I love this supernatural thriller. This author has done a great job of catching your attention and not letting go until the very end of the novel.

The Pandora Room is about archaeologist Sophie who has spent most of her life studying ancient mythology and languages with positive results. That is until she uncovers a secret chamber. The writings confirm the Pandora tale of two jars, but the chamber guards only one.

Great story and well-crafted characters make this a must-read.

This is Christopher Golden's second novel in his Ben Walker series. A historical thriller/mystery, packed with interesting details, well-drawn characters, and an entertaining plot.

A must for fans of authors like James Rollins and Matthew Reilly. THE PANDORA ROOM is an engaging, gripping, and expertly crafted thriller.

Sophie Durand and her team are studying a subterranean city in the heart of the Middle East. One fateful discovery of a hidden chamber changes everything. This room is lined with ancient writings including a message from Alexander the Great stating that two jars, one belonging to Pandora and one to her sister, are stored in this room. One is full of the blessings of the gods and one holds curses. Only one jar is found, but which is it. Enter Ben Walker, an expert on these weird sciences representing the United States. He is sent to help figure out which jar this is and to keep it out of the hands of the people who would use it against America and innocent people. Of course those people show out and start a battle for the jar. This Pandora Room could prove the end of all civilization, including for Sophie and Ben.

I picked a WEIRD time to read this. As we speak the world is dealing with Covid-19. So, naturally, I decide to read a book about a potential plague to kill all mankind. Very fitting… I am a huge fan of these thriller and adventure books that are in the vein of Dan Brown. If you like that type of book, this is definitely an author for you to look into. You have to keep flipping pages to see how this is possibly going to end with civilization intact. I did see that this author has a previous book which is alluded to in this work. I do plan to pick that one up as well. I might wait until this pandemic is over, though. Four out of five stars for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Pandora Room by Christopher Golden is book number #2 in the Ben Walker series and a stunning follow up to the exciting and frightening Ararat. A team of archaeologists have found a hidden room deep underground in Iraq. A room that brings to life an ancient Greek legend and the dangers it contains.

"...Her hand wavered, and all the breath went out of her. A numbness spread through her. The excitement of discovery, the thrill of ancient secrets, had driven her until this moment, reminding her of the spark that had ignited her interest in archaeology when she'd been just a girl. Now all that adrenaline left her in a rush, for this wasn't just a secret. This was a myth. This was impossible.
'Holy shit.'
The dust and shadows made no reply.
Sophie sank to the floor, took a breath, and began trying to read what little of that writing she could make out. Upstairs, her team would be worried for her, working to free her, but in those moments-and for an hour or two more-she had forgotten that they, and the rest of the world, even existed.
At first, she found what little she could translate very hard to believe.
Slowly, she became filled with wonder.
In time, that wonder turned to fear..."

An ancient Greek myth states that two jars were given to two sisters. Once contains all the blessings of the Gods and the other, all the curse's of the world. The sisters were Anesidora and Pandora. In a hidden room underground in Iraq, a jar has been found atop an altar.

Archaeologist Sophie Durand translates the writing on the altar that seems to confirm the tale of Pandora's box. But which jar is it? Government operative Ben Walker joins the team that is determined to understand what they have found, but before they can they are attacked by Jihadists and while they fight for their lives, the jar is cracked and what is inside begins to seep out among them. Sophie's team becomes sick and diseased and even more so, they begin to hallucinate. They begin to see specters among them, doing the most violent and evil acts. But are these hallucinations or are they something even darker.

"...I just want to know how much time I have,' he told them. 'You can argue about ancient rituals all you like. You can dispute the ghosts I saw with my own eyes and whether they're echoes of past events or actual lost souls, and how these Minoan priests put crimes and plague and sickness inside fucking flowers. A day ago, they would be the most fascinating arguments I had ever heard. But right now, all I care about is how long I have to live and how much it will hurt when I die..."

The race is on for Ben and Sophie, can they survive the attacks from the Jihadists and the betrayal of their own Governments who want the jar for their own purposes and somehow survive? Can they keep the ghosts and disease away from them long enough to find a way out, and more so, if they can, can they really unleash Pandora's box on the world?

Christopher Golden is a excellent writer and is doing in the genre of thriller and horror novel something that many authors have forgotten how to do. He weaves myth and legend with real life fear to make the reader believe that the stories we heard as children are much darker and horrible than we could have ever imagined. The characters ring true and their humanity, good and bad, drive them to have moments of great heroic actions and moments of selfish and cruel darkness. Golden does an terrific job of showing the reader this and with it, tell a frightening tale of evil that goes bump in the dark.

A terrific read!

4.5

Book source ~ NetGalley

Ben Walker, employee of The National Science Foundation (lol, not really - he actually secretly works for DARPA) and survivor of the Mount Ararat incident (among others that are secret) is called in when weird shit is found at an archaeological dig in Northern Iraq. Because that’s what DARPA (The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) does – investigates natural and unnatural phenomena in case it could be dangerous and used against the US and obtain it if at all possible. In Mosul he meets up with Kim Seong who works as an advisor and observer for the United Nations. She and Walker had survived the horror of Ararat and if they’re both at this dig, then the weird shitometer is likely about to bury the needle. Will Lady Luck shine on them again?

I thought my heebie jeebies had all been heebie jeebied out when I finished Ararat. Wrong! Sweet Mother of Pearl! Walker and Kim step into yet again. Archaeologist Sophie Durand has been at her dig, The Beneath Project, for months when a small room is discovered off a worship chamber inside the underground city. And off of that hidden room is another hidden room. One that should never have been found by anyone. Ever. Because man, oh man. It’s bad. Ever hear of Pandora’s Box? Yeah, that box. Only, it’s actually a jar. I mean, if it really is Pandora’s Box/Jar. Because, is it? Oh! But guess what? There’s more! When the dig is attacked by jihadists, Ben, Kim, and dig workers have to deal with bullets topside and the jar in the city underneath. You’ll have to decide which option is the worst. Because EEEEEEEEE!

Keep hands and feet inside the car at all times and stay strapped in until the very end because this is one wild ride! Near non-stop action, heart palpitating danger, mysterious happenings, horrifying deaths, and danger to the extreme had me gritting my teeth and leaning anxiously forward in my seat on more than one occasion. Great setting, wonderful characters (I worried so much as to who would survive), history, action, danger, and horror. It doesn’t get much better than this folks.

Great plot and storyline. The only thing was for me...I had a hard time finishing this book not because it was not good but because it was in the genre I usually don't read. I found the plot interesting enough to pick up this book and read it. I finished it and honestly I would recommend for those who like adventure and action. I am more on to a cheesy and cute romance...that is why this book was just OK for me.

A Thrilling Adventure In Ancient History And Mythology!

This was a very suspenseful trip into the unknown with a touch of believable and eerie supernatural in the background. Top archaeologist Sophie Durand and her team of many highly chosen colleagues and assistants have been working in the desert outside a small city in the middle east for almost a year and have discovered many ancient artifacts during this time. Suddenly they discover a hidden room underground that has been untouched for thousands of years. They decipher a warning that appears to say "Those who enter this room will be cursed". This doesn't stop the team from learning more so they enter at their own risk.

Shortly after the room is entered a few of the team start feeling slightly ill and some members start hearing unusual whispers and seeing shadows from the corners of their eyes. Are they experiencing paranoia about the "cursed room" or are they running fevers and are hallucinating? Either way the team is having problems and will need some help from the outside. This unusual journey will commence at this point and non-stop action will take you on a relentless ride to the end of this story.

I found this book very suspenseful and interesting, the beginning had some slow areas due to history description, but that only added to the storyline (imo). Christopher Golden really did his homework in creating a wonderfully realistic and colorful novel with rich detail of ancient history and incorporating some mythology into the mix. This is a follow-up book to the first "ARARAT" which I am so excited to read soon, yet this is a stand-alone novel and holds it own very well. I also want to mention the great characters and their personalities that had myself thinking of them as real people and caring about all of them and wondering what they would do next.

I highly recommend this book if you enjoy thrilling adventures or if you want to read something different and so well-written that I hope you give this book a try!!

I want to thank the publisher St. Martin's Press and the author Christopher Golden and Netgally for the opportunity to read this gem of a book!

After the first few chapters the suspense and horror just wasn't there for me. I enjoyed Ararat much more.

Thank you to St Martin's Press and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was really excited about receiving an advance copy of this book because I love quests that involve mythological artifacts. I can't say that I loved this book but I did enjoy it. The plot centers around the discovery of a jar that is believed to be Pandora's Box. A great archeological discovery that also holds the possibly of some ancient virus hidden within the jar. During the recovery of the jar other factions that want possession of Pandora's Box begin a conflict with the army protecting the dig site. Many of the scientists and security team are trapped inside the underground city and many soon become ill. In a desperate fight to find another way out of the cave system, the few surviving members are fighting symptoms of a strange illness and trying to protect themselves from the group trying to capture Pandora's Box.
I had a hard time connecting with any of the characters but that could in large part be because I haven't read Ararat yet. This is a quick read with a lot of action that keeps the narrative moving forward at a good pace.
If you aren't already scared of dark enclosed spaces you will be absolutely terrified of them after reading this.

An interesting technothriller that I wanted to like a lot more than I did . I felt the the plot was ok but predictable and the characters needed to be developed more

This is probably the best book I have read this year. I have read a lot of books. It's about a woman archeologist and her team, and the discovery they made. It takes place in the middle east, and conflict between the different competing factions. Everyone wants what they have discovered. The United Nations send a secret black op team that has experience dealing with such discoveries. It's a thriller that sets a fast pace action. I had a hard time putting it down. I only hope there is a sequel or a series based on the book, and I'd love to see a movie made about it. This author is one to definitely follow.

THE PANDORA ROOM is a follow up to Golden's novel from 2017, ARARAT. While I enjoyed that book more than this one, it was still an exciting adventure!

In northern Iraq, a team of archaeologists have discovered a room and in that room, a box, and in that box? The information is right there in the book's title. Is it real, or not? It was once said there was a box full of plagues, disease and malice; it was also said there was a box full of peace and joy to all. If both of these sayings were true, which box is this? You'll have to read THE PANDORA ROOM to find out!

Ben Walker, our protagonist is the ultra-macho hero, dedicated to his job and letting nothing, not even his son Charlie, prevent him from accomplishing his mission. He's wily, not afraid of shooting to kill, and a general all around kick-ass kind of guy. You want him in your corner. Once he joins the team of scientists at the discovery site, the action begins and pretty much doesn't let up for the rest of the book. Since the battle occurs on two fronts, one within the underground labyrinth of the dig, and the other above ground, the story fairly raced along.

What I thought was lacking, though, was the depth of the characters. I was already familiar with Ben, and I did like Sophie and Martin, but I didn't feel like I got to know the other characters enough to really care about them. Without caring, what could be tense moments when the characters were in danger, turned into more... tepid situations in my heart. I was disappointed by that.

Everything wrapped up rather nicely and I enjoyed the final scenes. They did make me wonder if Pandora's Box or something similar could resurface for Ben sometime in the future? Maybe a cursed shroud of Turin? The removal of the sword from the stone? I guess I'll have to wait and see. Even though THE PANDORA ROOM didn't fully knock my socks off? I'll be in line to read Ben Walker #3!

3.5/5 stars! Recommended!

*Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan for the e-ARC of this book for review consideration.*

Okay. Maybe my expectations for this book were too high? Kind of predictable to be honest with you. I finished it, but it isn't something I would read again.

Ben Walker is living my childhood dream, well, he isn’t exactly living it because he is a fictional character, but you know what I mean. I grew up on a healthy dose of Indiana Jones and Allan Quatermain; Harrison Ford and Richard Chamberlain stoked my love of the adventure of uncovering a lost mythical treasure in an exotic location. Ben Walker is a modern version of my childhood heroes.

The Pandora Room is the second book in the Ben Walker series, but if you haven’t read Ararat yet, don’t worry, you can easily go straight into The Pandora Room (if you dare); there is nothing here that will spoil book one.

Christopher Golden has filled The Pandora Room with non-stop action. He has a knack for finding great mythical subject matter and turning it far more sinister than I could have ever imagined. The Pandora Room was fast-paced and captivating.

I want to be Ben Walker, except for all of his family trouble, I don’t want that. But to be shipped off to near inaccessible locales and to be one of the first to explore exciting archaeological sites that were believed to be myths, that’s what I want. When an author makes you want to be the protagonist, the job is done. I’m involved now and there is no escape. That is the type of connection that I want as a reader. The only thing that Walker lacks is a bit of the humor and fun that Jones and Quatermain brought to their stories.

The Pandora Room left me with only one thought: where will I be going with Walker next time and which mythical mystery will we unearth?

*4.5 Stars

A team of archaeologists discovers hidden room in the underground caves they are exploring. Inside the room is ancient writing and a mysterious jar. The team determines they have found the mythical Pandora's Box. They try to keep their discovery secret, but governments begin to lay claim to the jar and jihadi forces are attacking, forcing the team, along with Ben Walker, to remain in the caves. But people are suddenly feeling sick. And they are beginning to see things in the shadows. The team races against time to find a way out of the caves before they are trapped there forever.

I am a sucker for horror stories in caves, so I had a feeling I would like this book better than Golden's first installment to the Ben Walker series. I thought he set the atmosphere better in The Pandora Room than he did with Ararat. Golden really throws us in to the story in the first chapter and then things never really let up. There was more action and less standing around arguing, which was an issue I had with Ararat.

Just like with Ararat, I feel there was a lack of character development. I don't know if Golden overwhelms himself with his large cast in each book, but by the last 30% of the novel, I was having trouble remembering who was who except for Walker, Kim, Sophie, and Dr. Yang. I never felt like I connected with any of the characters.

If you like scary stories in caves, I highly recommend you check this out. I gave The Pandora Room four stars because it was very unnerving and there was some scary scenes. I dare you not to feel like you have a sore throat by the end of the book.

Another killer thriller featuring DARPA agent Ben Walker working under the cover of the National Science Foundation

A team of archaeologists, scientists, professors and military have been working in Kurdistan on the Beneath Project - an underground city with plenty of historical ramifications. As the project is winding down, with a good portion of the crew having already left, a hidden portion of the city is found and a priceless artifact is discovered.

It could be one of two items - one extremely beneficial and the other beyond evil. And they don't know which one they've discovered.

I enjoyed author Golden's pacing in this thriller. It goes from zero to 60 in the blink of an eye.

I was glad to have Ben Walker and Kim Seong back in this second book that follows after ARARAT. It's a good pairing.

There's lots of action, bloody, horrific action at that, and Walker is faced with making some life-changing decisions, not only for himself but for mankind.

This was another fun offering from Golden. Hopefully there will be more in the series.

I received this book from St. Martin's Press through Net Galley in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review.

Ben Walker #2, Walker is back for another adventure. I think this can be read as a standalone since they are two separate stories but for the two returning characters a bit of character development happened in the first book; you can always go back and read the first book if you feel the need to after reading this one. I enjoy Golden's writing, for me this one was quite a bit more enjoyable to read than the first, topic-wise I have always been more interested in Pandora's Box than the arc, viruses and creepy ass ghost are more my thing.

Archaeologist Sophie Durand was leading a dig site of an underground city in the Northern Iraqi/Kurdistan area when she discovers what she thinks is Pandora's Box. Kim Seong gets called in by the UN to oversee and decide who gets custody of the item. To help her out she asks specifically for Ben Walker. Walker is use to handling stuff for the government making sure old artifacts and such end up in the right hands. But what happens no one expects. The local jihadi view this discovery as a threat to their history and religion and lead an attack at the dig site. Top side the American and Kurdish soldier are fighting to keep the jihadi from making it down into the underground city and destroying everything; while down below the scientist, researchers, and laborers are facing a horrible virus and pretty soon they are trapped there with no way out.

Overall, great read. I did tear up at one point toward the end it was one of those moments where you want to throw the book across the room, curse the author and then go right back to reading it because you have to find out what happens next. This book was creepy, morbid, and a little grotesque a few times and I loved it. I loved the characters, as large of a cast that he had it was easy to follow, each time the narrative changed perspectives he named the person it switched to within the first sentence. There were some unanswered questions at the end, so I am hoping another book comes soon and answers them, well not too soon you can tell Golden does research his stuff first and that takes time but it so worth it.

If you are looking for a sleek and adventurous technothriller, look no further than Christopher Golden and his new novel, The Pandora Room. In this lavish novel, multiple parties are tasked with finding the legendary Pandora Room and all that it might contain and reveal. Sophie Durrant is our hero and believe me you will root for her to come out in the end with all the secrets and more importantly, her life. If you think that The Pandora Room could be a great movie, you are correct. Think of the movies that you watched as a kid, and you will have an accurate picture of this entertaining book.

THE PANDORA ROOM is the second in the Ben Walker series, which commenced with the stunning thriller ARARAT. An archaeological excavation in Kurdistan breaks through into a cleverly hidden underground city, possibly the major archaeological discovery of the century. However, there is far more to this site than simply an abandoned civilization covered over by the detritus of millennia. A warning noting a no trespassing order by the King of Asia (Alexander the Great) eventually leads to a room far underground containing a simple jar on an altar. But the inscriptions on the jar and the walls indicate that this may be the legendary Pandora's Jar of antiquity and myth, predating Greek mythology. Of course, there's not just a simple archaeological discovery; and Ben Walker, on a mission for DARPA to recover the jar no matter what, unearths what should have been left concealed for eternity.

I adored ARARAT and consider it a rereader. I found THE PANDORA ROOM fascinating, but I thought the next-to-last segment (as Walker, Kim, a medical doctor, and some of the archaeologists attempt escape through a newly uncovered underground river tunnel) dragged on longer than necessary. Following that the novel concludes with a potentially apocalyptic outcome, leaving the reader to ask: "Is the Earth safe? Or will the contents of Pandora's Jar wipe out all life on this planet?"

An archeologist discovers a suberranean city in Iraq. Inside a secret chamber covered in ancient writings, there is a jar. Pandora's Box. The ancient story tells of two jars....one containing all the blessings of the Gods and the other containing all of the curses. Which jar lies in the secret chamber? Suddenly governments and even ISIS are fighting for control of the jar. Will they unleash ancient curses upon the earth? Some myths are best left buried!

I enjoyed the first book in this series, Ararat. And I definitely enjoyed this sequel. The book wastes no time jumping into action. Archeologist Sophie Durand is followed by The Bad Guys in chapter one and the fight for control of Pandora's Box begins immediately. Ben Walker, admittedly an expert in "Weird Shit,'' joins the team just in time for the S to hit the fan. The book definitely has an Indiana Jones type feel....nefarious evildoers following archaeologists to gain control over a powerful mythological artifact.

The Pandora Room is an action-packed, thrilling read. The temptation to open Pandora's Box (if it were real and ever discovered) would be almost over-whelming. This book jumps right into the myth and proposes what would happen if the legendary vessel were discovered.

I'm definitely going to keep reading this series. I wonder what dangerous situation Ben Walker will find himself in next time? First Noah's Ark....now Pandora's Box. I can't wait to find out what will happen in the next book, Red Hands!!

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**