The Isis Covenant

By James Douglas

What it’s about?

AD 64 – Roman centurion Marcus Domitus leads an expedition to find the mythical treasure hidden deep inside Queen Dido’s temple.

AD 1945 – In the confusion and chaos of a burning Berlin, two high-powered Nazis disappear, and so does a precious object.

But as they delve deeper into the sinister world of the occult, they uncover a dark secret that men have lusted over for more than two millennia. Long ago, in the ancient temple of Isis, something was stolen, and the repercussions have resonated through the centuries. Saintclair must discover the truth before the curse claims more victims, and finally catches up with him.

AD 2009 – Two families are brutally tortured and murdered in Boston and London, the crimes linked by a single name and a shared history.

Art recovery specialist Jamie Saintclair receives a call from a Boston detective, asking for his help to investigate a brutal murder. She believes Saintclair might hold the key to solving the crime through his detailed knowledge of specialist Nazi units.

What I think:

This wasn’t on my list for December- but I fancied a treasure hunting thriller and picked this up at a National Trust secondhand bookshop.

This is everything you expect from this kind of book.

Lots of drama, jetting all over the place and death defying escapes as Jamie and Danny dash about Europe hunting Nazi war criminals and mythical magical treasure.

The scenes in Nazi Germamy are atmospheric and evocative. There is a real sense of trying to recreate the chaos and confusion of the end of the war as members of Hitler’s inner circles try to escape and save themselves.

Some of the book is a bit ridiculous or lacking explanation, but it is possible to suspend your disbelief and go along with the adventure.

This isn’t particularly memorable- writing this now, I can’t actually remember how it ended, but it was an enjoyable read and perfect action adventure escapism.