Gary McAvoy returns with another novel with ties to the Vatican Archives, yet explores a new angle and fresh protagonist. He has made sure things are well-organised and clearly entertaining as the characters tackle various Vatican-based situations and historical anomalies, yet from the perspective of archeology and not only a biblical story lyered amongst relics and documents. Vatican archeologist Marcus Russo has been sent on a mission to discover a long-held mystery surrounding a Nazi-era hidden treasure buried deep in a Polish mountain. While he gathers a great group, what they discover soon leaves them baffled and scared in equal measure. What did the Nazis leave for someone to discover and how does the Vatican play into this situation? Russo will have to make sense of it before it becomes an international mess. McAvoy commences a new series with familiar characters and just as much impact for readers to enjoy!

After being sent on a mission to uncover the Nazi Gold Train in Poland, Vatican Archeologist Marcus Russo gathers a group used to uncovering mysteries to accompany him. While locating the buried treasure is the easy part, there is something else that awaits everyone that could turn things upside down. Russo locates a codex at the site, one that points to a chilling discovery.

The codex hints at a dangerous plan to ensure chaos and send Nazi-type danger across the world, long after it lost all power in Europe. Operation Eisenkreuz seems tied to the Covenant of the Iron Cross, a means by which chaos will be sown at an alarming rate. Russo works with Father Michael Dominic and journalist Hana Sinclair to make sense of it and stop the Covenant from becoming the new reality. Racing across Europe to make sense of the new Covenant plan, Russo, Dominic, and Sinclair try their best to keep things moving in a positive direction, though nothing can be assured when evil powers remain at play.

It is only when they return to the Vatican to report on their findings that a deeper knowledge of Operation Eisenkreuz comes to the surface, with details that include a long-fabled group and its thirst for power. Even within the walls of the Holy See, a group seeks to enforce its power and will stop at nothing to keep things moving at a fast past. Russo is but one victim of a larger issue here and his discretion cannot be guaranteed, forcing drastic action. A chilling story that paves the way for a strong series by Gary McAvoy.

I have long enjoyed the work of Gary McAvoy, beginning with his Vatican Archives series. That things springboard from there with this debut of the new collection has me eager to see where things might be headed. McAvoy is always tackling issues closely relating to the Catholic Church and expands his reach to things in the archeological world now as well. The narrative finds its speed and flows well, fuelled by great storytelling and well-developed ideas. The author is keen to educate the reader while also providing thrilling ideas to ponder along the way. Characters effectively flavour the narrative and serve as vessels to properly illustrate many of the events that transpire from chapter to chapter. New and familiar faces for McAvoy’s other series pepper the pages and create a sense of familiarity for those who have that back history. While Ifelt things dragged a bit or lacked a clear spark in the early recounting of the situations in Poland, the plot points are well placed and help keep the reader intrigued about what is going on. Everything appears to synchronise well in the larger narrative as the story gains momentum. There are also key learning moments that McAvoy uses to develop possible truths and deceptive use of fiction to keep the stories strong and wonderfully entertaining.

Kudos. Mr. McAvoy, for a great start to a new series that has me excited to continue.
— MATT PECHEY, Reedsy Discovery Reviewer