The Magdalene Veil

This is the 3rd book in the Magdalene Chronicles by Gary McAvoy. He has followed up this series with his Vatican Secret Archives series which has all of the regular characters from the Magdalene Chronicles. The Magdalene Veil was published in April 2021.

The publisher's summary:

An old World War II diary filled with cryptic clues launches two friends on an adventure around the world . . . but their path is fraught with danger and deception . . . and the treasure they seek can change everything for good—or evil. Father Michael Dominic and his journalist friend Hana Sinclair are off to follow a tantalizing lead: a Nazi journal revealing a holy relic’s hiding place. The pair believes the book could lead them to a sacred cloth Christ used to cleanse his face, which according to legend now bears his image — a living record of the Son of God’s true appearance. The diary propels them on a whirlwind adventure from Jerusalem, to Rome, to Buenos Aires. But as they unravel an ancient mystery, they run afoul of a nefarious sect determined to use the Magdalene veil for its own ends. Can Michael and Hana outsmart their ruthless adversaries and bring the artifact home to the Church, or will the revival of Aryan ambition destroy the long-lost relic of Christ?If you love fast-paced novels grounded in history, grab this non-stop action-packed thriller! McAvoy’s fans say his “attention to detail makes the story utterly believable, leaving the reader wondering what is real and what is fiction.”

 

The story begins with a prologue in 33 C.E. in Jerusalem  as Jesus is carrying his cross on the way to his crucifixion.  Along the way, a woman offers him her veil to wipe his brow. The veil becomes soaked with his blood and his face is imprinted on it as well. This veil was never heard about until medieval times and the woman with the veil became known as Veronica. The legend says that she gave the veil to Mary Magdalene who placed it in the tomb of Jesus. It then disappeared for nearly 2,000 years until a Nazi soldier found it hidden in a church in Rennes-le-Chateau and brought it to Heinrich Himmler. Himmler loved the supernatural and he placed this idol in a secret vault in Wewelsburg Castle.

This story is fantastic! It has great characters and a very interesting story line. It's definitely a page turner. With several characters as priests, the plot centers around the Roman Catholic Church. The morals of each of them are different but most are given a positive spin by the author. I was quite surprised that Dominic used information from a woman's confession to find the veil. He should not have used the confessional for this purpose. The author wrote a note at the end of the story to tell the reader which parts of the book were true and which were fictional. I always find myself googling these references for more information because they are all so fascinating. 

I have two more books in the Vatican Secret Archives to read before I am caught up with this series. It's an amazing treasure hunt and I highly recommend it to mystery fans.  5 out of 5 stars.

Murder in the Park

I selected Murder in the Park for the Calendar of Crime Challenge. The book was published during March 2022 and because the story takes place in a town that I used to reside in, I knew I had to read it. The book is the first one in a new mystery series taking place in Oak Park, Illinois. Elizabeth Fairchild is the amateur sleuth. She is a widow living with her parents during the 1920s.

The publisher's summary:  

June, 1925. Having been widowed in the Great War, Elizabeth Fairchild lives a quiet life at the home of her wealthy parents in genteel Oak Park village, Illinois. Although she does her best to avoid emotional entanglements, determined never to be hurt again, Elizabeth forms a close friendship with gentle Mr Anthony, who owns the local antiques store.

But tragedy strikes when Mr Anthony is found stabbed to death in the alley behind his shop. Why would anyone murder a mild-mannered antiques dealer who simply loved beautiful things? A robbery gone wrong? A gangland execution? Or could it have something to do with the mysterious customer who bought a gold pocket watch from Mr Anthony on the day he died? 

When one of her father's oldest friends is accused of the crime, Elizabeth determines to expose the real killer. But her investigations soon attract unwelcome attention. With gangsters moving into the neighbourhood from nearby Chicago, Oak Park is no longer the safe haven it once was. Could Elizabeth be seriously out of her depth?

I enjoyed the beginning of the book; just the introduction of the characters. The murder occurred early and I expected the rest of the story would be about the sleuthing. However, there was no sleuthing. Elizabeth relied on other characters to set up a meeting with neighbors. In the meeting she asked too many questions, resulting in the Chicago police breaking into her house to scare her while she hid in the basement. Another character informs Elizabeth that the Chicago police are corrupt and controlled by the mob. He insinuates that Mr. Anthony was a mobster because he was Italian. Anthony's Catholic faith also made him appear suspicious to his Oak Park neighbors and most of them thought he was involved in criminal activity for this reason. Elizabeth thought that the Walosa group, the female branch of the KKK, probably had something to do with Mr. Anthony's death since there was a local branch of them in Oak Park. Elizabeth learns new information about what may have happened at social events she is invited to.

Murder in the Park is a straight murder mystery story. There was no real plot action though. It seemed to me that the author concentrated on the setting with narrative and dialogue. She forgot to write a story. The characters she created could make fantastic characters in future novels.

No rating.

The Last Kingdom

The Last Kingdom is Steve Berry's 17th Cotton Malone novel.  I have loved all of them and this one is no different. In this installment of the series King Ludwig II of Bavaria who was deposed in 1886 mysteriously drowned three days later. He was eccentric and has been referred to throughout history of "Mad King Ludwig." In the years before he died, Ludwig engaged in a worldwide search for a new kingdom.  He wanted a new kingdom that was separate from Bavaria because he hated the politics in his home country. This new kingdom was supposed to be a retreat for him. The question posed by history is whether he found a place for this kingdom and whether he built it. 

We then see main character Cotton Malone enter into the story.  His protege, Luke Daniels, has infiltrated a renegade group that is intent on winning Bavarian independence from Germany. Daniels also has gained the trust of the prince of Bavaria who will inherit the throne when his terminally ill brother dies. The princes of Bavaria all descend from the Wittelsbach family who has held the throne for over 700 years. Prince Stefan von Bayern is counting on a 19th century deed proving that Ludwig II found a new kingdom and that he has legal title to the land. Malone and Daniels travel to Ludwig's three fairytale castles, Neuschwanstein, Linderhof and Herrenchiemsee, and battle a number of deadly adversaries who are all intent on finding that last kingdom.

I had some difficulty becoming interested in the story. In fact, I was so bored after reading the first 30 pages that I went online to check reviews. I thought that maybe the author had finally hit a dry spell. All of the reviews were good so I thought that the problem was me. Maybe it was. However, the story picked up around page 65 and it then became a page turner. That said, the premise for the story was a little farfetched. The idea that Bavaria could legally be separated from the rest of Germany was not plausible to me. It is upon this idea that the entire story is based and why would the penultimate spy Cotton Malone even bother with it? 

The writing was crisp but I found myself putting the book down often. It's hard for me to believe that I am rating a Steve Berry book only 3 out of 5 stars.

Someone Else's Life

Annie Lin’s life crumbles. Her dance studio goes bankrupt. Her mother and beloved dog are gone the same year. Then a terrible accident leaves her young son traumatized. It’s time for a change. Palm trees, mai tais, peace and quiet―Annie should be at ease, safe in her new Kauai home with her husband and son. She hopes proximity to her family can provide them all with a sense of belonging and calm. But soon items from her past start turning up―her dog’s collar, a bracelet that disappeared years ago―and she has the unnerving sensation she’s being watched. Reality begins to fracture, and Annie’s panic attacks return. When, during a brewing storm, a woman appears on her doorstep looking for shelter, Annie is relieved to have the company and feels an unexplainable bond with her visitor. As the night progresses, Annie realizes the woman is no stranger. Their lives are inextricably intertwined―and Annie might just lose everything.

Atmospheric and Hitchcockian. Both of these descriptions of the book are accurate. I couldn't put the book down and was extremely interested in figuring out what was happening. I couldn't believe that Annie let Serena into her home and knew that Serena was going to be the villain. However, some of the red flags that Annie ignored were unbelievable. While Annie knew what was happening was questionable she continued to let it happen. Annie should have trusted her instincts and made her leave. Of course, we wouldn't have a great story if she had and this is a fantastic story. It's always amazing to me when an author's debut novel is so good.  I expect nothing but suspenseful stories from her in the future. She has two more novels ready to be published in the next year.  Check this book out.

5 out of 5 stars.

Five Steps Beyond

After beginning Five Steps Beyond I was soon astonished to discover that I was at the 60% mark in the story. Before I knew it I had finished reading the book. This shows how good this story is. The book is the final installment in the Titus Ray Thriller series by Luana Ehrlich. The main character is Titus Ray, an American Christian spy who works for the CIA.

The publisher's summary:

CIA operative Titus Ray took five steps. But not just any steps.

They were five steps beyond his expectations, five steps beyond his experience, five steps beyond his past.

He took five steps beyond his expectations . . .

When Titus is summoned to the White House, he expects to be offered a Top Secret assignment. What he doesn’t expect is where that assignment will take him, and how he’ll survive if he accepts it.

He took five steps beyond his experience . . .

Even though Titus has been through a lot in his twenty-year career with the Agency, he’s never had to learn about uranium enrichment, he’s never had his appearance altered, he’s never had to be a marriage counselor.

He took five steps beyond his past . . .

Operation Strike Out finds Titus revisiting his past to prevent the Iranians from developing a nuclear weapon to annihilate Israel. When he discovers the tentacles of his past are reaching into his present, seeking to destroy his future, he realizes he has to act quickly.

Will his prayers be answered in time or has his time come to an end?

Five Steps is the second book in the series which I have read so I am a little sad that I just recently discovered the series when it is ending.  I can always go back and read the earlier books but its not the same as knowing that future books are coming. The Titus character is rather brave. He has returned to Tehran on a mission after almost losing his life there two years ago. In this installment of the series he is charged with getting a flash drive from a nuclear scientist that holds info on Iran's uranium enrichment program that would enable them to create a nuclear weapon. During the mission Titus comes face-to-face with the man charged with finding & killing him two years ago and, yes, this man recognizes Titus even though Titus is wearing a disguise. The suspense level is high. Titus's faith is more prominent than in the first book of the series which I read last year. Initially, I was put off by Titus's inner thoughts.  It seemed that Titus would not be able to be a great spy because there were actions that he did not want to take. However, the suspense kept me reading. By the time the story was over, Titus's faith did not bother me. 

4 out of 5 stars.

Murder on the Beach

Murder on the Beach is the third book in a cozy mystery series called Chef Dani Rossetti Cozy Mysteries. There are 9 books in the series to date. I selected the book for the Calendar of Crime Challenge because it was published in the month of February. 

The publisher's summary:

Jackson Kelly may have been middle-aged and the vice-president of the exclusive Oceana Resort Hotel, but Jackson loved to surf and he loved the ladies, who were mostly young women he referred to as his “diversions.”When he dies on the beach while surfing with no apparent injuries, the question is: “What happened to him?" Too bad he had an angry looking rash on his leg. And Dani and Arthur were only at the resort to cater a dinner meeting for the resort’s stockholders! When the coroner says, yes, it was murder, they have their work cut out for them – another mystery to solve.The owner of the resort and his family have a lot to gain financially if Jackson’s dead. But maybe it was a crime of passion. His wife or current “diversion” could have done it. A lot of interests to be protected. Greed, revenge, hatred – those are all possible motives.

While cozy mystery writers are known for testing the limits of suspension of belief, I think Ms. Harman went too far. There were two sleuths in the story: Chef Dani and Arthur, her one-time bodyguard and owner of a private investigation firm. While Arthur was hired by the owners of the resort and had a reason to investigate, Dani didn't. I don't know why she questioned some of the suspects and I cannot imagine why anyone would allow themselves to be questioned by a chef about a murder. Since this is the first book in the series that I have read, perhaps how these two characters came to do their sleuthing together would have been explained in earlier novels. It just seemed odd to me that the chef did more sleuthing than the professional investigator.

What I did find interesting was that digital vehicle forensics was supposed to be used in the investigation. I had never heard about this type of forensics before. However, after Arthur brought this idea up with his clients, it should have been used to determine who the killer was. It not only wasn't used, Arthur never even looked into the car owned by one of the suspects that he was interested in. Why was digital vehicle forensics even mentioned?

One more thing bothered me. When visiting chef Dani arrived at the resort, she was given the Presidential Suite. Granted, Dani is a celebrity chef but this still was odd to me.

There were several flaws in the story but it still had some appeal for me. I enjoyed the first half of the book but when Jackson Kelly died at the midpoint, it fell flat. The second half of the novel, which was the investigation, was not plausible.

2 out of 5 stars.

The Blue Bar

The Blue Bar is the first book in Damyanti Biswas' Blue Mumbai Thriller duology. The second book, The Blue Black Hair, will be published in October 2023. Damyanti Biswas lives in Singapore and works for a charitable organization that promotes education and social enhancement in underprivileged communities. Her short stories have been published in magazines in the US, UK, and Asia, and her debut crime novel, You Beneath Your Skin, was published in November 2022. She writes psychological thrillers.

The publisher's summary:  

After years of dancing in Mumbai’s bars, Tara Mondal was desperate for a new start. So when a client offered her a life-changing payout to indulge a harmless, if odd, fantasy, she accepted. The setup was simple: wear a blue-sequined saree, enter a crowded railway station, and escape from view in less than three minutes. It was the last time anyone saw Tara.

Thirteen years later, Tara’s lover, Inspector Arnav Singh Rajput, is still grappling with her disappearance as he faces a horrifying new crisis: on the city’s outskirts, women’s dismembered bodies are being unearthed from shallow graves. Very little links the murders, except a scattering of blue sequins and a decade’s worth of missing persons reports that correspond with major festivals.

Past and present blur as Arnav realizes he’s on the trail of a serial killer and that someone wants his investigation buried at any cost. Could the key to finding Tara and solving these murders be hidden in one of his cold cases? Or will the next body they recover be hers?

The Blue Bar is a fantastic read. The Indian setting is one that I am always attracted to. I love reading about the saris and the food but cannot imagine having to deal with the noise. Likewise, the characters were interesting. Tara and Arnav's love story was charming. However, it didn't seem plausible that Arnav's current girlfriend Nandini would stick around knowing that he was still in love with Tara. Nandini is a professional woman and while she is presented as being independent, I thought she was a doormat. She tripped over her feet while trying to serve him.  

The story had a fast pace, owing to the intricate plot. When it became apparent that a serial killer was the perpetrator, I couldn't figure out who it was. The author gave us about 5 prospects for the villain and stumped me. I reread some of the pages hoping to determine the identity of the whodunit but didn't gain any additional insight. I am ambivalent about the ending (after the whodunit reveal) and would have preferred something else. Let's see how it plays out in the second book.

4 out of 5 stars.

The Magdalene Reliquary

The Magdalene Reliquary is the 2nd book is the Magdalene Chronicles Trilogy by Gary McAvoy. This debut series features gripping thrillers set in the Vatican and wherever its influence reaches. Both that and his current ongoing series, "Vatican Secret Archive Thrillers," feature Father Michael Dominic, a Jesuit paleographer - a specialist in ancient writing systems and deciphering historical manuscripts. McCoy has long been fascinated with the Vatican and its legendary Secret Archive, and his books are filled with historical facts and international intrigue.

The publisher's summary:

A curious priest uncovers a mystifying secret... One that leads to a long-buried relic some will do anything to possess. Can he outwit adversaries who will stop at nothing to keep him from revealing an object that challenges history as we know it? Father Michael Dominic discovers a strangely constructed 13th-century puzzle hidden deep within the Vatican Secret Archives. With the help of his brilliant colleague, investigative journalist Hana Sinclair, solving the puzzle exposes a cleverly concealed map that marks the hiding place of a sacred artifact—one with shocking implications. From Rome to France and Switzerland, his search for the object finds Dominic pitted against deadly agents and a ruthless Russian oligarch. Desperate, he must choose between trusting an unlikely collection of possible allies—or certain death. As his enemies close in, can he survive and bring this staggering new secret to light, or will his pursuers bury it beside him in the cold, dark earth of a long-forgotten cave? 

I loved this story. It was so much more entertaining than the first book in the series with its non-stop action and adventure. This treasure hunt begins in Rome, moves to France, then Milan and Switzerland and back to Rome. What happens with the newly found treasure? The reader does not know. It is up to the Pope to decide and we may find out in the 3rd book of this trilogy or we might never know. It really isn't that important to me. What I enjoyed is the hunt for the reliquary and the back-stabbing among the characters. I was amused that Father Dominic hired 3 gypsies to help him in his quest. You don't see this in mystery novels too often and I thought it was a creative twist.

The characters are the same as in The Magdalene Deception. Their interaction was more natural than in Deception which I presume was due to the author not needing to spend time and pages introducing them to the reader. 

5 out of 5 stars.

The House in the Pines

The House in the Pines is Ana Reyes' debut novel. She began writing it in 2015, as her thesis for an M.F.A. program at Louisiana State University. After graduation Reyes moved to Los Angeles, where she lined up several jobs teaching English composition at local schools. Eventually she wrote a second draft and then a third. The book sold fast as it was recommended by Reese Witherspoon.

The publisher's summary:

Maya was a high school senior when her best friend, Aubrey, mysteriously dropped dead in front of the enigmatic man named Frank whom they’d been spending time with all summer.
 
Seven years later, Maya lives in Boston with a loving boyfriend and is kicking the secret addiction that has allowed her to cope with what happened years ago, the gaps in her memories, and the lost time that she can’t account for. But her past comes rushing back when she comes across a recent YouTube video in which a young woman suddenly keels over and dies in a diner while sitting across from none other than Frank. Plunged into the trauma that has defined her life, Maya heads to her Berkshires hometown to relive that fateful summer—the influence Frank once had on her and the obsessive jealousy that nearly destroyed her friendship with Aubrey. 
 
At her mother’s house, she excavates fragments of her past and notices hidden messages in her deceased Guatemalan father’s book that didn’t stand out to her earlier. To save herself, she must understand a story written before she was born, but time keeps running out, and soon, all roads are leading back to Frank’s cabin.... 

The story opened well. There was an introduction to fascinating characters as well as some action. I felt that the story slowed somewhat in the middle. Also, there is a supernatural aspect to the plot which isn't exactly my favorite genre but I kept an open mind because the opening was strong. However, in the middle of the story it was hard to tell if there was something supernatural happening or whether Maya was in the throes of mental illness. I would describe the book as an atmospheric mystery, instead of a psychological thriller. I am not a fan of atmospheric stories but I know there are many readers out there who love this kind of book. If you happen to be one of them, I can highly recommend the book to you. For me, it was an OK novel.

3 out of 5 stars.

Hide

Hide is Tracy Clark's 5th novel. It is also the first book in a new series that takes place in Chicago, which is why I wanted to read it. Chicago is my hometown. It's a captivating, fast paced read which felt good to read after the past couple of dull books that I recently read.

The publisher's summary:

When a young red-haired woman is found brutally murdered in downtown Chicago, one detail stands out: the red lipstick encircling her wrists and ankles.

Detective Harriet Foster is on the case, even though she’s still grieving the sudden death of her partner. As a Black woman in a male-dominated department, Foster anticipates a rocky road ahead acclimating to a new team—and building trust with her new partner isn’t coming easily.

After another victim turns up with the same lipstick markings, Foster suspects she’s looking for a serial killer. Through a tip from a psychiatrist, Foster learns about Bodie Morgan: a troubled man with a twisted past and a penchant for pretty young redheads with the bluest eyes. As Foster wades into Morgan’s sinister history, the killer continues their gruesome assault on Chicago’s streets.

In her desperate race to catch the murderer before they strike again, Foster will have to confront the darkest of secrets—including her own.

This book is a perfect crime thriller. It also touches on current problems in policing such as racism, sexism, police power and female officers. With one character being a psychologist, we also read about the psychology of serial killers. Author Tracy Clark knows alot about police procedures and its culture. She is an editor in Chicago and must have learned alot about policing from her day job. 

The writing is crisp and this is what make it such a quick read. It's been awhile since I have read a novel written this good and I couldn't put it down. Even though the book is almost 400 pages, I finished it in one afternoon. The setting descriptions in the beginning of the story are spot on. As a Chicagoan myself, I recognized all of the street names and locales, including the lower level streets where are killers operate. Even the jogging path a character took was accurate. 

The main character is Harriet Foster. She has been a police officer for 15 years but is coming into a different police district for this story. Her first partner, Officer Lonergan, is a long-time officer who does not care for female or minority officers and uses slang terms from a bygone era. I found them amusing but only because I am old enough to know these phrases. Harriet has a soft side because her son died, her marriage fell apart and her former police partner commit suicide. She is still reeling from these events but is trying to put them out of her mind so that she can continue to work. Harriet, or Harri, is a great character to base a series on.  I can see that there is alot of room for character growth. Her second partner, Vera Li, connects with Harri better and I hope that they remain partners in future installments of the series.

Hide is a fantastic novel. I am rating it 5 out of 5 stars.

Vanish in Plain Sight

Vanish in Plain Sight is the second book in the Brotherhood of the Raven trilogy. The trilogy is an Amish suspense series. Most of the main characters in Vanish are different from those in Murder in Plain Sight, the first book in the trilogy. 

The publisher's summary:  

Since she was a little girl, Marisa Angelo has been haunted by the image of her mother walking away, suitcase in hand, to return to her Amish roots. Marisa and her "Englischer" father never saw or heard from her again. Now Marisa has received a shocking call from police. Her mother's bloodstained suitcase was found hidden inside the wall of a Pennsylvania Dutch farmhouse. Desperate for answers, Marisa heads to Lancaster County. But no one—not the police or Marisa's tight-lipped Amish relatives—can explain what happened to her mother. Only one man is as determined as Marisa to unravel the mystery—Link Morgan, the handsome ex-military loner who found the suitcase in the house he inherited from his uncle. Now both Link's and Marisa's family members are implicated in the decades-old disappearance. The secret lies somewhere in the quaint Amish settlement. But someone will do anything to ensure the truth remains hidden forever. 

 I did not like the novel much. I could not connect with any of the characters, even those I liked from the first book in the series. There was no sense of drama of any kind nor any suspense which is strange as the series is advertised as Amish suspense. At one point in Marisa's investigation she was told her next step was to speak with the Amish Bishop. It took her 40 pages to do this and nothing happened in those 40 pages.

The mystery of the disappearance of Marisa's mother was compelling and I wanted to know what happened to her. The pages devoted to the disappearance were interesting. However, I skipped pages to reach the end of the story. It was unremarkable.

Yeah, I had to tell the truth. 1 out of 5 stars.

The Papal Assassin

The Papal Assassin is the first book in S. J. Martin's Papal Assassin Series. She previously published five book in her Breton Horse Warrior Series. The second book in the new series, The Papal Assassin's Wife, was published last month on December 5, 2022. I am looking forward to reading it because the Papal Assassin was wonderful.

The publisher's summary:

It is 1088, King William the Conqueror is dead, and his two eldest sons are about to go to war for the throne of England. It is a turbulent time in Europe, and Chatillon, at the heart of it all, must decide which of William's sons the Pope should support. Should it be the eldest, Robert Curthose, Duke of Normandy or William Rufus, who has already crowned himself King of England?

Piers De Chatillon, the tall, handsome master swordsman, powerful Papal envoy and assassin, has finally married the beautiful young Isabella Embriaco. He intends to turn her into a top political courtesan, assassin and spy. She will be trained to bring him valuable information by moving through the noble beds of Europe and removing those men who cause him problems. His dangerous lifestyle will repeatedly put her life at risk as she becomes a pawn in a deadly game.

Chatillon, involved in the imminent war between the two brothers, disregards the warnings of his friends to take care. They know a brutal Saracen pirate is out for revenge and will try to kill Chatillon and his new wife. Chatillon sends Isabella to Ghent on her first mission to kill an old enemy of his, not realising she is now carrying his child. Meanwhile, the Saracen assassins follow close behind her, and Chatillon is over a hundred leagues away in Normandy, too far away to save her.

This was a great read. From the first pages to the ending I was unable to put the book down. The Eleventh Century is a favorite period of mine so it made this fast paced historical mystery extra special. I heard that some of the characters from the Breton Horse Warriors Series are included in this new series. I will have to read at least one of those novels to see if I would like the series.

Piers is the consummate politician. Having worked in government for most of my life, I appreciate seeing someone with the skillset to get things done. He has a dark side but so do our current crop of leaders and if I'm honest, every great leader in history has had this too. Yes, I studied political science. I was amazed at Piers' successes and was rooting for him all along. He is a fascinating character and with the comeuppance he received from an enemy toward the end, I can see him having a soft side in future novels.

This is a lovely start to a new series. I am excited about it's future. 

The Magdalene Deception

The Magdalene Deception is the first book in a trilogy called The Magdalene Chronicles. It is Gary McAvoy's debut novel.  McAvoy has published 6 books to date but recommends that readers begin with this book before reading any of the later novels including his Vatican Secrets Archives series. I have already read three books in the Vatican Secret Archives Series, but I decided to take McAvoy's advice and go back to the beginning. 

The publisher's summary:

For two thousand years, believers have relied on Christ's Resurrection as the bedrock of Christian faith. But what if the Vatican had been blackmailed into suppressing a first century manuscript revealing a different story about what happened after Christ's death-and that long-hidden document suddenly reappears? Michael Dominic, a young Jesuit priest expert in the study of ancient writings, is assigned to the Vatican as an archivist in the Church's legendary Secret Archives. Hana Sinclair, a reporter for a Paris newspaper whose privileged family owns a prominent Swiss bank, is chasing a story about Jewis gold stolen by the Nazis during WWII - millions of dollars in bullion that ended up in the vaults of the Vatican Bank. When Dominic discovers a long hidden papyrus written by Mary Magdalene -one- that threatens the very foundations of Christianity - he and Hana, aided by the brave Swiss Guards, try to prevent sinister forces from obtaining the manuscript, among them the feared Ustasha underground fascist movement, Interpol, and shadowy figures at the highest levels of the Vatican itself. Based on illuminating historical facts - including the intriguing true story of Berenger Sauniere, the mysterious abbe in the French village of Rennes-le-Chateau; and that Cathars, fabled keepers of the Holy Grail - The Magdalene Deception will take readers on a gripping journey through one of the world's most secretive institutions and the sensitive, often explosive manuscripts found in it's vaults.

As someone who loves codicology and paleography, this book was a perfect fit for me. I loved reading about the Vatican library and found myself dreaming about being able to personally sit inside its walls and choose manuscripts at will. The book introduces all of the characters in both the Magdalene Trilogy and the Vatican Secret Archives Series. Hana Sinclair, Cardinal Enrico Petrini and Karl Dengler resemble their characters in subsequent novels. Father Michael Dominic is quite different though. I was surprised that as a priest he didn't believe that prayer works or that his faith could be shaken by this new found document. Two years after his ordination, Dominic had plenty of doubts about his vocation. This perplexed me.

Also, there was not much suspense or mystery to the story. I got bored in several parts of the novel and did not feel a sense of impending doom over the possible release of the manuscript to the public. When Dominic translated it, I rejected its allegations about church history (no spoilers here) and can only assume that the general public in the story would reject it too. It was too far-fetched to be taken seriously but on top of that there was no mention of the manuscript being validated or not validated. It was only translated.

I expected more as the 3 books that I previously read had alot of suspense. Perhaps the author just got better at writing, which is always a good thing. The best I can say is that The Magdalene Deception is a good start to the series.

3 out of 5 stars.

The Avignon Affair

The Avignon Affair is the newest installment of the Vatican Secret Archives thriller series by Gary McAvoy and Ronald Moore. It takes place in Rome and Paris in the present day. There is also an alternating plot that takes place in France in the 1300s that concerns the death of a cardinal who is masquerading as a bishop while carrying a secret document. 

The publisher's summary:

Father Michael Dominic is called to France for an unusual assignment. A fourteenth-century bishop was found in a crypt buried under the burnt remnants of Notre-Dame-but he's wearing the ring of a cardinal, and two parchment scrolls had been hidden in his garment sleeve. Who was this 700-year-old custodian of carefully guarded secrets?

Once Father Dominic decodes the rolled scrolls, long-hidden confessions are exposed that throw France into political turmoil while creating havoc within Dominic's own team of friends. Relationships are tested and shocking new revelations emerge in The Avignon Affair.

I could not put this book down. The mystery to be solved begins with the Prologue so that the rest of the story is about what happened, how and why. The team of Father Dominic, Hana Sinclair and Marco Picard return in this installment of the series to solve another mystery from medieval times. Medieval mysteries are my favorite sub-genre so this series is a perfect fit for me. The team includes Father Michael Dominic who is the head of the Vatican Secret Archives, Hana Sinclair who is a reporter for the French newspaper Le Monde and Marco Picard, a bodyguard hired by Sinclair's grandfather to protect her. After reading 3 books in the series, they have become old friends to me.

While I was riveted by the story, the plot turned into a fantastical ending that was not believable. It was definitely interesting but just not plausible. I hate to be a spoiler here so I won't go into any details. The history part of the series delves into the Papacy of the late 1300s and the French monarchy which I thoroughly enjoyed. The authors mixed the older history with the new as the rebuilding of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris is also part of the story. This mix is what makes this series tick. 

I hate to give a McAvoy book a lower rating that 5 out of 5 stars but The Avignon Affair had flaws. I am rating it 4 because the suspense level was significant.

The Sterling Affair

The Sterling Affair is the 8th installment of the Forensic Genealogist Series by Nathan Dylan Goodwin. I have read four other books in the series but not in order of publication so I was surprised to read in Sterling that the main character, Morton Farrier, was married with one child. The plot for Sterling is a bit more complex than prior novels. I am not sure how I feel about that as I loved the earlier books. However, the author is keeping the series fresh. His last two books are part of a new series, Venator Cold Case Series, wherein an investigative genetic geneology company, called Venator of course, is used to solve homicides. Venator is introduced in Sterling .

Back to the book at hand. . . The publisher's summary:  

When an unannounced stranger comes calling at Morton Farrier’s front door, he finds himself faced with the most intriguing and confounding case of his career to-date as a forensic genealogist. He agrees to accept the contract to identify a man who had been secretly living under the name of his new client’s long-deceased brother. Morton must use his range of resources and research skills to help him deconstruct this mysterious man’s life, ultimately leading him back into the murky world of 1950s international affairs of state. Meanwhile, Morton is faced with his own alarmingly close DNA match which itself comes with far-reaching implications for the Farriers.

I did not enjoy the book as much as I expected. The subplot concerning the spies was complex and while I normally love spy thrillers, I missed the simplicity of the earlier novels which focused on how Morton went about his genealogical research. As someone who enjoys doing this kind of research, the earlier novels hit my spot. That said, both of the book's subplots were intricately woven and well researched. I can see how Goodwin has improved his writing.

The story began with an Abstract that discussed the removal of 1,000 files by civil servants from England's National Archives relating to MI5, MI6 and MI8. The files were taken to Whitehall. This intrigued me and is part of the reason why I tried to concentrate on the spy subplot to make sure that I didn't miss anything. The information for the Abstract came from an article in The Guardian on December 26, 2017. Each of the files contained dozens of papers and some of these files included documents on the Falklands, Northern Ireland's Troubles, Britain's administration in Palestine, and tests on polio vaccines. 

I am sorry to say that Sterling is only a 3 out of 5 stars as Goodwin is one of my favorite authors.

Murder in Plain Sight

Murder in Plain Sight is the first book in the Brotherhood of the Raven trilogy that takes place in Amish country. It is different from the usual Amish fiction as this one is a murder mystery. Author Marta Perry has published 118 novels! All of them are Amish fiction. I enjoyed this book so I think I will be very busy reading some of her novels this year. 

The publisher's summary:  

Did a sweet-faced Amish teenager brutally murder a young woman? To save her career, big-city lawyer Jessica Langdon is determined to defend him—against the community's bitter and even violent outrage. Yet without an understanding of Amish culture, Jessica must rely on arrogant businessman Trey Morgan, who has ties to the Amish community… and believes in the boy's guilt.

Jessica has threats coming from all sides: a local fanatic, stirred up by the biased publicity of the case; the dead girl's boyfriend; even from the person she's learned to trust the most, Trey Morgan. But just when Jessica fears she's placed her trust in the wrong man, Trey saves her life. And now they must both reach into a dangerous past to protect everyone's future—including their own.

The mystery concerning who killed Cherry Wilson was expertly plotted. However, our protagonist Jessica Langdon is a lousy attorney. No, this is not stated in the story but it is obvious that she is incompetent because she was sharing confidential information about the case with most of the characters in the story. She let herself be guided by them.

Jessica's character is the only character I didn't like much. She is not plausible as an attorney. Trey is interesting in that he is an Englischer who is fully trusted by his Amish neighbors. His mother Geneva is a sweet, wise woman and I would love to read more stories that include them both. The Amish Bishop was portrayed as a kindly old soul. He was not the usual ornery, stay away from the English, boss that I am accustomed to read about. All of these characters would make awesome series characters. Jessica needs work though. The budding romance between Jessica and Trey was hard for me to accept. While opposites attract, I felt that the author was telling the reader and not showing the reader how their relationship developed.

Despite the negatives I described above, the solving of the crime was suspenseful and kept me reading. 3 out of 5 stars.

Whisper in the Night

I had never heard of D.K. Hood before buying Whisper in the Night. I was surprised to find out that she has published 19 novels to date with her 20th novel coming out in March 2023. All of her titles are from the Detectives Kane and Alton series which are serial killer thrillers featuring Sheriff Jenna Alton and her ex-special forces deputy Dave Kane. I loved Whisper so much that I am going to need to read every one of these 19 other books. It is hard to believe that I never discovered her before since she is such a prolific writer.

The publisher's summary:

Fifteen-year-old Lindy Rosen has been having nightmares for weeks, waking in a panic, screaming that there's a man in her room watching her sleep.  Her parents assumed it was her overactive imagination, but when one morning they find Lindy missing from her bedroom, they're not so sure.  Detective Jenna Alton is called to investigate.  Within hours of the schoolgirl going missing, the kidnapper reaches out to Jenna with a video of Lindy bound and tied to a chair, crying to be set free.  And a simple message - you've got 24 hours to find her or I'll kill her.  Jenna's team work around the clock to try to find Lindy before the deadline, but time runs out, and Jenna receives a devastating message. The killer has made good on his promise. He's playing a dangerous game  and no one knows what his next one will be.  But just two days later, one of Lindy's school friends is taken in the middle of the night and the countdown begins again. 

I loved this book! I was engaged from the first page and couldn't put the book down until I had read through it completely in one sitting. There was one issue that I have though.  Around page 60 Lindy's body is found. However, there was no build up from the police officers working a scene before it is announced that the body was found. The reader finds out when Jenna mentions it as a past event. I think this is a mistake, but only because I have never read a mystery where the discovery of the body is not fully developed. It should be essential to the rest of the story. The rest of the story was intense and fast paced and the ending resolved all of the questions concerning the crimes. Again, I take issue with how Jenna resolved the crime. She didn't. The killer appeared in her home and told her who he was and that she was going to be his next killing. Jenna had no idea who the serial killer was until he showed up in her kitchen. The killer conveniently spilled out answers to the who, how and why questions about his crime spree before being handcuffed. While the beginning and ending were a little unorthodox, Whisper is still a fantastic novel because of the intense suspense the author created.

4 out of 5 stars.

Night Shift

Night Shift is Robin Cook's 39th medical thriller. At 82 years of age he is still on staff at the Massachusetts Ear and Eye Infirmary in Boston. His first novel was published 46 years ago and I have enjoyed all but one, Intersection. He has had an incredible literary journey as well as a successful medical practice as an ophthalmologist.

The publisher's summary:  

Colleagues turned spouses, Dr. Laurie Montgomery and Dr. Jack Stapleton already have their plates full with demanding forensic pathology work and family pressures. The last thing they need is the sudden death of a colleague. Yet when Laurie's apparently vital and healthy longtime friend Dr. Sue Passero dies mysteriously in the hospital parking garage, an autopsy is required, and it falls uncomfortably under Laurie's purview as the chief medical examiner. So when Laurie asked Jack to take special care with the case, he can hardly refuse.

With his curiosity sparked by an inconclusive autopsy, the indefatigable Jack is compelled to resolve the case at hand, and sets out to investigate on-site at Manhattan Memorial Hospital, even though it means blatantly defying the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner's rules. What started out as an inquiry into Sue's tragic passing soon turns into a deadly and dangerous chess game between Jack and the clever and deranged killer, who might just administer another lethal blow if Jack isn't careful.

Night Shift is a first-rate story. With the story taking place within a two day period of time, the book has a supersonic pace that keeps you reading until it has been finished in one sitting. Cook's writing has not suffered with this long-standing series, while other authors seem to lose interest in their series and characters. What most likely keeps the series fresh for Cook is that the story always revolves around an issue or problem in medicine today. Cook does give the reader plenty of development with his characters but the main thrust of all of his novels is modern medicine. In Night Shift, the focus is on medical serial killers. 

I enjoyed revisiting the usual characters: Laurie, Jack, Vinnie who is Jack's assistant, and officer Lou Saldano. Vinnie and Lou are not central to this particular story. There are new characters such as the deceased Dr. Passero and her closest colleagues and they were interesting. Laurie and Jack's relationship has suffered since Laurie became his boss and, finally, he has asked her to step down. Laurie does not respond to the request in this installment of the series but perhaps she will think about it in the next novel. Jack has always been a little rough around the edges but it seems to me that he has become rougher since his wife became his boss.

The main problem for the story to resolve is to determine what killed Dr. Passero. Her autopsy showed that there was nothing wrong with her so Jack has to rely on information from those closest to her to come up with the reason that she was killed. He hears from a colleague that Dr. Passero was involved in hospital politics. Jack speaks with quite a few hospital staff before figuring it all out.

Night Shift is a superb entry for this series. 5 out of 5 stars.