Genre: Thriller/Mystery
Publisher: Ballantine
Publication Date: November, 2007
Reviewed by Jennifer Roman
The Amber Room provides those hungering for thrilling, cross-continent adventure with plenty. There is intrigue, murder, and yes, a bit of sex as trial court judge Rachel Cutler and her ex-husband Paul search for the highly evasive and mysterious Amber Room, a room of artfully crafted amber panels created in the early 1700s in what was then Prussia. The room was deconstructed and the panels were looted, and subsequently lost, during World War II. Rachel’s father Karol Borya was a POW in World War II and saw things that led to the possible re-discovery of the Amber Room. Unfortunately, early in the story, he is killed because of that knowledge. Headstrong Rachel, in an attempt to put to rest this fascinating story, heads to Germany to search in places only her father and his comrade knew might contain the Amber Room. Paul goes off to help her and tries to protect her from art “acquisitioners,” and, more importantly, from herself. Along the way they learn powerful secrets and experience more violence than they ever expect.
It’s obvious from reading this novel that Berry did a lot of research on the sough-after Amber Room. He brings the story of it from inception to creation to eventual destruction to life in great detail and includes fun anecdotes that most people never know. In fact, after reading the story, I was intrigued and did more research on my own. If Berry had not portrayed this great historical piece of art in such a fascinating way, I probably would not have cared. The interesting details he gives are amazing.
That being said, the story itself is interesting, but not gripping. The characters are your typical “headstrong woman goes off in a huff and love interest chases after her then they find mutual love and respect,” without a lot of development. The sights in Europe are described well and brought to life, but that could be done in a good travel guide. The “bad guys” are interesting, but predictable. Overall, it’s a good thing Berry does so well telling the Amber Room’s story because the characters and storyline don’t do much to enhance it.
Cautions: there are a lot of gruesome murders in this story, complete with graphic descriptions of them. If the reader has a weak stomach, this book might not be a good fit. In addition, one of the characters in particular has a very foul mouth. He drops the “F-bomb” throughout the story, so caution should be used when recommending this book to younger readers. The same goes for sexual situations. There are not a lot of sex scenes, but there are a lot of sexually explicit conversations and innuendos. If a reader is OK with graphic violence, foul language, and sexually explicit scenes, he or she will be fine. Otherwise, because there is so much of all, I suggest the potential reader skip this book.
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