Book Log 2006 # 19: The Third Translation by Matt Bondurant

The latest in the string of books trying to capture the thunder of The DaVinci Code by combining scholarship with thriller, this book features an American Egyptologist as he tries to provide the title third translation of some heiroglyphics before his contract to study them runs out. This becomes very difficult when a young woman gets him to bring her to the museum after hours, and she steals a papyrus that may be linked to his translation.

To be fair, this book has less in common with The DaVinci Code and is more in line with The Rule of Four or Lev Grossman's disappointing Codex, where the story is more about the main character and his relationships than it is in the mystery. To that end, I'd say that this book is better than Codex (which isn't saying much) but may fall a little short of The Rule of Four. I say this based on that book's more complete resolution of plot elements. I don't need things wrapped up in a nice package, but the loose resolution of The Third Element made it feel like I was left holding the bag a bit.

All of that being said, I'd recommend the book if you're into this sort of thing.