A city’s dark secret holds the key to the gates of hell … When ex-priest Tom Shaman, jaded from years in the Los Angeles ghetto, decides on a last-minute trip to Venice, he gets much more than he expected. A brutal killer is on the loose and Tom finds himself in the midst of a series of ritualistic killings unlike anything Venice has ever seen. Enlisted by the Italian police, Tom teams up with young investigator Valentina Morassi to dig deep into the city s darkest history, stretching from an ancient civilization to the sexual decadence of eighteenth-century Italy to the gritty underworld of modern-day Venice. As Valentina and Tom trace the killings through the centuries, they uncover a deadly secret that generations have killed to protect: a priceless mosaic known as the Gates of Hell. As the clock counts down, Tom and Valentina s adventure builds to an astonishing and satisfying end. Exotic and well-researched, The Venice Conspiracy will continue to build Christer s name in the hit-thriller genre. A suspenseful religious conspiracy thriller … A solid entry in the post-Da Vinci Code subgenre. Publishers Weekly An intelligent, exciting and seductive elaboration of both truth and fiction, a morality tale that tingles with all the tensions and menace of a fast-paced crime thriller. Lancashire Evening Post Well-plotted and well-executed, this is a chilling and clever thriller. Daily Telegraph A self-assured first novel. The Wall Street Journal Smart, slick and effective. Daily Mail A thrilling read. Toowoomba Chronicle About the AuthorSam Christer is the pseudonym of an award-winning documentary maker. His first job was as a messenger for a newspaper, and he has since worked for several major television studios as a director, producer, host, and reporter. His books have been sold in thirty-five countries.
