What do you think?
Rate this book
Rogue Angel #41
Staff of Judea
The Staff of Aaron...the sword of Joan of Arc. After decoding an ancient scroll-one that purports to pinpont the treasure of the Jewish Temple, lost for two thousand years-archaeologist Annja Creed agrees to lead the party to recover the find in Judea. It's a perilous desert journey through sandstorms and bandits, and complicated by mysterious sabotage within the group, to arrive at a long-forgotten fortress deep beneath a mountain. Only then does Annja discover that this archaeological expedition is really one man's quest for the mystical Staff of Aaron, one of the Bible's holiest and most powerful relics-a weapon they say can do incalculable harm in the hands of the wrong individual. She must try everything humanly possible to prevent the staff from being used for selfish purposes. Even if it puts her in the mightiest battle yet-sword against staff.
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 2, 2013
13 people are currently reading
353 people want to read
About the author
Alex Archer
99 books237 followersA house name for the Rogue Angel series, published by the Harlequin Publishing's Gold Eagle division.
The first eight novels were written by Victor Milan and Mel Odom. New writers joining the series starting with book nine include Jon Merz and Joseph Nassise.
The first eight novels were written by Victor Milan and Mel Odom. New writers joining the series starting with book nine include Jon Merz and Joseph Nassise.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 23, 2014
Forty-first in the Rogue Angel urban fantasy series and revolving around archeologist, Annja Creed.
My Take
It's another Saturday-afternoon-at-the-B-movies with less of the drama than usual. Which is a weird thing for me to say since there is plenty of the usual tensions and dramas in Staff of Judea. It's possible that my lassitude is due to Annja's naiveté. After forty-some adventures, you'd think she'd by skeptical by now of gift horses. That she'd at least set up some backup measures.
That said, it is fun to watch Annja in action, and it starts immediately with her bluffing out the lawyers, rescuing people during the haboob, foiling kidnappers, and more.
When hunting for buried treasure, it sure pays to know your history and the culture.
Some niggles:
It's one thing to be presented with the attackers as the story goes on, and it's another thing completely when we learn the truth behind them. I mean, hullo? If they're who they're purported to be, I'd expect a more professional, stronger approach. It's poor writing. Admittedly, this is a B- (and sometimes C-) quality of writing, but I still expect some believability ★eye roll★. For that matter, what is with Roux to take this elaborate approach? Why not just sneak a note to her?
It's sensationalistic, and I'd recommend getting this one from the library if you must read it.
The Story
Mitchell Connolly is after a great prize, and he wants the best to lead his expedition. And that best is Annja Creed.
It'll be a challenge for Annja, pulling an expedition together in 72 hours.
The Characters
Annja Creed is an archeologist unaffiliated with any institution and funds her own digs and travels with her payments as a co-host for the television show, Chasing History's Monsters, a show that explores ancient mysteries and legends. Doug Morrell is her sensationalistic producer and friend. To make life interesting, Annja has bonded with the re-forged sword of Joan of Arc.
Professor Ephraim Yellin is with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem's Institute of Archeology. The rest of the dig team includes Benjamin Natchyu doing PhD work on the Second Temple Period of Jewish history; Mike Collins and Tony Green were from the University of Alabama doing masters-level work on Paleolithic settlements and their impact on the rise of agriculture; Susan Hollister is in Jerusalem specifically to study with Professor Yellin; and, Rachel Golan isn't sure yet if she wants to be an archeologist.
Roux was a knight charged with guarding Joan of Arc in 1431. He failed. When she burned and her sword was broken, a metaphysical change came over Roux, and he became immortal. He is still seeking the reason for it, his purpose. Henshaw is his majordomo / butler / bodyguard…and helicopter pilot.
Mitchell Connolly is a billionaire obsessed with artifacts from the period of Roman occupation of Israel. Martin Grimes is Connolly's ruthless senior exec and right-hand man. The security team consists of Hamilton, Gardner, Chan, Mendez, Beck, Douglas, Daniels, and Johnson. Cummings, Mortimer, and Finch are lawyers acting for Connolly.
In 68 CE…
The rabbi and his people at the monastery at Qumran are frantically hiding scrolls and treasures. Legio X Fretensis commands the Tenth Legion; his commander is Larcius Lepidus. Jonathan is a young man entrusted with one of the two crucial scrolls, the Bronze scroll.
Fortress Mal'akh is a secret stronghold built by King Herod.
The Gibborim are a group of warriors ordered to keep the treasure safe until it can be restored to its rightful place. Jephthah is their leader.
The Dead Sea Scrolls are the library the rabbi and his acolytes hid in the caves. The Copper Scroll is one of them and is a treasure map. One-half of it at least. The shofar is a sheep's horn and used to summon warriors to battle. A haboob is a sandstorm.
The Cover
The cover is the consistent yellows and browns. It's Annja in her dark brown jeans and a cream, low-cut top wielding her broadsword at the mouth of a cave high up off the desert floor. Really high up.
The title is the focus of this expedition, Aaron's staff, the Staff of Judea.
My Take
It's another Saturday-afternoon-at-the-B-movies with less of the drama than usual. Which is a weird thing for me to say since there is plenty of the usual tensions and dramas in Staff of Judea. It's possible that my lassitude is due to Annja's naiveté. After forty-some adventures, you'd think she'd by skeptical by now of gift horses. That she'd at least set up some backup measures.
That said, it is fun to watch Annja in action, and it starts immediately with her bluffing out the lawyers, rescuing people during the haboob, foiling kidnappers, and more.
When hunting for buried treasure, it sure pays to know your history and the culture.
Some niggles:
It's one thing to be presented with the attackers as the story goes on, and it's another thing completely when we learn the truth behind them. I mean, hullo? If they're who they're purported to be, I'd expect a more professional, stronger approach. It's poor writing. Admittedly, this is a B- (and sometimes C-) quality of writing, but I still expect some believability ★eye roll★. For that matter, what is with Roux to take this elaborate approach? Why not just sneak a note to her?
It's sensationalistic, and I'd recommend getting this one from the library if you must read it.
The Story
Mitchell Connolly is after a great prize, and he wants the best to lead his expedition. And that best is Annja Creed.
It'll be a challenge for Annja, pulling an expedition together in 72 hours.
The Characters
Annja Creed is an archeologist unaffiliated with any institution and funds her own digs and travels with her payments as a co-host for the television show, Chasing History's Monsters, a show that explores ancient mysteries and legends. Doug Morrell is her sensationalistic producer and friend. To make life interesting, Annja has bonded with the re-forged sword of Joan of Arc.
Professor Ephraim Yellin is with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem's Institute of Archeology. The rest of the dig team includes Benjamin Natchyu doing PhD work on the Second Temple Period of Jewish history; Mike Collins and Tony Green were from the University of Alabama doing masters-level work on Paleolithic settlements and their impact on the rise of agriculture; Susan Hollister is in Jerusalem specifically to study with Professor Yellin; and, Rachel Golan isn't sure yet if she wants to be an archeologist.
Roux was a knight charged with guarding Joan of Arc in 1431. He failed. When she burned and her sword was broken, a metaphysical change came over Roux, and he became immortal. He is still seeking the reason for it, his purpose. Henshaw is his majordomo / butler / bodyguard…and helicopter pilot.
Mitchell Connolly is a billionaire obsessed with artifacts from the period of Roman occupation of Israel. Martin Grimes is Connolly's ruthless senior exec and right-hand man. The security team consists of Hamilton, Gardner, Chan, Mendez, Beck, Douglas, Daniels, and Johnson. Cummings, Mortimer, and Finch are lawyers acting for Connolly.
In 68 CE…
The rabbi and his people at the monastery at Qumran are frantically hiding scrolls and treasures. Legio X Fretensis commands the Tenth Legion; his commander is Larcius Lepidus. Jonathan is a young man entrusted with one of the two crucial scrolls, the Bronze scroll.
Fortress Mal'akh is a secret stronghold built by King Herod.
The Gibborim are a group of warriors ordered to keep the treasure safe until it can be restored to its rightful place. Jephthah is their leader.
The Dead Sea Scrolls are the library the rabbi and his acolytes hid in the caves. The Copper Scroll is one of them and is a treasure map. One-half of it at least. The shofar is a sheep's horn and used to summon warriors to battle. A haboob is a sandstorm.
The Cover
The cover is the consistent yellows and browns. It's Annja in her dark brown jeans and a cream, low-cut top wielding her broadsword at the mouth of a cave high up off the desert floor. Really high up.
The title is the focus of this expedition, Aaron's staff, the Staff of Judea.
June 1, 2019
Anya Creed is such a fun mystery series, with the whole Kung Fu, Martial Arts, Sword and butt-kicking, woman warrior, James Bond meets Jane Bond, meets the "Highlander"--There can be only one...oops, make that two Immortals, kind of theme. They're never boring, they're all so appealing, even the books without the very best storylines. I've read so many of them, but I hope to someday read the complete series. This one is another thriller that kept me racing to the end to see if Anya could hold her own against a man who gains world dominance in the form of the Staff of Judea. As always, it didn't let me down. It was excellent and surprisingly as good as the other books in the "Rogue Angel" series that I've had the pleasure of reading! Thanks again for another excellent read!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 16, 2022
-4 stars. this is a multi-author series, this one written by joe nassise. i liked that everyone besides annja didn't die (in the earlier books everyone usually died but annja). the other archeologists make it out alive. as always, i like that annja is a strong kick-ass woman.
"of course sir. will that be all?" Annja shook her head, chuckling to herself. Henshaw had to be the most unflappable butler she'd ever met. go park the helicopter somewhere else and, oh, by the way, if somebody starts firing at you for no reason, feel free to blow them out of the sky. of course sir. very good sir.
"of course sir. will that be all?" Annja shook her head, chuckling to herself. Henshaw had to be the most unflappable butler she'd ever met. go park the helicopter somewhere else and, oh, by the way, if somebody starts firing at you for no reason, feel free to blow them out of the sky. of course sir. very good sir.
July 1, 2021
One of Annja's Best Adventures
Any number of the Rogue Angel series are similar; Annja goes after an artifact. Annja gets in trouble, a friend is threatened or killed. Garrin or Roux step in to help, and the Sword saves the day. This one was different in that Roux was with Annja most of the story, and the friend stays as one of the mystic warriors. It's a fun romp, sort of like Indiana Jones meets the Plagues of Pharaoh, starring Annja Creed.
Any number of the Rogue Angel series are similar; Annja goes after an artifact. Annja gets in trouble, a friend is threatened or killed. Garrin or Roux step in to help, and the Sword saves the day. This one was different in that Roux was with Annja most of the story, and the friend stays as one of the mystic warriors. It's a fun romp, sort of like Indiana Jones meets the Plagues of Pharaoh, starring Annja Creed.
October 13, 2019
3 stars.
Interesting spin on a biblical story. But where's Garin in this one? I always have issues with Annja telling her fellow archaeologists to get away from the bad guys by themselves, it never seems to go well for them!
Interesting spin on a biblical story. But where's Garin in this one? I always have issues with Annja telling her fellow archaeologists to get away from the bad guys by themselves, it never seems to go well for them!
July 4, 2013
I think I would say that Staff of Judea is the best of the Rogue Angel books of the last couple of years, ignoring one little 'acting stupid in order to advance the plot' element.
Annja is on vacation, and is recruited by her mentor/plague Roux to act as his agent in a negotiation over the sale of an artifact. Afterwards, she gets recruited to run an expedition to find a lost Jewish treasure that has been lost for centuries.
This is the stupid act. She doesn't immediately smell a rat when she gets hired to run this expidition using a permit that is actually for searching for natural resources, but is vague enough to be stretched. And not only does she go along with it, she brings along a professor friend and a group of graduate students.
They do find the first two caches of treasure (and a lot of precious metal it is), but the real treasure is the lost Staff of Aaron (Moses's brother; and it shows how well I know the Moses story that I didn't know his brother had a magic staff as well, and that it was the source of the plagues, at least according to this book).
Still, the archaeology parts are cool, the bad guys are bad, the flunkies aren't too bad, and there are mysterious watchers in the hills.
I thoroughly enjoyed this outing. Kudos to Mr. Nassise.
Annja is on vacation, and is recruited by her mentor/plague Roux to act as his agent in a negotiation over the sale of an artifact. Afterwards, she gets recruited to run an expedition to find a lost Jewish treasure that has been lost for centuries.
This is the stupid act. She doesn't immediately smell a rat when she gets hired to run this expidition using a permit that is actually for searching for natural resources, but is vague enough to be stretched. And not only does she go along with it, she brings along a professor friend and a group of graduate students.
They do find the first two caches of treasure (and a lot of precious metal it is), but the real treasure is the lost Staff of Aaron (Moses's brother; and it shows how well I know the Moses story that I didn't know his brother had a magic staff as well, and that it was the source of the plagues, at least according to this book).
Still, the archaeology parts are cool, the bad guys are bad, the flunkies aren't too bad, and there are mysterious watchers in the hills.
I thoroughly enjoyed this outing. Kudos to Mr. Nassise.
March 23, 2013
A pretty exciting adventure story, though I wondered at the beginning, when the author has the main character, Anya, and another person swearing. I don't object to profanity, but, having read many of these silly, exciting novels - sort of my replacement for the TV show Buffy The Vampire Sayer, which I enjoyed - it was just out of character.
April 21, 2013
3.5 stars
September 10, 2013
The first half was cat and mouse..It really picks up at the end though..
January 23, 2017
Staff of Judea
Staff of Judea was very interesting . . . Love the ending it was very good . . Hope to see more
Staff of Judea was very interesting . . . Love the ending it was very good . . Hope to see more
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews