“The Stolen Chalice” by Kitty Pilgrim, published by Scribner.

Category – Mystery/Thriller

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is holding a gala affair. Radicals have targeted the affair to wreak havoc on the guests. This is a splinter group of a much more devious organization with an agenda targeting the Chiefs of State of the major countries.

While this is going on the museum is being robbed of some valuable items, including the mummy, Artemidorus. At the same time, another valuable piece is being stolen from a private collection, the Sardonyx Cup. The cup is believed to hold magical powers of healing.

The story embroils the investigative departments of several nations and a private effort to find the art objects as well as to try to avert a breakout of the plague on world leaders.

A good story that moves rapidly along but one that leaves little to the imagination and provides no surprises. It is very predictable and the ending is not only unbelievable but will leave the reader unsatisfied.