Devil's Verse

A MUST READ - Thought-provoking mystery

Once I started reading this book, I couldn't put it down...
I felt myself immersed into the thoughts and actions of the main heroine, and was astounded by the biblical and historic revelations described in this novel. It made me wonder if our government is actually involved in some kind of conspiracy that might change the world...

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Amazing!

This was an amazing book.The main character Natasha is a handwriting expert who happens to have a specialization in ancient documents. Her unique expertise draws her into a mystery and she follows clues from the bible, archaeology and ancient writings that lead her to discover that the lost treasures of Jerusalem including the Ark of The Covenant and the missing Vatican treasure of 1798 are both hidden in a subterranian vault below the Basilica Cistern in Istanbul!

What's even more amazing is who the villain turns out to be and also the way the novel weaves biblical prophecy into the story line. This was an amazing book. I read it while vacationing and I became so engrossed in it that my family got irritated at me for spending too much time reading. But I could not put this book down.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Thought provoking....

Aug 21,2009 ~ I was really excited to start reading this book once I received it.
Once I started reading this book, it was difficult for me to stop reading it...I became engrossed in the actions of Natasha, the main heroine, and felt as if I was right beside her in her quest for the truth. I was amazed by the correlation to the bible's revelations used in this novel. Thought provoking as to how much of what was described in the book might be happening in our world today. Definately will recommend it to my friends.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Thrill Ride!

Devil's Verse was an unstoppable, heart pounding thrill ride. Coming from a rollercoaster junkie like me, enough said!

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Captivated My Imagination!

This was a really fun read. Natasha discovers that her friend, a Russian orthodox priest may have been murdered because of secrets that he uncovered within the mysterious prophecies of the bible. Secrets, that if revealed would thwart the well laid plans of a powerful immortal hell-bent on a deadly power grab.

She follows clues from archaeology, the bible and ancient palindromes, that lead her from Seattle to Rome, London and Istanbul on her quest for the truth. But the truth turns out to be an amazing set of secrets that captivated my imagination and to be honest, completely astounded me. And it's all woven together and innerlaced perfectly.This was a wonderous adventure and I finished it with a feeling of great satisfaction. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys and Indiana Jones / Da Vinci Code type of adventure thriller.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

The Secret Is Big!

Devil's Verse was awesome! I ordered it at the same time as I pre-ordered Lost Symbol and devoured it last weekend. I liken it to a cross between Twilight and Da Vinci Code, but it has a completely different plot and is truly original! I recommend Devil's Verse for anyone looking to read a fast paced historical thriller.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Devil's Verse, by Joseph Nicholas

In Devil's Verse, paleographer Dr. Natasha Azshatan sets out to prove her friend, a Russian Orthodox priest, was murdered and did not commit suicide as investigators presume. Above Father Elijah's frozen corpse, a bloody finger-painted message screams out from the wooden planks: IN GIRUM IMUS NOCTE ET CONSUMIMUR IGNI. It is the ancient Latin palindrome known as the Devil's Verse, which Natasha translates, "We wander in the night, consumed by fire."

Natasha follows clues from actual historical documents, the bible, archaeological sites and ancient Latin and Greek palindromes that lead her away from her home on Jerrels Cove Island in the Pacific Northwest, all the way to the exotic cities of London,Istanbul and Rome and back again. Along the way she learns that Father Elijah was murdered because he uncovered dangerous secrets, hidden within the prophecies of the Apocalypse which predict the hijacking of the Vatican's Geo-political power by immortals. The villain's true identity is the man known to the world as King David whom within an obscure passage of scripture was cursed with immortality by the prophet Nathan. The archaeological record concurs, showing no evidence of the death or burial of King David.

Natasha reveals that David held Vatican power once before under the identity of Pius the VI, who was dethroned by France in 1798, and whose corpse mysteriously vanished. Nowadays he is the ingenious Francis Charles, Vatican Cardinal Secretary of State. Natasha knows him intimately as they were lovers 20 years prior.
Francis Charles, AKA David, is planning an unimaginable catastrophe that will pave the way for his ascension and subsequent power grab. He also needs the Rod of Aaron and the Ark of the Covenant to rule his army of the damned known as the Rebels of Korah. But those artifacts lay in the same treasure vault that hides the lost Vatican treasure of 1798. He kidnaps Pope Andrea Saracini, who prior to papal ascension was also one of the world's foremost paleographers, in order to force him into unraveling the palindromic clues that lead to the treasure.

Natasha concludes that the treasure and the Pope are hidden in a subterranean chamber beneath the famous Hagia Sophia, Church of Holy Wisdom, Istanbul, Turkey. Palindromes carved into the structures at Hagia Sophia lead her to a secret underwater passageway within the bowels of the Basilica Cistern and ultimately to the amazing lost treasure and Pope Saracini. Once she rescues the Pope, he invokes his powers as the Vicar of Christ and takes control of the Rod of Aaron, at the same time vanquishing the fallen David and his followers.

Natasha returns home to Washington State where one more surprise awaits her. A bloody finger-painted palindrome screams at her from her kitchen wall. "Ah Satan Sees Natasha." The same satanic killer that murdered father Elijah lurks in the darkness of her lonely home. It will take all of her skills and miracle for her to survive.

In her journey of life, death, mind and spirit, Natasha fights demons literally and figuratively as she is forced to confront the mistakes of her past in order to overcome the evil and save the world from a very dark destiny.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

My first review ever of a book and all I can say is don't bother with this one.

I have to believe that all the other reviewers were personal friends of the writer. The writing in the book brought to mind old versions of the Batman TV program - example "He tried to roll sideways. Chkuhhh svvffkhh, kkhuh." - and his editor must have suggested that he cut some pages so he just has people jumping from one scene to another without any reasonable seque. Bottom line - save your money!