From BooklistThe Black Madonna of Czestochowa, the priceless object sought by Storm Syrrell and Harry Bennett, the art historian and treasure hunter from Gold of Kings (2009), is Polands holiest relic. The painting, a representation of Mary Magdalene cradling the baby Jesus in her arms, was supposedly painted by Saint Luke. Somehow, the Black Madonna has been stolen (and replaced by an exquisite forgery), and now Harry and Storm are racing around the world to get it back. The story takes a while to get goingtheres a lot of prefatory running-about before the Black Madonna is introducedbut once the premise takes hold, Bunns mixture of adventure and historical mystery should keep readers engaged. Further details about the murder of Storms grandfather, a mystery introduced in the previous book, are also revealed. Perhaps not quite as good as Gold of Kings, this one is still recommendable to fans of adventure novels with a historical element. --David Pitt A smooth blend of romance, biblical history, archeology, and murder mystery. . . . With this adventure, Bunn should win another crown. (Publishers Weekly)An excellent bookfast moving with plenty of action and history. Read it! (Sacramento Book )About the AuthorDavis Bunn is the author of numerous national bestsellers in genres spanning historical sagas, contemporary thrillers, and inspirational gift books. He has received widespread critical acclaim, including three Christy Awards for excellence in fiction, and his books have sold more than six million copies in sixteen languages. He and his wife, Isabella, are affiliated with Oxford University, where Davis serves as writer in residence at Regents Park College. He lectures internationally on the craft of writing. can you get college textbooks on kindle The Black Madonna (Storm Syrrell Adventure Series, Book 2)
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Good story, but....By barefootgrmaWhile I have always loved stories by D. Bunn, and this one lead me along on an exciting "tour" of intrigue and suspense, the ending left me feeling very "let down," as it is very open ended. I realize stories can be written this way, leaving the ending to the reader's imagination, but this time it left me feeling a little disappointed. I thought it could have ended better, even if "open ended" to a degree. I enjoy the history that D. Bunn puts into his stories, for sure, and everything is "clean" and good. He is one of my all time favorite authors.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Great readBy Elizabeth F. HokeGreat book. Really enjoyed it.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Fast PacedBy Lou AnnI confess I'm a fan of Davis Bunn's books.This one is a page-turner, exciting from the start. You constantly question who the real good guys and bad guys are. If you like archaeology, a middle Eastern and eastern European setting, and you have any interest at all in treasure, this is a good fit for you.The story was inspired by a family treasure, which adds to the importance of it.I liked it a lot. It certainly kept me reading. My only criticism is that some of the subject matter was sometimes not interesting to me personally. The Black Madonna is well-written and fast paced. I remain a fan, and I enjoyed the book. I think you will, too.