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A review by luigiprondanini
Sign of the Cross by Glenn Cooper
4.0
"Sign of the Cross" is a riveting religious thriller that Dan Brown readers will love... conspiracies and historical fiction in one fast-paced, action-based spiritual adventure.
Relatively short chapters and multiple timelines ensure the story progresses quickly, keeping readers engaged from start to finish. The combination of historical facts, religious objects, and modern-day conspiracy is very engrossing, making the novel hard to put down. The story is filled with suspense as the treasure hunters and secretive agencies hated by Nazis give it more thrilling turns.
Though the premise is not incredibly unique, Cooper's writing and eye for detail draw you in. Protagonist Cal Donovan is charming enough and competent, if perhaps not as fully fleshed out a character as he could be. The supporting cast, including the priest and his sister, brings depth to this.
The fantastical details are even more realistic, juxtaposed with the author's obvious knowledge of religious history and artefacts. On the other hand, some characters may test viewers' willingness to suspend their disbelief in breaking, and there is a smidgeon of last-minute rush towards the ending compared to the above careful construction.
On the whole, "Sign of the Cross" is a nice thriller that fulfils its promises in terms of adventure, conspiracy, and religious mystery. I devoured it like candy, and if you're a fan of this sort of cinematic fiction, there's enough here to more than justify its purchase, even if the whole doesn't really break new ground. This is a fast-paced story filled with plenty of action and mystery, the perfect book for an exciting read that includes some religious references.
Relatively short chapters and multiple timelines ensure the story progresses quickly, keeping readers engaged from start to finish. The combination of historical facts, religious objects, and modern-day conspiracy is very engrossing, making the novel hard to put down. The story is filled with suspense as the treasure hunters and secretive agencies hated by Nazis give it more thrilling turns.
Though the premise is not incredibly unique, Cooper's writing and eye for detail draw you in. Protagonist Cal Donovan is charming enough and competent, if perhaps not as fully fleshed out a character as he could be. The supporting cast, including the priest and his sister, brings depth to this.
The fantastical details are even more realistic, juxtaposed with the author's obvious knowledge of religious history and artefacts. On the other hand, some characters may test viewers' willingness to suspend their disbelief in breaking, and there is a smidgeon of last-minute rush towards the ending compared to the above careful construction.
On the whole, "Sign of the Cross" is a nice thriller that fulfils its promises in terms of adventure, conspiracy, and religious mystery. I devoured it like candy, and if you're a fan of this sort of cinematic fiction, there's enough here to more than justify its purchase, even if the whole doesn't really break new ground. This is a fast-paced story filled with plenty of action and mystery, the perfect book for an exciting read that includes some religious references.