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Jax Alexander Mystery #3
The Babylonian Codex
CIA agent Jax Alexander and remote viewer Tobie Guinness are back in The Babylonian Codex by C.S. Graham, racing to solve an ancient riddle and diffuse a plot to destroy the world. A relentlessly gripping thriller that takes off like a rocket and never slows down, The Babylonian Codex features apocalyptic prophecies, a mysterious inscription on a long-lost mosaic, and the assassination of the U.S. vice president. New York Times bestselling author James Rollins called Graham¡¯s debut thriller, The Archangel Project, ¡°As current as today¡¯s headlines and as disturbing as your darkest nightmare¡.Riveting, provocative, and enthralling.¡± Now, two electrifying adventures later, this series is better than ever.
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353 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
70 people are currently reading
393 people want to read
About the author
C.S. Graham
7?books84?followersC.S. Graham is the pseudonym of writing team Steven Harris, a former Army Intelligence officer, and Candice Proctor, who also writes the Sebastian St. Cyr mystery series under the name C.S. Harris. The two met at a local New Orleans writers group in 2001, after Candy moved to Louisiana from Australia. They now share a thriller series, a marriage and family, seven cats, and some great Hurricane Katrina stories.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
July 22, 2018
3.5 stars. I didn¡¯t like this series as much as the Sebastian St. Cyr books, I generally don¡¯t read thrillers. That being said these were quick and fun to read. Perfect for summer vacation.
August 2, 2012
No sooner had I abandoned my attempt to re-read the old, yellowed copy of my Travis McGee book than I picked up a second thriller by C.S. Graham and was as captivated by it as I was by the first one I read, The Solomon Effect.
What these books have beyond good, solid writing and sympathetic characters is that they are witty and intelligent. Also, they are real travelogues and packed with the kind of arcane trivia that I personally like a lot.
There are realistic thrillers and less-realistic thrillers, and these books by the husband-and-wife writing team of Candice Proctor and Steven Harris fall into the latter category. Aside from the reliance on the paranormal phenomenon of remote viewing, they have plots which depart from real-life scenarios into the fantastic and even apocalyptic. But they are rooted enough in the world of fact that one is willing to suspend disbelief.
The historical details, like the descriptions of the various venues, come across as authoritative. Whether its descriptions of biblical texts or a scene in Marrakesh, the narrative rings true. If there is a meeting at the Jefferson Memorial, you are there, but if the characters are standing on an ancient mosaic in an obscure Spanish town, you are there, too.
And once again, the relationship between October Guinness and Jax Alexander is an entertaining and sympathetic one. So I read the book in just a couple of days. All that said, however, it was not quite as good as the first one I read, maybe just because it was the second one. The remote viewing, the characters, the writing were a little less fresh and original the second time around.
The plot, too, was somewhat formulaic, with many of the same elements as in the other book. Once again, a controlled remote viewing session launches the action, and is followed later in the book by a second session, on the run and less controlled. Once again, the bad guys include a number of high-ranking government officials with special ops crews that are remarkably and consistently inept when it comes to eliminating our heroes. Once again, there is a subplot involving an innocent third character who supplies the missing key that enables our heroes to follow through on their mission. Once again, Tobie and Jax crisscross oceans and countries following the twists and turns of the plot.
I'm curious to see if the same formula is followed in the first book of the series, The Archangel Project, or in whatever new book the authors come up with to continue the series.
One of the Amazon reviews complained about the "politics" of the book, and indeed the radical leftist view of the authors is more apparent in this book than in the other one. But since I have a lot of sympathy for this political viewpoint, it is one of the things I enjoy the most. And in this book, even though I have described the notion of a biblical codex leading some right-wing nut jobs into transforming the U.S. into a theocracy as a fantastic and apocalyptic plot line, it is rooted in some disturbingly real facts. The authors' portrayal of "dominionists" in our military industrial complex is based on much actual documentation and makes Hillary Clinton's remark about a "vast right-wing conspiracy" seem like an understatement.
What these books have beyond good, solid writing and sympathetic characters is that they are witty and intelligent. Also, they are real travelogues and packed with the kind of arcane trivia that I personally like a lot.
There are realistic thrillers and less-realistic thrillers, and these books by the husband-and-wife writing team of Candice Proctor and Steven Harris fall into the latter category. Aside from the reliance on the paranormal phenomenon of remote viewing, they have plots which depart from real-life scenarios into the fantastic and even apocalyptic. But they are rooted enough in the world of fact that one is willing to suspend disbelief.
The historical details, like the descriptions of the various venues, come across as authoritative. Whether its descriptions of biblical texts or a scene in Marrakesh, the narrative rings true. If there is a meeting at the Jefferson Memorial, you are there, but if the characters are standing on an ancient mosaic in an obscure Spanish town, you are there, too.
And once again, the relationship between October Guinness and Jax Alexander is an entertaining and sympathetic one. So I read the book in just a couple of days. All that said, however, it was not quite as good as the first one I read, maybe just because it was the second one. The remote viewing, the characters, the writing were a little less fresh and original the second time around.
The plot, too, was somewhat formulaic, with many of the same elements as in the other book. Once again, a controlled remote viewing session launches the action, and is followed later in the book by a second session, on the run and less controlled. Once again, the bad guys include a number of high-ranking government officials with special ops crews that are remarkably and consistently inept when it comes to eliminating our heroes. Once again, there is a subplot involving an innocent third character who supplies the missing key that enables our heroes to follow through on their mission. Once again, Tobie and Jax crisscross oceans and countries following the twists and turns of the plot.
I'm curious to see if the same formula is followed in the first book of the series, The Archangel Project, or in whatever new book the authors come up with to continue the series.
One of the Amazon reviews complained about the "politics" of the book, and indeed the radical leftist view of the authors is more apparent in this book than in the other one. But since I have a lot of sympathy for this political viewpoint, it is one of the things I enjoy the most. And in this book, even though I have described the notion of a biblical codex leading some right-wing nut jobs into transforming the U.S. into a theocracy as a fantastic and apocalyptic plot line, it is rooted in some disturbingly real facts. The authors' portrayal of "dominionists" in our military industrial complex is based on much actual documentation and makes Hillary Clinton's remark about a "vast right-wing conspiracy" seem like an understatement.
May 6, 2015
Okay, I kept trying to read this book, but honestly because of migraines, the dense print just made it a non-read for quite some time. Then, I managed to read a few books, then migraines set in for awhile, and my eyes really didn't want to read anything.
Migraines totally suck because it prevents me from entering the worlds of other writers anytime I want. However, I've been wanting to get to this book and I finally decided that now is the time!
(Yes, I'm the type of person who will set a book aside to be sure it gets a fair review. If I'm really not in the mood for the story, I won't read it just to read it. If I would do that, chances are I'd give it a bad review. I only hand out bad reviews if I feel a book deserves it, and even then, they're few and far between.)
Don't know how long it will take me to read this book, but I'm starting it today! :)
update: I really enjoyed this book and found it intriguing enough that I'll eventually read the other books written by these authors.
Migraines totally suck because it prevents me from entering the worlds of other writers anytime I want. However, I've been wanting to get to this book and I finally decided that now is the time!
(Yes, I'm the type of person who will set a book aside to be sure it gets a fair review. If I'm really not in the mood for the story, I won't read it just to read it. If I would do that, chances are I'd give it a bad review. I only hand out bad reviews if I feel a book deserves it, and even then, they're few and far between.)
Don't know how long it will take me to read this book, but I'm starting it today! :)
update: I really enjoyed this book and found it intriguing enough that I'll eventually read the other books written by these authors.
April 7, 2015
The Babylonian Codex (2010) 348 pages by C. S. Graham.
Another sci-fi mystery thriller with October Guinness as a remote viewer who "sees" something that the bad guys don't want known and Jax Alexander as the dashing CIA agent.
I love these characters and enjoyed reading the book.
In this episode the dominionists have infiltrated high levels of government, big business and religion. For some reason, most likely just to further the plot, the Babylonian codex seems to mean a lot to the dominionists. So about half the book is chasing leads on what is in the codex and the other half is responding to the moves made by the baddies. I.e. they shoot the guy in the same room, you take off running.
If you can accept the fact that these guys are taking a two thousand year old document as their basis for, let's say, taking over the world then this book is just as thrilling and exciting as the previous two--The Archangel Project and The Solomon Effect. I think it must have been influenced by The Davinci Code and National Treasure.
Another sci-fi mystery thriller with October Guinness as a remote viewer who "sees" something that the bad guys don't want known and Jax Alexander as the dashing CIA agent.
I love these characters and enjoyed reading the book.
In this episode the dominionists have infiltrated high levels of government, big business and religion. For some reason, most likely just to further the plot, the Babylonian codex seems to mean a lot to the dominionists. So about half the book is chasing leads on what is in the codex and the other half is responding to the moves made by the baddies. I.e. they shoot the guy in the same room, you take off running.
If you can accept the fact that these guys are taking a two thousand year old document as their basis for, let's say, taking over the world then this book is just as thrilling and exciting as the previous two--The Archangel Project and The Solomon Effect. I think it must have been influenced by The Davinci Code and National Treasure.
July 28, 2011
Too close to probable truth, I fear. 3.7...I'll definitely read the first two in the series. Neither primary protagonist is particularly appealing to me but some of the secondary ones are intriguing...especially Bubba (who, here, is not Elvis). :-)
Having now read the first two, this gets another star.
Having now read the first two, this gets another star.
September 8, 2021
This series is awesome and I hope more books written for it. This latest one kept me up well past my bedtime because I couldn't stop reading it.
September 13, 2021
So close to real that it leaves you wondering!
November 14, 2019
Pretty much the same as the previous 2 books, with a different collection of rich people wanting to change the government, or the world, to suit themselves, with the assistance of people in the military and other government agencies.
Of course Jax and Tobie get involved because she Sees something that other people don't want anybody to know about. In this case, it's the location of some of the most important items missing from Iraq's National Museum because of the U.S. invasion of Iraq and the disinclination of the military to protect the museum.
Also involved, separately, is reporter Noah Bosch who has been researching the dominionists with the idea of writing an article, or series of articles, that would get him the Pulitzer Prize.
We also get the point of view of the bad guys, different ones at different times.
Both the duo and the individual get shunted around to different places for more information, and all too often their informant is killed, sometimes with innocent bystanders. This repetitiveness got to be a bit much, so at one point when it looked being about to happen again, I had to put the book aside to read something else for a while. I did go back and finish the book, and I was right about the imminent death.
The books are kind of fun. Jax and Tobie are interesting characters. Another reviewer said they'd make good airplane books and I agree. They do make you wonder about conspiracy theories and which might be real and which are manufactured.
Of course Jax and Tobie get involved because she Sees something that other people don't want anybody to know about. In this case, it's the location of some of the most important items missing from Iraq's National Museum because of the U.S. invasion of Iraq and the disinclination of the military to protect the museum.
Also involved, separately, is reporter Noah Bosch who has been researching the dominionists with the idea of writing an article, or series of articles, that would get him the Pulitzer Prize.
We also get the point of view of the bad guys, different ones at different times.
Both the duo and the individual get shunted around to different places for more information, and all too often their informant is killed, sometimes with innocent bystanders. This repetitiveness got to be a bit much, so at one point when it looked being about to happen again, I had to put the book aside to read something else for a while. I did go back and finish the book, and I was right about the imminent death.
The books are kind of fun. Jax and Tobie are interesting characters. Another reviewer said they'd make good airplane books and I agree. They do make you wonder about conspiracy theories and which might be real and which are manufactured.
July 22, 2024
The combo of CS have spun a fine yarn and a fast paced thriller that skirts history, legend and the start of christianity at its base specifically the revelation which is used as a weapon by modern power hungry people to shape the current and future to their image.
The story straddles the poitical corridors of Washington and traces its origins as is apparent by its name to its origins in Babylon, going back two millennia to the Roman times and the acceptance of the shepherd and the others under that kingdom. Loved the story and the way the thriller progressed, fast and focused.
The protagonists October and Jax share a wonderful chemistry and a lot of processes are thrown around the story. I would have liked a little shorter story to bind it more tautly but still loved the story which was in my zone.
Looking forward to read more books by the duo.
The story straddles the poitical corridors of Washington and traces its origins as is apparent by its name to its origins in Babylon, going back two millennia to the Roman times and the acceptance of the shepherd and the others under that kingdom. Loved the story and the way the thriller progressed, fast and focused.
The protagonists October and Jax share a wonderful chemistry and a lot of processes are thrown around the story. I would have liked a little shorter story to bind it more tautly but still loved the story which was in my zone.
Looking forward to read more books by the duo.
October 19, 2022
Ughhhh I wanted this to be so much better than it was. It was basically a play-by-play repeat of book #2.
Something historically important is going to be used for mayhem and death. Jax and Tobie get together after Tobie RVs. They go searching for the important thing. Everyone they meet dies, they finally get to the bad guys and they stop the end of the world happening. Same ol' same ol'. It was really disappointing.
You can skip this one. Good thing this was the last book in the trilogy anyway. I wouldn't have continued.
Something historically important is going to be used for mayhem and death. Jax and Tobie get together after Tobie RVs. They go searching for the important thing. Everyone they meet dies, they finally get to the bad guys and they stop the end of the world happening. Same ol' same ol'. It was really disappointing.
You can skip this one. Good thing this was the last book in the trilogy anyway. I wouldn't have continued.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 23, 2024
Quick read.
The character development was very good, the main characters were believable and likeable. The story moved seamlessly from characters in the US to characters overseas. Really didn't like the obvious left-wing slant of the authors. The biggest problem is the ending. It made me feel like the authors were under a deadline to complete the book and made the climax way too easy and quick. I still feel it is a good read.
The character development was very good, the main characters were believable and likeable. The story moved seamlessly from characters in the US to characters overseas. Really didn't like the obvious left-wing slant of the authors. The biggest problem is the ending. It made me feel like the authors were under a deadline to complete the book and made the climax way too easy and quick. I still feel it is a good read.
May 15, 2025
Had Me Right From The Start
This is the best book of the three Jax and Tobie series. The series is Worth the read if this kind of topic is Your thing. Personally it is mine and I have enjoyed getting to read them from Kindle Unlimited. To find paperbacks might have been quite the search but being online provided me being able to read them a bit easier.
This particular book is fast-paced from the very start and kept on till the very end and quite entertaining.
This is the best book of the three Jax and Tobie series. The series is Worth the read if this kind of topic is Your thing. Personally it is mine and I have enjoyed getting to read them from Kindle Unlimited. To find paperbacks might have been quite the search but being online provided me being able to read them a bit easier.
This particular book is fast-paced from the very start and kept on till the very end and quite entertaining.
June 16, 2024
This story is so scary because it could happen.
I really liked this story,although it was scary because the main adventures could really happen.The whole tale was very exciting,and I had to keep turning the pages waiting to see what happens next.I hope for more stories with these two characters.Great fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Recommended
I really liked this story,although it was scary because the main adventures could really happen.The whole tale was very exciting,and I had to keep turning the pages waiting to see what happens next.I hope for more stories with these two characters.Great fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Recommended
July 14, 2024
cliff hanger until the end
Fast paced international conspiracy with. Believable plot and action. Well developed characters and overly used and predictable action scenes. I Mean just how many of the same explosions can one have all the way to the bitter end. The author needs to broaden his scope of car chases and bomb bursts.
Fast paced international conspiracy with. Believable plot and action. Well developed characters and overly used and predictable action scenes. I Mean just how many of the same explosions can one have all the way to the bitter end. The author needs to broaden his scope of car chases and bomb bursts.
November 20, 2020
Perhaps I had too high an expectation due to the fact I love the St Cyr series and even the one romance by Candice that I¡¯ve read, but while her writing ability is excellent, this collaboration was a disappointment for me
May 25, 2024
Pretty Good, But ....
I have this novel 4 of 5 stars. It is suspenseful. It is well-written. Characters are developed fairly well. But ... I felt as though the ending was weak and tied up too quickly. Despite that, I think this is a story that is worth reading.
I have this novel 4 of 5 stars. It is suspenseful. It is well-written. Characters are developed fairly well. But ... I felt as though the ending was weak and tied up too quickly. Despite that, I think this is a story that is worth reading.
June 2, 2024
Unputdownable!
The story is fast-paced and eerily reflective of today's political climate! The characters are well defined and dynamic. The style reminds me of Steve Berry. Will look forward to reading more from this (these) authors!
The story is fast-paced and eerily reflective of today's political climate! The characters are well defined and dynamic. The style reminds me of Steve Berry. Will look forward to reading more from this (these) authors!
July 16, 2024
Great intrigue
The story, like the other two in the series has a lot of government people doing bad things. I keep thinking that truth is stranger than fiction.
I hope these stories continue.
The story, like the other two in the series has a lot of government people doing bad things. I keep thinking that truth is stranger than fiction.
I hope these stories continue.
November 19, 2024
Not enough time¡.
Don¡¯t get me wrong, I really enjoyed this read. My headline refers to the fact that I would soooo have liked to have read this in one setting - it was that interesting!
Don¡¯t get me wrong, I really enjoyed this read. My headline refers to the fact that I would soooo have liked to have read this in one setting - it was that interesting!
January 30, 2025
Frightening
I found myself comparing a work of fiction to the present political atmosphere and I was more then a little concerned. This was a very interesting and well written book.
I found myself comparing a work of fiction to the present political atmosphere and I was more then a little concerned. This was a very interesting and well written book.
May 19, 2019
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September 9, 2019
The idea was a bit odd for me, but the story was very well executed and the characters were appropriately relatable.
Probably won't read a second time, but it was a fun, carefree read.
Probably won't read a second time, but it was a fun, carefree read.
July 5, 2022
Great book, but I think the ending could be a little more thought out.
March 23, 2024
Loved this from page one will be picking up more books by CS Graham
April 1, 2024
good thriller
This was enjoyable and fast paced. Has good characters, good settings and good descriptions. I will read others by this author soon.
This was enjoyable and fast paced. Has good characters, good settings and good descriptions. I will read others by this author soon.
June 8, 2024
It was a fun, exciting read. Perfect for a good summer read.
December 2, 2024
Very interesting. It's one of my best reads in a while. Interesting in the similarities to current politics and religion in 2024, and it was written in 2010.
December 19, 2024
Codex?
Good read.Keeps you thinking who,what,when and how. Are any of these things possible?. Again,keeps you thinking and the answer is¡..yes
Good read.Keeps you thinking who,what,when and how. Are any of these things possible?. Again,keeps you thinking and the answer is¡..yes
January 3, 2025
Gets you involved in the story and does not let you put it down!
January 8, 2025
Was like a Netflix series. Loved the action, detailed explanations and pace in general.
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