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Author John Manhold's newest novel is titled "The Elymais Coin." The story follows the search for a 3000- year-old coin through a series of murders, thefts, and even a military engagement with elements of Al- Qaida. The quest moves through France, Andora, Spain, Morocco and Mexico and involves a shadowy middle easterner, a beautiful Russian woman, a rabidly anti- Muslim bishop's acolyte, members of the Maffia, the CIA, and finally the U. S. Attorney- General, because of the coin's suspected use in a subversive plot. It is an entertaining fictional tale that also provides insight to the confusing Muslim situation the United States faces in its war in the middle east.
The Elymais Coin
John H. Manhold
Cereb Press (2008)
ISBN 9780979757204
Reviewed by William Phenn for Reader Views (12/08)
Cy Lane was an experienced gumshoe with a knack for bending the rules as an ex-Vietnam vet with a law degree that turned private detective. This gave him the courage of a soldier with the cunning of a lawyer, allowing him to be a super sleuth. Set up in an old building in the lesser part of town, he had a simple office with just him and Dorene, his assistant. One day, he receives a phone call from a very prominent member of the community. This phone call is the catalyst that sends Cy on a globe-trotting adventure in search of the numismatic holy grail, the Elymais coin.
James Weston contracted Cy to find and purchase the coin for his private collection. But neither of them had any idea that Cy’s journey would take him halfway around the world and involve him in international intrigue and murder. Cy accepted the challenge and sets out on the trail of this mystical icon. Before he can even get started, he is met by one stranger and then another; the latter, a beautiful Russian woman. In true James Bond style, Cy teams up with this woman because she can lead him to the coin. But the romantic interlude does not last long and Cy finds himself alone and at a dead end. Not daunted by this minor setback, Cy meets up with an old friend who becomes very beneficial in his quest.
The two join forces in the quest for the illusive coin and in an added twist, Cy’s old friend just happens to work for the U.S. government. They globetrot from one country to another, in planes, trains, and automobiles, holding clandestine meetings with shifty characters along the way. They fight off terrorists and get into all sorts of dilemmas, only to finally arrive full circle, back in the United States.
“The Elymais Coin” by John H. Manhold was written well, had very good character development and was a fast-paced adventure. The author has really done his homework; the descriptions of the foreign towns and surrounding areas were quite detailed, right down to the local fare at the restaurants. I enjoyed the read and gave it an A on my proverbial scale. I would recommend it to all that enjoy a James Bond thriller which is a little more like the real world.
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