Papyrus: A Thriller

This was a suspenseful, educational, intriguing novel with a touch of tastefully written romance. When reason, human decency, and integrity win---that's my kind of book! Well done! Will be waiting for Tepui.

I don't normally read thrillers, but this one intrigued me. I was not disappointed! I was held in its grip until the last page. I also loved the three main characters: Rika, David, and "Blue". Highly recommended!

Wow!! What a wicked story. Move over Batman, a new hero is at the mall, and her name is Rika! Great story, with smooth plot and gritty characters. The psycho bad guy gets his just deserts, and the white hats ride off into the sunset. Write on John Oehler.

This should have been an excellent book. Egyptian history, modern day conflict and strong personalities. But I was never involved in the story line. There is a fine history of an interesting queen who died most unusually. Just OK.

Disappointing and historically inaccurate. Tiye is Tut's grandmother, not his mother ([...]). Tiye was NOT the key player in monotheistic Egypt. While I agree she likely exposed her son Akhenaten (Amenhotep IV) to alternate views, HE was the dynamic change agent and certainly no minor player. Known as the heretic pharaoh, he forbid the practice of worshiping multiple gods and moved the capital of Egypt from Thebes to Amarna and dedicated the city to Aten. The author promotes a honorable persona to the protagonist "heroine" despite behavior such as lying, cheating, stealing not to mention murder to recklessly get her way. Her disregard of the archaeological/historical significance of an Egyptian tomb other than fueling her anarchic objective is more reminiscent of a tomb raider than a Egyptian doctoral student who would know to protect the find "in situ". Equally unfathomable is blowing up the site (a second time) to hide the artifacts from the rest of the world, again, based on personal motivational "illusions of grandeur" expressed as rambling thoughts of "connection". Finally, the relationship between Erika and David reads more like a dime store novel than realistic character development. Revisionist historical writing is one thing, but this is flat out inaccurate with fanciful protagonist development and a implausible plot.

This was a decent book. Not amazing and not terrible. It's toted as being in the same vein as The Da Vinci Code, but I found that to be untrue. This book was much too slow to be likened to The Da Vinci Code.

In fact, I found myself skimming a lot because some parts of it were downright boring. It pains me to admit that because I hate skimming, but there it is. The parts told in ancient times (from Tiye's POV) and when they were in the tomb were, without doubt, the most interesting aspects of the book. Unfortunately, that was only about 20% of the book.

I think my least favorite part of the book was Hassam. Honestly, I think the book would have been 5 stars without him. If he was not in the book, then the silly chases would not have occurred, and they were somewhat torturous to read about--not interesting at all.

Another weak area was the romance. David and Riki had no chemistry together whatsoever. I wish their relationship had been kept platonic as it was much more believable that way. The other characters were forgettable.

I've done a lot of complaining so far, but really, this book wasn't a loss. I did like the plot quite a bit, and I've been interested in Tiye for several years. Although I fall in the "camp" that believes she was Tutankhamun's grandmother, it was quite intriguing to read this different viewpoint, and I rather liked it. Reading about the different items in her tomb was fascinating. Also, the cover art is gorgeous.

Overall, it was a static read--something to pass the time--but not something I'll remember for years to come.

Immersed in Papyrus I enjoyed visiting places that I have never been like Sudan, Eritrea and Egypt.

The female protagonist, Rika, is a freedom fighter turned scholar from Eritrea who discovers a written-over papyrus locating the tomb of Queen Tiye, the mother of Tutankhamun. Various agendas by other characters provide tension for the race to locate the tomb which is not in Egypt.

The novel also weaves in and out of ancient and modern Egypt as we follow the twilight years of Queen Tiye and the changes in Egyptian spiritual and cultural beliefs.

There is love, there is action, there is war and peace and a high octane plane chase above airspace crossing several international borders. There are also great descriptions including scent descriptors of various times and places. The ending is unexpected; John Oehler could teach a course in creative writing. I took the day off work to read this but wish I had made it last over a weekend or a week. Was it a thriller? Yes.

Jordan River
[...]

While there are moments of a sympathy for the European colonial powers in Africa, the underlying vision of a world where Gandhi style leadership really could drive modern governance is to my mind entirely consistent with an intellectual/spiritual quest for the queen who was the source of monotheism. The Eritrean scholar who is the protagonist of the novel has been charged with preparing herself for a major leadership role in the nation which will emerge from the their fight for independence. Her quest brings her to a face-to-face encounter with the spirit of her ancestors and she is transformed. It is a fast paced thriller while at the same time carrying some impressive insights.

The book has a really fascinating overall premise that takes the reader back to the mother of King Tut (sorry for the abbreviation, but I couldn't remember how to spell the full name). Scenes in the present, or recent past, include battlefields in Eritrea, the Sudan desert, and Cairo.

Some of the plot premises weren't very plausible, but the general force and energy of the book was compelling. Definitely recommended.

Just completed PAPYRUS by John Oehler. Wonderful read about Rika Teferi who accidentally spills tea on an 18th Dynasty papyrus written by Queen Tiye, the mother of King Tut, and discovers a hidden message. If you enjoy Egyptian antiquities, a strong female character, and a bit of sexual tension, you'll enjoy this thriller. Mr. Oehler has used his knowledge from previous work experiences to write a crisp, action-generated novel.

This novel was recommended to me by author and blogger, A. K. Klemm, for which I'm grateful. I understand how the novel was a semi-finalist in the the store Breakthrough Novel Award and must mention the striking PAPYRUS cover designed by his wife Dorothy that complements the story.

Author does a great job for suspense and cliff-hangers. The technical details (armaments and expolsives) seems to baffle him and for me were distracting. Otherwise, very much worth the zero dollars I paid to read. That's not fair, because I've paid more to read a lot less... Would defintely read more from this author, but he should mix up his formula...

Papyrus was AMAZING, this is a must read. This is a combination of adventure, science, ancient history, and a love story. I had it on my Kindle and most of the book was read on a flight to New Mexico from London and then back (in-between at people's homes on my tour). John Oehler has a way with words making images vivid in one's mind. I could really smell and see everything described. The scenery was so clear, as if I could watch the scenes happening in-front of my eyes.

The whole book was a page turner, loved the 18th Dynasty story that was weaved into the modern story of finding the tomb. Truly a work of art.

Now, I will begin to read my next book from the same author, 'Aphrodesia'. After reading 'Papyrus' I cannot wait to start my new book by Mr. Oehler!

John Oehler's second novel Papyrus is a unique thriller combining historical fiction with modern settings. He includes ground-penetrating radar as a plot device. I recall that kind of radar was used by the space shuttle a long time ago (somewhere in 1981-2011) to find some ancient ruins buried in desert sands. The romance helps to keep the thriller interesting, and I pictured Oehler himself in the role of David Chamberlain, the radar expert. But the woman Rika Teferi is the main character. Introducing her as a fighter in a war of independence is a modern enough idea in 2013, given the headlines these days. We sometimes call that the Arab Spring, the source of some of these headlines. Her exit from combat is a plot change I never saw coming. It is plausible, but I would never have thought of that. I recommend this book without reservation for anyone who enjoys thrillers, historical fiction, romance, and finding a great writer among our contemporaries of 2013!

I chose to read this book because I love archaeology and Egypt . The story line was well written with no filler just pure action . The characters were very well developed and you either loved them or hated them . I highly recommend this book. I also enjoy a story with a strong female character which this one has . I look forward to reading John Oehler's next book.

This was another great read by Oehler. Captivating story. Main characters were well developed and interesting. Distinction between good guys and bad guys quite good. Ending leaves me wanting more of the story otherwise I would have rated 5 stars.

PAPYRUS: A THRILLER (Papyrus: A Thriller) by John Oehler, my KOLL selection for this month. Looking for the tomb of Queen Tiye, an 18th Dynasty ruler in Egypt, this story, this story alternates between ancient Egypt and late 20th century Egypt and Sudan. Some of the situations Rika, the heroine, and David and Blue, her supporting cast, encounter and how they are resolved sort of boggles the imagination. The same goes for the bad guys, Major Hassam and his sidekicks. Malik and Samir. The ending is more of a pause before the next installment is published, maybe. This is 2.5--3 stars at best.

I love this novel, love Rika's evolution from warrior to , you have to read the book to find out what she is turned into. I think that this novel is worth a second read. Thank you for a great read. Bye. Gonna start over now!

I think the book was excellent. It contained history, both recent and distant past, romance, intrigue, current affairs. I think a little more could have been emphasised to give a look into the modern life of Egypt and Egyptians as well as Etrians.

Anyone who loves archeological discoveries and myths will enjoy this story. It's a wonderful mixture of modern and ancient Egypt combined with an exciting race to recover glorious treasures. The ending will surprise you.

A very interesting read! THere were alot of twists and turns in the plot. One expects to go one way, and you're taken down a different path. I read on my commute home from the office and to the office inthe morning--and any chance I get so I'm looking for something light and fun....this was one good book

Papyrus is a well written story, set in the present day, mixed with glimpses of the past. As the title suggests, this book is definitely a thriller mixed with suspense, leaving the reader guessing what will happen right until the end.

Interesting, on several levels. Justifies a lot of thought. Four, not 5, because I didn't like exactly how it ended - but that's me, and on further thought I may change that - because it's consistent with the rest of the book.

A taut thriller that builds momentum from start to finish. Mr. Oehler cleverly weaves a modern story line involving hydrocarbon exploration and Middle East conflict with happenings in ancient Egypt. The characters and settings are well developed and it is clear that a considerable amount of research went into developing the narrative. Highly recommended. It kept me up well passed my bedtime on several evenings.