The Samson Effect

A Novel

By: Tony Eldridge

Narrated by: Joe Cirillo

Dr. Michael Sieff and Dr. Thomas Hamilton have stumbled onto a finding so astonishing that it could reshape the political and religious boundaries of the world.

Hidden in a cave in Hebron, Israel, they find an ancient scroll that gives evidence of a substance so powerful, it gave the Biblical strongman Samson his great strength.

In the quest to uncover this powerful secret, they run into two other groups who also know of its existence. The first is a group of protectors chosen each generation to keep the ancient secret and use it when the moment is ready. The second is a ruthless Palestinian ruler who wants to use it to create an invincible army for Allah to purge the world of infidels and bring it under his control.

Joined by an unlikely ally, Sieff and Hamilton travel the globe, dodge bullets, endure betrayal, and ultimately have to confront the most powerful enemy that this world has seen in ages. Facing unimaginable odds, they are the only two standing between freedom and conquest of the world.

©2007 Tony Eldridge (P)2013 Tony Eldridge

Interesting concept - poor execution

What disappointed you about The Samson Effect?

I think this is a first novel for the author. Prose were halting, predictable and at times downright painful. I couldn't get past how poorly the story was written, at times groaning out loud from how cliché and adolescent the narrative was.

Narration was robotic and awful. Not sure what accents narrator was doing, but they certainly weren't close to being Israeli. Accents aside, no performance value - my Garmin could have done a better reading.

Would you ever listen to anything by Tony Eldridge again?

Probably not.

What didn’t you like about Joe Cirillo’s performance?

Robotic- didn't even have a logical or natural cadence to his recitation. Accents were embarrassingly awful. Just bad.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Samson Effect?

Seriously- so many! Tom being on the lamb was not fleshed out or believable- cut it not necessary. Interactions with students and other teacher at beginning are not needed. The three month hiatus for seeds to grow? Really? Life was just peachy for three months? Too many threads not tied off or fleshed out. Really interesting concept - but just so poorly executed.

Any additional comments?

Was this self published and self produced? Would ask for my money back if I could.

Kept me listening...and coming back for more.

This was one great listen! It usually takes me about a week to listen to an 8-10 hour long audiobook, but this one kept me tuned in, and I finished it in a day and a half. I never read Tony Eldridge before and I wish I had -- and I'm about to look for more.

As to the story itself, if you listen to it (or read it), I'm certain you be fantasizing as I was about finding the only remaining seed to the sacred plant that provides the Samson Effect, and trying it yourself. That would be great!

There's plenty of action -- some violent -- and well-drawn characters (I particularly liked Michael Sieff, the Israeli linguist) and the writing style -- not bogged down with overly descriptive adjectives and excessive adverbs -- lends itself to having a fast pace -- a definite requirement for good thrillers.

I don't want to have spoilers in this review, so I won't tell you about one of the elements of the story that kept me listening, but it has something to do with the well-written and the ticking clock race between the jihadists vs. the archaeologists.

Great story; glad I found it.