SANCTUS

Simon Vance does miraculous things with this compelling, if derivative, religious conspiracy thriller. A robed, hooded figure stands atop a cliff, his body making the sign of the cross. To onlookers’ shocked eyes, he flings himself into the abyss. And that’s only the beginning. There’s a mysterious secret promising a world-shaking revelation, a hunt through archival materials in a secret library, the re-examination of the Bible, and a cult of militant monks who will stop at nothing to keep the secret. Vance is impressive in providing a multitude of voices for characters who range from from clerics to strong women to ordinary folk—with each portrayal utterly credible in character and gender. Toyne’s novel might trip over its eagerness to emulate Dan Brown, but Vance saves it, making it convincing, if not completely plausible. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2012]