'Bryan brings the city's sights, aromas, and sounds to life. He provides excellent history on the city's architecture and Greek-Turkish relations, art history, Istanbul's major attractions and some lesser known ones like Hagia Eirene. It truly is a good guide to the city in a way I've never seen another fictional work serve. He even encourages the reader to reach out to him if he/she visits the city and share his/her impression.
However, the work suffers from the typical pitfalls of the genre. While the structure and historical aspects of the story truly worked the coincidences that allow the protagonist to survive are just way over the top. While I really like Sean, he is a broken man whose sorrow came across quite nicely, it is just really difficult to fully develop characters within the space allowed.
The book definitely had a Dan Brown feel to it, but I think this work is stronger. So, if you are a Dan Brown fan I would highly recommend this. If you enjoy art history or are planning to visit Istanbul at some point in your life I would recommend this work
February 28, 2013
4.5 Stars
Sean Ryan just learned that his friend and co-worker, Alek Zegliwski, has been killed while working in Istanbul. Sean must leave London in order to identify Alek’s body, but once he lands in Istanbul, Sean realizes there is more to his friend’s death than he realized. With the help of Isabel Sharp, a British diplomat, Sean escapes death numerous times as he hunts for the people that killed Alek. Little does he know that there is a deadly virus being tested and unleashed in Istanbul by the same people that are trying to prevent him from finding out the truth.
The Istanbul Puzzle is full of suspense, while history comes alive in this fast-pace, action-packed thriller. With each new twist and turn, more information is revealed about Istanbul’s past and the religions that have fought to control it. Laurence O’Bryan writes with a passion as he describes the scenery in Istanbul and he sets up intriguing possibilities for the next book. O’Bryan even includes a travel guide for those interested in visiting Istanbul. Each chapter rotates between Sean’s story and what is happening in the world, which gives readers extra insight into the truth and builds up the . Fans of conspiracy theories, mysteries and suspense need to mark this book as a must read!
Notes:
A copy of this book was provided for me to review. To learn more about this author and his books, please visit his website at http://lpobryan.wordpress.com
This review was originally posted on my website, Ariesgrl Book Reviews. To see this and other reviews, please visit my website at http://ariesgrlreview.com
Sean Ryan just learned that his friend and co-worker, Alek Zegliwski, has been killed while working in Istanbul. Sean must leave London in order to identify Alek’s body, but once he lands in Istanbul, Sean realizes there is more to his friend’s death than he realized. With the help of Isabel Sharp, a British diplomat, Sean escapes death numerous times as he hunts for the people that killed Alek. Little does he know that there is a deadly virus being tested and unleashed in Istanbul by the same people that are trying to prevent him from finding out the truth.
The Istanbul Puzzle is full of suspense, while history comes alive in this fast-pace, action-packed thriller. With each new twist and turn, more information is revealed about Istanbul’s past and the religions that have fought to control it. Laurence O’Bryan writes with a passion as he describes the scenery in Istanbul and he sets up intriguing possibilities for the next book. O’Bryan even includes a travel guide for those interested in visiting Istanbul. Each chapter rotates between Sean’s story and what is happening in the world, which gives readers extra insight into the truth and builds up the . Fans of conspiracy theories, mysteries and suspense need to mark this book as a must read!
Notes:
A copy of this book was provided for me to review. To learn more about this author and his books, please visit his website at http://lpobryan.wordpress.com
This review was originally posted on my website, Ariesgrl Book Reviews. To see this and other reviews, please visit my website at http://ariesgrlreview.com
December 8, 2012
Irish writer Laurence O'Bryan's breakout novel, THE ISTANBUL PUZZLE, marks his entry into the thriller/adventure genre and he does it with a skilled writing style. I had access to a galley proof from a friend who met the author in Dublin. While not an historical novel, per se, the book is filled with great historical detail taking the reader from the Ottoman Empire to the present day. The storyline is well developed with intrigue and corruption showing the way. The puzzle metaphor works quite nicely taking the reader from the depths of Istanbul into the light.
I can agree with other reviewers on a couple of points, as with the clandestine visit to Iran and the elderly specialist there. However, this did not distract me from the reading adventure. O'Bryan has provided two very interesting sleuths, in Sean Ryan and Isabel Sharp. I look forward to meeting up with them again in THE JERUSALEM PUZZLE which has just come out. This series is sure to be a winner.
I can agree with other reviewers on a couple of points, as with the clandestine visit to Iran and the elderly specialist there. However, this did not distract me from the reading adventure. O'Bryan has provided two very interesting sleuths, in Sean Ryan and Isabel Sharp. I look forward to meeting up with them again in THE JERUSALEM PUZZLE which has just come out. This series is sure to be a winner.
December 3, 2012
I completely enjoyed this book from beginning to end and can easily recommend it to any reader who enjoys action, adventure, intrigue, history and travel. O'Bryan has demonstrated his knowledge of Istanbul and then has taken it a step further in speculation.
Part of what I enjoyed about the book, aside from the characters, setting and premise was the fact that the author showed a great deal of respect for the country (Turkey), its people and customs. I personally appreciate that as I am a firm believer that while some people in some cultures are truly 'bad' the whole country and its people shouldn't be damned for it.
I am now a very big fan of Laurence O'Bryan and look forward to his series of Puzzles.
Part of what I enjoyed about the book, aside from the characters, setting and premise was the fact that the author showed a great deal of respect for the country (Turkey), its people and customs. I personally appreciate that as I am a firm believer that while some people in some cultures are truly 'bad' the whole country and its people shouldn't be damned for it.
I am now a very big fan of Laurence O'Bryan and look forward to his series of Puzzles.
January 24, 2012
I have just finished reading The Istanbul Puzzle by Laurence O’Bryan. It is 2am, I should be in bed sleeping, but I couldn't put it down. I found it impossible to read 'just one more chapter' as each chapter made me want to carry on reading.
This is a superb first novel by Laurence O'Bryan, it deserves to be a best seller. In my view it has the potential to be turned into a television drama or cinema film.
I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the two main characters and hope they will be together again for The Jerusalem Puzzle. It is such a shame that it will be 2013 before I am able to enjoy their company once again.
This is a superb first novel by Laurence O'Bryan, it deserves to be a best seller. In my view it has the potential to be turned into a television drama or cinema film.
I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the two main characters and hope they will be together again for The Jerusalem Puzzle. It is such a shame that it will be 2013 before I am able to enjoy their company once again.
July 24, 2012
From the first page, The Istanbul Puzzle by Laurence O'Bryan captures the readers interest and then continues with a page-turning story to the end. A gruesome murder, interweaving plots, unexpected twists, cliff hangers, and more make this book hard to put down. Be prepared to stay up late reading this well-crafted story.
This is the first in a series and I can't wait for the Jerusalem Puzzle to be released in January 2013.
This is the first in a series and I can't wait for the Jerusalem Puzzle to be released in January 2013.
January 23, 2013
Before buying, I "looked inside the book" on Amazon and was able to read the first chapter. I knew immediately this book would capture my attention. In addition to the fast-paced drama, this thriller was set primarily in Istanbul and it was obvious the author had great knowledge of the area. It is a book of fiction, and, in the Acknowledgements (I have the Kindle version), Mr. O'Bryan explains exactly which part of the setting he created from his imagination. Therefore, you can know that the majority of description is, in fact, real. Can't wait to read the next book - The Jerusalem Puzzle.
November 22, 2012
What a great find for anybody who likes action, adventure stories. This starts off with a bang and carries on at a real page turning pace. The characters are well written, develop nicely and are very believable. The plot takes from Istanbul, London Iraq and finally back to London for the climax, you can tell the subject matter and places have been well researched. This is a great first novel and I'm really looking forward to the sequel.
August 19, 2017
Amazing first book by author Laurence O'Bryan. I just couldn't stop reading this book once I started. Sean Ryan is a protagonist who travels to Istanbul after his colleague Alek is beheaded. He along with British diplomat Isabel Sharp unravels the mystery of Alek's assassin.
Very good plot which can be made in to TV series.
Very good plot which can be made in to TV series.
March 17, 2012
Good mystery but the story is partially not believeable enough for me. The historical and gegraphical parts are great. Sometimes I did not agree with the action and decisions of the main characters.
February 3, 2017
The Istanbul Puzzle had me gripped from the first page; I read it in one day. I could well imagine it translated into a fast paced action movie. I shall definitely read the next books in the series.
April 23, 2012
I really enjoyed this book.Loved the characters and I look forward to reading The Jerusalem Puzzle when it is released in January 2013.
Read
February 12, 2016I can tell after one chapter this isn't going to be my thing. Severed arteries bubbling like coffee percolator? Um, no thanks. *ding* Next please.
March 12, 2013
I have to admit that ever since Dan Brown seemed to revolutionise the Historical Thriller genre, I’ve become extremely fond of these Uncover-A-Long-Lost-Treasure-That-Will-Change-The-World-As-We-Know-It type books; they’ve even become a sort of guilty pleasure. Released in 2012, The Istanbul Puzzle comes from Irish writer, Laurence O’Bryan, who attempts to add his own unique voice to the mix, by introducing Sean Ryan, who’s dragged into a sinister terrorist plot when he is summoned to Turkey to identify the body of his dead colleague. Beheaded by a known terrorist group and the video uploaded onto YouTube, Sean finds himself urging to find out more … and so begins The Istanbul Puzzle.
As Sean delves deeper into what his co-worker was working on inside the ancient temple of Hagia Sophia, he is joined on his quest by British diplomat, Isabel Sharp, who suspects something more sinister is afoot. The quest leads them around this atmospheric and busy city, into the depths of the ancient temple itself and even find themselves underground in old World War II bunkers that predate the event by centuries. It’s classic adventure with a modern vibe and a lethal virus thrown in to spice things up even more.
What stands out, pretty much from the off, is how much detail the author goes into when describing the old city of Istanbul. It’s extremely atmospheric and full of character, which adds ounces of realism into a genre that often likes to mix factual history with fictional treasures. And what also impresses, is how not only does O’Bryan go into visual detail, he adds smells and sounds to his descriptions too, which not only adds to the credibility, but also gives us readers a fully three dimensional world - we almost don’t need to visit the city ourselves.
I have to also admit, I loved his protagonist, Sean Ryan. He’s a man on a mission. He’s not an expert in crime, or ancient symbols, or an FBI agent with super fighting abilities (like we often see in these types of books) but is a man who wants to discover the truth. He won’t stand for less and that’s admirable; it automatically draws us to connect with Sean and follow him on his journey. He’s also a troubled protagonist too; a widower who failed to discover the truth behind his wife’s death, which as you can imagine, only fuels the fire more to hunt out the truth when his co-worker, Alek, is involved. I didn’t think I would, but I also fell for his female lead, Isabel Sharp, too. She’s intelligent, organised and ultimately believable. She doesn’t rush into situations, just for purpose sake, but admits early on that if anything is to be discovered, she needs help. This isn’t a story with maiden-in-distress story plot, but it’s realistic in terms of human capabilities. When the main characters grab you like these two do, it only urges you to read more.
Where the book really succeeds, is the historical and religious arc surrounding the mysterious manuscript. It isn’t original, but it’s believable and that’s the selling point here. Where some of his contemporaries can sometimes speculate and give Wikipedia style explanations mixed in with explosive action, O’Bryan goes for a more subtle approach, which delicately reveals to us the historical past and turmoil of a city that goes from one religion to another. It’s handled delicately and properly and gives us time to register the importance of the facts before moving on to more action.
The adventure isn’t half bad either. The real stand out moment is when Sean Ryan and Isabel Sharp find themselves underneath Hagia Sophia and have to escape the maze of underground tunnels to evade capture by the terrorist group. It’s a mix of dusty, tight tunnels and holes, underground rivers that hide beneath the water, flesh eating eels, which proves to be an extremely exciting read.
There are so many pluses, where The Istanbul Puzzle is concerned – the evil and psychotic nature of his villains are captivating. In this type of novel you really do need hardcore baddies, because not only does it add brilliant tension, it also gives us another reason to get behind our heroes. The constant switching of first-person to third-person (albeit hard to get used to, to begin with) actually adds nice pace. The third-person gives us a chance to witness other characters and their stories, whilst the first-person allows us to connect more personally and emotionally to Sean. It’s a nice touch.
It’s got to be said though that The Istanbul Puzzle is far from perfect. One of the biggest quibbles I have with it, is the very short sentences that seem overly simple at times. You can’t expect deep literary descriptions in this genre of book, it would simply disrupt the flow, but sometimes in here, you plead for a little more. There are points where the structure of the sentences are very The cat sat on the mat. Then it went to the shops. It bought Milk. It really does come alive when the historical detailing of Istanbul is revealed, but when the action occurs it reverts to the short sentence structuring and it’s something that needs rethinking I think.
Another let down is the threat of this plague that threatens to wipe out the majority of the human population, because of our dependence on antibiotics. It’s an interesting and current concept, one that deserves much more focus. You can get the picture of this threat quite early on, especially with some of the shorter chapters dedicated to other characters, but when it actually comes to it, it is rather quickly rounded off at the end of the novel. It’s quite anticlimactic, which is a shame really because there was promise there.
Then there is this discover of this ancient manuscript that asks so many questions, which sadly reveals no answers. I’m not sure if this manuscript will feature in the sequel, The Jerusalem Puzzle, but there is a good emphasis put on this manuscript that leaves you wanting to know more. If I was to be honest, I think this is a story of one man’s quest to discover the truth about the beheading of his friend, with elements of history and terrorism thrown in to heighten the story. Perhaps it was marketed wrong. I mean on the front of the book the tagline is: A Brutal Murder. An Ancient Temple. A Long-Lost Treasure. When this treasure never really amounts to anything substantial in terms of revealing to us readers, the secrets that lay inside, it’s actually disappointing.
The Istanbul Puzzle has its setbacks, but on the whole it is a riveting and thoughtful adventure, where its protagonist, Sean Ryan, takes centre stage. He’s a man on a mission to discover the truth and it’s a story of acceptance and emotional progression too. He never really moved on when the devastating news of his wife’s death came, and here we see a man accept the past so he can move on in the present. It has moments of fascinating revelation and good adventure scenes. It certainly has promise and with its gripping characters, I’ll be passing on to its sequel straight away. Perhaps, Laurence O’Bryan is wrongly compared to the likes of Dan Brown. It’s a novel that, perhaps, has been released a little late into the genre’s life, because I could see this being very popular back when these historical thrillers were the in thing. If you love Sam Bourne and Raymond Khoury novels, then you will most certainly find enough in here to keep you highly satisfied.
As Sean delves deeper into what his co-worker was working on inside the ancient temple of Hagia Sophia, he is joined on his quest by British diplomat, Isabel Sharp, who suspects something more sinister is afoot. The quest leads them around this atmospheric and busy city, into the depths of the ancient temple itself and even find themselves underground in old World War II bunkers that predate the event by centuries. It’s classic adventure with a modern vibe and a lethal virus thrown in to spice things up even more.
What stands out, pretty much from the off, is how much detail the author goes into when describing the old city of Istanbul. It’s extremely atmospheric and full of character, which adds ounces of realism into a genre that often likes to mix factual history with fictional treasures. And what also impresses, is how not only does O’Bryan go into visual detail, he adds smells and sounds to his descriptions too, which not only adds to the credibility, but also gives us readers a fully three dimensional world - we almost don’t need to visit the city ourselves.
I have to also admit, I loved his protagonist, Sean Ryan. He’s a man on a mission. He’s not an expert in crime, or ancient symbols, or an FBI agent with super fighting abilities (like we often see in these types of books) but is a man who wants to discover the truth. He won’t stand for less and that’s admirable; it automatically draws us to connect with Sean and follow him on his journey. He’s also a troubled protagonist too; a widower who failed to discover the truth behind his wife’s death, which as you can imagine, only fuels the fire more to hunt out the truth when his co-worker, Alek, is involved. I didn’t think I would, but I also fell for his female lead, Isabel Sharp, too. She’s intelligent, organised and ultimately believable. She doesn’t rush into situations, just for purpose sake, but admits early on that if anything is to be discovered, she needs help. This isn’t a story with maiden-in-distress story plot, but it’s realistic in terms of human capabilities. When the main characters grab you like these two do, it only urges you to read more.
Where the book really succeeds, is the historical and religious arc surrounding the mysterious manuscript. It isn’t original, but it’s believable and that’s the selling point here. Where some of his contemporaries can sometimes speculate and give Wikipedia style explanations mixed in with explosive action, O’Bryan goes for a more subtle approach, which delicately reveals to us the historical past and turmoil of a city that goes from one religion to another. It’s handled delicately and properly and gives us time to register the importance of the facts before moving on to more action.
The adventure isn’t half bad either. The real stand out moment is when Sean Ryan and Isabel Sharp find themselves underneath Hagia Sophia and have to escape the maze of underground tunnels to evade capture by the terrorist group. It’s a mix of dusty, tight tunnels and holes, underground rivers that hide beneath the water, flesh eating eels, which proves to be an extremely exciting read.
There are so many pluses, where The Istanbul Puzzle is concerned – the evil and psychotic nature of his villains are captivating. In this type of novel you really do need hardcore baddies, because not only does it add brilliant tension, it also gives us another reason to get behind our heroes. The constant switching of first-person to third-person (albeit hard to get used to, to begin with) actually adds nice pace. The third-person gives us a chance to witness other characters and their stories, whilst the first-person allows us to connect more personally and emotionally to Sean. It’s a nice touch.
It’s got to be said though that The Istanbul Puzzle is far from perfect. One of the biggest quibbles I have with it, is the very short sentences that seem overly simple at times. You can’t expect deep literary descriptions in this genre of book, it would simply disrupt the flow, but sometimes in here, you plead for a little more. There are points where the structure of the sentences are very The cat sat on the mat. Then it went to the shops. It bought Milk. It really does come alive when the historical detailing of Istanbul is revealed, but when the action occurs it reverts to the short sentence structuring and it’s something that needs rethinking I think.
Another let down is the threat of this plague that threatens to wipe out the majority of the human population, because of our dependence on antibiotics. It’s an interesting and current concept, one that deserves much more focus. You can get the picture of this threat quite early on, especially with some of the shorter chapters dedicated to other characters, but when it actually comes to it, it is rather quickly rounded off at the end of the novel. It’s quite anticlimactic, which is a shame really because there was promise there.
Then there is this discover of this ancient manuscript that asks so many questions, which sadly reveals no answers. I’m not sure if this manuscript will feature in the sequel, The Jerusalem Puzzle, but there is a good emphasis put on this manuscript that leaves you wanting to know more. If I was to be honest, I think this is a story of one man’s quest to discover the truth about the beheading of his friend, with elements of history and terrorism thrown in to heighten the story. Perhaps it was marketed wrong. I mean on the front of the book the tagline is: A Brutal Murder. An Ancient Temple. A Long-Lost Treasure. When this treasure never really amounts to anything substantial in terms of revealing to us readers, the secrets that lay inside, it’s actually disappointing.
The Istanbul Puzzle has its setbacks, but on the whole it is a riveting and thoughtful adventure, where its protagonist, Sean Ryan, takes centre stage. He’s a man on a mission to discover the truth and it’s a story of acceptance and emotional progression too. He never really moved on when the devastating news of his wife’s death came, and here we see a man accept the past so he can move on in the present. It has moments of fascinating revelation and good adventure scenes. It certainly has promise and with its gripping characters, I’ll be passing on to its sequel straight away. Perhaps, Laurence O’Bryan is wrongly compared to the likes of Dan Brown. It’s a novel that, perhaps, has been released a little late into the genre’s life, because I could see this being very popular back when these historical thrillers were the in thing. If you love Sam Bourne and Raymond Khoury novels, then you will most certainly find enough in here to keep you highly satisfied.
June 26, 2017
I really couldn’t make up my mind as to whether I enjoyed this historical thriller by Lawerence O’Bryan and his introduction of “hero” Sean Ryan.
It begins when Sean’s friend and business partner is brutally beheaded while working at the Haghi Sophia in Instanbul.
There are things to both like and dislike about the story.
Here are what is good about the book (in my opinion). The author shows a tremendous amount of knowledge about Instanbul and backs this up with very detailed descriptions of the city and it’s inhabitants. He also forms a very interesting, frightening and plausible story which kept me reading till the end. He also includes a healthy and diverse cast of characters which keep you on your toes and keep you engaged.
Now to what’s bad about the book. Although the plot is plausible, the author refers to the main plot device as both a virus and a plague: are they not both separate things? The main character, Sean, just isn’t very likeable, he seems to get annoyed very easily and at times I just can’t take him seriously. Add to this the stilted and contrived dialogue with at times very short sentences, I mean what is all that about?
There was a final thing that irked me - so we are told on a couple of occasions earlier on in the book that Sean is an accomplished free diver: how convenient that this ability is needed near the end of the book.
It wasn’t the worst read by any means, just not enough to make me go and read any more of the Sean Ryan series.
It begins when Sean’s friend and business partner is brutally beheaded while working at the Haghi Sophia in Instanbul.
There are things to both like and dislike about the story.
Here are what is good about the book (in my opinion). The author shows a tremendous amount of knowledge about Instanbul and backs this up with very detailed descriptions of the city and it’s inhabitants. He also forms a very interesting, frightening and plausible story which kept me reading till the end. He also includes a healthy and diverse cast of characters which keep you on your toes and keep you engaged.
Now to what’s bad about the book. Although the plot is plausible, the author refers to the main plot device as both a virus and a plague: are they not both separate things? The main character, Sean, just isn’t very likeable, he seems to get annoyed very easily and at times I just can’t take him seriously. Add to this the stilted and contrived dialogue with at times very short sentences, I mean what is all that about?
There was a final thing that irked me - so we are told on a couple of occasions earlier on in the book that Sean is an accomplished free diver: how convenient that this ability is needed near the end of the book.
It wasn’t the worst read by any means, just not enough to make me go and read any more of the Sean Ryan series.
February 16, 2025
The Istanbul Puzzle by Laurence O’Bryan is a gripping thriller and the first in the Puzzle series of three books. Right from the start, it’s hard-hitting and had me hooked instantly. The story is packed with history, intrigue, and so much more—seriously, why haven’t I read this sooner?
O’Bryan’s writing is absolutely mesmerizing. The historical elements are not only fascinating but woven so seamlessly into the story that I couldn’t bring myself to put the book down. His descriptions are vivid and compelling, making the settings and characters leap off the page. At the same time, he never loses sight of the mystery and danger that keep you turning those pages. It’s a real testament to his skill as a writer.
In short, this book has everything I love in a thriller: a gripping plot, richly detailed settings, and just the right amount of twists and turns to keep me guessing. If you’re a fan of mysteries with a historical twist, I can’t recommend The Istanbul Puzzle enough. I’ll definitely be reading the next books in the series soon!
O’Bryan’s writing is absolutely mesmerizing. The historical elements are not only fascinating but woven so seamlessly into the story that I couldn’t bring myself to put the book down. His descriptions are vivid and compelling, making the settings and characters leap off the page. At the same time, he never loses sight of the mystery and danger that keep you turning those pages. It’s a real testament to his skill as a writer.
In short, this book has everything I love in a thriller: a gripping plot, richly detailed settings, and just the right amount of twists and turns to keep me guessing. If you’re a fan of mysteries with a historical twist, I can’t recommend The Istanbul Puzzle enough. I’ll definitely be reading the next books in the series soon!
May 10, 2019
If you love reading about Istanbul...then read The Istanbul Puzzle. It is a face-paced absorbing book and one I couldn’t put down. The author has a rich imagination. I enjoyed the book because my favorite city, Istanbul, was the main character. The book is an easy quick read which I was glad of because too many of the books I read are hard work while this one was entertaining.
then read The Istanbul Puzzle. It is a face-paced absorbing book and one I couldn’t put down. The author has a rich imagination. I enjoyed the book because my favorite city, Istanbul, was the main character. The book is an easy, quick read, which I was glad of because too many of the I read are hard work while this one was purely entertaining with some references to interesting historical occurrences.
then read The Istanbul Puzzle. It is a face-paced absorbing book and one I couldn’t put down. The author has a rich imagination. I enjoyed the book because my favorite city, Istanbul, was the main character. The book is an easy, quick read, which I was glad of because too many of the I read are hard work while this one was purely entertaining with some references to interesting historical occurrences.
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