Shadows of the Stone Benders (The Anlon Cully Chronicles Book 1)

It is a good read and first book from a new author as I understand it to be. I do not find it at a level other reviewers compaired to Cussler or Preston & Childs. I found the authors story line at times to come across as very effeminate and thought I was reading a book by a female author untill about half through when I looked the author up. I will purchase the next book in this story line stated to be in the works, and believe this author will be a good one to follow as he gains experience.

This book is non stop-action. The theories this book is based upon are very intriguing. And the two main characters are very developed and very unusual. I did find Pebbles a little flighty. She was so in control; out of control; unexpected; normal and back again. I'm not really certain about her true self (almost unbelievable because for the most part, her defining characteristic is that she is true to herself and anyone who doesn't like it, well, who cares). Loved Anlon. Jennifer, too. The only problem I had was keeping track of which stone did what and, in some cases, who was a good guy and who was a bad guy. A little twist at the end. I bought the next one in the series, and I'm looking forward to reading it.

The plot of this book was good, decently carried out and a simple, light read. If you want a read with good character development, and ending you cannot guess before the end, then this is not your book. I found the characters to be rather silly, shallow in character, and stereotypical. The nicknames of the main characters and their actions toward each other were silly and sophomoric. I'm not intrigued enough to read another of this series.

So far (64%) its an interesting and pretty well written story. I like the characters and the details the author puts in place. I'd recommend it if this is an are of interest for you. And so far, it's not crossed any PG lines or foisted any values in an attempt to move the audience into embracing some social issue (which many authors seem to demand of themselves and their publishers). I think it might lose some folks toward the end when conclusions are reached as to how and when and why ... but then, I can't tell you that (or peek ahead) or I'll spoil the ride! :-)

This is the first 5 star review I've written. A real page turner for me. I loved the premise, somewhat Dan Brown-like, and the characters. The mystery involved several threads, so there was no one trail to the solution. There was just enough closure to the story to make me feel satisfied, but I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. Highly recommended.

Fast action...exciting story...fun characters. I stayed up way too late to finish reading this book. The author was even careful about using bad language. I appreciate that. Read this book, you won't be sorry.

Really enjoyed this book! Loved the premise of an ancient civilization which existed long before our cavemen and had abilities that were lost to modern man. Well written, fast paced and thoroughly enjoyable!

*I was given a free copy of this book in exhange for an honest review* Sci-fi/fantasy isn't one of my go to reads so I wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading Shadows of the Stone Benders...the story line pulled me in immediately and I really enjoyed it!

The author did an excellent job of mixing a quick-paced adventure, the history of ancient civilizations and sci-fi. The premise of the story was so intriguing and I often found myself wondering what parts of it could have been true to life versus fiction.

The author's style of writing allowed me to easily connect with the good variety of characters in the book and pull me into the story. The plot had many twists and turns that I didn't see coming and I may have ignored my children (just a few times) to keep reading. I wish I could get my hands on the next book in the series because I am dying to see what happens next with the stones and with Pebbles, Anlon and Jennifer. I will definitely recommend this book to others as a good summer read.

I had to return this book because I was mistaken about the authorship. I had received an email from the store that pronounced it was a new book for Dan Brown fans. So I read too quickly (partially vision-impaired) and assumed it was a new book by Dan Brown.

When Dr. Anlon Cully’s archaeologist uncle dies unexpectedly, Cully has to leave his Lake Tahoe home to settle his uncle’s affairs. Upon arrival in Massachusetts, Cully learns that his eccentric uncle was making some ground-breaking, ground-shaking discoveries that could change the way people understand history. Secrecy surrounds his uncle’s affairs, so when his uncle’s assistant also dies mysteriously, Cully, along with his friends Pebbles and Jennifer, will have to determine what is really going on and what his uncle’s research is really all about.

I wanted to read this book because the description said that if I like reading Steve Berry or James Rollins or Preston and Child, I’d like this story. I guess I can see why Donoghue was equated to those authors – archaeology mixed with the notion of re-writing history and tossed into a modern-day mystery – but he’s not quite up to their level, yet. This is his debut novel, after all, so he’s got time to progress.

And I hope he does, because the story did have some good points. He built the tension fairly well and kept me guessing and wanting to know how it would all wrap up. The character backstories were relatively well-developed; however, at times the dialogue was a bit stiff, making the characters seem too formal for close friends sharing their deepest secrets.

Overall, it was not a bad read. I did enjoy it and hope that the next episode of the Anlon Cully Chronicles is more smoothly written. Borrow a copy from your local library this summer and curl up on the couch in front of your air conditioner for a decent read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Leaping Leopard Enterprises, LLC, for the free copy of this book for review purposes. I was not required to give a positive review. All opinions are my very own!:)

ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher.

Shadows of the Stone Benders by K. Patrick Donoghue was described by the words "For fans of James Rollins and Steve Berry, a suspense-riddled adventure." It was further described as "Peppered with the thought provoking intrigue of a Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child thriller, Shadows of the Stone Benders leaves readers questioning the technological prowess of modern man and the belief that Neolithic humans were nothing more than unsophisticated cave dwellers."

Well, those are certainly some authors I enjoy reading and I thought I'd give this book a try. Bad move. I don't know who wrote the description, but I don't think they've ever read a book by Rollins, Berry, Preston or Child! This book is no where near the caliber of one of those authors' books nor was it a suspense-riddled adventure. I found the story to be plodding, the dialogue to be stilted and the characters one-dimensional and frequently annoying, especially the women.

While the basic idea of the book was interesting, the poor execution made it a complete disappointment.

Great concept; terribly overwrought prose and action. For example:
'He flopped down on the edge of the bed and threw his hands up in the air again. Stevens strutted to where he sat and peered down at him with arms crossed....'
'“I don’t know, you tell me!” he exclaimed, throwing his exasperated arms to the heavens.'
Clearly, this needs toned down about a dozen notches. Various characters are constantly pacing, strutting, throwing arms about, and otherwise taking the reader out of the story. An invisible narrator would make this novel a great read. But the author seems to want to flaunt his descriptive prowess without clear knowledge of what descriptive prowess really is. Don't work so hard at it, Mr. Donoghue. Let it flow more naturally. You won't be criticized for using 'said' rather than interjected, or 'walked' rather than 'paced' or 'strutted'.

Great read! I was excited when I received my copy of this book in exchange for an honest review because it promised to have several elements that I like, including the fact that it's a combination mystery-adventure. The plot line was captivating and included elements offering a new twist on an age-old perspective of ancient civilizations and their evolution, while offering thoughts on how knowledge may have been passed down from one civilization to the next, ultimately proffering the idea that ancient civilizations weren't primitive but rather sophisticated in many ways. Since this is a series, subsequent volumes will continue to unravel this line of thought in more depth. The first book in the series, Shadows of the Stone Benders, however, is a murder mystery at its heart and a good one at that. A fun read, I had a hard time putting it down. The characters were interesting and well-developed and connections between them and to the plot were well-explained (sometimes too much detail offered). The dialogue was helpful but overdone in certain places and some of the elements of character development didn't seem to have relevance to the plot line of the current volume. It's likely that the author is using the first volume of the series to plant seeds in the mind of the readers about certain personality traits or characteristics that may be relevant in future volumes.
With its twists and turns, the story is interesting and the author's writing style (very good) allows for a nice pace of story. The lead character as well as the main supporting characters held my interest and make me look forward to following their individual stories as the series develops. Overall, a great first effort by a gifted author. Keep up the good work!

** I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. **

Shadows of the Stone Benders is a mystery/thriller story with some science- fiction and fantasy thrown in. You know. Just for fun. Dr. Anlon Cully’s uncle, Devlin Wilson, dies under some pretty mysterious circumstances. His uncle was an eccentric archaeologist who had some fairly unconventional designs on the history of a technologically advanced society. These ideas seem to have two different effects on Devlin’s colleagues. Most just spurn him but there are a few that know his findings show real proof. Who are they and what will they do to get it?

I loved this book! It only took a few chapters and then I was thoroughly engrossed in the story-line. The writing was very descriptive and I felt like I was there watching the action as it unfolded. The mystery was well done and was written so that I could follow the clues along with the protagonists. I could not put the book down as we got to the end so that I could “solve” the mystery along with Anlon, Pebbles and Jennifer.

I love a good mystery and Shadows of the Stone Benders was able to deliver. I can’t wait to read more in this series.

*I was given a free copy of this book in exhange for an honest review* Sci-fi/fantasy isn't one of my go to reads so I wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading Shadows of the Stone Benders...the story line pulled me in immediately and I really enjoyed it!

The author did an excellent job of mixing a quick-paced adventure, the history of ancient civilizations and sci-fi. The premise of the story was so intriguing and I often found myself wondering what parts of it could have been true to life versus fiction.

The author's style of writing allowed me to easily connect with the good variety of characters in the book and pull me into the story. The plot had many twists and turns that I didn't see coming and I may have ignored my children (just a few times) to keep reading. I wish I could get my hands on the next book in the series because I am dying to see what happens next with the stones and with Pebbles, Anlon and Jennifer. I will definitely recommend this book to others as a good summer read.

I had to return this book because I was mistaken about the authorship. I had received an email from the store that pronounced it was a new book for Dan Brown fans. So I read too quickly (partially vision-impaired) and assumed it was a new book by Dan Brown.

When Dr. Anlon Cully’s archaeologist uncle dies unexpectedly, Cully has to leave his Lake Tahoe home to settle his uncle’s affairs. Upon arrival in Massachusetts, Cully learns that his eccentric uncle was making some ground-breaking, ground-shaking discoveries that could change the way people understand history. Secrecy surrounds his uncle’s affairs, so when his uncle’s assistant also dies mysteriously, Cully, along with his friends Pebbles and Jennifer, will have to determine what is really going on and what his uncle’s research is really all about.

I wanted to read this book because the description said that if I like reading Steve Berry or James Rollins or Preston and Child, I’d like this story. I guess I can see why Donoghue was equated to those authors – archaeology mixed with the notion of re-writing history and tossed into a modern-day mystery – but he’s not quite up to their level, yet. This is his debut novel, after all, so he’s got time to progress.

And I hope he does, because the story did have some good points. He built the tension fairly well and kept me guessing and wanting to know how it would all wrap up. The character backstories were relatively well-developed; however, at times the dialogue was a bit stiff, making the characters seem too formal for close friends sharing their deepest secrets.

Overall, it was not a bad read. I did enjoy it and hope that the next episode of the Anlon Cully Chronicles is more smoothly written. Borrow a copy from your local library this summer and curl up on the couch in front of your air conditioner for a decent read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Leaping Leopard Enterprises, LLC, for the free copy of this book for review purposes. I was not required to give a positive review. All opinions are my very own!:)

ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher.

Shadows of the Stone Benders by K. Patrick Donoghue was described by the words "For fans of James Rollins and Steve Berry, a suspense-riddled adventure." It was further described as "Peppered with the thought provoking intrigue of a Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child thriller, Shadows of the Stone Benders leaves readers questioning the technological prowess of modern man and the belief that Neolithic humans were nothing more than unsophisticated cave dwellers."

Well, those are certainly some authors I enjoy reading and I thought I'd give this book a try. Bad move. I don't know who wrote the description, but I don't think they've ever read a book by Rollins, Berry, Preston or Child! This book is no where near the caliber of one of those authors' books nor was it a suspense-riddled adventure. I found the story to be plodding, the dialogue to be stilted and the characters one-dimensional and frequently annoying, especially the women.

While the basic idea of the book was interesting, the poor execution made it a complete disappointment.

Great concept; terribly overwrought prose and action. For example:
'He flopped down on the edge of the bed and threw his hands up in the air again. Stevens strutted to where he sat and peered down at him with arms crossed....'
'“I don’t know, you tell me!” he exclaimed, throwing his exasperated arms to the heavens.'
Clearly, this needs toned down about a dozen notches. Various characters are constantly pacing, strutting, throwing arms about, and otherwise taking the reader out of the story. An invisible narrator would make this novel a great read. But the author seems to want to flaunt his descriptive prowess without clear knowledge of what descriptive prowess really is. Don't work so hard at it, Mr. Donoghue. Let it flow more naturally. You won't be criticized for using 'said' rather than interjected, or 'walked' rather than 'paced' or 'strutted'.

Great read! I was excited when I received my copy of this book in exchange for an honest review because it promised to have several elements that I like, including the fact that it's a combination mystery-adventure. The plot line was captivating and included elements offering a new twist on an age-old perspective of ancient civilizations and their evolution, while offering thoughts on how knowledge may have been passed down from one civilization to the next, ultimately proffering the idea that ancient civilizations weren't primitive but rather sophisticated in many ways. Since this is a series, subsequent volumes will continue to unravel this line of thought in more depth. The first book in the series, Shadows of the Stone Benders, however, is a murder mystery at its heart and a good one at that. A fun read, I had a hard time putting it down. The characters were interesting and well-developed and connections between them and to the plot were well-explained (sometimes too much detail offered). The dialogue was helpful but overdone in certain places and some of the elements of character development didn't seem to have relevance to the plot line of the current volume. It's likely that the author is using the first volume of the series to plant seeds in the mind of the readers about certain personality traits or characteristics that may be relevant in future volumes.
With its twists and turns, the story is interesting and the author's writing style (very good) allows for a nice pace of story. The lead character as well as the main supporting characters held my interest and make me look forward to following their individual stories as the series develops. Overall, a great first effort by a gifted author. Keep up the good work!

** I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. **

Shadows of the Stone Benders is a mystery/thriller story with some science- fiction and fantasy thrown in. You know. Just for fun. Dr. Anlon Cully’s uncle, Devlin Wilson, dies under some pretty mysterious circumstances. His uncle was an eccentric archaeologist who had some fairly unconventional designs on the history of a technologically advanced society. These ideas seem to have two different effects on Devlin’s colleagues. Most just spurn him but there are a few that know his findings show real proof. Who are they and what will they do to get it?

I loved this book! It only took a few chapters and then I was thoroughly engrossed in the story-line. The writing was very descriptive and I felt like I was there watching the action as it unfolded. The mystery was well done and was written so that I could follow the clues along with the protagonists. I could not put the book down as we got to the end so that I could “solve” the mystery along with Anlon, Pebbles and Jennifer.

I love a good mystery and Shadows of the Stone Benders was able to deliver. I can’t wait to read more in this series.

Ugh. I don't even know where to begin. I wanted to love this book. I was fascinated and excited by the premise. But I can't remember the last time that I read such childish, poorly edited, unprofessional drivel. Basics such as grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure were completely lacking.- which *might* have been forgivable had the plot not been so ridiculous and juvenile. The characters all acted like junior high schoolers, "crushing" on each other and engaging in dialogue more immature than any 8 year old's. I kept reading it with utter disbelief, wondering how anyone could ever think adults (who aren't on Jerry Springier) talk and think this way. The "hero" was completely helpless, constantly "blown away" by the genius of the two women (who came up with "brilliant" ideas like that maybe the bad guy is motivated by money! Gasp!) This book was awful, awful, awful. I am baffled that an editor not only let it slide by, but allowed for two sequels. The concept is there, but the writer desperately needs a few years of writing classes (and to retake his Jr. High English classes) - not to mention needs to spend some serious time with actual thinking, functioning adults to learn how people actually behave with and speak to one another.

Surprises provide the pleasures we find in reading. Just when I decide I can’t take another resonating rock, magnetic pummeling, or all-wise 10,000-year-old woman, K. Patrick Donoghue, in his novel “Shadows of the Stone Benders,” gives me some extraordinary dialogue or finely wrought piece of investigative skill. I wend my way through his fantasy mystery alternately holding my nose and giving explosive rants of praise.

Anlon Cully is a widely known scientist who inadvertently gets involved in an archaeological mystery uncovered by his world-renowned uncle, archaeologist Devlin Wilson. His uncle has unearthed undeniable proof that a highly advanced primitive society inhabited earth long before anyone suspected and had developed formable powers to build, communicate, fight and heal using mysterious magnetic stones. After his uncle’s mysterious death, Cully, assisted by a weird friend named Pebbles and a lady police detective, Jennifer Stevens, begins a tortuous investigation to determine exactly what happened and to gather up the series of potent stones before they fall into evil hands.

Of course there are others racing to find the stones, some with nefarious intentions. The list of characters is long and confusing; some of the good guys are not as virtuous as they appear and some of the bad are worse than first suspected. So the investigation entails much sorting out of the good from the bad, honorable motives from evil, and rational experiences from chimera. Here is where I have to separate my skeptical nature from my love of good mystery. Donoghue is very helpful with his captivating writing.

I admit that, in this case, the excellence of a good mystery and the solving of it trump my skepticism. I have put aside my doubts as to the premise of the book and applaud its construction. If you subscribe to ancient lore and the impact it might have on our world today you’re also in luck because both aspects are here and sure to please.

Schuyler T Wallace
Author of TIN LIZARD TALES

Dr Anlon Cully, a wealthy scientist, is enjoying a relaxing evening at his home near Lake Tahoe with his friend Pebbles, the bartender at a local restaurant. He tells her about a call he received from Matthew Dobson, his uncle Devlin's archaeological research partner. Devlin is dead after suffering a fall when climbing a mountain in New Hampshire.

Anlon is the heir and Dobson wants him to come East immediately to sort out Devlin's affairs. Although he'd rather stay in his comfortable Tahoe residence, Anlon agrees to go and invites Pebbles to go with him. Not only has Anlon inherited his uncle's house and it's contents, he also finds that he has been left several stones that appear to have unusual powers. When Dobson, too, is murdered, finding out what the stones mean becomes critical.

Mysteries with an archaeological background fascinate me. This book has a good plot with just enough real mythology to make it seem real. The settings in Tahoe and New Hampshire are authentic and add a layer of believability to the story.

However, the characters are poorly developed. Anlon Cully is a famous scientist. As such you would expect him to be able to figure out much of the background surrounding the stones. However, Anlon stands back in amazement as Pebbles takes the lead in unraveling the mystery. I found this unrealistic.

The dialog is often used to provide an information dump rather than conversation. In some cases this is justified when retelling the background myths surrounding the stones, but the author doesn't restrict the information dump to those occasions which makes many of the interactions seem too formal.

If you enjoy an archaeological mystery, this one has an interesting underlying story. However, the action often plods and the characters sometimes detract from the reality of the situation. There is a twist at the end, but it's fairly easy to see it coming so the ending is something of a let down.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

This is a hard one to review. I really liked the plot. It was out there, but this is a science fiction novel, so out there is good. There is a romance, but it is definitely a subplot – important, but not critical to the story line.

This is the first book in the series, so I was concerned there might be a cliffhanger ending. I hate cliffhangers, but no, the author does an excellent job of bringing everything together while leaving room for the next book.

So, why did I give it only two stars.

It was the over-the-top dialogue. The personalities of the characters were established and then the author would have them react in this dramatic fashion. Not just once, but throughout the book.

For example, one of the characters, Eleanor/Pebbles, has just figured out something about the black stone. Now, she and Jennifer, a police detective, have just met. Jennifer’s response is “Way to go Eleanor!” shouted Jennifer. She shouted, not stated, not exclaimed, but shouted. It just didn’t fit the personality that had already been established for Jennifer.

Later on, Jennifer has been interviewing a bank president. He is Asian and she is knowledgeable enough to know how to address him properly and respect his culture. However, at the end of the interview, when he has given her some much needed information, she says, “Min-Jun, you da man!”

This is to an older Asian gentleman!

And it goes on. It’s not just Jennifer’s part either. The same thing happens with Pebbles and to a certain extent with Anlon – the male lead.

I couldn’t get past it.

The plot is good. Without the dialogue issues, I would have probably given this book a 3.5 at least. I do know this is a debut novel, so surely the author will get better. I just don’t know that I’m willing to give him another chance.

This book was sent to me by NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I chose to read this because the archeological thriller plot sounded interesting to me. The first sign I encountered that something was wrong was when the police questioned the protagonist Anlon Cully at his motel room about a suspicious death. Upon concluding the interview the police fingerprint him, took a DNA sample and then released him on his own recognizance. Anlon was not arrested and this all took place inside a motel room. Somebody needs to tell Mr. Donaghue that is now how it works. Yet I read on until I came to the part describing how the romantic relationship between Anton and Peebles developed. The writing is annoyingly sophomoric, juvenile even. I felt like I was reading a high school student's creative writing assignment. I gave up on it at the 15% point. Don’t waste your time on this. 1/5 stars.

World-renowned scientist Anlon Cully is unexpectedly swept into the thick of a suspense-riddled adventure when his archaeologist uncle, Devlin Wilson, dies under suspicious circumstances.

Prior to his “accidental” fall off a New Hampshire mountain trail, Devlin made the discovery of a lifetime – unearthing undeniable proof that a technologically advanced society thrived on Earth long before archaeologists thought possible!

The key to this shocking evidence lies in a set of mysterious stones forged by a long forgotten race of ancient mariners. Instilled with formidable powers to build, communicate, fight and heal, the stones draw the ruthless attention of villainous thieves hell bent on their acquisition by any means possible…including murder.

Aided by friend Pebbles McCarver and police detective Jennifer Stevens, Anlon follows traces of bewildering clues left by his uncle in a dangerous chase to unravel the stones’ secrets before the killer strikes again and escapes with the priceless artifacts.

Peppered with the thought provoking intrigue of a Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child thriller, Shadows of the Stone Benders leaves readers questioning the technological prowess of modern man and the belief that Neolithic humans were nothing more than unsophisticated cave dwellers

What did I think:
5 stars
OMG this book was great, once I started to read I just couldn't stop, it pulled me in and it kept me hooked to the very end, it was like I was reading a book that James Rollins himself wrote , loved every thing about it , its non stop all the way , there was a few typos in it but this is an ARC copy so you tend to find them, can't wait to pick up an actually cope when I can , With that said I would love to also say that I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion and review and that these are 100 % my own thoughts to what is truly a great book

I received this preview book with the understanding that I would write an honest review. Sometimes when I do this and find problems with a book, it really becomes a challenge to write the truth because once in a while it's in the writing itself with flawed characters, silly plot lines, poor editing or any of the dozens of things that can make a book less than stellar but sometimes it's no simpler than it's boring, you wanted an easier read or you had a bad day and even the most interesting book couldn't get the attention it deserves. Fortunately, none of these things happened with this amazing first novel.

It is absolutely riveting! I began this book yesterday while on vacation and found myself in love with each of the beautifully drawn main characters and was in awe of the wonderful story itself. It is a very special book that really makes you think about all of those long forgotten college classes in classical mythology, early civilizations, art in the bronze ages, even the stories of the Bible, and reevaluate what you thought you really knew. It is a wonderful concept for a book and when I hit the Epilogue, I found myself wishing for more. I can hardly wait for the next part to come out to find out what happens next.

Each character is such a real person with strengths and weaknesses but I thought Pebbles was especially well done. One particular scene has her interacting with a woman from a long forgotten time and for me, this scene was simply magical. I could almost smell the flowers and feel the splash of the water as it was described. What is the phrase, show don't tell. This author succeeds beautifully in showing but at the same time telling a wonderfully complex story that can simply go in dozens of directions down the road - rather like the Harry Potter stories of the last decade.

Mysterious, powerful stones are linked to a society that predates the earliest known to man. The elderly archaeologist who discovers them turns up dead. His nephew, a wealthy scientist in his own right, is intent on learning the secrets his uncle unearthed. Hmmm - almost from Page 1, my mind's eye was seeing shadows of "Indiana Jones" and "The Librarian." Hints of those images remained throughout, even though the story and characters are quite different. If this book - and the rest of the series to come (next up is "Race for the Flash Stone") - do as well as I expect, I won't be at all surprised to see film versions (and if that happens, I've got some great suggestions for who to cast in the lead roles; call me).

This one begins as noted archaeologist Devlin Wilson dies while hiking up a mountain - apparently the result of a fall. In his will, he leaves his home and all his research to his nephew, Anlon Cully, who has earned a stellar reputation (and a ton of money) in the biochemical field. Anlon has a rather odd relationship with an equally odd younger woman named "Pebbles" McCarver - a super-perceptive free spirit with blue hair, several body piercings and tattoos and a rather suspicious background.

Devlin's estate includes a safe in which he's hidden a couple of strangely marked stones; further research by Anlon and Pebbles reveals that Devlin was researching them in the belief that they originate prior to the oldest known civilization and that they were used by a technologically advanced group of humans. Not long after Anlon finds the stones, one of Wilson's long-time associates turns up dead, an apparent suicide (as an aside, the associate was an occasional lecturer at Stony Brook University on Long Island, New York, at which our son earned a master's degree in mathematics a number of years ago - pretty cool).

The local police - most notably detective Jennifer Stevens - get involved when it appears one or both of the deceased guys may have been murdered. Although Jennifer is reluctant to believe the theory of the stones' power, she's astute enough to realize something sinister is afoot. Jennifer, like Pebbles, is taken with the middle-aged Anlon; but surprisingly, the two very different women hit it off and set off, with Anlon's help, to rock the investigative boat. The ride brings them closer to the truth with every stroke of their paddles, but also puts them dangerously close to some very sinister characters who would like nothing more than to use the power of the stones for their own dastardly purposes.

I really, really enjoyed the book, but I do have a few nits to pick such as a few too many errors grammar and punctuation. At the top of my list is the virtual nonexistence of commas before the name of the person being addressed in direct quotes, which at times made me chuckle out loud, to-wit:

"Thanks for the lead Detective."

Um, I think you mean, "Thanks for the lead, Detective."

All in all, though, this is a really fun, hard-to-put-down read, and I look forward to seeing where the next installment will take the trio of friends. Thanks to the author and publisher, via NetGalley, for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Now if you could just spare a few tickets to the first movie...?

Shadows of the Stone Benders is a fun read. Billionaire inventor Anlon Cully literally inherits this adventure from his close friend Devlin, a renegade archaeologist, who has died under mysterious circumstances. His research has led him to the existence of powerful Stones that he believes were used throughout history to accomplish great tasks before their knowledge was lost before recorded history due to their misuse. When Anlon assumes his role as executor of Devlin's estate, he unknowingly kicks a hornet's nest full of unscrupulous characters who seek to gain from Devlin's accumulated fortune and artifacts. Cully, his good friend Pebbles, and a local police detective try to solve the mystery of why the Stones are so important, and who is trying to murder those around them.

As their search expands around the globe, so do the number of their pursuers. How can a team of everyday people win out against high-level military teams bent on taking everything they have? . . .I enjoyed the fresh take on ancient civilizations that pre-date the ones we know, and the mix of archaeology, Indiana Jones-style swashbuckling, and powerful artifacts is a good mix. I'm looking forward to seeing how this all unfolds in the next novel.

My only caveat would be that I don't really get what Anlon Cully brings to the table. We understand that he's a billionaire and a brilliant inventor, but not much is said about him, besides the fact that he seems to be very fearful of relationships, and he's unfailingly polite. My problem with Anlon, is that as a supposed genius, Anlon seems to be frequently dumbfounded by events, and is the last to figure stuff out. As a "brilliant inventor", it didn't add up to me, especially seeing as he has an array of assassins coming after him. I expected him to be more of a problem-solving expert such as Painter Crowe in James Rollins' novels or Dirk Pitt in Clive Cussler's stories. Perhaps that will come later, but I still very much enjoyed the story.

**I received an advance copy of this novel via NetGalley in return for an honest review**

I liked this novel, a combination of archaeology and science fiction. I had read other books suggesting an advanced civilization flourished before Noah's world wide flood so this one was appealing.

Anlon is our hero, a wealthy and accomplished scientist. He received word his eccentric uncle has died and goes to take care of the estate. Before long he is involved in his uncle's archaeological research involving mysterious stones from a civilization long ago. But others are after them too. The death toll mounts as Anlon tries to solve one mystery after another.

I've enjoyed the novels by Preston and Child and this one fits into that genre. There are stones that contain visions and others that can forcefully move people. There is suspense as several nefarious people are trying to find all of the artifacts before Anlon does.

The character development is good. Anlon has a sidekick, a young woman he has helped to regain her self esteem. She's a scrappy young woman and it was fun to see her grow and mature as the novel developed.

I think this novel is a good debut effort. The plot is a little complex but I enjoyed its over all movement. We are left with hints of a sequel and I will be watching for it.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher for the purpose of an independent and honest review.

Shadows of the Stone Benders is the first book in a new series The Anlon Cully Chronicles. It begins with the death of Anlon's uncle, prominent archeologist Devlin Wilson. Devlin had a reputation for being on the fringe in his scientific inquiries. Most recently Devlin had discovered proof of an ancient race who possessed technology far beyond any previously imagined. To the untrained eye, the technology appears to be nothing more than a common stone. Used correctly, however, these stones grant amazing powers including the power to kill. Devlin strove to keep his findings secret, but failed, and there's at least one group hot on the trail. Anlon Cully is drawn into a race to find the stones and figure out how to use them before he falls prey to the same forces as his uncle.

Shadows of the Stone Benders is a very entertaining read. It pulls the reader into the story. Character development is strong, and clues to the mystery are interspersed into the action sequences. There are red herrings, characters who aren't what they seem, and characters who are. The premise is science fiction mixed with science fact and is presented in a way that is almost believable. Fans of Steve Berry, Dan Brown, and Clive Cussler will probably enjoy this series. I know I'm planning to pick up the next one Race for the Flash Stone.

This is my first review of a book in quite a long time. Instead of describing the story line, which you can read in the many reviews here, I would like to talk about the characters and the progress of the book.

The book starts out with a heart stopping (literally) venture of a man trying reach atop a mountain in search of, we don't exactly know, and a sinister man watching his every move. That got me interested and I wanted to continue right away.

The main characters are very likeable and don't get annoying, which is something really important to me when I read a book.
The plot was very well written so that it makes the book easy to follow. It's not bogged down with a bunch of characters. Just enough to keep me going! Cully and Pebbles are a good mix.

The only concerns I have is, the writing is a little too descriptive and could have used less adjectives. There are some punctuation issues, but not enough to bother me.

In all, I feel Shadows of the Stone Benders, the first book in a series, is well worth the read. I believe the author, K. Patrick Donoghue has a great beginning in his Anlon Cully Chronicles!

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my review.

I really enjoyed this book. I am a Rollins fan and have read most of his books. This book, while has many differences, does offer the adventure, tension and action that you find in Rollins' books. I believe that the character development is excellent. I quickly became invested in the outcomes for each character, especially Anlon, Pebbles and then Jennifer and it kept my interest in seeing how it all would work out! The book is heavy on detail, which might put off some readers, especially those who like non-stop action. However, I like detail and enjoy being able to visualize the settings, etc. of a story. This book would make a great movie, in my opinion. There was enough action to satisfy but not so much that one might have to stop reading just to get some relief from the tension (this happens to me sometimes while reading Rollins). For me, this book has a good balance between character and "world" building and action. I enjoyed the addition of the "fantasy" aspect also. “I received a copy of this book in exchange for a review”.

This book gets a 4.5 star rating. This is the first book by K. Patrick Donoghue, so I wasn't sure what to expect. What I found was a wonderfully written thriller. It is hard to believe this is his first published book. This is Book One in a series and does end in a soft cliffhanger as the story will be continued in the next book. There is violence.

I really enjoyed this book and had a hard time putting it down. Now I want to read more of his books and can't wait for the next one to be published.

The book blurb adequately describes the storyline so I'm not going to repeat that info here. The author did a great job of explaining the history and science of these ancient stones as well as the civilization that created and used these devices. There is a lot of history between characters in the storyline that keep you guessing what twists and turns will be revealed next. It definitely kept me riveted.

I received an ARC copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first book of a series. It’s inspired by Velikovsky‘s “Worlds in Collusion.” That 10,000 years ago and advanced race...world wide disaster...great science, etc.
my major issue is the slow pace of the plot. The characters move about, then another group moves about, then back to the first. As example there’s a computer/library/ character that supposedly has the history of the destroyed civilization. One character makes contact, gets some information from the friendly computer, then 3 months pass before her next visit. Come on.

Shadows of the Stone Benders is Fascinating Tale, that will keep the reader turning the pages. Alon and his sidekick Pebbles are settling Alon’s uncle’s estate after the uncle’s mysterious death. The mystery is all about the uncle’s collection of rocks. That’s it… just rocks. That’s the story, period…

Mind you the rock collection dates back to before the earliest known existence of Man. These rocks provide a history, that isn’t known to the human race. In a way they are magical rocks that depending on who is in possession, can do good or evil in the world. Do you want to know the rest of the story? Then you must read Shadows of the Stone Benders….

Mr. Donoghue has a very flowing writing style that makes for an enjoyable read. The characters all play their part in the fantastic mystery. I couldn’t wait to get to the end and see what the final outcome would be. My only downer, is that Race for the Flash Stone isn’t published yet, so I have to wait for Mr. Donoghue’s next novel in the series….

Indiana Jones this is not, but damn close. If I did not know that this was a series, it could have been a great stand alone novel. Seeing that I knew it was a start of a series, I was pleasantly pleased as to the outcome of the first book leading into the next one.

Characters are very well developed and thought at first there was going to be big trouble between a couple of the folks, but all turned out good at the end of this book. I really do not like to give things away in a book as to that is why you read them in the first place, but this one had me going in a few places. Did not see that one coming sorta thing.

Overall, I gave this a 4 as to there was not that mind bending part that blew me away causing me to say, "Oh, that is why that happened."

* I received this book from Net Galley for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. *

A compelling story line that involves the reader in a fantastic tale. Not only is it a mystery and mild romance but also has a science fiction twist thrown in for good measure. The main character is not invincible but flesh and blood like the reader. I foresee this being a very successful series that will attract an array of dedicated readers from young adults to seniors. All of whom will be delighted and look forward to the next installment.

I have given this book a 4.5 star rating. I would recommend it to anyone who likes to be entertained by a story with a flair for the unknown.

I received an ARC from Netgalley for my unbiased review.

Murder, intrigue and mystery are set in a back drop of ancient civilizations and modern science in this exciting new series opener. I found myself reading on impatiently to satisfy curiosity about what was to come next. It begins with the death of an elder archeologist in a fall from a mountain trail. His attorney calls his nephew, Anlon Curry, and asks him to come to Stockbridge right away. There, Anlon learns he has inherited his uncle's property, including artifacts he collected, but Anlon's copy of the will is soon stolen. Then his uncle's friend and assistant is also murdered and a second goes missing. It's all tied to ancient stones and a missing map. But who is behind the deaths, what are they after, why are the stones the key, where is the map and when will book two be released? It's the beginning of a great, and dangerous, adventure.
Copy received in return for an honest review.

I was very fortunate to receive a free copy of "Shadows of the Stone Benders" in exchange for a honest review. This story held my attention from the very beginning. When it comes to Archeology, all I know is I stand in awe of the pyramids and the Mayan temples. After reading about some of the great discoveries from the pyramids and around the world, I find this story very easy to believe. I know it is fiction but it is so well written that the reader can find themselves actually visualizing what to do with the stones. I enjoyed the depth that the author got into regarding some of the characters. I really thought I knew who the bad guy was but there were some twists in the plot. I thoroughly enjoyed the suspense of this book and look forward to reading more from Mr. Donoghue.

Anlon Curry got a call from his uncle Devlin Wilson's attorney telling him that the uncle had died and the nephew had inherited the uncle's property and mysterious artifacts. Wilson was an archeologist and had been working with mysterious stones from South America. So Curry flew to Stockbridge, MA and started investigating the artifacts.
Soon Devlin's death was followed by the suspicious death of one of his associates.
Curry seeks the help of Pebbles McCarver, a bright, resourceful young woman trained as an attorney but working as a bartender near his Lake Tahoe home. Together they try to find the mysterious stones and discover why they are special. They are joined by Jennifer Stevens, a MA State police detective, who also believes that the mysterious deaths were really murders and wants to catch the murderer. Some powerful people are seeking the artifacts and it is believed that they killed both the archeologist and his assistant in an effort to get their hands on those items.
This story will appeal to fans of Dan Brown and Steve Berry as it is fast paced and involves ancient myths, maps and artifacts. It is the first in a series of Anlon Curry mysteries and the ending of the first book leads the reader to the next book.

Shadows of the Stone Benders
K. Patrick Donoghue

A multi millionaire, a rather strange young woman, and some very special stones.
Not often I find a story with a new twist to an old question, "Who was here before us?"
This is a real and quite believable explanation. I loved it. The characters in this story are amusing and well developed. The chemistry between them is instant and binding. Friends at once and willing to put themselves in danger for each other.
The bad guys are ruthless and will stop at nothing to attain the secret of the stones.
This book is a quick paced, action packed read that is fun and thrilling.
Better yet there are going to be more in this series. There better be.

I had no idea what I was getting into when I chose this book. It has been extremely fascinating. and challenging to keep up with Anlon Cully and his band of friends and foes. I am not much of a fan of science fiction but I do love archeology stories and this combines all of that with a rousing good mystery and very interesting characters. I am now avidly reading Book 2 in the series and wondering what can happen next!

** spoiler alert ** Stones with powers which in the wrong hands can cause destruction and death? Anlon inherits much more than his uncle's estate, he also assumes responsibility of strange stones. These stones his uncle has discovered during archaeological digs based upon the Great Flood mythologies, and become the centerpiece of the story. I enjoyed the characters involved and their development, which I thought was done well. I was a bit disappointed at the end of the book, I felt that while it resolved the cases, it was done in such a way that didn't explain the motivation of some of the villains. Would I read the next book in the series? Most definitely! I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

I was given this book free to review but it does not influence my review. I have really enjoyed this book. I am a mystery book reader of many years. This book was a mystery that had some science fiction thrown in. I admit it took me 2 chapters to really get to know the main characters. Anton Cully is the main character. Along with a girl who is a close friend and another female cop the 3 of them are on a journey to find Antons uncle. His uncle was an archeologist and it is within that realm where the science fiction/fantasy is found. For a first time novel I felt the characters were well rounded and easy to like. I liked the way he gives clues in each chapter to keep you reading. I enjoyed this book very much

I received this free from NetGalley and Leaping Leopard Enterprises, LLC for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this book. The storyline was intriguing and kept me reading wondering how things were go to me resolved. The problems I had with the book were that the characters were singularly lacking in curiosity about these stones, when if it had been me I would have been all over them wondering how they worked. Also the dialogue was a tad annoying. There was a lot of smirking and snickering going on by people who were old enough to be past that stage, though, you can get away with it a couple of times. Other than that this was a good debut and I am looking forward to reading the next in the series

Shadows of the Stone Benders (Anlon Cully Chronicles #1) by K. Patrick Donoghue is a thrilling novel that takes the reader on a wild adventure. It's a mysterious and suspense-filled read that is very satisfying. Stones are found that might change the history of mankind, they have powers of an advanced society that might have lived before the great flood and there are those people that have the stones and those that will do anything to get them. Wonderful plot and lots of surprises! Characters are awesome and well developed. Love the concept and it flows well. I can't wait for book 2! Dan Brown move over! I received this book from NetGalley and I am so glad I did! Great job!!!

Pretty good for a newbie. But being a senior and being a bookacholic most of my life I tend to be picky about characters in my books. I found the young girl acting like a teenager and thought that she would have been more believable if she had acted less wink-wink, nudge, nudge girly. The action was slow and I kept hoping for more action through the stones. I understand that it's the first in a series but unless the second book is more mysterious and less expected outcome I doubt I would purchase it. I was freely given this book to review and think that with a bit of work
Shadows of the Stone Benders (The Anlon Cully...K Patrick Donoghue) series would be really good.

i like authors who use perfect grammer along with good action and good characters. i think he tied the characters together well. of course if something that was used as it was in the book, the government would take it away from whoever used it.
but im still enjoying the second book.

I enjoyed reading this book, though perhaps some of the descriptions of the caricatures thoughts and motives were unnecessarily wordy. A little less description would have shaved some long passages and kept me from grousing to myself that the author should have more faith in his readership to imply the obvious. I do look forward to his next title, and I hope that his editor and he himself have learned that the soul of wit is brevity.

If you are a fan of Preston and Child or Clive Cussler you will enjoy this book. There is some chunkiness in the writing and dialogue, but it isn't a bad first try. This is supposed to be a series so hopefully K. Patrick Donoghue writing gets better with his next installment. This is a fast paced, perfect for the beach read. Although it is the first in a series it does not leave you with a cliffhanger, so don't worry about having to continue reading the series if you don't enjoy this book.

“I received a copy of this book in exchange for a review”.

My husband and I read this book and loved it. Very good mystery. Only negative is the author went into great detail explaining what each character was wearing. I think after we get the idea that a person always wore classy casual clothes you don't need to go into so much detail.

The story keeps you guessing "who dun it". The small amount of sci-fi was handled very well and added a lot to the book. Look forward to next book/

Archeologists, murder, mystery and an alien premise make this book a good fun read. I really liked it. It did remind me of me famous films that others will surely compare it to. What is even more fun is that this a debut book, and I'm following this author. I hope for more fun adventure reads like this one.

They mystery holds up, the suspense holds up and so does the adventure! Thank you Net Galley. I chose leave this review of my own free volition.

This book was a fun read, the story unfolds through development of the various characters that have their own secrets and past troubles as they come together. Their unique personalities make the three main characters seem very real and the way they become a team hopefully leads to additional books to continue the story. It is a bit adventure and mystery with some unusual elements similar to the writing of James Rollins.
I loved reading the book and hope the next book is available soon.

A fascinating concept of a very long ago culture that had the power to control things through stones. (That doesn't really do it justice, but it's complicated.)
The obvious question is who killed whom and why?
But more important is, what are these stones, what can they do, and what are they really for?
The exploration is well worth it.
Somewhat psychedelic in some aspects, so just suspend disbelief and enjoy yourself.

Shadows of the Stone Benders is first in a series of mystery/thrillers featuring wealthy Anlon Cully, who sold an invention that more efficiently uses fuel for incredibly big bucks and was able to retire as a relatively young man. Several years later we meet him at his Lake Tahoe cabin where he spends much of the year. Still pretty low key and still grounded, one of his few close friends is the local bartender, a free spirited younger woman who had come to Tahoe just for the summer, but extends her stay because of the deep, though platonic friendship she is enjoying with Anlon.

The book opens with a hike up a mountain in Massachusetts taken not by Anlon, but his elderly uncle, an archeologist/professor with a contrarian view of ancient history. Devlin Wilson believes that a highly technological society thrived on earth before the time most scientists believe civilizations began to develop. Readers don't know why Devlin is there, hiking alone, but are aware that he is being followed, and know that his dramatic fall from the mountain is somehow caused by that mysterious follower, though that person is not close enough to have touched him.

Anlon gets a call from his uncle's coworker, and is informed of the "accident." The coworker urges Anlon to come immediately because there is a lot of information that he must be made aware of, and quickly. He is given lots of information that is hard to accept, but he sees some of the relics his uncle has found which do seem to have mysterious powers. There are a few others who know about these finds, and some know more about the power infused into the stones. Those most anxious to get their hands on them have designs to use the power for evil rather than for good. Anlon calls his friend the bartender and asks her to come and help him solve the mystery of his uncle's death. Another death occurs mysteriously the first night Anlon is there.

But before she arrives, Anlon has an early morning wake up by a Massachusetts State detective who suspects him in the death of the man he had just met the previous evening. Both of the women help analyze the clues they have, and amazingly, get along well together in spite of the fact that both are interested in Anlon. He has inherited his uncle's home and property, with the assumption that he will be able and willing to continue his uncle's quest. But in the meantime, he must arrange for not one funeral but two. The people who attend the funerals may include some suspects in the murders, and also provide interesting clues about the value of the relics.

I received an e-copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for a review. The plot reminds me of Preston & Child and Clive Cussler books I have enjoyed. It is fast paced, has interesting characters, some tension-building as the bad guys seem to stay a step ahead of Anlon and his team as well as the police investigators. Surprising twists occur along the way and several face grave danger. Not all loose ends are tied up and there is plenty left to build a second volume around, so be ready to pick up the second book as soon as you have completed this one.

Seeking the solution to the mystery of man's apparent leap to a fully advanced civilization in dynastic Egypt, the Tiahuanaco city-state high in the Andes mountains, and in Harappa, a marvel of architectural planning in ancient Pakistan, Dr. Devlin Wilson suffers a death inexplicable by forensic medicine. And leaves behind evidence of (pretty darn cool) otherworldly technology.

Nephew and beneficiary, Anlon Cully, billionaire and PhD, and his friends Jennifer and Pebbles, will need to make sense of a collection of curiously-shaped stones and a half-dozen arcane symbols before someone murders them, too.

This first volume in the The Anlon Cully Chronicles lays the groundwork for a new series by K. Patrick Donoghue. There is a tendency towards wordiness--there are long stretches where the characters sit around drinking booze and talking, talking, talking, and the conversations go over and over the same ground as each new character enters stage right. Quite a lot of this exposition could be condensed in the first third of the book, as the reader need not be so coddled. And despite Anlon's reputation as a genius, most of the plot developments are the result of "women's intuition," and he applauds the ladies for even the most obvious observation. I was starting to feel like Stephen Hawking.

These few complaints nothwithstanding, I did enjoy the book, the premise is fun and takes a unique stab at one of the great mysteries of the world. I will watch for the next book in the series to see where it goes from here. The book works as a standalone, but there is still much to be discovered.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

This thriller had it all and then some. A death, a crime, the police, good guys winning,and best of all a possible mythic bend that is so well written you want to find out more. Can't wait go start the next 2 books!!

What a fantastic start for the best new author I have ever read. As action packed as you could ask for and definitely difficult to put down. The characters inner actions and believable description make the novel a gripping mystery. I can't wait to read the next addition.

Thank you K. Patrick Donoghue,
Juan Loma aka John H

** I was provided a free copy of Shadows of the Stone Benders in exchange for an honest review of the book.***

After not being able to put the book down, I have to admit that I would have paid for the book (don't tell the author). I am already looking forward to second book in the series. As a first time author, Mr. Donoghue is able to bridge between today's reality and unproven (but believable) scientific theories. I found myself captured by Anton’s adventure and his side-kicks. Each of the characters had multiple layers to peel back over the 300+ pages. With each new twist, I found myself flipping back to reread sections of the book, since I am sure there were hints that I must have missed. The author did a masterful job of weaving multiple stories lines together and moving each of them forward at the correct pace. Just when I starting wondering about a character, the author would bring them back into the plot. The final paragraph leaves you wanting to start the next book. It will be interesting to see where the author decides to start in his next book.

I received a complimentary copy of the "Shadows of the Stone Benders" in exchange for a fair and objective review. As a fan of both the mystery and sci-fi genres, I am always looking for new authors who have a unique and thoughtful angle to tuck into, and Patrick Donoghue's inaugural work definitely delivered. I read this book, as I do most, over the course of several weekends. The measure of a good mystery for me is the degree to which I look forward to returning to the book and picking up the story again. By that measure, this book far exceeds expectations. The plot development is well-constructed, the characters--particularly main protagonist, Anlon Cully, and his sidekick, Pebbles--develop nicely and with increasing depth over the course of the narrative, and the pace of action grabs your attention. If this first well-crafted effort is indicative of what we have to look forward to from Patrick and Anlon in future installments, we can do so with eager anticipation.

I received an advance copy of the book, and I'm really glad I did! It's very well written, and the characters kept growing on me throughout the book. I wasn't prepared for the unknown interrelationships between the characters, and found it fascinating.
"Impressive" isn't the word I'd use to describe the research and imagination that went into writing this book -- I think much of it "stunned" me.
Anlon and Pebbles team up with Jennifer, who has a network of her own. Together, they try to work out what really happened to his uncle and why. And what a surprise!
And there will most definitely be a second installment. Everything that happens in the last third of the book (which is the part I just couldn't put down) leads to this conclusion.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book. As a 20-year bookseller, I'm very pleased to recommend this author's amazing debut novel.

The premise of this book attracted me straight away. An billionaire archeologist, some mysterious stones, and a couple of murders. What more could you want on a lazy afternoon? This is a good absorbing read.

I found the dialogue distractingly stilted sometimes, but aside from that, it is a good story.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a review

I received a free copy of the book from the author, K. Patrick Donoghue, in exchange for this review.
I was intrigued with the idea behind this story. I think it took unique imagination to consider the concept of a civilization of 10,000 years ago, storing knowledge and power this way. I don't want to give the story away, but it did keep my attention all the way through and I liked the characters for future books. Good job for a first novel, for sure!!

This is a fast moving science fiction mystery-using Archeology as a backdrop to a clever plot with tantalizing clues, romance, greed and murder. The author's prose is straightforward never the less he brings you gently to the end with a soft-landing expecting more to come in future sequels. A good read.

I was given an electronic copy in return for an honest review.

A wonderful read. I will impatiently wait for the sequel. I wasn't sure about adding Jennifer at first but it works well. I have always been interested in the unexplained finds of ancient artifacts. This is a good story with reasonable explanations. I was given this book in exchange for an honest review. I enjoy doing this and in this case it was easy because the book is good.

This book was fantastic! Take an archaeological find dating back over 10,000 years. Add in the fact it has strange powers. Then add in people who are trying to get their hands on it and willing to commit murder to do so, and you have a fantastic story. I can't wait for the next book in this series to come out! I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.

“I received a copy of this book in exchange for a review”.

My husband and I read this book and loved it. Very good mystery. Only negative is the author went into great detail explaining what each character was wearing. I think after we get the idea that a person always wore classy casual clothes you don't need to go into so much detail.

The story keeps you guessing "who dun it". The small amount of sci-fi was handled very well and added a lot to the book. Look forward to next book/

Archeologists, murder, mystery and an alien premise make this book a good fun read. I really liked it. It did remind me of me famous films that others will surely compare it to. What is even more fun is that this a debut book, and I'm following this author. I hope for more fun adventure reads like this one.

They mystery holds up, the suspense holds up and so does the adventure! Thank you Net Galley. I chose leave this review of my own free volition.

This book was a fun read, the story unfolds through development of the various characters that have their own secrets and past troubles as they come together. Their unique personalities make the three main characters seem very real and the way they become a team hopefully leads to additional books to continue the story. It is a bit adventure and mystery with some unusual elements similar to the writing of James Rollins.
I loved reading the book and hope the next book is available soon.

A fascinating concept of a very long ago culture that had the power to control things through stones. (That doesn't really do it justice, but it's complicated.)
The obvious question is who killed whom and why?
But more important is, what are these stones, what can they do, and what are they really for?
The exploration is well worth it.
Somewhat psychedelic in some aspects, so just suspend disbelief and enjoy yourself.

Shadows of the Stone Benders is first in a series of mystery/thrillers featuring wealthy Anlon Cully, who sold an invention that more efficiently uses fuel for incredibly big bucks and was able to retire as a relatively young man. Several years later we meet him at his Lake Tahoe cabin where he spends much of the year. Still pretty low key and still grounded, one of his few close friends is the local bartender, a free spirited younger woman who had come to Tahoe just for the summer, but extends her stay because of the deep, though platonic friendship she is enjoying with Anlon.

The book opens with a hike up a mountain in Massachusetts taken not by Anlon, but his elderly uncle, an archeologist/professor with a contrarian view of ancient history. Devlin Wilson believes that a highly technological society thrived on earth before the time most scientists believe civilizations began to develop. Readers don't know why Devlin is there, hiking alone, but are aware that he is being followed, and know that his dramatic fall from the mountain is somehow caused by that mysterious follower, though that person is not close enough to have touched him.

Anlon gets a call from his uncle's coworker, and is informed of the "accident." The coworker urges Anlon to come immediately because there is a lot of information that he must be made aware of, and quickly. He is given lots of information that is hard to accept, but he sees some of the relics his uncle has found which do seem to have mysterious powers. There are a few others who know about these finds, and some know more about the power infused into the stones. Those most anxious to get their hands on them have designs to use the power for evil rather than for good. Anlon calls his friend the bartender and asks her to come and help him solve the mystery of his uncle's death. Another death occurs mysteriously the first night Anlon is there.

But before she arrives, Anlon has an early morning wake up by a Massachusetts State detective who suspects him in the death of the man he had just met the previous evening. Both of the women help analyze the clues they have, and amazingly, get along well together in spite of the fact that both are interested in Anlon. He has inherited his uncle's home and property, with the assumption that he will be able and willing to continue his uncle's quest. But in the meantime, he must arrange for not one funeral but two. The people who attend the funerals may include some suspects in the murders, and also provide interesting clues about the value of the relics.

I received an e-copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for a review. The plot reminds me of Preston & Child and Clive Cussler books I have enjoyed. It is fast paced, has interesting characters, some tension-building as the bad guys seem to stay a step ahead of Anlon and his team as well as the police investigators. Surprising twists occur along the way and several face grave danger. Not all loose ends are tied up and there is plenty left to build a second volume around, so be ready to pick up the second book as soon as you have completed this one.

Seeking the solution to the mystery of man's apparent leap to a fully advanced civilization in dynastic Egypt, the Tiahuanaco city-state high in the Andes mountains, and in Harappa, a marvel of architectural planning in ancient Pakistan, Dr. Devlin Wilson suffers a death inexplicable by forensic medicine. And leaves behind evidence of (pretty darn cool) otherworldly technology.

Nephew and beneficiary, Anlon Cully, billionaire and PhD, and his friends Jennifer and Pebbles, will need to make sense of a collection of curiously-shaped stones and a half-dozen arcane symbols before someone murders them, too.

This first volume in the The Anlon Cully Chronicles lays the groundwork for a new series by K. Patrick Donoghue. There is a tendency towards wordiness--there are long stretches where the characters sit around drinking booze and talking, talking, talking, and the conversations go over and over the same ground as each new character enters stage right. Quite a lot of this exposition could be condensed in the first third of the book, as the reader need not be so coddled. And despite Anlon's reputation as a genius, most of the plot developments are the result of "women's intuition," and he applauds the ladies for even the most obvious observation. I was starting to feel like Stephen Hawking.

These few complaints nothwithstanding, I did enjoy the book, the premise is fun and takes a unique stab at one of the great mysteries of the world. I will watch for the next book in the series to see where it goes from here. The book works as a standalone, but there is still much to be discovered.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

This thriller had it all and then some. A death, a crime, the police, good guys winning,and best of all a possible mythic bend that is so well written you want to find out more. Can't wait go start the next 2 books!!

What a fantastic start for the best new author I have ever read. As action packed as you could ask for and definitely difficult to put down. The characters inner actions and believable description make the novel a gripping mystery. I can't wait to read the next addition.

Thank you K. Patrick Donoghue,
Juan Loma aka John H

** I was provided a free copy of Shadows of the Stone Benders in exchange for an honest review of the book.***

After not being able to put the book down, I have to admit that I would have paid for the book (don't tell the author). I am already looking forward to second book in the series. As a first time author, Mr. Donoghue is able to bridge between today's reality and unproven (but believable) scientific theories. I found myself captured by Anton’s adventure and his side-kicks. Each of the characters had multiple layers to peel back over the 300+ pages. With each new twist, I found myself flipping back to reread sections of the book, since I am sure there were hints that I must have missed. The author did a masterful job of weaving multiple stories lines together and moving each of them forward at the correct pace. Just when I starting wondering about a character, the author would bring them back into the plot. The final paragraph leaves you wanting to start the next book. It will be interesting to see where the author decides to start in his next book.

I received a complimentary copy of the "Shadows of the Stone Benders" in exchange for a fair and objective review. As a fan of both the mystery and sci-fi genres, I am always looking for new authors who have a unique and thoughtful angle to tuck into, and Patrick Donoghue's inaugural work definitely delivered. I read this book, as I do most, over the course of several weekends. The measure of a good mystery for me is the degree to which I look forward to returning to the book and picking up the story again. By that measure, this book far exceeds expectations. The plot development is well-constructed, the characters--particularly main protagonist, Anlon Cully, and his sidekick, Pebbles--develop nicely and with increasing depth over the course of the narrative, and the pace of action grabs your attention. If this first well-crafted effort is indicative of what we have to look forward to from Patrick and Anlon in future installments, we can do so with eager anticipation.

I found this storyline very hard to follow. Had to put the book down several times and then reread what I had read before. In honesty I did skip some of the paragraphs. I probably would not read the next books.

I received an advance copy of the book, and I'm really glad I did! It's very well written, and the characters kept growing on me throughout the book. I wasn't prepared for the unknown interrelationships between the characters, and found it fascinating.
"Impressive" isn't the word I'd use to describe the research and imagination that went into writing this book -- I think much of it "stunned" me.
Anlon and Pebbles team up with Jennifer, who has a network of her own. Together, they try to work out what really happened to his uncle and why. And what a surprise!
And there will most definitely be a second installment. Everything that happens in the last third of the book (which is the part I just couldn't put down) leads to this conclusion.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book. As a 20-year bookseller, I'm very pleased to recommend this author's amazing debut novel.

The premise of this book attracted me straight away. An billionaire archeologist, some mysterious stones, and a couple of murders. What more could you want on a lazy afternoon? This is a good absorbing read.

I found the dialogue distractingly stilted sometimes, but aside from that, it is a good story.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a review

I received a free copy of the book from the author, K. Patrick Donoghue, in exchange for this review.
I was intrigued with the idea behind this story. I think it took unique imagination to consider the concept of a civilization of 10,000 years ago, storing knowledge and power this way. I don't want to give the story away, but it did keep my attention all the way through and I liked the characters for future books. Good job for a first novel, for sure!!

This is a fast moving science fiction mystery-using Archeology as a backdrop to a clever plot with tantalizing clues, romance, greed and murder. The author's prose is straightforward never the less he brings you gently to the end with a soft-landing expecting more to come in future sequels. A good read.

I was given an electronic copy in return for an honest review.

A wonderful read. I will impatiently wait for the sequel. I wasn't sure about adding Jennifer at first but it works well. I have always been interested in the unexplained finds of ancient artifacts. This is a good story with reasonable explanations. I was given this book in exchange for an honest review. I enjoy doing this and in this case it was easy because the book is good.

This book was fantastic! Take an archaeological find dating back over 10,000 years. Add in the fact it has strange powers. Then add in people who are trying to get their hands on it and willing to commit murder to do so, and you have a fantastic story. I can't wait for the next book in this series to come out! I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.

The book takes you on an adventure you hate to see end. His character development allows the reader to truly get to know the persons and admire their talents be they good or evil. If you enjoy a story that looks at history and myths from a different perspective this is a Must read.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was given this book in exchange for a review. This was a great first book. Although I wasn't sure what to expect, I found that I was quickly drawn in and couldn't put it down. It has a little bit of everything in it, from science fiction, mystery, action, and even romance. The plot and story line were intriguing. I found that I wanted to learn more about this forgotten race and their ancient stones.
The two main characters - Anlon and Pebbles were very likable. I found myself cheering them on as the story unfolded. The character development was strong.
I look forward to reading the next book to see what happens.