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Tom Shaman #2
The Rome Prophecy
A woman has been arrested in the streets of Rome. She's young. She's beautiful. She's covered in blood. And she claims to be an ancient prophet in search of a mystical amulet hidden somewhere within the city. Ex-priest Tom Shaman teams up with a headstrong policewoman to unravel the mystery. But within Rome's churches and corridors of power, stealthy enemies are conspiring against them. And soon the woman's deadly visions begin to come true ...
458 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
July 23, 2021
Este 2° livro protagonizado por Tom Shaman cativou e manteve o meu interesse desde o início, muito mais do que aconteceu com o 1° livro. Ainda mais passando-se em Roma (que eu adoraria visitar), com crime e mistério, ação non-stop, uma personagem com personalidades múltiplas, enfim... O que há aqui para não gostar?
O final, por acaso, trouxe algo de que não gostei, preferia que fosse outra coisa.
O final, por acaso, trouxe algo de que não gostei, preferia que fosse outra coisa.
January 8, 2012
I normally love this type of book and have read all of Dan Brown's, and most of his pretenders to the throne, books too. I found this one somewhat lacking though. I enjoyed the characters but perhaps would have benefitted from reading the first book in the this series first because I found that the characters were not really elaborated to a high degree. I think the writer has assumed that we've read his previous book. Having said all that though, and finding the first half of the book quite slow going, towards the end it fairly skipped along and dragged me with it. The actual end was a bit silly but I can forgive that. So all in all I liked it but it didn't set my world on fire.
August 31, 2016
A good sequel to the authors earlier novel about Venice. The ex-priest Tom and now Captain Valentino have the mystery of a severed arm to solve. The clues point to and underground society, and we the readers are exposed to many twists and turns as the case progresses. Not sure what the author might have in mind if a third book is written.
March 14, 2018
This book was disappointing. It started out well, but I think the plot got convoluted. The author couldn't seem to decide which issue to focus on, so many issues were covered unsuccessfully. I enjoyed the historical architecture and religious elements. I did not enjoy the ending at all; too many over the top happenings made it too unbelievable.
December 15, 2021
Avvincente, dinamico, misterioso! Lettura piacevole, scorrevole ma, allo stesso tempo, ricca di colpi di scena!
September 23, 2018
Trance's 'The Rome Prophecy ' is another lively read.
I first encountered ancient Rome when I studied 'Julius Ceasar ' back in high school. I witnessed a change in Rome (many years later) when I read 'Androcles and the Lion'.
This piece of Roman History interweaves the
Ancient time and modern day amazes me.
Valentina Morassi is just tailor made for the modern day Rome. Her strength, sheer brilliance and work commitment makes her the heroine of the novel. ( a tough cop for a tough job!!) .She isn't not swayed or intimidated by her male colleagues like Ceasario. Her perfect match is Tom.
I love the descriptions in the story. I love the development in the characters liked Gulliho. He died a martyr.
I first encountered ancient Rome when I studied 'Julius Ceasar ' back in high school. I witnessed a change in Rome (many years later) when I read 'Androcles and the Lion'.
This piece of Roman History interweaves the
Ancient time and modern day amazes me.
Valentina Morassi is just tailor made for the modern day Rome. Her strength, sheer brilliance and work commitment makes her the heroine of the novel. ( a tough cop for a tough job!!) .She isn't not swayed or intimidated by her male colleagues like Ceasario. Her perfect match is Tom.
I love the descriptions in the story. I love the development in the characters liked Gulliho. He died a martyr.
February 8, 2016
Non posso proprio non dare 5 stelline a questo romanzo. Sebbene non rientri totalmente nel genere che prediligo, ha saputo catturare completamente la mia attenzione e ha stuzzicato la mia curiosità pagina dopo pagina. Da autrice so bene quanto lavoro ci sia dietro una storia intricata e i miei complimenti vanno all'autore soprattutto per l'accuratezza con cui si è occupato di dettagli tecnici e specifici. A volte non ci rendiamo conto che dietro una sola parola vi sono in realtà ore e ore di ricerche. Consigliatissimo!
May 13, 2011
A good book but it leaves too much unresolved at the end. Hopefully a follow up will answer some of those questions
October 13, 2018
2.5 stars. This thriller started out strong, but a disappointing third act had me deduct half a star from an initial three.
I thought at first this was going to be a cerebral mystery in the vein of The Da Vinci Code, but with a more supernatural element. It devolved into a more action-packed investigation of an ancient Roman cult that was still a pretty decent ride. Though this is the #2 title in the Tom Shaman books (I'll backtrack and pick up #1 at some point) the protagonist is a young, newly promoted captain in Rome's police force Valentina Morassi. It's established early on that she and Tom have a history earned by working on a murder case in book one, and that she is dealing with quite a bit of open hostility from her male counterparts on the force. (Come on people, it's 2018. Isn't it time to retire this trope?)
Prophecy is a quick read that doesn't require a lot of heavy lifting. Despite his earlier vocation as a Catholic priest, Tom Shaman is not the know-it-all expert on religious matters that one would expect. His knowledge of the church doesn't come into play as much as Robert Langdon's knowledge of symbology does in Dan Brown's books. In fact it's his familiarity with Greco-Roman history and mythology that plays more of a part in the book's resolution. It's Valentina's ignorance of said mythology that I found irksome. I would think that someone born and raised in Italy would know some of the basic mythological figures that we study in high school here in America.
That said, this was an entertaining diversion for me, and I will be exploring other titles. Not so much because I became emotionally vested in the characters, but I am interested in knowing exactly who Sam Christer is and where s/he will take Tom Shaman as he explores life after the priesthood.
I thought at first this was going to be a cerebral mystery in the vein of The Da Vinci Code, but with a more supernatural element. It devolved into a more action-packed investigation of an ancient Roman cult that was still a pretty decent ride. Though this is the #2 title in the Tom Shaman books (I'll backtrack and pick up #1 at some point) the protagonist is a young, newly promoted captain in Rome's police force Valentina Morassi. It's established early on that she and Tom have a history earned by working on a murder case in book one, and that she is dealing with quite a bit of open hostility from her male counterparts on the force. (Come on people, it's 2018. Isn't it time to retire this trope?)
Prophecy is a quick read that doesn't require a lot of heavy lifting. Despite his earlier vocation as a Catholic priest, Tom Shaman is not the know-it-all expert on religious matters that one would expect. His knowledge of the church doesn't come into play as much as Robert Langdon's knowledge of symbology does in Dan Brown's books. In fact it's his familiarity with Greco-Roman history and mythology that plays more of a part in the book's resolution. It's Valentina's ignorance of said mythology that I found irksome. I would think that someone born and raised in Italy would know some of the basic mythological figures that we study in high school here in America.
That said, this was an entertaining diversion for me, and I will be exploring other titles. Not so much because I became emotionally vested in the characters, but I am interested in knowing exactly who Sam Christer is and where s/he will take Tom Shaman as he explores life after the priesthood.
March 22, 2017
A woman has been arrested on the streets of Rome. She's young. She's beautiful. She's covered in blood. And she claims to be on the run from a mighty power that centuries ago brought the eternal city to its knees.
This was an entertaining, fun-to-read book but the jumping back and forth between time lines was somewhat distracting. I like the characters Tom Shaman and Valentina Morassi and enjoyed their relationship and their trying to discover who the mysterious woman, Ana, really was. I found all the characters to be engaging and the mystery of the woman was very interesting. The ending was a bit thrilling and was the highlight of the book. There was also a cliffhanger at the end about Tom having to more on but a 3rd book has never been written nor has this been explained. Other then that, I enjoyed the book and I would recommend it to those who like Dan Brown's books.
This was an entertaining, fun-to-read book but the jumping back and forth between time lines was somewhat distracting. I like the characters Tom Shaman and Valentina Morassi and enjoyed their relationship and their trying to discover who the mysterious woman, Ana, really was. I found all the characters to be engaging and the mystery of the woman was very interesting. The ending was a bit thrilling and was the highlight of the book. There was also a cliffhanger at the end about Tom having to more on but a 3rd book has never been written nor has this been explained. Other then that, I enjoyed the book and I would recommend it to those who like Dan Brown's books.
July 12, 2019
This was even better than The Venice Conspiracy.
Tom and Valentina are back, but have relocated to Rome for their latest adventure. A young woman is found holding a severed hand. She is obviously traumatised, covered in blood and in need of medical and psychological help. Anna, the young woman, appears to have several alter egos going back to ancient times.
There are the obligatory murders and chases along the way. There's also a bit of a love interest along the way.
After various wrong turns, Valentina and Tom, with help from the police, eventually solve the mystery of Anna's multiple personalities and why she became who she was.
Tom and Valentina are back, but have relocated to Rome for their latest adventure. A young woman is found holding a severed hand. She is obviously traumatised, covered in blood and in need of medical and psychological help. Anna, the young woman, appears to have several alter egos going back to ancient times.
There are the obligatory murders and chases along the way. There's also a bit of a love interest along the way.
After various wrong turns, Valentina and Tom, with help from the police, eventually solve the mystery of Anna's multiple personalities and why she became who she was.
September 20, 2019
This book is just too weird. The author spent a lot of time researching the most arcane and ridiculous ancient sects and wrote a book that is unrealistic and just not worth the effort of trying to follow. By the climax I was just skimming the pages because I really didn't care what happened. Don't bother reading the parts written in italics. They add nothing to the story and only make it more confusing.
December 26, 2024
The book was similar in feel to Dan Brown and James Rollins books, but after about 75% the plot was accelerated way too quickly and left way too many questions unanswered. Book should have been twice as long, and more should have been put into explaining the implications of the society. It just ended abruptly and killed an otherwise awesome storyline. I thought this was a part one book based on the way it ended.
February 24, 2020
Really had me gripped! Not usually a fan of crime novels, but this was more drama than the forensic detailing that sometimes puts me off. There was a lot of action, definitely a page turner. The main character was a strong, intelligent female, which was nice to have as a senior leading the case.
April 12, 2024
Molto bello... è l'esempio di quel libro che ti tiene attaccato fino alla fine leggendolo in un fiato per scoprire il finale.
È quel tipo di treiler al limite con la fantasia, anche una persona scettica inizierebbe a pensare che si tratta si una cosa fuori da reale, poi si conclude con un finale molto ragionevole e reale nulla di surreale.
È quel tipo di treiler al limite con la fantasia, anche una persona scettica inizierebbe a pensare che si tratta si una cosa fuori da reale, poi si conclude con un finale molto ragionevole e reale nulla di surreale.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 3, 2017
Interesting construct for a chase around Rome with an improbable cast, and some unnecessary padding. A reasonably well written 'romp' in this popular genre, that is a bit too far fetched for me, and enough ancient history to warrant a book on its own.
June 27, 2020
and the first one was so good! It makes reading this one so much more painful, but I did it. Don't know what happened to the author, almost seemed like there was a ghost-writer or just pressure to churn something out, but this was so sloppy compared to the first book. sad.
September 5, 2020
Edge of One’s Seat
Terrific subject for those interested in current police techniques as well as ancient Roman history. Enjoyed every page, but as we round the corner to the saving of Valentina’s life - perhaps a little too drawn out. This, however, is a simple reader’s opinion.
Terrific subject for those interested in current police techniques as well as ancient Roman history. Enjoyed every page, but as we round the corner to the saving of Valentina’s life - perhaps a little too drawn out. This, however, is a simple reader’s opinion.
June 29, 2020
SUPER SUPER AWESOME THRILLER 😍😍😍
April 18, 2023
Il titolo c'entra poco o niente con la trama. Il Vaticano non viene nemmeno nominato e tanto meno si parla di profezie. Il libro si legge bene anche se non mi ha completamente soddisfatto.
February 4, 2024
The climax kind of ruined it.
Otherwise it was really a page turner book.
Otherwise it was really a page turner book.
July 9, 2025
This was an ok book. I wish I had read the first in the series prior to this second book. I will read the authors other books.
August 31, 2025
A good story although very similar to its predecessor. Plenty of things going on but J felt the ending was rather rushed. Still worth 5 stars though.
October 10, 2016
I struggled between giving this book 3 or four. I liked the plot and found that very entertaining, but I really did not like some things about the characters. Having both the female police captain and the female dr. both be under the thumb of their male bosses was a bit much for me. Just a lot of stereotyping I thought.
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March 13, 2017ok
March 10, 2011
Full video review here: http://mysterythriller.tv/the-rome-pr...
The book opens with the words of Cassandra – the name evokes the ancient Greek priestess who foresaw the end, so it has a suitably ancient theme from the start. Cassandra is driven through the streets and then has her hand cut off in the mouth of truth, accused of treachery. As she lies there, losing blood fast and dying, the book cuts to the present day where a hand is found at the mouth of truth, but no body.
So the mystery is immediately set – who does the hand belong to? where’s the body or the person? Then a woman is found, covered in blood and roaming the streets with an ancient sword in hand.
We then see one of the protagonists Italian carabinieri Captain Valentina Morassi who is assigned to the case, and starts to investigate the mystery. The girl seems to have multiple personality disorder and Valentina is aided in the investigation by the psychiatrist Louisa Verdetti who becomes increasingly involved in the story.
Tom Shaman also helps Valentina, drawn to Rome by a relationship started in a previous book, the Venice Conspiracy. Tom is an ex-priest and now it seems he is embracing being out of the cloth as Valentina and he are in bed within the first few chapters. He also knows how to fight. I found him quite an unconvincing character but Valentina is more real, a rounded person in the story. Tom basically becomes a side-kick in the story using his knowledge of religion to add to the mix.
The story progresses at a fast pace, it’s a short book – we find out about a secret cult that has lived in the catacombs beneath Rome with women running it that has gone back for millennia, supposedly an unbroken chain of women kept prisoner underground in the crypts. It’s definitely a suspend belief type of book, there are even lions in the catacombs under Rome which I found a little crazy.
But I liked Valentina and the book gave me a few hours of entertainment, so recommended for a fast read if you like Rome books with religion, history and archaeology thrown in.
The book opens with the words of Cassandra – the name evokes the ancient Greek priestess who foresaw the end, so it has a suitably ancient theme from the start. Cassandra is driven through the streets and then has her hand cut off in the mouth of truth, accused of treachery. As she lies there, losing blood fast and dying, the book cuts to the present day where a hand is found at the mouth of truth, but no body.
So the mystery is immediately set – who does the hand belong to? where’s the body or the person? Then a woman is found, covered in blood and roaming the streets with an ancient sword in hand.
We then see one of the protagonists Italian carabinieri Captain Valentina Morassi who is assigned to the case, and starts to investigate the mystery. The girl seems to have multiple personality disorder and Valentina is aided in the investigation by the psychiatrist Louisa Verdetti who becomes increasingly involved in the story.
Tom Shaman also helps Valentina, drawn to Rome by a relationship started in a previous book, the Venice Conspiracy. Tom is an ex-priest and now it seems he is embracing being out of the cloth as Valentina and he are in bed within the first few chapters. He also knows how to fight. I found him quite an unconvincing character but Valentina is more real, a rounded person in the story. Tom basically becomes a side-kick in the story using his knowledge of religion to add to the mix.
The story progresses at a fast pace, it’s a short book – we find out about a secret cult that has lived in the catacombs beneath Rome with women running it that has gone back for millennia, supposedly an unbroken chain of women kept prisoner underground in the crypts. It’s definitely a suspend belief type of book, there are even lions in the catacombs under Rome which I found a little crazy.
But I liked Valentina and the book gave me a few hours of entertainment, so recommended for a fast read if you like Rome books with religion, history and archaeology thrown in.
August 2, 2011
The setting is modern Rome, but the crimes relate to an ancient cult hidden deep beneath the eternal city. Valentina Morassi, newly made captain of the Carabinieri, is aided by former priest and friend, Tom Shaman, in investigating a series of baffling crimes.
A young woman claiming to be an ancient prophetess named Cassandra is found on the streets of Rome covered in blood and carrying a sword. A severed hand is found in the famous “Mouth of Truth”, but whoever it belongs to, it doesn’t match the blood on Cassandra.
The young woman herself is of little help to the investigation, as she suffers from multiple personalities, some of which are afraid of others. Cassandra is just the beginning of the puzzle, which includes ancient symbols, dismembered bodies, eunuchs and a hidden world in the caverns beneath the city.
Tom and Valentina begin to realize the scope of what they are confronting – a cult that is ancient in its beliefs and brutal in its practices. But is it actually what it seems, or is it a cover for something even more evil?
The complexity of the case - the personal relationships of the characters, in particular Valentina’s issues with her boss in the Carabinieri, the details of the ancient beliefs and pagan places of worship in and under Rome - all lift The Rome Prophecy above the morass of the countless Da Vinci Code-style thrillers on the market.
While my attention wavered at times, in the end perseverance paid off when the truth of Cassandra’s cult was revealed. Things may not be stranger than they first seem, but they may indeed be much more depraved and premeditated.
Kerry Hennigan © July 2011.
A young woman claiming to be an ancient prophetess named Cassandra is found on the streets of Rome covered in blood and carrying a sword. A severed hand is found in the famous “Mouth of Truth”, but whoever it belongs to, it doesn’t match the blood on Cassandra.
The young woman herself is of little help to the investigation, as she suffers from multiple personalities, some of which are afraid of others. Cassandra is just the beginning of the puzzle, which includes ancient symbols, dismembered bodies, eunuchs and a hidden world in the caverns beneath the city.
Tom and Valentina begin to realize the scope of what they are confronting – a cult that is ancient in its beliefs and brutal in its practices. But is it actually what it seems, or is it a cover for something even more evil?
The complexity of the case - the personal relationships of the characters, in particular Valentina’s issues with her boss in the Carabinieri, the details of the ancient beliefs and pagan places of worship in and under Rome - all lift The Rome Prophecy above the morass of the countless Da Vinci Code-style thrillers on the market.
While my attention wavered at times, in the end perseverance paid off when the truth of Cassandra’s cult was revealed. Things may not be stranger than they first seem, but they may indeed be much more depraved and premeditated.
Kerry Hennigan © July 2011.
July 27, 2016
The Rome Prophecy by Sam Christer was earlier published in February 2011 by Sphere under pseudonym Jon Trace. But Sam Christer is also not the real name of the author. It is a pseudonym used by Michael Morley who is the executive vice president and chief creative officer, international production, for Sony Pictures Television International. He had earlier penned Spider which was followed by The Venice Conspiracy.
Cassandra, a young woman who claimed to be an ancient prophetess, is found walking the streets of Rome covered in blood and carrying an antique sword. A severed hand has been found inside the famous Bocca della Verita at the Chiesa santa Maria. When a series of baffling crimes relating to an ancient cult surfaced, Valentina Morassi, the newly-appointed captain of the Carabinieri, asks a former priest and close friend, Tom Shaman, to help in the investigation.
When Tom and Valentina probed further, they stumbled onto something much bigger than what they initially suspected. The Rome Prophecy by Sam Christer is full of secrets, intrigues, ancient symbols and beliefs, and a sect that indulges in the worst kinds of brutality hidden from the prying eyes of the world in the caverns beneath the city of Rome. It is a fast-paced thriller with twists and turns that will keep you hooked to the end.
Cassandra, a young woman who claimed to be an ancient prophetess, is found walking the streets of Rome covered in blood and carrying an antique sword. A severed hand has been found inside the famous Bocca della Verita at the Chiesa santa Maria. When a series of baffling crimes relating to an ancient cult surfaced, Valentina Morassi, the newly-appointed captain of the Carabinieri, asks a former priest and close friend, Tom Shaman, to help in the investigation.
When Tom and Valentina probed further, they stumbled onto something much bigger than what they initially suspected. The Rome Prophecy by Sam Christer is full of secrets, intrigues, ancient symbols and beliefs, and a sect that indulges in the worst kinds of brutality hidden from the prying eyes of the world in the caverns beneath the city of Rome. It is a fast-paced thriller with twists and turns that will keep you hooked to the end.
August 31, 2012
‘The Rome Prophecy’ by Jon Trace
Published by Sphere, Feb 2011. ISBN: 978-0-7515-4301-8
Valentina Morassi has now been promoted to Carabinieri captain and moved to Rome. Also on route to Rome is ex-priest Tom Sharman who had teemed up with Valentina in ‘The Venice Conspiracy’
Things look good for Tom and Valentina but before they can explore their feelings Valentina is called into work. A severed hand has been found inside the famous Bocca della Verita at the Chiesa santa Maria, and a woman has been found walking the streets dressed in a white robe covered in blood and carrying an antique sword.
This is a fast paced thriller plunging the reader into centuries past to uncover a sinister movement that operates beneath the beauty that is modern day Rome.
Whilst the investigation is taking twists and turns that keep Valentina on her toes, she has problems with her new boss and her most immediate subordinate, and is thus beset on all sides. The clues are there, but clearly bound up with the past, and here Tom’s expertise on religious matters comes into play. As they begin to follow the trail and uncover the secrets of the past I was totally hooked and stayed up well into the night to finish it.
Highly recommended.
-----
Lizzie Hayes
Published by Sphere, Feb 2011. ISBN: 978-0-7515-4301-8
Valentina Morassi has now been promoted to Carabinieri captain and moved to Rome. Also on route to Rome is ex-priest Tom Sharman who had teemed up with Valentina in ‘The Venice Conspiracy’
Things look good for Tom and Valentina but before they can explore their feelings Valentina is called into work. A severed hand has been found inside the famous Bocca della Verita at the Chiesa santa Maria, and a woman has been found walking the streets dressed in a white robe covered in blood and carrying an antique sword.
This is a fast paced thriller plunging the reader into centuries past to uncover a sinister movement that operates beneath the beauty that is modern day Rome.
Whilst the investigation is taking twists and turns that keep Valentina on her toes, she has problems with her new boss and her most immediate subordinate, and is thus beset on all sides. The clues are there, but clearly bound up with the past, and here Tom’s expertise on religious matters comes into play. As they begin to follow the trail and uncover the secrets of the past I was totally hooked and stayed up well into the night to finish it.
Highly recommended.
-----
Lizzie Hayes
July 26, 2016
Un libro che inizialmente mi ha lasciata perplessa, sostanzialmente per due motivi: 1) lo stile è simile a quello creato da Dan Brown, di cui io sono follemente innamorata, quindi l'ho percepito come un tentativo di 'copiatura' da parte dell'autore.
2) durante la lettura ho incontrato molti riferimenti pubblicitari e ciò non mi ha per niente entusiasmata.
Poi, sarà che la narrazione è ricca di suspense, sarà che mi piace l'azione, questo libro mi ha presa. Mi ha presa davvero tanto che alla fine l'ho divorato e adorato fino alle sue ultime pagine. È ricco di dettagli, di descrizioni, di emozioni, tanto da far percepire suoni, rumori, odori, paure e tutte le caratteristiche dei personaggi e dei luoghi. Dei protagonisti conosciamo poco, probabilmente perché questo libro appartiene ad una serie che io non ho avuto modo di leggere. Degli altri personaggi, di cui si parla solo in questo libro, l'autore ti fa conoscere ogni angolo della loro personalità, della loro storia, dei loro pensieri. E il personaggio di Anna ne è la prova. L'ho adorato (non dico altro per evitare spoilers). Assegno 4 stelle solo perché l'inizio non mi ha dato molto, ma per il resto niente da aggiungere.
2) durante la lettura ho incontrato molti riferimenti pubblicitari e ciò non mi ha per niente entusiasmata.
Poi, sarà che la narrazione è ricca di suspense, sarà che mi piace l'azione, questo libro mi ha presa. Mi ha presa davvero tanto che alla fine l'ho divorato e adorato fino alle sue ultime pagine. È ricco di dettagli, di descrizioni, di emozioni, tanto da far percepire suoni, rumori, odori, paure e tutte le caratteristiche dei personaggi e dei luoghi. Dei protagonisti conosciamo poco, probabilmente perché questo libro appartiene ad una serie che io non ho avuto modo di leggere. Degli altri personaggi, di cui si parla solo in questo libro, l'autore ti fa conoscere ogni angolo della loro personalità, della loro storia, dei loro pensieri. E il personaggio di Anna ne è la prova. L'ho adorato (non dico altro per evitare spoilers). Assegno 4 stelle solo perché l'inizio non mi ha dato molto, ma per il resto niente da aggiungere.
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