Atlantis by David Gibbins

Author: David Gibbins
ISBN # 755324226
464 pages

Jack Howard, marine archaeologist, is about to get lucky – very lucky. He & his team are about to uncover what could be the key to a fabled island which saw the birth of civilisation & became a paradise lost – Atlantis. It’s a dream come true. On the verge of a major breakthrough, they are suddenly plunged into a nightmare – they are not the only ones who have the location & their rivals are more than willing to make this a life or death situation.

Atlantis is David Gibbins’ debut novel, but reading it, it’s hard to believe such a polished product is a first attempt. This is archaeological thriller is an intelligent history-mystery, written with an elegantly fluid style. As he actually is a professional marine archaeologist, he has managed to come up with a remarkably plausible theory based on what we already know about the development of civilisation. In his extensive explanatory author’s note at the back of the book, he reveals just how much of this work of fiction is based on fact.

Although the formula is similar to that of Dan Brown, Gibbins shows a lighter hand & is more subtle in his characterisations, creating people you can really believe in – you want them to succeed, you share with them the excitement of discovery as you are drawn into their world.

I literally couldn’t put this book down & although it’s info-heavy, I barely realised till I was finished, as it’s all woven in such an intricate pattern that you don’t see the joins at all.

Highly recommended.

Rating: 9/10