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Rogue Angel #51
The Pretender's Gambit
With one small chess piece, the game begins…
For archaeologist and TV host Annja Creed, a late-night phone call from the NYPD means one thing: there's been a murder and the police need her expertise. The only link between a dead body and the killer is a small elephant of white jade. An artifact that's gone missing.
Once belonging to Catherine the Great of Russia, the elephant was key in a risky political gambit all those years ago. But there is another story attached to the artifact—a rumor of an ancient hidden treasure. And for a cruelly ambitious media mogul with a penchant for tomb-raiding, the elephant is nothing short of priceless.
Annja must make her move quickly, traveling across several continents with only the assistance of her extraordinary sword—purportedly the same sword wielded by Joan of Arc—and a mysterious temple monk. It's a deadly battle of wits, and one wrong move could mean game over.
For archaeologist and TV host Annja Creed, a late-night phone call from the NYPD means one thing: there's been a murder and the police need her expertise. The only link between a dead body and the killer is a small elephant of white jade. An artifact that's gone missing.
Once belonging to Catherine the Great of Russia, the elephant was key in a risky political gambit all those years ago. But there is another story attached to the artifact—a rumor of an ancient hidden treasure. And for a cruelly ambitious media mogul with a penchant for tomb-raiding, the elephant is nothing short of priceless.
Annja must make her move quickly, traveling across several continents with only the assistance of her extraordinary sword—purportedly the same sword wielded by Joan of Arc—and a mysterious temple monk. It's a deadly battle of wits, and one wrong move could mean game over.
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 2, 2014
13 people are currently reading
271 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.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 27, 2015
*** 3.75 ***
I just love this series! Why? Because they are reliable like leftover Christmas chocolate candy in March. By this I mean that Christmas has passed, at that time there was a ton of candy and you gorged yourself to sickness, then started putting what is left in little bowls around the house or office. Now it is March, all of the best candy is gone, there is no good reason for you to justify buying chocolate, and you go to those bowls where the last of the leftovers from Christmas still linger. You peal the pretty silvery covering from the Hershey's Kiss and pop it in your mouth. Sublime!!! You actually wonder how come you have not gobbled all those way before today! But you remember that hey had to compete with the flashy bars, or Truffles, or even "good-for-you-ethical" chocolates!!! And all of those went first, leaving the plain old everyday reliable Hershey's Kisses to linger almost forgotten in the little glass bowls... But plain old chocolate candy is worlds better than just hard candy or no candy at all!!
So this is how I feel about Rogue Angel. This is the 51st book in the series, I have all the ones that have been published up to and after this one, and when something new and exciting pops up on the horizon I jump on them, leaving the RA behind. Until I find myself reading books which for one reason or another are just not hitting my B spot and i am slipping into a book coma. Then I go through my stack of own-but-have-not-gotten-to-read-yet and voila, the colorful cover of RA pops up and I just know that it would fix everything!
The Rogue Angel books are a very formulaic adventure/archaeologic mystery series with a female archaeologist with a sword for a lead character. As many books of this type, they rely on some action, some random flirting, some odd choice pisses of worldwide history and mythology, as well as a ton of cultural cliches and stereotypes. If you are sensitive to such even in purely-for-fun books, than do not bother! This is not literature, nor does it strive to be such. It is a trashy TV show in book form. A guilty pleasure, which we might try to keep secret, but thoroughly enjoy.
So, I was getting into one of those book comas RA was my wake-up cure. I really liked the old Russian New York gangster and the old lady, which made me give this one a higher than my usual 3 star rating. It was fun, just long enough and made me remember why not getting too emotionally involved in a book can be a very good thing!!!
I just love this series! Why? Because they are reliable like leftover Christmas chocolate candy in March. By this I mean that Christmas has passed, at that time there was a ton of candy and you gorged yourself to sickness, then started putting what is left in little bowls around the house or office. Now it is March, all of the best candy is gone, there is no good reason for you to justify buying chocolate, and you go to those bowls where the last of the leftovers from Christmas still linger. You peal the pretty silvery covering from the Hershey's Kiss and pop it in your mouth. Sublime!!! You actually wonder how come you have not gobbled all those way before today! But you remember that hey had to compete with the flashy bars, or Truffles, or even "good-for-you-ethical" chocolates!!! And all of those went first, leaving the plain old everyday reliable Hershey's Kisses to linger almost forgotten in the little glass bowls... But plain old chocolate candy is worlds better than just hard candy or no candy at all!!
So this is how I feel about Rogue Angel. This is the 51st book in the series, I have all the ones that have been published up to and after this one, and when something new and exciting pops up on the horizon I jump on them, leaving the RA behind. Until I find myself reading books which for one reason or another are just not hitting my B spot and i am slipping into a book coma. Then I go through my stack of own-but-have-not-gotten-to-read-yet and voila, the colorful cover of RA pops up and I just know that it would fix everything!
The Rogue Angel books are a very formulaic adventure/archaeologic mystery series with a female archaeologist with a sword for a lead character. As many books of this type, they rely on some action, some random flirting, some odd choice pisses of worldwide history and mythology, as well as a ton of cultural cliches and stereotypes. If you are sensitive to such even in purely-for-fun books, than do not bother! This is not literature, nor does it strive to be such. It is a trashy TV show in book form. A guilty pleasure, which we might try to keep secret, but thoroughly enjoy.
So, I was getting into one of those book comas RA was my wake-up cure. I really liked the old Russian New York gangster and the old lady, which made me give this one a higher than my usual 3 star rating. It was fun, just long enough and made me remember why not getting too emotionally involved in a book can be a very good thing!!!
January 22, 2021
It's not often enough that Annja has a chance to spend time simply being Annja. Hanging out at home...visiting her favorite shops...and spending time with her few friends. So it's bittersweet when her closest friend police detective Brad McGilley calls her in to help with a murder investigation that he was just handed. After all, what could an Archeologist - and reluctant TV star - lend to finding a murderer?
Soon, what started as an opportunity to share some "quality" time with a friend turns into a race across the globe to uncover a mystery that spans centuries and cultures - all wrapped up in the shape of an elephant (Indian...not African...You know...small ears and everything).
Oh, and new friends!!!
51 stories in the adventures of Annja Creed and the sword of Joan D'Arc and the stories keep getting better and better. Published under the house name of author "Alex Archer", ROGUE ANGEL has seen some of the best and fun authors around. Jon Merz, Michele Hauf, Jean Rabe, Joseph Nassise, Victor Milan, and series co-founder and this entry's author Mel Odom. This is Odom's 10th book and one. of the most fun. Odom brings his unique brand of writing to the story. His humor and pacing keep his books fresh and great reads. His characters always seem to have a little - something - that adds to their story and makes them that much more fun>
Unfortunately, there are only 6 more books in this series, but this was definitely one of the best.
Soon, what started as an opportunity to share some "quality" time with a friend turns into a race across the globe to uncover a mystery that spans centuries and cultures - all wrapped up in the shape of an elephant (Indian...not African...You know...small ears and everything).
Oh, and new friends!!!
51 stories in the adventures of Annja Creed and the sword of Joan D'Arc and the stories keep getting better and better. Published under the house name of author "Alex Archer", ROGUE ANGEL has seen some of the best and fun authors around. Jon Merz, Michele Hauf, Jean Rabe, Joseph Nassise, Victor Milan, and series co-founder and this entry's author Mel Odom. This is Odom's 10th book and one. of the most fun. Odom brings his unique brand of writing to the story. His humor and pacing keep his books fresh and great reads. His characters always seem to have a little - something - that adds to their story and makes them that much more fun>
Unfortunately, there are only 6 more books in this series, but this was definitely one of the best.
May 26, 2017
I love this series (think I have said that before!) and this book is one of the best of the series, especially when all the garbage with Bart ther detective is out of the way.
Really good that Gavin and Roux are not involved.
Page turning story and plenty of action, what more could you want.
I can recommend this as a good introduction to the series
Really good that Gavin and Roux are not involved.
Page turning story and plenty of action, what more could you want.
I can recommend this as a good introduction to the series
November 12, 2014
Annja Creed is brought in by her police detective friend as a consultant on a murder that included a missing historical artifact. She starts following the track of the small jade elephant from New York to Ukraine, Russia, Japan and finally Cambodia. Along the way, she is accompanied by a charming Russian mobster, and hunted by a Cambodian monk and a Portuguese billionaire with a super assassin.
I could have done without the fact that the detective has lost a fiancée, upped the romantic tension (sigh), and was almost insultingly protective considering his knowledge of Annja's history (at least she doesn't stand for that last part).
But if I was judging based just on the story, I would give this installment of the series four stars. But the sloppy editing knocked it down a star.
1) On one page, the other host of Annja's television show is called Kristie (the usual spelling), then Christie. Sloppy, and should have been caught.
2) In one sentence, the word tucked was used twice. Clunky writing, and the sentence could have been easily rephrased to avoid the duplication.
3) On arriving in Japan, Annja is greeted by the professor they are meeting as 'Creed-chan'. Seriously? Chan is what you call a child, a girlfriend, or someone you are implying is *far* below you. To quote one website, "The only women who are straight out called -chan by strangers are those who are there to 'entertain' their clients (sexually or otherwise) - such as 'club hostesses', 'maids' in anime cafes, and so on". He should have called her Creed-san.
By the time I hit the third item (and was incredibly insulted on the character's behalf), I was wondering if anyone actually *had* edited the book. A great pity, since I really enjoyed the story, especially the character Klykov.
I could have done without the fact that the detective has lost a fiancée, upped the romantic tension (sigh), and was almost insultingly protective considering his knowledge of Annja's history (at least she doesn't stand for that last part).
But if I was judging based just on the story, I would give this installment of the series four stars. But the sloppy editing knocked it down a star.
1) On one page, the other host of Annja's television show is called Kristie (the usual spelling), then Christie. Sloppy, and should have been caught.
2) In one sentence, the word tucked was used twice. Clunky writing, and the sentence could have been easily rephrased to avoid the duplication.
3) On arriving in Japan, Annja is greeted by the professor they are meeting as 'Creed-chan'. Seriously? Chan is what you call a child, a girlfriend, or someone you are implying is *far* below you. To quote one website, "The only women who are straight out called -chan by strangers are those who are there to 'entertain' their clients (sexually or otherwise) - such as 'club hostesses', 'maids' in anime cafes, and so on". He should have called her Creed-san.
By the time I hit the third item (and was incredibly insulted on the character's behalf), I was wondering if anyone actually *had* edited the book. A great pity, since I really enjoyed the story, especially the character Klykov.
November 20, 2014
I am mixed on this book. It is an exciting adventure story, and we get a rare look at Annja's inner life, where she explains what fascinated her about archeology. At the same time, the "bad Annja" is back. The "Good Annja" frets when violence is necessary. This Annja uses her sword and guns without any seeming compunction, and this is the "bloodiest" of the series in the books I have read so far.
February 8, 2017
I enjoyed this installment very much. It has been a long time since this series held my interest. The story was riveting.
February 12, 2015
This had to be one of the most exciting/action packed story of the series. I always love a good mystery. Throw in mobsters, a hidden treasure, a murder investigation, and religious fanatics and you get one very exciting story. I was at the end of the book before I knew it.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews