In a departure from the apocalypse theme that permeates their "Cotton Stone Mysteries" (The Grail Conspiracy), coauthors Sholes and Moore pen an ingenious thriller with an audacious plot. What if Aztec Emperor Montezuma was made immortal after contact with Veronica's Veil (the cloth St. Veronica used to wipe the face of Jesus on his way to crucifixion)? Now posing as Javier Scarrow, he has become the charismatic leader of a ministry espousing universal harmony while secretly resurrecting notorious mass murderers using their DNA. Journalist Seneca Hunt initially stumbles onto Montezuma's empty tomb, but when she discovers a spate of high-profile tomb robberies, Hunt knows she's uncovered a big story. With the help of a new friend and her long-absent father, Hunt learns that foiling Scarrow's plan and saving the world is only half the battle once she appears on Scarrow's radar.
VERDICT A venerated religious object in the hands of a megalomaniac…now what? That's always the question with this type of book. Here we have a unique relic with an exceptional "superpower," likable heroes, and a bold endgame. Implausible yet awesome; a reminder why fiction is fun.
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