Rating: 
Summary: pretty good book
Review: I knew very little about the Amber Room before reading this book and found the story interesting. It kind of dragged along but the history parts were interesting. As a 1st novel I think it was pretty good and looking forward to reading his next book about the Romanov's as I do know something about them For more back ground visit the authors web site. Has pictures and more back ground on the Amber Room and on the Romanov's. All in all not a bad book.
Rating: 
Summary: A Thrilling Debut Novel by a Highly Talented Writer
Review: I know nothing about art. Well, almost nothing. I have this wonderfully huge coffee table book that reproduces the work of Hieronymus Bosch and that I consult on occasion for inspiration (I never claimed to be wrapped too tightly). I also have a basement full of "sequential art" --- that's what fans of comic books call them when they wish to be pretentious. That's it. So I didn't even know there was such a thing as the Amber Room. It is accordingly a measure of the strength of this fine first novel by Stephen Berry that while reading it I spent hours on the Internet delving further into the history of it, and will continue to do so.The Amber Room --- the art object, that is --- has not received much press in the United States but is very well known in Europe. It is a work of art with a rich and enigmatic history. It is, in actuality, a room constructed out of amber, with artwork carved into the amber. Berry drops little nuggets of information about amber throughout THE AMBER ROOM, and for those of us who thought amber was only good for trapping flies, it's fascinating info. But THE AMBER ROOM is not an art or science textbook. The Amber Room of history and of this novel disappeared during World War II while in the possession of Nazi Germany. There are several theories regarding what happened to it. It may have been destroyed, it may have been hidden too well, or it may be in the hands of a private collector. No one really knows for sure. Berry takes this mystery and cleverly uses it to build a novel around. THE AMBER ROOM involves an unlikely protagonist, Atlanta Judge Rachel Cutler, and her attorney ex-husband Paul. Rachel has an interesting connection to the Amber Room: her father, a White Russian who was taken prisoner by the German Army during World War II, has some clues as to the location of the Amber Room that he has kept to himself for decades. When he dies suddenly and mysteriously, the information that he kept hidden is revealed. Cutler, doubting that her father's death was an accident, travels to Germany with Paul sensing that danger is following close behind. They are unaware that they are on a collision course with two art collectors who have made the acquisition of stolen or supposedly lost art treasures a competition, and that they both will acquire what they seek by any means necessary. Berry leads the Cutlers, and his readers, on a thrilling chase through a Europe that is off the guidebook path and through the world of clandestine art collecting before revealing the surprising final fate of the Amber Room. Berry's writing is surprisingly surefooted and confident as he takes a subject that is of limited and specialized interest and uses it as a vehicle for a thrilling debut novel with certain widespread appeal. There are not many writers working today with the ability to do this --- Jeffery Deaver comes most immediately to mind --- but Berry certainly joins those talented ranks with THE AMBER ROOM. Let's look, and hope, for more from Berry soon. --- Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub from Bookreporter.com
Rating:
Summary: Non Stop Reading Adventure
Review: I saw the book mentioned on the Today Show this morning as part of a piece on the real amber room. I went to the store and bought one and have been reading it ever since. What a story! It's great. Super action, great plot, lots of history and suspense. I have done nothing else all day but read. Get one, you won't be disappointed. Paula
Rating: 
Summary: Looks like another new good author
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed Mr. Berry's first book, and look forward to more novels written by him...if he continues in this type of writing..Compares somewhat to DeVinci Code, not quite as detailed, or educational, due to too much romantic involvement between two main characters..and not enough descriptive writing regarding the now most interesting subjects, art and the Catholic artifacts.
Rating: 
Summary: Not bad for first book, but Berry's a mysoginist
Review: I too bought this book due to the endorsement from Dan Brown on the cover. I thought it unusual on some levels and interesting regarding the lost Amber Room. However, the writing is inconsistent in parts. And, Steve Berry obviously has a problem with women. His main character Rachel is an unlikeable bitch called the "Ice Queen" by her co-workers. As a judge, she pisses off both police and attorneys and has few supporters. She's treated her kind ex-husband (who is still holding a torch) like crap. She can't hold her tongue and makes one bitchy comment after another..and then says she doesn't know why she has to act like that. I think Berry enjoyed creating such a detestable character and no surprise when she was set up for a rape. Other female characters are also abused in other scenes. I found it disturbing and a little sick.
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining...
Review: I'm a bit puzzled at all of the negative reviews of this book. It kept my interest and it's entertaining for what it is. The Nazi round up of art is an interesting topic, and I'm glad to see it touched upon in fiction. I'd never heard of the amber room, and I learned enough to make me search out more information. Granted, the writing is not exactly Dickens, but when I want to read Great Literature, I read the Greats.
People have a tendency to want to group novels rather than to take each story on its own merits. I've seen this book compared to "The DaVinci Code". I recognize the comparison, since its a mystery/thriller set in the art world, but that's where the similarities end. If you liked "The DaVinci Code," you might like this book, but if you're someone who has the need to compare everything and rank preferences, I can't say which is "better".
If I were required to complain about something, it might be that the bad guys (as in many stories) are more interesting than the good guys. I really didn't care too much about what happened to the protagonists, but I did find myself intrigued by the cat and mouse game played by the acquisitors. The concept of a group of Europeans sending operatives all over the world to obtain treasures that have already been stolen is intriguing. I'd like to see it explored further. Maybe in a future Berry book.
Rating:
Summary: Hot Novel by the newest Clancy
Review: If this doesn't make the NYT best sellers listing, I'll eat my hat. If Steve Berry's first book is any indication, he'll rise to stellar heights in the industry. If you haven't bought your "First Edition" yet, get it before it's too late. Those who bought J.K. Rowling's first Harry Potter book know what I mean. The book is informative, believable, and well-researched. Apart from the fascinating history lessons, I found the protagonists to be characters that will grow on you. I can't wait for the next book.
Rating:
Summary: A MUST READ SUPER THRILLER
Review: If you are looking for the best new book of the fall, this is it. In my opinion, Berry is the nations best new writer. He has written an international thriller that is a classic tale of suspense. His impeccable research into the history of the Amber Room took me to places I never knew existed. The thrill of the hunt for the Amber Room had me lost in time until I turned the last page. Let me assure thrill seekers, their year is not complete without this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Predictable and repetitive
Review: It is a sad state of affairs when you can tell that a book is being written with the expectation of it being turned into a movie. We probably have Stephen King to thank for this trend, but that is off the subject.
This book started out decently enough. The Amber Room is still obscure enough in the U.S. that the historical background kept me interested--the first time. To have it repeated ad nauseum was a bit of overkill. One time for information, two times maybe to reinforce the point. More than that is just literary laziness. I got the feeling he kept repeating information in an attempt to make the book longer.
The characters were paper thin and oh-so-cliched. The pretty heroine. The wistful ex-husband. The loyal father. The ruthless killers working for a "win at any cost" rich tycoons. The redneck thrown in for (I assume) comic relief. The problem is, the author didn't make us care about the heroes, or hate the villians. I just wanted the book to end. I didn't care how. For a story like this to be compelling, there should at least be a hint of some danger or intrigue. There wasn't. The characters stumble along from one mishap to the next with little problem or consequence of what occurred in the previous chapters. Everybody miraculously ends up in the same place, every time, and for some reason, they're all surprised by it every single time. In some cases with plot holes large enough to drive a truck through.
My advice: Don't waste your time. Eventually it will be a movie starring Julianne Moore or Julia Roberts, and you can get through it in two hours instead of the hours of excruciating reading it takes to end up in a place you could see coming before you even read the back cover synopsis.
Rating:
Summary: Fast paced, authentic info.....
Review: Just finished The Amber Room and enjoyed it very much. Liked the plot and thought it moved along at a good pace. Also enjoyed the authentic info that Berry included in his novel. Would highly recommend the book and I'm looking forward to his next one.
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