The Moses Expedition

Tonight is Molly's last Homecoming. It's just one of the many "lasts" that will come with her being a senior, and I know that it's always been one of her absolute favorite times of year. She's going out with more than twenty friends tonight for supper, the dance, and then to a party at a friend's house. I love being a part of the big moments in her life. I think she's absolutely beautiful, although I may be a little biased.

The Moses Expedition by Juan Gomez-Jurado is the follow-up to God's Spy featuring Father Anthony Fowler who works for both the CIA and the Vatican's secret service. Reclusive billionaire Raymond Kayn has put together an expedition to find the legendary Ark of the Covenant. Each person selected is traveling for their own reasons: Spanish reporter Andrea Otero needs to prove herself after the loss of her job at a high-profile newspaper and painful break-up from lover Eva, Fowler to serve the interests of the agencies for whom he works, plus several security guards, and some crew. Sparks fly between the different groups immediately, and only their quest keeps them from murdering each other at the outset. The story is told through what's happening with the excavation team, some events back in the US organized by Father Fowler, and documents discovered "after the Moses Expedition Disaster", as well as flashbacks to events from WWII that set the expedition on its path. There's lots of political and religious machinations that make nearly everyone untrustworthy with hidden agendas. The chapters are a bit too disjointed on occasion, and when the big reveal comes, it feels almost anticlimactic with all of the other events surrounding it. The author ratchets up the tension and has included a wide variety of fascinating characters, some of whom survive for a potential sequel.

Thank you to Atria books for providing me with a copy of this book for review.