The Rome Prophecy: A Thriller

A woman has been arrested in the streets of Rome. She’s young. She’s beautiful. She’s covered in blood. And she claims to be an ancient prophet in search of a mystical amulet hidden somewhere within the city. Ex-priest Tom Shaman teams up with a headstrong policewoman to unravel the mystery. But within Rome’s churches and corridors of power, stealthy enemies are conspiring against them. And soon, the woman’s deadly visions begin to come true. Tightly plotted and relentlessly suspenseful, The Rome Prophecy is a satisfying, electrifying thriller, which will continue to build Christer’s name in the hit-thriller genre.

From Booklist

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 erratic—slow 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. --Stacy Alesi

Booklist

“Dramatic . . . Fans of Dan Brown and Steve Berry will be enamored.”

Publishers Weekly   Praise for The Stonehenge Legacy

“A leisurely paced yet suspenseful religious conspiracy thriller.”

The Wall Street Journal

“A self-assured first novel.”

Steve Berry, author of The Amber Room

“A non-stop delight of a read complete with history, secrets, conspiracies, and adventure. Christer matches wits and wiles, holding you in a tight grip from page 1 to the end. Fiercely intelligent and curious, take a walk on the perilous side and enjoy The Stonehenge Legacy.”

James Becker, author of The Moses Stone

“The Stonehenge Legacy is a creepily compelling tale that deftly mixes the near-Satanic activities of an ages-old pre-Christian cult with an entirely modern kidnap plot . . . This is one of those very rare books that is capable of both thrilling and chilling the reader.”

C.S. Graham, author of The Archangel Project

“Long-buried secrets, a dangerous cult, and lots of twists and turns.  Sure to appeal to fans of Steve Berry and Dan Brown!”

Publishers Weekly

“Intriguing . . . Christer does a nice job integrating secret diaries, codes, hooded monks, and historical detail into the abduction plot.”

About the Author

Sam Christer is the pseudonym of an award-winning documentary filmmaker. Rights to his first novel, The Stonehenge Legacy, have been sold in thirty-five countries.

Reviews

News