New fiction
“The Devil’s Bible,” by Steve Berry. Is a book worth a life? The people who want the Codex Gigas think so and if they have to resort to murder to possess the 800-year-old manuscript, so be it. Thus is the start of the kidnapping of the king of Sweden’s sister and threat to end her life unless Sweden hands over the book. Also called The Devil’s Bible, the 165-pound illuminated medieval manuscript belonged Bohemia until it was claimed as war plunder by Sweden in 1648. Now, the Czech Republic is calling for its return, which Sweden will do, but only if the Czech nation backs their entry into NATO. Several phone calls later and Cotton Malone, former Justice Department operative, and Cassiopeia Vitt are tasked to find the princess and secure the codex. It’s suspected the Russians are the ones wanting the codex, but as Cotton and Cassiopeia soon find out, nothing is as it seems. Allies become enemies, and one-time enemies are now coming together as friends. Throw old foes from Cotton’s past into the mix and the already muddled situation rapidly spirals into a fight for survival.