Date first published
ISBN Number	978 0718 15912 2
Page Count	374 h/b
h/b= hardback : p/b= paperback

Storyline

It's a prize beyond imagination. When an archaelogogist excavating a top secret historical site realises the magnitude of his discovery, he requests help from treasure hunters Sam and Remi fargo. In rushing to join him, the husband and wife team are thrown into their most daring quest to date.

The clues point to the hidden tomb of Attila the Hun, the High King who was reportedly buried with a vast fortue of gold and jewels and plunder - a bounty that has never been found.

But as Sam and Remi piece together the puzzle, the trail takes them through Hungary, Italy, France, Russia and Kazakstan and not to one tomb but five. And into the path of dealy danger. They are not the only ones hunting for the High King's Riches.

The Fargos, will find themselves pitted against a thieving group of amateur treasure hunters, a cunning Russian businessman and a ruthless Hungarian wj=ho claims direct descent from Attila himself.. and who will stop at nothing to claim the tombs' riches as his own.

Packed with hear-pounding action and boundless invention, The Tombs is an exceptional thriller from the grand master of adventure.

Review

It's been a while since i actually read the book, so I had to re-read to do this review. On the whole it is a strong story, and has some intrigue and excitement thrown in, and unlike some of the other novels, keeps well within the bounds of reality. I have to admit to not really knowing the story of Attila, however the basics of this novel seem to have come from the pages of Wikipedia.

It also helps to have a good villain, who you get to keep trumping until some sort of final showdown. Arpad Bako is slightly mad, but also full of confidence that noone can touch him. He seeks power, and glory, and will stop at nothing to get the fortune of Attila, whom he believes he is descended from. So in effect we have a massive treasure hunt, with a minor diversion to rescue Remi at one point.

If the book has a weakness it is probably Sam's trek across Russia to get his wife back - difficult when you don't speak the language, doubly difficult in a country such as Russia, and the final confrontation, which builds nicely, but then gets quickly swept up with Bako running away, and being destroyed by the coast guard. However I don't think it enough to spoil the overall story.

The Fargo novels are probably one of the stronger franchises, the characters are slightly roguish, without being unpleasant, and they get themselves in and out of scrapes with their own ingenuity. It is also good that they are away from the pure water based stories that Pitt and co inhabit, it makes a nice change, and in some ways carries the pace of the earlier Pitt stories.

If you want some good clean escapism then this story gives it a good go, and this story is certainly chasing the Oregon series for best newcomer - they can't really compete with Al and Dirk when they were at their peak! This is also probably the best Fargo story to date.

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