Book Beat – The Fragment by Davis Bunn

In 1923, young Smithsonian researcher Muriel Ross travels to Paris with her mentor, Sen. Thomas Bryant, who is on a quest to find an ancient reliquary containing a reputed fragment of the true cross. Swept into the grandeur of diplomatic circles, Muriel is especially touched by the French people, who are reeling from ravages of the Great War.

Rich with historical detail, The Fragment by Davis Bunn takes you on an exotic trip from 1920s Paris to Constantinople during the fall of the Ottoman Empire. Muriel is an appealing heroine with her academic bent, her artistic eye, and her adventurous spirit. The faith element of this novel is also compelling. A short novel, but well worth the read.