Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for gifting me with an ALC of The Omega Factor. In exchange I offer my unbiased review.

Steve Berry is an autobuy author for my husband and through the years I’ve started reading his novels as well. What I love most about Berry’s work is the blending of history, both fact and fiction to create an exciting and educational reading experience, this book was no exception!!!

I was actually thrilled to discover this is a standalone story and I’m hoping the first of a new series. Nick Lee is an UNESCO investigator, tracing missing & stolen religious relics. In this nonstop adventure, a woman from his past contacts him, sending Nick to Belgium where he discovers the missing Ghent Altarpiece may have been found.

This book covers a lot of ground and at times it was difficult to keep all the threads separated, however the outstanding narration by Scott Brick kept me enthralled and entertained. As always, Berry’s author’s note at the end was full of details which I always appreciate.

This was a fun & fast paced thriller, perfect for the summer heat. Definitely pick up a copy or download the audio ~ available June 7.

A nun is being pursued by an order of Maidens (who call themselves Vultures), who are being pursued by Dominican Friars (sometimes called God's Dogs), as well a Cardinal and a Bishop, who are being pursued by Cathars, long believed to be extinct (who call themselves Perfecti), who back in the 13th Century were wiped out violently by Crusaders and the Inquisition -- and of course all of them are being pursued by the police (minorly) and (mainly) by a UNESCO arts and antiquities investigator, our protagonist, Nick Lee.

Add in the 100 Years War, the Ghent Altarpiece (a priceless and often violated work of art), corrupt Catholic priests, a handful of Moors, the Dauphin, Philip the Good, Joan of Arc, Mother Mary, everything maybe even including presumably a kitchen sink -- everything except Cotton Malone and his entourage, who are not part of these proceedings in any way (he'll be back in Steve Berry's next book, but mark this one as a standalone, at least until Nick Lee returns to make a series out of it).

So not exactly a double chase, more like a -- I don't know how many chases that adds up to, past and present. But that's OK, because in Steve Berry's world, where historical mysteries take on present day implications of the highest order, the McGuffin is what we're here for. This McGuffin, as is often the case with Berry, melds classic art with Roman Catholic politics and exotic European locales.

But there is a bit of downside to this: there are a LOT of characters, all of them new to readers, a LOT of plot lines, a LOT of history, just a lot of everything, and at least in audio, sometimes hard to follow -- I don't think that will be a problem for readers of print editions, who can easily look back to keep themselves on track. To be clear, this is not a big problem, just an occasional obstacle in keeping things straight.

On the other hand, there's no sugarcoating the fact that Scott Brick is once again the narrator -- Berry is all in with Brick, that doesn't look like it will change anytime soon, one can only hope that at some point Berry will follow precedent set by other writers and move away from Brick to better narrators. I know Brick has his forever fans, but many of us find him tiresome, overly dramatic, slow and ponderous -- I will turn down an audiobook that is a borderline decision for me if Brick is the narrator (though I will of course tolerate him for a favorite author like Berry).

I feel fortunate to have been approved for this book by NetGalley (thanks also to the author and publisher) literally one day after I returned from a week in SW France, where significant portions of the Hundred Years' War and Albigensian Crusade took place -- though I was not in the Languedoc and Mid-Pyrenees area where much of this story takes place, I was in neighboring Nouvelle Occitane where there was a lot of spillover, so I had already learned a lot about it and was able to dive right into the historical portion of the story.

All in all, a solid entry into the Steve Berry canon, despite the absence of Cotton Malone (a welcome respite, even, knowing he will return soon), with an interesting McGuffin and historical back story. Perhaps overly complex at times, but only enough to bring my rating down to 4 stars (would probably be 5 in print where the voice in my head is better than Scott Brick).

A new character from Berry's more notable Cotton Malone, but the vibe of this thriller is very similar. Personally, this one didn't quite satisfy as much as the Malone series, but felt similar to the earliest of those books (which were, also, not my favorites). Scott Brick, who also narrates many of the Malone books, narrates this one, and I would have actually preferred a different narrator, if only to give this one a different vibe.

A blend of thriller intrigue and the Catholic faith blend well into this story that combines some truth, a well written plot and a few surprises in fiction to tell a tale of the blessed Mother. The art of the Church is a key component in the telling as well as church secrets to create an air of mystery that connects the reader to the mission at hand. Thanks to NetGalley for the advance read.

I love Scott Brick’s work as a narrator/performer for audiobooks.

I confess that the story line simply did not grab me. Not really my genre. That does not mean the book is bad. It just did not grab me, and committing to a 13+ hour listen when you are not engaged is a slog.

Again, the aesthetics are great.

With thanks to NetGalley, Steve Berry, and the publishers for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have read several Steve Berry books this year and have enjoyed them all.

This stand alone adventure with new dashing and uniquely skilled main character, Nick Lee, is fast paced and interesting.

This story is steeped in both history and current controversy. The historical religious treatment of various women throughout the centuries meets the mishandling of abuse claims against clergy - all of which could potentially be handled terribly by a lot of authors but Berry manages to use both in an entertaining work of fiction without being exploitative or problematic.

The art history plot line is fabulous for both those with an interest in religious art, and those who do not necessarily care that much for it. There is, as usual, a good balance of detail and action.

The narrator, Scott Brick, performs stunningly as usual. There is no one else I can imagine performing these stories.

One of my favourite features of Steve Berry’s books is the final section - separating fact from fiction. As a historian listening to historical fiction, the trust that the author is aware of the reality that they’re using for their fiction is vital. I love that the historical aspects are further explored, the real places mentioned in the story clarified, and those additions made by the author identified.


Please note: My standard audiobook disclaimer applies, I listen to almost all audiobooks at increased playback speed, but always listen to a portion at regular speed to get a feel for the narrator.

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Steve Berry, Hachette Audio and Grand Central Publishing for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

Well-written fiction with a historical flavoring takes on a new level with Steve Berry at the helm. His stories are both rich in their narrative and full of action, providing the reader with a wonderful reading experience. This standalone provides an intriguing look into a historical artifact, peppered with Christian history, that offers context to a great deal of what is purported as truth today. Berry does it again, treating his fans to a stellar read.

History has shown that religious relics are commonly stolen, hidden, and discovered years later. The Ghent Altarpiece is one such item, but holds the title of being the most confiscated item ever, after thirteen instances of being stolen or disfigured. No one seems to know why, until now.

Nicholas Lee has a prestigious job within the United Nations, as a UNESCO investigator. He’s tasked with investigating cultural and religious items, trying to look into their history and displacement. Trying to protect cultural artifacts around the world is a tough job, but Nick’s up for the challenge.

Nick makes his way to Belgium where someone from his past awaits him. Unbeknownst to him, it’s also where a part of the Ghent Alterpiece is being tracked, last seen just before the Second World War. As Nick tries following the trail, he is thrust into the middle of a conflict that has been brewing for centuries, between a secret order of nuns who vow to protect the truth and the Vatican, wanting to bring the Ghent Alterpiece together to make an astounding revelation. As the Maidens of Saint-Michael are revealed, hired guns within the Vatican try to wrest control of the Alterpiece that possesses many secrets, leaving Nick to scramble for safety.

It’s a matter of life and death for Nick and those around him. With twists and turns all throughout the oldest part of Europe, the story takes readers on an adventure that only Berry could construct, both from fiction and well-placed actual facts. A delightfully intense story that will keep fans of the author on the edge of their seats!

I always enjoy when Steve Berry publishes another book, sure to find something entertaining and educational with each story. This was no exception, diving deep into religious history and controversies known to few. Berry extracts these in his narrative and takes the reader on an adventure like no other. Full of history, great characters, and a stellar plot, Berry impresses yet again.

Nick Lee is a great protagonist in this piece, serving not only a great role, but offering readers a treat throughout. There are some wonderful backstory moments, helping the reader to see the man in this standalone thriller, as well as key development throughout. Berry is able to infuse a wonderful depth in his characters and Nick is surely one of the best, both in this story and of the many novels the author has penned. I want to know more and will have to be hyper vigilant, in case Berry brings him along, even in passing, when Cotton Malone returns.

A storyteller of Berry’s ilk knows how to pull a reader in with ease, offering up wonderful stories as they educate in equal measure. The narrative works well and builds throughout, offering history and some education with each page turn. Those who know Berry’s work will join me in agreeing that everything is a mix of fact and fiction, though sometimes it is hard to tell the difference. A cast of well-developed characters and a few plot lines in which they can blossom rounds out the story, keeping the reader on their toes. As always, there is a deep history, involving the Church a great deal of the time, which left me wondering much about what I know and think I expected to be incontrovertible truth. I can see that there is much I do not know and need to learn, as Berry reveals much in the post-script of his book.

Kudos, Mr. Berry, for another great piece. While I miss Cotton Malone, this was definitely well worth the time invested.

At first I thought this was an addition to the Cotton Malone series and was slightly disappointed when it wasn't BUT once I started this book I got over the disappointment to then become hooked on the story.

In this book we meet a new character, Nick Lee, that I can easily see in the Cotton Malone series but am glad that he started out with his own book that I can also see turning into a series. He meets up with his former fiance turned nun and finds himself involved in investigating the destruction of a mural that has ties to the Catholic Church as well as the Virgin Mary and Joan of Arc.

Not only was this an action packed book but it was also filled with historical facts and some historical fiction. Once things took off in the story I was hooked and did not want to put it down. I hope that there is another book in the future for Nick or at least an opportunity to team up with Cotton. Overall, this was a great read that I would recommend this book to others.

In all of the years, I have been blogging and reviewing books, there are only three authors whose books always make it into my TBR pile. Not only do they make it into my list of books to read, but I am also guaranteed to read every book they put out. If you haven't already guessed, Steve Berry is one of those authors. If he writes it, I'm reading it.

His latest offering is both a departure and still yet similar to his normal work. It's a departure in the fact that it isn't a Cotton Malone story; but it is similar because it is the same type of well-thought-out, researched, and developed story that combines history, religion, intrigue, drama, and action. The author also manages to make the story relevant to real-world events. In The Omega Factor: A Novel, Steve Berry manages to tackle some very serious issues in the Catholic church, that manage to prevent the story from just getting bogged down in details. It helps to make the story, although far-fetched, relevant to the reader.

It's a little different reading/listening to a Steve Berry book that isn't part of the #CottonMalone series, but it's still really good. I can't say that I am in love or have any attachment to any of the characters like I do to Cotton, but it's still a very interesting and informative story. It was also nice to get a new cast of main characters for a change. While Nicholas Lee is no Cotton Malone, he isn't half bad. To be honest, I'm 16 books into my adoration for Cotton Malone so I probably like him more because I feel like I know him better and have spent much more time with him.

I was lucky enough to receive both a digital review copy to read and one to listen to. Before I could crack open the digital copy to read, the audiobook version arrived and it was all over. Just like if Steve Berry writes it, I will read it; well if Scott Brick is the narrator, then I'm listening to it. His narration is just quality. He voices the various characters well, he has great inflection and pacing in his narration. When he narrates a book you know you have absolutely nothing to worry about. The story is going to unfold as you listen, you will not feel like someone is reading to you, but rather that someone is painting a word picture for you to imagine. I got the emotion, the gravitas, and the steady unfolding of the story over a two and half day period.

United Nation's Cultural Liason, Nicholas Lee protects the world's Cultural Artifacts. Nic travels to Belgium and uncovers a mystery surrounding the Ghent Altarpiece which has been vandalised 13 times. He finds himself in the middle of the Saint-Michael Maidens and the Vaticans dispution.

With such a hard topic the writing style was great with a solid flow and at a good pace. A plot well thought out. The MC is not well known to us and hope if this becomes a series his character will be explored more. The narration was excellent and the bright red book cover captures your attention immediately.

This book holds two significant storyline. It gives us both historical fiction and a lot of mystery & thriller aspects. There is quite a bit in this book. Not one to take lightly. A good storyline for sure with loads of facts. I appreciated the author's note, which gave significant insight. Overall I did enjoy this book.

I was very excited when I got my approval for this novel from Steve Berry. I have read all of his Cotton Malone books and I actually thought that's what this was before I read the summary. This is a good standalone book that could've easily been a Cotton Malone book with its historical mystery and intrigue, but as was indicated in the author's notes, Nick Lee is a character that has been in Berry's mind for a while and he finally made his way to a book.

If you're not familiar with Steve Berry's style in his Cotton Malone works, there are a couple storylines that seem unrelated at first, but eventually come together in spectacular fashion. This book was no exception. And maybe it was just me, but this book seemed a little more convoluted at first because there seemed to be more than just a couple unrelated plot threads and I had a little trouble keeping track of who was who. There were also two times that the characters thought or said something twice, but a few chapters apart. That always throws me because I wonder if the audiobook messed up since I'm hearing the same words again. But this was nothing that detracted too much from the story.

As far as the audiobook it was masterfully narrated by Scott Brick who is great with thrillers in general and has narrated Berry's other books. I also love the "separating fact from fiction" at the end of the book that gives us insight into the author's experience and thought process.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Name of Book: The Omega Factor
Author: Steve Berry
Narrator: Scott Brick
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Pub Date: June 7, 2022
My Rating: 3.4 stars!

I have to admit I went into this story knowing nothing about it but I love narrator Scott Brick’s audiobook performances!
Story features Nick Lee who is an investigator who works for the United Nations’ Cultural Liaison. His job it to protect the world’s cultural artifacts. He is on a vacation to meet with his ex-fiancé in Belgium. She is an art restoration specialist and at this is working on the restoration for the 12th panel of the Ghent Altarpiece. This is a masterpiece by Jan van Eyck and is probably one of the most stolen pieces of art in history. This 12th panel went missing back in 1934 and has only now been recovered and will be restored to its original splendor. Unfortunately when Nick arrives the art studio is in flames and the painting has been burnt. The only images remain are those on a stolen computer which Nick quickly tries to find!

This is my first [author: Steve Berry] and I understand his stories typically are a fast read. This story travels throughout Europe and our author provides us with historical facts including a mysterious order of Sisters in the Catholic Church.

I always enjoy reading the “Author’s Note”. There is no doubt our author has done a lot of research. In this case, Steve Berry tells us in detail what portions of the book are historical and what other parts are fiction. He is able to blend both into a believable story.

Want to thank NetGalley and Hachette Audio for this audio eGalley. This file has been made available to me before publication in an early form for my honest opinion.
Audiobook Release Date is scheduled for June 7, 2022

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced audiobook copy of this book.

Where to start? I have tried (and failed) reading Steve Berry in the past. I still have the first book in the Cotton Malone series on my 'currently reading' tab here on goodreads but it has been there for years and I will likely never finish it.

Some of the problems that I had with this books are the same as with The Templar Legacy. The plot is very convoluted in my opinion. It's complex and imbued with real and fake history, so there are a lot of moving pieces, a lot of different perspectives and a lot to keep track of. This sadly does not leave much room for character development. The people in this story feel like vehicles to get this fictional tale of 'the omega factor' across. This isn't necessarily a bad thing; it's just not what I look for in a novel. So this is not a bad book by any means and Steve Berry isn't a bad writer. The stories he writes and the way he constructs them just aren't for me.

As for the audiobook. The audiobook is narrated by Scott Brick, the same narrator for the Orphan X novels by Gregg Hurwitz. I would listen to anything narrated by Scott Brick, and I feel like I kept on reading this book solely because I like listening to his voice. I associate his voice with a series that I adore so that really helped this book out. I don't think I would have finished this book if I had read it with my eyeballs, so if you are currently reading this and you are having trouble getting through it, I highly recommend the audiobook.

I love Steve Berry's books. They are full of history and conspiracy and suspense. His new book comes out in a couple of weeks and I couldn't wait to tell you about it.

I always forget how much I like Berry's books. And The Omega Factor is so good. I also forgot how much detail he provides on religious and art history. I love all the info as I'm not well-versed on the Catholic religion or church relics, but it isn't so great for listening to the audiobook. If you are going to listen to the story, then you need to block out time when you can fully focus on all the early information. Do not try to multitask unless it is an absolutely mindless task like folding laundry.

While it is a lot of details provided, I find it totally intriguing and I learned some new stuff. Like I know that Catholics revere Mary, the mother of Jesus but I didn't know exactly how exalted they have made her and all the lore they've created. I also found it interesting that John the Apostle isn't thought to be the same as the disciple Jesus loved mentioned in the book of John. If you find religious history interesting then you will really enjoy this book.

There is also some conspiracy stuff going on with a secret religious order that is really fascinating. I love a good religious conspiracy like we got with Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code. I actually like Steve Berry's books more than I did Dan Brown's.

Scott Brick is the narrator and he does a great job. He also read the early Jack Ryan books and for the first hour or so I had to remind myself that I wasn't listening to a Jack Ryan novel. The Omega Factor has the same level of suspense and intricate plot as a Jack Ryan novel. I think that is actually how I got hooked on Berry's books - I was looking for something similar to Jack Ryan.

This would make a great book if you are laying in a hammock or on the beach. You can close your eyes and be fully immersed in the story as it is a great story. Oh, but don't forget the sunscreen because the audiobook is over 13 hours long and you might stay in the sun longer than you mean to.


My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Saturday - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2022/05/the-omega-factor-by-steve-berry.html

I was thrilled when I got approved for the audio version of The Omega Factor by Steve Berry over at NetGalley. Steve Berry has been a favorite author of mine for years. I did not realize that this book was a stand-alone, not part of the Cotton Malone series before I started to listen to the book. But, the characters and the story had me instantly hooked. I recommend this book warmly if you like me and love historical mystery books with some action (and some not-so-usual nuns LOL )..

I listened to the audiobook and I liked it. I have read and listened to the author multiple times. In general, I like the research and history that goes into these novels more than the actual story, though the stories usually have an interesting premise. This one was no exception.
Berry weaves an adventure/thriller around historical events and actual unknowns to create a plausible scenario. I especially appreciatea the author's note where he reveals what is truth and what is fiction. In short, this is a mystery based on religious traditions and legend. Berry provided a fascinating and well-researched discussion of both in the narrative.
This book is not a installment in a previous series, so the characters were all new. In the end note, Berry hinted that these characters may be back. Whether they are or not, I really don't care. I read these books because of the historical connection rather than any connection I feel to the characters. The history and writing style appeal to me more than the character development, which I did not find to be particularly strong in this novel, possibly because it may have originally been intended to stand alone.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

New character from Steve Berry. I love Corson and really enjoyed meeting Nick. Great storytelling as always. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook

Narrator 5 stars
This narrator was superb. I had to keep checking it wasn't Sean Mangan as he sounds exactly like him! Definitely want to hear more from this guy!!

Story 3.5 stars
There was a lot going on in this story. I would be REALLY into it and then I would find it a little repetitive. However in saying that this is my first time trying this author and I would definitely buy another of his books from kindle/audible and would also recommend this book.

UNESCO investigator Nick Lee is in Belgium visiting an old girlfriend, now a nun, charged with restoring a panel from the Ghent Altarpiece. That same panel is destroyed in a fire of mysterious origin, leaving Nick to track down the laptop which supposedly contain the last images of the restored panel. A rollicking adventure with the Vatican facing off against a mysterious order who have been charged in protecting a millennium old mystery. Great fun for fans of Dan Brown

I wasn't able to finish this -- the writing was extremely difficult to wade through, with way too much background exposition.