In the heat of a Rome summer, a seven-year-old boy vanishes in the dank catacombs beneath the city. Now fourteen years have passed, and in acclaime...
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reviews
Apr 04, 2009
Rossrn
rated it: 
The fifth of eight (and counting) in the Nic Costa series, this is the fourth of Hewson's books I've read and third in the series.
The core cast of characters is now up to six which makes it a challenge when you add in others to make a good story. And you know it is going to grow exponentially when there is a list of "Principal" characters ahead of the introduction that is in excess of 30.
Despite that, I found it wasn't too bad keeping up with all these folks. What More...
The core cast of characters is now up to six which makes it a challenge when you add in others to make a good story. And you know it is going to grow exponentially when there is a list of "Principal" characters ahead of the introduction that is in excess of 30.
Despite that, I found it wasn't too bad keeping up with all these folks. What More...
May 08, 2011
Keith
rated it:
This is book five in a series of police procedurals set in Rome. As a fan of the Venice mysteries of Donna Leon I picked this up hoping for some of the same atmosphere wrapped in the riddle of a crime. Hewson certainly knows Rome, both the Eternal City and its below-ground tunnels and catacombs where much of the action in this tale takes place. There is clearly some back-story I'm missing with the characters but nothing that detracted from a pretty gripping story. The crime is both a cold case a
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Apr 03, 2011
Nola
rated it: 
Apparently this is a series, and it is the 5th in the series, so I might have enjoyed it more if I had some background on the main detectives. This is probably why I feel that the book lacks character development ... but I kept reading because I was interested in the plot. Good plotting, but as a history buff, which is why it attracted me in the first place, I would have liked a bit more information on the history of Rome, Mithraes, etc. It's not a bad book ... I just should have read it in the
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Dec 06, 2010
Jim
rated it:
The fifth in the Nic Costa series. I like all of the recurring characters (or at least find them interesting) and the Italian settings, and found the mystery this time around to be a solid and compelling one. Having said that, I really felt that I was slogging through it, and I think that I'm gonna blame the pacing. It just never took off. I wasn't particularly happy with the motivation(s) of one of the antagonists, either, but that bit only came to light at the very end, whereas the entire
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Apr 20, 2009
Jaimie
rated it:
Probably would have given this book four stars if I had known it was the fourth (?) in a series. I hate it when a book does not clearly state somewhere that it is a part of a series. I know that often crime series books are considered acceptable as stand alones, but they typically begin expecting you to already know who that main players are. Grr.
Also, I did not like the way the past sections were in italics.
Other than those complaints, I liked the book. Interesti More...
Also, I did not like the way the past sections were in italics.
Other than those complaints, I liked the book. Interesti More...
Feb 12, 2008
Nancy
rated it: 
Questura Detectives Costa and Peroni are back in Rome once more after their adventure in Venice (in The Lizard's Bite), along with Teresa Lupo & Inspector Falcone. Installment 5 of this series begins with the curator of a small museum of items of interest to psychics, who finds that a small, bloodstained T-shirt on display has now sported new and fresh stains. From there, a woman at a church discovers something too horrible for words, and is off with her story to the police. Enter the team -- it
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Jul 10, 2009
Juliette
rated it:
I know I enjoyed this one a little more than the first book in the series (and have not read 2-4), but perhaps it's because I knew right off that it was a series.
The Seventh Sacrament didn't have as much historical information as I would have liked, but maybe that's because Mithraism isn't that well known.
This mystery is solved more by technology and human error than by knowledge of the past.
I really enjoy the developement of Lupo in this book and might have to read 2-4 to More...
The Seventh Sacrament didn't have as much historical information as I would have liked, but maybe that's because Mithraism isn't that well known.
This mystery is solved more by technology and human error than by knowledge of the past.
I really enjoy the developement of Lupo in this book and might have to read 2-4 to More...
Nov 26, 2010
Amberlynne
rated it: 
I love all of Nic Costa series that I have read so far and this is no exception. As someone who reads and watches a lot of mystery/police procedure stuff, it's always really fun when an author can keep me guessing until the very end. This one actually made me gasp out loud! I can't wait to read the next one.
Mar 21, 2011
Joanne
rated it:
probably a 3.5. This series is always interesting. Complex mysteries combined with Roman history - love it! This one was hard to get into because of the flipping between the past and the present but once I got going it was good. I always find stories of alternate religions before Christianity/Catholic Church became dominant in Europe very interesting.
Jul 07, 2009
Carol
rated it:
The history of underground Rome is the real protagonist of this outstanding thriller! The events around a child's disappearance in the catacombs under Rome ended the career of one police official and put the boy's father in prison. Fourteen years later, a threat to the police and a series of shocking discoveries reopen the case.
Nov 03, 2008
Rhonda
rated it:
i'm not sure what to say about this book. the story was interesting enough to keep me reading and to make me want to see what happens at the end, but ...BUT... there were sections of dialogue that were just confusing and seemingly unnecessary. in fact, some of the characters seemed unnecessary and, as a result, kind of annoying. i found myself skimming though those parts ( which i hate to do) just to get to the parts that i actually wanted to read. i'm not sure if this really rated a 3 or someth
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Jul 30, 2011
This is a really well written book and Hewson has managed to combine history, drama, mystery, plot and relationships. The book was gripping and you couldn't guess what would happen next.
Aug 06, 2011
Karolina
rated it:
This book had me from the very first page. Love the way David Hewson writes, exactly my style! Great way of interweaving two events leading up to the final closure.
Aug 11, 2010
C
rated it:
Good book. I have ordered another Hewson book. Kept my attention. Good ending. May read all of his book. Great visual journey of Italy as you read.
Jan 08, 2009
Jessica
rated it:
Better than some others of his I've read, but I still find his style a bit too discursive for my taste - there a sense of flow that's just missing for me.
Aug 02, 2011
I'm enjoying this mystery series set in Rome. This one is more of a "how are they gonna catch him" rather than a whodunit.
Jul 31, 2009
Faith
rated it: 
Probably great character development, but I could not get into it, so I moved on.
Jul 27, 2011
Cameron
rated it:
This has a really good plot, and is a top thriller. But also a bit boring.
Jun 30, 2011
Vivienne
rated it:
Again an intelligent, well-paced crime thriller featuring Roman detective, Nic Costa, and his colleagues and partners.
Was very interested in this particular mystery focusing on the Roman cult of Mithras.
Really enjoying this series though again will reiterate that while in theory they are stand-alone, character development suffers if they are not read in order. Personally I am enjoying seeing Nic, who was very green behind the ears in Book 1, gain more experience.
Jan 24, 2011
Loraine, Family History Lady
rated it:
This book was a little strange but had a very surprising ending.
Dec 31, 2009
A good quick read, interesting and fun. I'll definitely read the others in the series.
Sep 23, 2007
Diane
rated it:
This was quite good. The story was told in flashback sessions, told in conjunction with the 'real-time' storyline, but falls back on the old mystery story plot device of the least likely person being the guilty party. The book gives some interesting historical insight into the ancient cult/religion of Mithraism, as well as some psychological behavioural studies. Only a few of the characters seemed to be in full possession of their mental faculties, which included the good guys.
Oct 12, 2011
Linda
rated it:
Really enjoyed this book. A different twist and turn all the way through.
Jun 16, 2008
Kristen
rated it:
This is a super mystery series set it Rome from David Hewson. It also has elements of crime and police procedural too. Beautiful settings in Rome and a great storyline with a hint of mythology. You'll love it!
Feb 23, 2009
Ryan
rated it:
A few chapters left and I'm still not riveted! His last book was much better. ;o) I think I'll give Mr. Hewson a miss for a while. Predictable, boring, yadda, yadda...
Aug 26, 2008
Todd
rated it:
Great mystery/detective novel. The setting in Rome makes it very different from many others I've read. I enjoyed it very much.
Sep 30, 2007
Fifth book in Nic Costa series. Costa is a Roman policeman. Reviewer: "a compelling tale that educates and entertains."
