The Quest

By Nelson DeMille

The Quest - Nelson DeMille
  • Release Date: 2013-09-17
  • Genre: Action & Adventure
Score: 4
4
From 754 Ratings

Description

AUTHOR'S NOTE:
An earlier, shorter version of The Quest was published in paperback in 1975. In 2013, I rewrote The Quest and doubled its length, making it, I hope, a far better story than the original, without deviating from the elements that made the story so powerful and compelling when I first wrote it. In other words, what made The Quest worth rewriting remains, and whatever is changed is for the better.
I was happy and excited to have this opportunity to rewrite and republish what I consider my first "big" novel, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did when I first wrote it.
BOOK DESCRIPTION:
A sweeping adventure that's equal parts thriller and love story, Nelson DeMille's newest novel takes the reader from the war torn jungles of Ethiopia to the magical city of Rome.
While the Ethiopian Civil War rages, a Catholic priest languishes in prison. Forty years have passed since he last saw daylight. His crime? Claiming to know the true location of Christ's cup from the Last Supper. Then the miraculous happens - a mortar strikes the prison and he is free!
Old, frail, and injured, he escapes to the jungle, where he encounters two Western journalists and a beautiful freelance photographer taking refuge from the carnage. As they tend to his wounds, he relates his incredible story.
Motivated by the sensational tale and their desire to find the location of the holiest of relics, the trio agrees to search for the Grail.
Thus begins an impossible quest that will pit them against murderous tribes, deadly assassins, fanatical monks, and the passions of their own hearts.
THE QUEST is suspenseful, romantic, and filled with heart-pounding action. Nelson DeMille is at the top of his game as he masterfully interprets one of history's greatest mysteries.

Reviews

  • The Quest

    2
    By T-BallC
    Let me declare that I have read many wonderful Nelson DeMille books. Many. However, the two latest, most particularly The Quest, have convinced me he's totally lost his touch. Don't disturb you positive view of him but look only to his works of the 70s and 80's
  • The Quest

    1
    By RedDog1
    What a sad, sad waste of my time and his energy. I have read 16 previous books by Mr. DeMille and have uniformly devoured, and delighted in, each. I never did read the short story upon which this book is based, so I have no means to compare the two. The book, however, wanders almost aimlessly and ends pointlessly. As the author points out in his Acknowledgement section, there is a bit of sex in the book but even that seemed like titillation for it's own sake. Here's hoping his next endeavor has more thought and creativity behind it.
  • Long, slow and boring

    2
    By guru8008
    I'm a huge DeMille fan. I've read every book he's written and loved every one but this one. Didn't even seem like he wrote. Long and slow and boring. Anyway, thanks for all the others. Love your John Corey books the best.
  • Its Pretty Unanimous

    1
    By rmcherr
    This was without a doubt the worst/most boring thing I have read in a long time, maybe ever. I see that I am not the only one with that opinion. I've read everything that NDM has published, reading this makes me not want to read anything else he publishes
  • The Quest

    5
    By Scarbel
    Another excellent story by an author who seems to always get everything just right. Strong characters with which one can identify with and feel sympathy, anger and a host of other feelings. The storyline went from catching my interest at the beginning and wanting to know what else happened even though the last page has been turned. Highly recommend this book.
  • DeMille at his Best!

    5
    By World B
    I think that Nelson DeMille is one of the best authors of our time, and this book didn't disappoint. The search for the Holy Grail has been the topic of many books and movies, but Demille added so much more to the story. This is a novel that both entertains and enlightens. It's a love story woven together with the importance of having faith and believing that things happen for a reason. This is a terrific book!
  • Very Disappointing

    2
    By RWD13golf
    Have read many of his books and quite enjoyed them. The Quest was unnecessarily long and tedious. DeVille takes over 900 pages to discuss "the quest" ad nauseum. Spoiler Alert: when they finally arrive at their location, nothing happens. I didn't read the original version of this book, but do wonder if this later version is supposed to be an improvement?
  • Avoid this journey

    2
    By NiagaraMichael
    Be aware that this is a re-write of an old book by the author, first published in 1975. And, based on what's written in the acknowledgement section of the rewritten and revised edition, the advice to the author was to add sex. Well, DeMille did add sex, and while it's very graphic (almost unnecessarily so), it's also cumbersome and boring. Very few thrillers, if they are good, need graphic sex. I'm not a prude by any stretch of the imagination, but DeMille delivers perfunctory sexual acts that are actually sort of old-fashioned and dull. The story is standard Holy Grail stuff. There is a lot of filler and many chapters contain material that's repeated from other chapters. The three main characters are flat, sometimes silly, but the silliness comes from the fact that the author has them repeating things. One thing that I found annoying was that even though Frank, Henry, and Vivian are a team, they are perpetually at odds with each other as well as with their own ideas of the journey they must take. Characters can certainly have conflicts with other characters, but the entire book is filled with this. Most ludicrous is the "darkest Africa" tone of the novel. Savagery abounds. The natives are not only restless, but they are cannibals and perverts. "The Quest" is much too long for what it delivers. The novel fails its own premise. The hunt for the grail seems beside the point. DeMille prefers squabbling lovers with their multiple partners. His endings -- yes endings, plural -- are let-downs. The ending at the monastery is absurd and abrupt. The actual ending of the book is not believable. These are adult characters that need to grow up. DeMille's rewrite lacks freshness. A 1975 book stays rooted in 1975. And that's in spite of vast changes in Africa and in thriller writing. If you take this journey, be prepared for a lumbering, meandering, and unsatisfying jungle walk. Also be prepared for page after page of repetitive material. You may actually be saying to yourself: Let's get on with it DeMille, didn't I already read that? I know I did.
  • The quest

    1
    By Dhrtyflwrsss
    Bad is not strong enough. Keep hoping for charm school and disappointed again.
  • "The Quest"

    3
    By RivetRivet
    I too was very disappointed with the sluggishness of the book. I expected an "Indiana Jones" treasure hunt. The written preview had me excited! I have read all of your books at least 3 times each. Mr. D, I know you can deliver a great story with BIG action & deep, life-like characters that we all love. I vote to bring back John Corey & Bremmer!!