The Omega Factor

The Omega Factor is Steve Berry's 21st novel. He writes treasure hunt mysteries featuring Cotton Malone and Casseiopeia Vitt. However, Omega is a standalone novel. Another installment of the Cotton Malone series will be published in 2023.

The story centers around UNESCO investigator Nicholas Lee, who works for the United Nations’ Cultural Liaison and Investigative Office (CLIO). Nick’s job is to protect the world’s cultural artifacts—anything and everything from countless lesser-known objects to national treasures. When Nick travels to Belgium for a visit with a woman from his past, he unwittingly stumbles on the trail of a legendary panel from the Ghent Altarpiece, stolen in 1934 under cover of night and never seen since. Soon Nick is plunged into a bitter conflict, one that has been simmering for nearly two thousand years. On one side is the Maidens of Saint-Michael, the Vulture, a secret order of nuns and the guardians of a great truth. Pitted against them is the Vatican, which has wanted for centuries to both find and possess what the nuns guard. Because of Nick the maidens have finally been exposed, their secret placed in dire jeopardy—a vulnerability that the Vatican swiftly moves to exploit utilizing an ambitious cardinal and a corrupt archbishop, both with agendas of their own. Nick Lee must confront a modern-day religious crusade intent on eliminating a shocking truth from humanity’s past. Success or failure—life and death—all turn on the Omega Factor.

I liked this new character Nick Lee. His job for UNESCO gives him many opportunities to be involved in interesting investigations. While I miss the Cotton Malone character, I hope Nick returns in another book. I also liked these gun-toting nuns. Whoever said nuns have to be meek and mild? The nuns in this particular order must train to be able to defend their secret places. Their training reminded me of the type that Cotton Malone had. 

The Pyrenees Mountain setting was new to me. The mountains divide the France/Spain border and there was some action in the plot from both sides. Also, I enjoyed reading about the religious history of the Cathars as well as Marian theology. I had no knowledge about either before reading the book. The Cathars had some beliefs that I would not describe as Christian yet the church has romanticized them. As the author said in his Writer's Note, if the faithful wanted to believe in doctrine that was wrong, the church would go along in order to keep them happy.  A happy church member is a member that continues to give money. In addition, I learned alot about painter Jan van Eyck. His most famous work, the Ghent Altarpiece, is featured in this story and I think I can now talk about him with my artsy friends well enough to look smart.

The Omega Factor itself was not mentioned in the story until the last 40 pages. I can see why Berry had to wait to  bring it up but usually he gives his readers a hint early in his books as to what the main character is searching for. The plot did not suffer though. Omega is a fast read and highly entertaining.

5 out of 5 stars.