Review: The Omega Factor by Steve Berry

ByMary Emmer Updated on

Looks Like Books contains affiliate links and is a member of the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. If you make a purchase using one of these affiliate links I may receive compensation at no extra cost to you. See my Disclaimer to learn more.

The Omega Factor is the latest book out by author Steve Berry, and if you’re a “Berry” fan, I’m sure you have anticipated this book as much as I have.

If you’re not yet a Berry fan but love exciting thrillers and mystery books, then you’ll definitely want to get to know Steve Berry ASAP.

The thing is that I excitedly anticipate every Steve Berry book, to the point that I don’t even pay too much attention to what the next upcoming book is about. If there is a new Berry book scheduled for future publication, it automatically goes on my to be read as soon as possible list. Period.

So with this book, The Omega Factor, I didn’t really pay attention to the subject of the book before I started reading it. And I must admit, I thought it was another book in the Cotton Malone series. And it’s not. So when I started reading The Omega Factor, much to my dismay, Cotton was missing!

Obviously, I quickly realized my mistake and got right into the brand-new characters in this standalone novel. But, that feeling of something missing at first! Guess I’m a bit attached to some of the Berry characters. Oh well, rumor has it that Cotton Malone is returning in 2023. So there’s that…

But back to The Omega Factor which is what brings me here today!

cover of the book the omega factor by steve berry

If you’re not already familiar with author Steve Berry, he is a New York Times internationally bestselling author of 21 novels (at the time of this writing.) His books have been translated into 41 different languages and sold in 52 countries. The books he’s written include 5 stand-alone novels, 16 books in the Cotton Malone series, and several short fiction and original E-books.

Here’s a complete list of all of the Steve Berry books in order (including my missing man Cotton Malone!)

The book that I’m reviewing, The Omega Factor, is Steve Berry’s 5th standalone novel. And it’s interesting to note that it’s this author’s first standalone novel since The Columbus Affair which was published all the way back in 2012.

Synopsis of The Omega Factor

The Ghent altarpiece is missing. It’s the most violated work of art in the world.

UNESCO investigator Nicholas Lee’s job is to protect the world’s cultural artifacts and national treasures.

When Nick Lee travels to Belgium to visit someone from his past, he unknowingly becomes involved in something that’s happening with the Ghent altarpiece and is soon plunged into the middle of a bitter conflict.

From tranquil Ghent, to castle-like Carcassonne and finally to an ancient and mysterious abbey high in the French Pyrenees, Nick Lee must face life and death while dealing with the shocking truth of The Omega Factor.

The Omega Factor – What I Liked

One of the things I always love the most about Steve Berry’s books is the historical references throughout every book. Some true and some pure fiction.

My most frequent activity while reading a Steve Berry book (other than actually reading it) seems to be checking Google to see what’s true and what’s not. And the writer’s note at the end of his books is usually one of my favorite parts of each book. That’s where you learn all the details about what was actually true and what wasn’t.

This latest book was no exception, as I found myself Googling my way through this 400+ page action-packed novel.

The inside flap of the book hooked me before I even turned a single page with these two sentences – “The Ghent altarpiece is the most violated work of art in the world. Thirteen times it has been vandalized, dismantled, or stolen.”

Any book that starts out with a mystery regarding some ancient piece of art is usually one that I cannot put down before the end.

Unbeknownst to me until I started reading the book, The Omega Factor starts off in a region that is close to my heart. That’s the Pyrenees region which straddles northern Spain and southern France. This region is close to my heart because I spend winters in Spain, specifically in Girona, which is located in the Catalonia region of Spain. I have a favorite perch there beside the Girona Cathedral, where I sit and read and contemplate life. And from my perch on a clear afternoon, I have a perfect view of those same snow-capped Pyrenees that are mentioned in The Omega Factor.

Furthermore, not only does the book start off location-wise in the Pyrenees, but the prologue is set in the 15th century, so all of the historical facts of the region that I’ve spent many winters learning about seem to come to life right in the pages in front of me.

There’s plenty of history featured in this book, and the plot is thought-provoking in more than one way.

Central to the plot are historical facts regarding religious happenings from centuries ago. I’ve literally spent many winters in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of Spain and France learning about the history of this region by visiting museums, monuments, towns, and castles – both still standing and in ruins.

This is a very fast-paced international thriller and if you like that type of book, you’ll love this one.

The Omega Factor – What I Didn’t Like

I, personally, found nothing in this book that I didn’t like.

I can’t say that will be the case for everyone, however.

Without giving you any spoilers, I will tell you that much of this plot is related to some religious aspects of historical events. In addition to that, a more modern mention of religion comes in the form of referring to the Catholic church and the sex scandals that have been brought to light over the past years.

If mention of the Catholic church, the sex scandals, and/or the gruesome history of the church from centuries ago will offend you in any way, then The Omega Factor may not be the book for you.

The Omega Factor – Read, ReRead, or Reconsider?

And now, for my 3 Rs of book reviews. Should you Read, Re-read, or Reconsider The Omega Factor? What is my honest opinion about this book?

A definite Read!

Do you prefer to listen to your books rather than read them? A lot of people do. It’s great to be able to listen while you’re driving, taking public transportation, maybe while you’re working out, or even perhaps while you’re cooking!

If you’re one of those people, here’s a nice opportunity to try Audible for 30 days.

If this is your first visit to Looks Like Books, check out our About page so you can learn a little more about me and my Looks Like Books mission.

Related Posts:

Please Share This Post!

Mary Emmer, is the founder of Looks Like Books. She is an avid book enthusiast and self-employed entrepreneur, with an inspiring passion for reading and learning.  With a background in the travel industry spanning four decades, Mary has cultivated a diverse range of experiences that have shaped her unique perspective on life and storytelling.  More about Mary.

Similar Posts