Veil of the Goddess

I received this novel as a gift from a fan of Rob Preece, and must admit,I enjoyed it a great deal. Americans in Iraq, the battle to possess the True Cross, a secretive U.S organization out for world dominance, CIA drones and CIA-sponsored pesh merga, a couple (Ivy and Zach) with great chemistry, and a breathless romp across Iraq, to Turkey, to Italy, with stopovers in scenic Istanbul and Venice. Meanwhile, we the reader get to explore the history, faiths, and people of this crucial section of the world. Terrific reading with a touch of mysticism.

Veil of the Goddess is the first novel I've read of author Rob Preece, and the one that got me hooked and spurred me to look for his other novels. "Veil" is a timely and relevant thriller, written in a fluent, fast-paced style, and encompasses the region that's been making headlines, day in, day out. Also, readers who like to take a walk on the far side, a la The Da Vinci Code, will enjoy this speculative novel. Iraq is dangerous enough with various warring groups firing at Americans and at each other, fury over US bombing of local mosques, and the general lawlessness there, but fellow Americans are supposed to be on your side. Life gets a lot more dangerous for US National Guard Sergeant Ivy Newland when the secretive spy-type she's guarding decides that she's seen too much and tries to kill her. And so what is it that she has seen? Lo and behold, the True Cross, hidden in the land we now call Iraq, for hundreds of years since it was captured from Crusaders by the great Saladin. The Foundation, a secretive but big-time US organization, has plans for the Cross, but after their coldblooded attempt on her life, Ivy takes a closer look at just what those plans are. What if, as the agent claims, the Cross is the ultimate weapon of mass destruction? Enter US Army Captain Zack Herrera, a tough, highly skilled, and honorable military man who ends up as Ivy's champion. Teamed up, they struggle to keep the Cross safe from those who want to exploit its mysterious powers, while being chased by the Foundation, by CIA drones and CIA-sponsored pesh merga, by insurgents, and the US Navy. They flee across Iraq, Turkey, Greece, and finally, Italy. Guided by a mysterious vision (is it the ancient Anatolian goddess, Ishtar? Or just a hallucination induced by Ivy's various injuries?) Ivy is compelled to search for something elusive, but seek she must, first in Istanbul, then in Venice. Yet the power of the Cross ensures that the Foundation is never far between. During their breakneck journey Ivy and Zack are bound by a growing attraction, and together they deal with a number of unlikely allies and enemies, and explore both the history, faiths, and people of this crucial section of the world. Well-done plot, likeable characters, and terrific armchair travel through exotic locales. Would make a terrific movie, too!