Not quite as catchy as "The DaVinci Code", this book is still a fun ride to solve an ancient mystery.

I loved this book because it intertwined so many stories -- the one in the time of Christ, and the other in current day. It ranges all over the world, from Idaho to Italy to Russia to the Holy Land to Spain, Paris and Britain. An interlocked tale of intrigue and mystery, puzzles and code-breaking, Native American heritage to the Rom "gypsy" people. Neville is a good writer and keeps interest at a peak. Each chapter has quotes from varied authors at the beginning, leading one to wonder about the connection with what is going to happen next. 552 pages in paperback

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I was excited to read this book. I love a good thriller, and having a good riddle wrapped up in it is always even better. Unfortunately, I was extremely disappointed with this book. The author seemed to assume that the reader would be ready to dig as deeply as her main character to find the answers she needed. When I read a book I really don't want to have to work that hard.

She interspersed stories from the time of Christ and beyond within the novel, I presume to give the reader an understanding of what was to come, or maybe to hint at what new revelation was coming next. Maybe I just didn't get it. But I'm interested in the story NOW, not to be interrupted by 50 pages of, to me, unrelated and deeply detailed information, so much so that I have to go back to the previous chapter and re-read what was happening in present time because I've already forgotten.

The book was convoluted, confusing and, at times, maddening, not only because of a constantly changing family tree, and the uncomfortable relationships entwined within. You need a scorecard to keep track of all these people. One of the most annoying traits in the book is the the main character's ridiculous behavior when it came to dealing with people she knew she couldn't trust. There were a lot of tense moments that could have gone somewhere and because of her decision, just fizzled out. Bleh.

The ending was very unsatisfactory in that that it really left more questions than answers and considering the length of this overwritten novel, was sharply drawn and ended more like the air coming out of a balloon than the sharp bang I was expecting.

When her cousin is slain by an unknown assassin, Ariel Behn becomes the sole heir to a family legacy: a sinister cache of manuscripts that thrusts her into the deadly center of international intrigue---and an age-old enigma that spans the centuries. Whoever assembles and interprets the cryptic clues of this ancient mystery will possess the power to control the fate of the world.

Another great book from my favorite author, Katherine Neville.

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