The Rome Prophecy

November 25, 2013
The pseudonymous Christer’s plodding sequel to 2012’s The Venice Conspiracy takes ex-priest Tom Shaman to Rome, where he and carabiniere captain Valentina Morassi quickly fall into a steamy relationship while trying to unravel the case of a beautiful woman who shows up covered in blood, carrying an old sword, and claiming to be Cassandra, the ancient prophet of doom. Cassandra turns out to have many other names, as she’s diagnosed with DID (dissociative identity disorder), formerly known as multiple personalities. Readers will struggle to sympathize with a character who ends up having more than a hundred alter egos; the other characters also fail to engage. The plot, which hinges on the worship of the goddess Cybele, never generates much excitement. Even the inclusion of a man-eating lion in the final pages can’t save this one. Agent: Luigi Bonomi, Luigi Bonomi Associates.

December 15, 2013
Carabinieri Captain Valentina Morassi is back, along with her romantic interest, ex-priest Tom Shaman (The Venice Conspiracy, 2012), as they try to solve a mysterious case that starts with a severed hand found in the famous carving, Bocca della Verita, the Mouth of Truth, in Rome. A woman is discovered nearby, covered in blood and carrying an ancient sword, but she suffers from multiple-personality disorder, and the blood on her clothes does not match that of the hand. As Valentina and Tom search for answers, their trail leads to ancient symbols and a secret cult of women held prisoner in catacombs underneath the Eternal City. Tom is able to shed some light on the religious aspects of the case, while Valentina follows the leads without support from her boss. Brutality is rampant in this historical religious thriller, and the characters are not fully developed and the pacing is erraticslow through the first half, faster toward the end. Recommended for readers who enjoy James Rollins, Steve Berry, and Dan Brown. Originally published in the UK under the pseudonym Jon Trace.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)