The Devil's Bible

This twentieth Cotton Malone spy thriller was just published last month. It takes place in the modern era and concerns a codex called the Devil's Bible. The Devil’s Bible contains the complete Bible as well all the knowledge in the world. A formula for immortality might be found in its pages. In this installment of the series we see retired spy Cotton Malone coming out of retirement to help his former employer with a job. The Devil's Bible is a tale of mystery and intrigue stretching back over four centuries.

Steve Berry's plots are so complex that it is impossible for me to summarize them. Here is the summary from the publisher:

Former Justice Department operative, Cotton Malone, is called to Sweden when the younger sister of King Wilhelm I is kidnapped. The ransom demand? Hand over an 800-year-old book, the Codex Gigas—the largest illuminated medieval manuscript in the world. Claimed as war loot from Bohemia in 1648, it’s been kept in Stockholm for nearly 400 years. Along the way it also acquired another more mysterious moniker ... The Devil’s Bible.

Now the Czech Republic wants the codex back, and Sweden has agreed to return it, but forces are at work to stop that deal from happening. The likely instigator? Russia. Who is also top of the list for possible kidnappers. It’s up to Cotton and Cassiopeia Vitt to locate the king’s sister, secure the codex, and thwart the Russians. Yet nothing is as it seems.

Trusted allies become hostile enemies. Long-standing enemies suddenly shift into partners. Making matters worse, an array of conflicting personalities re-emerge from Cotton’s past, transforming an already chaotic international situation into something far more personal and deadly.

From the cobbled streets of Stockholm with its placid waterways and picturesque islands, to the hostile skies over the Baltic Sea, and finally onto a fabled 16th century Swedish warship, Cotton and Cassiopeia come face-to-face with the unthinkable—changing both of their lives forever.

As is usual with a Steve Berry thriller it is part history, part mystery and part political. There are only two settings in the book. Normally there are more but here we see action in Stockholm and Prague. I was expecting to read more about the codex in the story. All we read about it is that Sweden took possession of it from the Czech Republic as war bounty hundreds of years ago. I was hoping to get more background info about it but the story was only about Sweden trying to regain it after a loan to the Czech Republic.

The characters were divided into two groups. One group worked on locating Swedish Princess Lysa. The other group worked to remove the codex as well as find the treasure hinted at in the manuscript. The chapters alternated between the actions of each group. Another feature of Berry's writing is the use of current events in the story to further his plot. It makes the story that much more compelling and exciting to read.

So why is the codex called the Devil's Bible? The book contains the complete Christian Bible as well as all of the knowledge about the world. On one of it's pages there is a drawing of the devil. From this drawing the codex gets its name. The book was a fast read and enjoyable. Mystery fans will want to read it.

4 out of 5 stars.

Trust No One

James Rollins' Trust No One is a standalone novel separate from his Sigma Force series. In this novel, a group of English university students who have been falsely accused of murder are forced into a treacherous run across Europe in order to get away from the authorities chasing them.

The publisher's summary:  

Knowledge can be magic—until it falls into the wrong hands.

The ritualistic murder of a British professor at the University of Exeter points to a startling cast of suspects: his own students. All are enrolled in a postgraduate program covering the history of witchcraft, folklore, and spiritualism.

All evidence points to Sharyn Karr—an American student. Prior to the professor’s death, he had thrust a centuries-old book upon her. It appears to be the handwritten and encrypted diary of an eighteenth-century mystic and occultist, the Comte de Saint-Germain. The professor begged her to keep the text safe, ending with a warning: Trust no one.

Such a responsibility forces her into cooperation with Duncan Maxwell, a fellow postgrad and the sixteenth in line to the British Crown. Already, Duncan has proven himself a savant with encryptions. Unfortunately, the pair clash at every level, but they both need one another. Especially when they discover the book’s opening words: Herein lies the secret to my immortality. Come find me, if you dare.

As dark forces close upon the pair, she and her friends are forced to flee, pursued by law enforcement and hunted by a powerful cabal. In an explosive chase across Europe—from the Tower of London to Parisian chateaus to a fortress in the Italian Alps—Sharyn must learn the true secret hidden in Saint-Germain’s text. It will send her and the others across history and deep into the heart of one of the world’s greatest mysteries, a secret buried at the roots of Western Civilization, a discovery that could topple empires and change humanity forever.

For what lies at the end of Saint-Germain’s diary is as shocking as its opening words.

The story opened with Sharyn being given a mysterious book at the University of Exeter library. Sharyn was in the library on Halloween researching a paper on medieval illuminated manuscripts. As she was about to leave she saw Professor Wright, the head of a new department at the university that examines occultic practices of the Middle Ages. Professor Wright asked her to hide a book for him. He told Sharyn to show no one the book nor open it. Opening it will start a fire. The book was the personal journal of the Comte de St. Germain. Within it's pages might be a formula to become immortal. 

Sharyn leaves the library, dresses for a party with her roommates and runs across Duncan, a fellow student in the same program under Professor Wright. Along with Duncan's friend Alex they head toward The Forum, a bar that most students visited. Upon arrival they could hear the sirens of the fire department. The library is on fire. Feeling guilty for the fire, Sharyn leads her friends on an escapade through Exeter trying to avoid police officers who seem to be following them. Once safe, Sharyn tells her friends all about the book. So much for secrecy, especially since she just met Duncan and Alex that evening. The group continued to run from the authorities as they travel to London and parts elsewhere and in-between.

All the above was exciting but after awhile it didn't seem plausible that five college students would be responsible for hiding this priceless book. Professor Wright died in the fire but not from the fire. He had been the victim of a ritualistic murder. It would have been interesting to have the details of his murder since occult rituals were described in the journal. With Sharyn being the last person to see Wright alive, law enforcement believed Sharyn murdered Wright and were pursuing her.

Each of Sharon's friends had expertise in a different area of paleography, the study of ancient manuscripts. All of them had been taught by Professor Wright. As the story progressed they were able to assist in unlocking the mysteries of the journal. While these reveals were exciting I had a gnawing feeling that it was unbelievable. These were college students after all. However, I, myself, have an interest in paleography so all this was intellectually stimulating.

I loved the book despite my misgivings mentioned above. It has all of the treasure hunt complexities that are found in Rollins' earlier novels and I am rating it 4 out of 5 stars.

March Armchair Travel Plans

I am excited to start off my reading this month in Japan. Shiokari Pass takes place here and it will have to suffice because my real life travel plans to Kyoto this month had to be canceled. I am having too many back problems right now and can't travel. Shiokari Pass was written in 1968 by Ayako Miura and was translated into English in 1989 by the Overseas Missionary Fellowship. It is based on the true story of Nagano Masao, a Christian railway employee who sacrificed his life to save passengers in Hokkaido. Next, I will be in Shanghai with Janie Chang's The Fourth Princess and then in Afghanistan for The Dressmaker of Khair Khana. Finally, I will be in Calcutta in the 1920s with Sujatta Massey's Star of Calcutta. This is the newest Perveen Mistry historical mystery.

As usual, I will be reading some mysteries. Laura Childs has a new book coming out on March 10. Her Indigo Teashop  Mystery series takes place in Charleston and the new book is Death at a Firefly Tea. Emily Bain Murphy's The Ivory City takes place at rhe 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis. With five of my favorite authors publishing their 2026 novels and reading challenge requirements to comply with, March is going to be a month of heavy reading for me.

Where are you traveling this month?

Book Cover of the Month: February

I love this twisty book cover for Want to Know a Secret. It matches the plot of the book perfectly.

Publisher Crooked Lane Books often uses their in-house design team to design covers. Sometimes freelance designers are sought out. While I could not determine specific individual who designed the cover, I have learned that they are currently looking to hire a freelance cover designer who thinks outside the box and specializes in the adult thriller genre. 

I was not aware that book cover designers  specialized in book genres. This should have been apparent to me though. Because I have in the past featured designers who worked with all genres, this detail went over my head. Of course, it makes sense.

Next month I hope I can tell you the name of the cover designer who designed the most intriguing book cover as well as some of their background.

Captivating Character of the Month: February

April Masterson is my captivating character of the month for February. April is the protagonist of the psychological thriller Want to Know a Secret. Captivating isn't the best adjective to describe her though. Twisted would be better. This lady must have a personality disorder or two. 

The story opened spectacularly with YouTuber April Masterson receiving a threatening text message from an anonymous person. This person is close enough to April's house to see what's happening in her backyard. The text states that her son Bobby was not where April thought he was at. April had been distracted while filming an episode of her baking channel and she wasn't watching him. A frantic search by April and husband Elliott only ended when April knocked on a new neighbor's door. She was about to ask new neighbor Maria if she had seen her son when April eyes him playing with Maria's son Owen in their living room. 

April continued to receive anonymous texts but then began receiving negative comments on her You Tube videos. She appears to the outside world as the perfect woman. I fell for it in the beginning of the story but after awhile it seemed that something was off. No one is that perfect. April's new neighbor Maria definitely gives off bad vibes and we are led to believe that Maria might be the villain who is sending the text messages. I fell for that too. Initially it appeared that Maria had more secrets than April but then came Part 2.

This story is a perfect psychological thriller. It was hard to tell who all the psychopaths were. April, Maria and April's bestie all had secrets and I think all three of them were twisted. The ending of the book was shocking to put it mildly. I highly recommend that you read the book and get to know these ladies.

Book of the Month: February

Want to Know a Secret is my favorite read in February. This psychological thriller is twisty enough for me to question if the author has any diagnoses we don't know about. I cannot imagine how she creates these psychopathic characters, let alone the stunts that they pull. However, the author is a physician. I am assuming that she is a psychiatrist.

In this story, YouTuber April Masterson receives a threatening text message from an anonymous person, someone close enough to see what's happening in her backyard and that her son Bobby was not where she thought he was at. April was distracted while filming an episode of her baking channel and wasn't watching him. As the story moves along it's apparent that every character has a secret or two. Trying to determine which secret the title refers to is not easy. Perhaps that's the whole idea. I would really hate to find myself living on the same street as these people.

Want to Know a Secret is a psychological thriller on steroids. Be prepared to not sleep after reading this one but it is definitely worth it.

Aunty Lee's Delights

Aunty Lee's Delights has been on my TBR list for several years. I finally got around to reading this wonderful cozy mystery.  This first installment of the series was published in 2013. The series takes place in Singapore.

The publisher's summary:

"The culture and culinary delights of Singapore come alive in Yu’s novel. Rosie “Aunty” Lee, something of a busybody, has shrugged off widowhood to open her own restaurant. But when she gets drawn into a local murder investigation, it soon becomes clear she has a real talent for sleuthing... Guaranteed to make you hungry!--Sarah Weinman, New York Times Book Review

This delectable and witty mystery introduces Rosie “Aunty” Lee, feisty widow, amateur sleuth and proprietor of Singapore’s best-loved home cooking restaurant.

After losing her husband, Rosie Lee could easily have become one of Singapore’s “tai tai,” an idle rich lady devoted to an aimless life of mah-jongg and luxury shopping. Instead she threw herself into building a culinary empire from her restaurant, Aunty Lee’s Delights, where spicy Singaporean home cooking is graciously served by Rosie Lee herself to locals and tourists alike. But when a body is found in one of Singapore’s beautiful tourist havens, and when one of her wealthy guests fails to show at a dinner party, Aunty Lee knows that the two are likely connected.

The murder and disappearance throws together Aunty Lee’s henpecked stepson Mark, his social-climbing wife Selina, a gay couple whose love is still illegal in Singapore, and an elderly Australian tourist couple whose visit—billed at first as a pleasure cruise—may mask a deeper purpose. Investigating the murder is rookie Police Commissioner Raja, who quickly discovers that the savvy and well-connected Aunty Lee can track down clues even better than local law enforcement.

Wise, witty and unusually charming, Aunty Lee’s Delights is a spicy mystery about love, friendship and home cooking in Singapore, where money flows freely and people of many religions and ethnicities co-exist peacefully, but where tensions lurk just below the surface, sometimes with deadly results.

I was hooked from the first chapter. The setting was prominent here and I loved all the references to the food and slang terminology. I must admit, though, that I had to look them up on Google. Aunty Lee is as charming as I have been told. She is a vibrant, loveable character who loves experimenting with flavors as well as cooking the usual Singapore fare. Aunty Lee is a caterer and an intriguing investigator. She can determine the true character of people from the way they eat her cooking.

The murder occurred in the second chapter. I love it when an author gives the reader an upfront kill so that the rest of the book can be about the investigation of the death. Aunty Lee becomes interested in a news story about an unidentified body found on a beach near a luxury resort. She and her maid, Nina, then scour the news sites for more information.

I adored this novel and definitely will be reading the series. 5 out of 5 stars.

Bamboo Island: The Planter's Wife

Ann Bennett's Bamboo Island was published on October 4, 2019. It is a WWII story that takes place in Thailand. The book was previously published with the title The Homecoming and Bamboo Road. All of the titles have different book covers so I had some confusion over which book I was actually reading.

The publisher's summary:

1938: Juliet and her sister Rose arrive in Penang to stay with an aunt, after the death of their father. Juliet quickly falls under the spell of Gavin Crosby, a plantation owner, who despite his wealth, charm and good looks is shunned by the local community. Rushed into marriage, Juliet is unprepared for the devastating secrets she uncovers on Gavin’s plantation, and the bad blood between Gavin and his brother… But in 1941 the Japanese occupy Malaya and Singapore sweeping away that world and changing Juliet’s life forever.

For decades after the war which robbed her of everyone she loved, Juliet lives as a recluse back on the plantation. But in 1962 the sudden appearance of Mary, a young woman from an orphanage in Indonesia, forces Juliet to embark on a journey into the past, and to face up to the heart-breaking truths she’s buried for so long.

The story is told in a dual timeline, from the late 1930s to the 1960s. It was difficult for me to follow along in the beginning. Juliet endured many flashbacks, some to times in England with her family and others to life in Malaya with her abusive husband. Eventually I figured it all out. However, the story was not promising until the halfway point. WWII was raging then.

The story began, though, with a young woman arriving on her doorstep in 1962 who claimed to be Juliet's niece. Juliet's sister Rose and Rose's daughter Claire were lost at sea twenty years beforehand. Juliet quickly rebuffs the girl, Mary, but because she is lonely Juliet continues to maintain contact with her. Mary asks alot of questions that cause Juliet pain. She eventually gets answers but Juliet is forced to replay in her mind the Japanese occupation of Malaysia and her time in a Japanese prison.

Far Asian settings usually entice me but this setting was during a war. There were food shortages, impromptu home searches by Japanese soldiers and the constant threat of arrest and execution. Three years of Juliet's story occurs in Changi Prison in Singapore. Afterwards she and other women were marched to a prisoner of war labor camp. This is not the usual exotic Asian setting I am used to reading about.

The author wrote a compelling story which I believe maintains historical accuracy. It was an enjoyable read and I am rating it 4 out of 5 stars.

What's in a Name Challenge 2026

I love the What's in a Name Challenge. It only requires participants to read six books. In years past, this challenge was hosted by Charlie at The Worm Hole. Andrea at the Carolina Book Nook took over in 2019 and is hosting it again this year.

Challenge Rules 

1.  The challenge runs from January 1 to December 31, 2026. You can sign up any time, but only count books that you read between those dates.

2.  Read a book in any format (hard copy, ebook, audio) with a title that fits into each category.

3.  Don’t use the same book for more than one category.

4. Creativity for matching the categories is not only allowed, it’s encouraged!

5.  You can choose your books as you go or make a list ahead of time.

6. Sign up using the Mr Linky at the challenge post with a link to your WIAN challenge page/post, not your main blog URL.

7. The categories below are links to each category sign up link. Add your book review for each category so we can see what you’ve read and discover ideas as needed. Choose 6 books that have titles that contain:

Six/6

Cold weather

Peace

Pathways

Terrain

Flower

These are the books that I plan on reading for the challenge:

The 6:20 Man - David Baldacci

Cold Zero - Brad Thor

After the Armistice Ball - Catriona McPherson

The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris - Evie Woods

The Proving Ground - Michael Connelly

Wanting Daisy Dead - Sue Watson

This is a fun and easy challenge. Please join us.

The House of Lies

As soon as I heard about this book I immediately pre-ordered a copy. The author's Alardyce House series was incredibly good. The prospect of reading another story about this family was too good to be true. The book was published on February 6, 2026.

The publisher's summary:  

For generations, the Alardyce family have lived under the shadow of a curse. Some say it died with Robert Alardyce - the ruthless patriarch whose name was whispered in fear - but others know darkness like his never truly fades.

Decades later, Alardyce House stands empty, its secrets lost behind its walls. Until Kate Alardyce - Robert’s sharp and ambitious great-granddaughter - decides it’s time to reclaim her family’s legacy. And Kate always gets what she wants...

As the family gathers, old secrets resurface, loyalties fracture and the air thickens with menace. When Kate's cousin, Cameron Alardyce walks through the door, his resemblance to Robert sends a chill through them all…and it isn’t long before history begins to repeat itself.

But is the infamous curse really to blame… or is someone alive, watching, and ready to make the Alardyces pay in blood?

I enjoyed the first half of the story but it lacked the suspense and tension of the previous Alardyce novels. Kate wants to make a movie about the family, which is why she invited her cousins to the house. Lucy, Cameron, Simon, Harry and Jenna became reacquainted with each other and with Kate during this weekend. There were special family dinners, tours of the house as well as tours of the local village. The first third of the book was devoted to introducing the idea of the film to the cousins and convincing them to not only agree to the film but also to be a part of it. Kate wanted Cameron to play the role of the evil Robert Alardyce. Cameron looks exactly like a painting of Robert which hangs in the dining room. Robert’s eyes are dark, like evil lurking within them. With some prompting by Kate, Cameron easily becomes angry and impulsive like his doppelganger. Kate obviously inherited a dark side too. She knows how to manipulate people and events in order to get her way. 

At the halfway point I realized there wouldn't be any action. The book is solely about the reunion of the cousins. Most of the book is dialogue between them on mundane topics. There is alot of discussion concerning the Alardyce curse. It really is the Alardyce mental illness that seems to always skip a generation. 

I am not sure whether attempting to replay family events is sufficient to make a good psychological thriller. Kate's idea that the Robert painting can come to real life is loony. It's not plausible. It might work in a cozy mystery but not a psychological thriller. Another thing, Alardyce House seems to be haunted. Sightings of serial killer Edward Alardyce have been seen in the house. It would have been interesting if the ghost was also a serial killer as Edward was. I am not sure whether this fifth installment of the Alardyce House series was meant to merely bridge the gap from Victorian England to the present for future installments or to present a new mystery for us to resolve. Either way, The House of Lies falls short.

2.5 stars out of 5 stars.

Virtually Yours

Virtually Yours is the 2022 romance comic by Jeremy Holt. It is most appropriate to review this comic on Valentine's Day. This edition collects all 5 releases of the Comixology Original comic. Written by Jeremy Holt and illustrated by Elizabeth Beals the story grew from the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic shut-down and the increased prevalence of the digital age. It's a story written with the young generation in mind.

The publisher's summary:

Welcome to Virtually Yours, a virtual dating app that provides all the proof of being in a relationship without actually being in one.

With her career front of mind, Eva Estrella joins Virtually Yours, after a nudge from her sister, to alleviate some family pressure as she continues to look for her dream job in journalism. While Max Kittridge, a former child star in the middle of a divorce, takes a gig at Virtually Yours servicing multiple clients as a fake boyfriend. As they navigate their current circumstances, both Eva and Max find that sometimes what you're looking for is right in front of you.

Virtually Yours is a rom-com for the digital age from writer Jeremy Holt and artist Elizabeth Beals. This exciting new collaboration includes letterer Adam Wollet, book designer Tim Daniel, and editor Kat Vendetti. Together, they present a refreshing take on a beloved genre that will appeal to anyone familiar with love in the time of the internet.

The story is a fun read. It is fast paced with colorful artwork done in traditional comic strip panels. One thing I love about the artwork is the chubby Eva and her thick thighs. Yes, I too have chubby thighs but it is rare to see woman portrayed in true size in the comic world. I also think the portrayal of African American men with modern hair styles is sublime. In addition, purple is one of my favorite colors so the color palette instantly attracted me to the book. 

As I stated above, Virtually Yours is a light-hearted fun read. The digital dating aspect of the plot brings modernity to the romance genre. It was amazing to watch the characters Eva and Max figure out what their feeling were for each other. Eva is an open book. What you see is what you get. She is bubbly to a fault but with a sarcastic point of view. Max, on the other hand, is reserved and quiet. These two opposites attract big time.

I enjoyed reading the comic so much that I wish the story was longer. Perhaps a sequel should be written. It would be fascinating to see how Eva and Max's relationship unfolds. Then maybe a wedding sequel? Jeremy Holt please take note.

5 out of 5 stars.

The Whisper War #1

The first installment of The Whisper War was published a few days ago on February 10, 2026. It's a Comixology Original comic that's both a sci-fi thriller and a murder mystery all in one. The story takes place in the planet Imprimata's capital city Apperax. Axel Jindari is a retired detective but was chosen by the Carabinieri's algorithm to return and lead the investigation. The Carabinieri have a saying that "even when you're out, you're never really out," and can be recalled at any time. From the start there's no body as the victim fell 18,000 tremin from a cloudbreaker. He or she is paste. It looks like a suicide but law enforcement believes the victim was pushed.

The first installment does a good job of introducing the story as well as the characters. Axel is a well-built man who left law enforcement for an orbital job. He doesn't work on the planet any more but rather in its orbit. While Axel tries to get out of taking the job, once he realizes the futility of it all he immediately gets to work. Inspector Seeva Dessin is an attractive lady who was sent by her bosses to bring Axel to the Carabinieri offices in Apperax. I see a possible romance between the two but we will have to wait for the release of Part 2 on March 10, 2026.

5 out of 5 stars.

Outer Lands

 

With the Winter Olympics on TV 24/7 I am behind in my reading plan for February. It's hard to turn the TV off. However, I thought I would review a few comics to at least post something on the blog. Outer Lands is my first comic review of the month. It was published in August 2025 by Darkling Entertainment. It's a Comixology Original comic with 125 pages of gorgeous graphics from Davide Gianfelice and a riveting story by Matthew Arnold. Colorist Luca Salce and Letterer Ed Dukeshire complete the artistic components.

The publisher's summary was rather simplistic for this complex plot: "When a young prince living in an Ancient Grecian world is exiled to a prison isle to keep him from assuming the throne, he unintentionally discovers a massive global conspiracy in this science-fiction fantasy mash-up."

There is much more to the story though. It begins as a historical fiction story set in ancient Greece and quickly moves into a post-apocalyptic thriller. The main character is Prince Heron who has just inherited the throne. Men working with his sister kidnap him and sell him into slavery. Sister Isadora then seizes his throne for herself. While Heron is in prison, he uncovers a global conspiracy concerning the lost city Atlantis. The world has been taught that the Atlanteans were a cruel warmongering people who enjoyed killing. However, this was not true. Heron and a few others read in forbidden books that they were peace-loving people. Heron is later lucky to escape his prison and sets out to find Atlantis. The narrative later explores themes of AI and the fear of nuclear war.

The plot was thrilling and the characters memorable. Heron is quite sympathetic because he lost his throne and quickly accepts his fate. Isadora is an intense villainess intent on keeping her brother far away from Greece. It's the only way she can maintain a hold on her crown. The Greek people are not happy with her though and there are frequent protests.

Parents, the story has no foul language nor are there sexy drawings. It's acceptable for children. I thoroughly enjoyed Outer Lands and highly recommend it to comic fans.

5 out of 5 stars.