The Voynich Codex

First and foremost, a large thank you to Reedsy Discovery and Gary McAvoy for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

Always a fan of Gary McAvoy and his work, I gladly accepted the latest in the Vatican Secret Archives series. Never one to shy away from history and obscure documents, McAvoy delivers another strong thriller I was able to devour in short order. The Voynich Manuscript has held botanical mysteries for over five centuries. Once targeted by the Vatican as potentially too revealing and controversial, it went underground, until now. When a fragment of the Manuscript goes up for auction and is secured by the Vatican Secret Archives, one nefarious group emerges to get hold of it, hoping to use some of its botanical powers for their own means. As Father Michael Dominic and Hana Sinclair work with friends and colleagues to protect their portion of the Voynich Manuscript, they are thrust into a battle of wits, as well as trying to wrest control away from a group of traitorous individuals who have shown their tendencies in the past. McAvoy presents another strong story in this series that matches the efforts of both Dan Brown and Steve Berry in its delivery.

The literary world has wondered about aspects of the Voynich Manuscript for over five hundred years. Its symbolic and botanical drawings are paralleled only by the cryptic language that posits many natural (and supernatural) powers to who can decipher it. Many have studied it, but no headway has yet been made to understanding its details.

After the Vatican comes into possession of a partial aspect of the Manuscript, many are curious. It was the Vatican that sought to silence and destroy these writings when first they were made for being too revealing about subjects it deemed beyond the understanding of the common person. It would seem studying these concepts has become a new desire. Father Michael Dominic provides a safe space to hold them, as head of the Vatican Secret Archives. When his fiancée, Hana Sinclair, uses her abilities as an investigative journalist to peel back the truths of the Manuscript, she learns that there could be deeper and more troubling aspects of the message on parchment.

While they seek answers across Europe, Michael, Hana, and a number of their colleagues are targeted by a ruthless man who thrives on power and deception. He will stop at nothing to get his hands on the Voynich Manuscript and decipher its botanical powers. In the wrong hands, the many powers of Manuscript are sure to create chaos for many, both inside and outside the Vatican. This is one mission whose consequences could be life-altering, while also providing deadly. Gary McAvoy delivers a winner for series fans and those who want an exploration of little-known historical facts.

Gary McAvoy has long been an author I turn to for both entertaining and educational novels. He has been able to develop my keen interest in religious and secret documents whose truths could surely change the world as I know it, while also keeping me excited with each thriller he pens. One. Plus easily see his work as a combination of Dan Brown and Steve Berry, but stands on its own quite effectively. The narrative takes flight from the opening pages and pulls the reader in as the adventure kicks into high gear. There is a build-up throughout, pitting two sides vying for a common goal. Characters are an essential part of the story, as McAvoy brings back many from the series, as well as introducing new personalities to flavour the larger story. I enjoy what appears to be sub-series within the large collection that allows Father Michael and Hana to lock horns with certain nefarious people. Plot points prove perfectly placed to keep the surprises high and the twists plentiful. There is little doubt that McAvoy wants this series to thrive on mixing fact and fiction, while always ensuring there is a shred of adventure to keep things edgy. I am eager to see where Gary McAvoy intends on taking things in this stellar series of novels, particularly with the coming event in Spring.

Kudos, Mr. McAvoy, for another powerful depiction of history and its mysteries! — MATT PECHEY, Reedsy Discovery