Publisher's Weekly Review
Kuzneski's lightweight sixth contemporary thriller featuring former Special Forces pals Jonathon Payne and David Jones (after 2010's The Prophecy) takes the bantering duo to Bavaria, where they get on the trail of a hidden treasure belonging to Ludwig II, the eccentric 19th-century Bavarian monarch popularly known as Mad King Ludwig, who died mysteriously at age 40. A bad guy, Hans Mueller, also seeks the treasure, and a pretty young woman who works for a government ministry that oversees all the castles in Bavaria serves largely as the butt for sex jokes from the guys when they aren't making fun of each other's manhood. Kuzneski is good at parceling out interesting historical details, but it's pretty much a stroll through a Bavarian theme park for Payne and Jones, who barely break a sweat while dispatching evildoers. Fans of sophomoric humor will be most rewarded. Agent: Scott Miller at Trident Media. (Jan.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Kirkus Review
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Booklist Review
Special agents Payne and Jones (The Prophecy, 2010) return for another treasure hunt. They are asked to fly to Germany by an old colleague who has discovered a Nazi storage facility buried underground that appears to hold numerous crates filled with looted art from WWII. Among the artifacts are documents from the reign of King Ludwig II, whose murder was never solved and whose cache of gold and jewels has never been found. Can the documents lead Payne and Jones to the treasure? And can they stay one step ahead of a criminal with more than a passing interest in the loot? Kuzneski's two entertaining, Indiana Jones-style heroes never miss an opportunity for a wisecrack, and their humor balances well the action and history. The result is a gripping read appealing to fans of Steve Berry and James Rollins. Readers unfamiliar with Kuzneski's previous novels will find this the perfect place to start.--Ayers, Jeff Copyright 2010 Booklist
Library Journal Review
When an old World War II bunker that may be filled with Nazi plunder is found in Bavaria, an associate of Jonathon Payne and David Jones (The Last Throne; The Prophecy) summons them to Germany to investigate. What they find is a spectacular mystery. King Ludwig II of Bavaria, famous for his Neuschwanstein Castle (the inspiration for Disney's Sleeping Beauty castle), purportedly hid a massive treasure. Does this bunker contain the Swan King's treasure? With immeasurable funds and resources at our heroes' disposal, their ensuing quest becomes a Baedeker's tour of castles. Verdict While Kuzneski delivers another detailed, action-packed buddy adventure-thriller, much of the appealing courage and charm Payne and Jones displayed in The Prophecy have been replaced by bravado, sarcasm, and crass frat boy one-liners. When they don't try so hard, Payne, Jones, and Kuzneski still have all the qualities necessary to be a literary superteam.-Laura A.B. Cifelli, Ft. Myers-Lee Cty. P.L., FL (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
