The Lucifer Gospel
by Paul Christopher
(Onyx, $7.99, V) ISBN 0-451-42-1223-0
**
Finn Ryan, art historian, cartographer and illustrator had a starring role in Paul Christopher’s prior novel Michelangelo’s Notebook. In The Lucifer Gospel she has been hired by a multimillionaire son of a famed TV evangelist to work at his dig in Libya. She meets pilot and photographer and wannabe Indiana Jones, Virgil Hilts, on the plane to Cairo. Upon arrival, before they meet the team member who will take them to the dig, Finn is nearly killed in the City of the Dead.

The dig site had been established in the 1930’s by an Italian team looking for a Coptic Church reputed to house the remains of the Apostle Thomas. Quickly Finn and Hilts realize the elaborate work now is a cover for something else and by helicopter they investigate the area the principals of the expedition appear to be visiting on a daily basis.

There they find the remains of the famous archeologist Pedrazzi, missing since his flight into the area in the 1940’s. Not found is his companion Pierre DeVaux, a scholarly monk who was an archeologist and perhaps an emissary from the Vatican. Upon close examination they find a gold medallion pointing them to Venosa, Italy.

The goons discover them and the chase begins. It is a relentless chase through Europe, on to the Caribbean and then Illinois. It is at a breakneck speed with no pacing, or periods of slow down. This in itself becomes tedious as one chase scene ends and another begins.

The characters are not particularly well developed as the author is perhaps relying on readers who recognize Finn from his prior novel. Finn meets a man who claims to be a spy who worked with her father, and seems to be warning them and sometimes rescuing them. He claims the missing DeVaux had discovered The Lucifer Gospel, which purported to be a Confession from Christ; and if found, published and believed it would totally erode the basis of Christianity.

So with a clearer eye to what the chase is about, it continues on and on, to culminate in a contrived and awkward ending. The dialog is clichéd in many cases, interaction between characters is minimal, and one must really suspend disbelief to be satisfied with the escape scenes.

As a parallel to the Indiana Jones adventures The Lucifer Gospel is just as theatrical and Hilts is also gifted with an extraordinary repertoire of arcane facts. Too bad as a travelogue it is lacking; although the characters visit many places the author does not take advantage of the opportunity for much scene description other than what is necessary to the plot.

--Thea Davis


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