I picked this one up looking for a readlike to The Da Vinci Code. In some ways it was, and in others, not so much. There is definitely a bit of a religious/Biblical mystery, and you can probably guess that it is tied to the tale of Noah and his ark. There is also a great deal of international intrigue and hopping around various geographical locations. It turned out to be a pretty good premiere novel for a first-time author.

The story kicks off with the introduction of Dilara Kenner, a talented archaeologist who is meeting up with an old colleague. When he arrives, he is attacked and dies in front of her. His last words to be a series of cryptic names and phrases that tie in with the mysterious disappearance of her father years earlier.

Following her, hunch, Dilara finds herself heading to an oil rig in the American/Canadian northeastern waters. She is hoping to connect with Tyler Locke, a former army specialist turned engineer who has made a great deal of money with his knowledge and skills. As her helicopter is coming in for a landing, something goes terribly wrong, and it crashes into the waters surrounding the rig. Quick thinking and his engineering skills allow Tyler to come to her rescue.

After hearing her story, Tyler has some doubts, but he can't help but believe her once the rig comes under attack by a pair of terrorist bombers hoping to silence Dilara and prevent her from spreading what little information she has. Dilara's father, Hasad Arvadi, had spent his whole life seeking out the famed Ark and disappeared just prior to reaching his goal. His research is unquestionably tied to not only his disappearance, but also to a series of recent incidents including an airplane with a celebrity on board crashing after everyone on board disappearing leaving behind only their bones and an attack on the world's newest "largest" cruise ship.

Dilara and Tyler quickly find their attention focusing in on Sebastian Ulric, an billionaire engineer who is a competitor to Tyler and his company and who has questionable ethics. It will be up to Dilara, Tyler and a small supporting cast to sort everything out before the worst happens ... and that might just be another dose of God's own wrath.

There is definitely no shortage of action and adventure in this first novel. The villains are a little bit stereotypical, but not nearly as cliched as the ones James Bond would take on. Dilara and Tyler seem to continue to be only one step ahead of Ulric in a race that builds up the suspense as it races toward the novels conclusion. Science and religion balance the backstory in a way that really makes for an interesting read.

In a way, I felt like I was reading a story in which both Indiana Jones and Robert Landon could be merged into a single hero. This was a pretty good read, and I have to admit that I am already looking forward to what Marrison will follow it up with.