One of History's Most Sacred Treasures ...An Age-Old Secret Conspiracy ...Now the Truth is Revealed ...THE BROTHERHOOD OF THE HOLY SHROUD is the explosive international bestseller that mixes fact and fiction to tell the riveting story of one of the world's most controversial relics, the Turin Shroud -- believed by millions of the faithful to bear the likeness of Christ -- and the desperate race to save it from those who will stop at nothing to possess its legendary power.A fire at the Cathedral of Turin and the discovery of a strangely mutilated body attract the attention of Italy's special Art Crimes Department. For the fire is only the latest in a troubling series of arson attacks and break-ins at the cathedral which houses the famous shroud. Department chief Marco Valoni leads a team of top investigators in a race to solve a crime certain to shock the world: someone is planning to steal the Holy Shroud.Spanning centuries and continents, from the storm-rent skies over Cavalry, through the glories of Byzantium and the intrigue and treachery of the Crusades, The Brotherhood of the Holy Shroud is a provocative page-turner of the highest order -- one that will challenge you to believe.
I didn’t care for this book. I barely skimmed the last 80 pages.
The basic premise of the book is that these art crime detectives believe someone is trying to steal and/or destroy the Shroud of Turin after a string of strange happenings at the Cathedral where it is occasionally displayed. There’s 3 groups of people here… a group that are trying to protect the Shroud, a group trying to “reclaim” it, and the art crime detectives.
It was very slow, and really not very interesting. She tries to generate some interest in the history of the Shroud with flashbacks to the time of Jesus and then of the Templar Knights, but it still isn’t a particularly interesting history. And the time changes were very abrupt.
This book is touted as an “international best-seller”, but if that’s the case it was for solely one reason: The Da Vinci Code.
The only good thing about this book is that I can now return it to the library.
