What do you think?
Rate this book
The Byzantine Cross
Former OSS spy, Sarah Kraft, thought she’d left her dangerous past behind in 1950s New York City. But when her former boss tracks her down and convinces her to accept a new mission—steal the ancient Byzantine Cross from inside the Kremlin for the CIA—she’s dragged back into the world of espionage.
Once in Moscow, she’s promised the aid of a Russian double agent, Nicolai Rodzyanko, but things aren’t as they seem. Someone hired a hitman to eliminate Sarah, and she and Nicolai realize they’re not the only ones after the mysterious cross. As the two dig deeper into the history behind the oldest known biblical relic, they discover it’s far more than a simple artifact. Sarah starts questioning the motives of her former boss and the agency she once trusted, and when supernatural forces come into play, she must make a decision that could change the course of history.
Once in Moscow, she’s promised the aid of a Russian double agent, Nicolai Rodzyanko, but things aren’t as they seem. Someone hired a hitman to eliminate Sarah, and she and Nicolai realize they’re not the only ones after the mysterious cross. As the two dig deeper into the history behind the oldest known biblical relic, they discover it’s far more than a simple artifact. Sarah starts questioning the motives of her former boss and the agency she once trusted, and when supernatural forces come into play, she must make a decision that could change the course of history.
320 pages, Paperback
Published November 11, 2024
3 people are currently reading
8 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 16, 2025
If you’re a fan of Clive Cussler and Dan Brown, you’ll enjoy author Dena Weigel’s international, historical thriller. You’re invited to join a most exciting espionage pursuit of a legendary jewelry piece, alongside a most unique and heroic former OSS spy, Sarah Kraft.
She’d decided to leave the dangers of cloak-and-dagger to others to embarks on what she expects to be a peaceful 1950’s life in New York City. Her former boss needs her though. He needs her special skills on one more job that will test even Sarah Kraft’s talents and determination. The CIA needs her to steal an ancient artifact, The Byzantine Cross, from inside the Kremlin. When she accepts the assignment, she has no idea the perils she will endure and the enemy she will face.
The road ahead immediately presents challenges and trials that test her resolve and strength. Who can she trust? Can she collaborate with the seductive force of Marco, a man she once knew well, or at least she thought she did. In Moscow, she's promised the aid of a Russian double agent, Nicolai Rodzyanko, but some things just don’t seem right about him. Not only is someone else after The Byzantine Cross, but someone is also committed to stopping Sarah from getting the cross. A hitman intends to eliminate her.
The Kremlin is not a place Sarah can easily waltz into, pick up her coveted jewelry piece and dance away. Her research into the history behind this biblical relic provokes intrigue. What she’d been told had been deceptively cursory. This is far more than a simple artifact. There are even supernatural forces swirling. Now Sarah questions the possible motives of her former boss and the agency she once trusted. She will have to make a daunting decision that could change the course of history. With unwavering spirit and a heart full of hope, she will persevere and try to do what’s right with The Byzantine Cross.
Author Dena Weigel brings heart pounding action from cover to cover in this masterful thriller. The characters are so vivid, and they dare the reader to face the adventurous challenges with them, as they think through what each next step must be.
Driving forces for each character differ and the author skillfully highlights different aspects of human nature. Sarah Kraft is a hero for the ages. The descriptions of historical and famous settings from New York to Moscow are seamlessly woven into the action of the story. Readers feel they are there. It’s not just the location, but also the iconic historical period, and the look and the feel of that jewelry piece - the object of the relentless search.
She’d decided to leave the dangers of cloak-and-dagger to others to embarks on what she expects to be a peaceful 1950’s life in New York City. Her former boss needs her though. He needs her special skills on one more job that will test even Sarah Kraft’s talents and determination. The CIA needs her to steal an ancient artifact, The Byzantine Cross, from inside the Kremlin. When she accepts the assignment, she has no idea the perils she will endure and the enemy she will face.
The road ahead immediately presents challenges and trials that test her resolve and strength. Who can she trust? Can she collaborate with the seductive force of Marco, a man she once knew well, or at least she thought she did. In Moscow, she's promised the aid of a Russian double agent, Nicolai Rodzyanko, but some things just don’t seem right about him. Not only is someone else after The Byzantine Cross, but someone is also committed to stopping Sarah from getting the cross. A hitman intends to eliminate her.
The Kremlin is not a place Sarah can easily waltz into, pick up her coveted jewelry piece and dance away. Her research into the history behind this biblical relic provokes intrigue. What she’d been told had been deceptively cursory. This is far more than a simple artifact. There are even supernatural forces swirling. Now Sarah questions the possible motives of her former boss and the agency she once trusted. She will have to make a daunting decision that could change the course of history. With unwavering spirit and a heart full of hope, she will persevere and try to do what’s right with The Byzantine Cross.
Author Dena Weigel brings heart pounding action from cover to cover in this masterful thriller. The characters are so vivid, and they dare the reader to face the adventurous challenges with them, as they think through what each next step must be.
Driving forces for each character differ and the author skillfully highlights different aspects of human nature. Sarah Kraft is a hero for the ages. The descriptions of historical and famous settings from New York to Moscow are seamlessly woven into the action of the story. Readers feel they are there. It’s not just the location, but also the iconic historical period, and the look and the feel of that jewelry piece - the object of the relentless search.
January 20, 2025
Calling all action and adventure lovers!
If you like action and adventure, you will love this book. This read is a real page turner, taking you on an adventure to places around the globe and is non stop action. What's best is that the protagonist is a strong, smart woman. As an avid reader of Lee Child's books it is amazing to go on an adventure and read a novel from a woman's perspective. Weigel has a great writing style that paints pictures with words in an excellent fashion. A star is born with Sarah Kraft. I can't wait for her next adventure.
If you like action and adventure, you will love this book. This read is a real page turner, taking you on an adventure to places around the globe and is non stop action. What's best is that the protagonist is a strong, smart woman. As an avid reader of Lee Child's books it is amazing to go on an adventure and read a novel from a woman's perspective. Weigel has a great writing style that paints pictures with words in an excellent fashion. A star is born with Sarah Kraft. I can't wait for her next adventure.
November 17, 2024
A turn-the-next page spy thriller by a debut author. Sarah Kraft has been out of the OSS and the spy business for a few years and not because she wanted to be. She’s called back into the now CIA to bring the Byzantine Cross out of Russia. Sarah encounters old friends, new enemies and layer upon layer of deception. Trust doesn’t come easily to Sarah and especially not in this line of work. Who can she believe and who will stick by her when the truth comes out?
There’s intrigue, adventure, supernatural elements and a touch of romance throughout the story.
There’s intrigue, adventure, supernatural elements and a touch of romance throughout the story.
November 19, 2025
All the typos in the Kindle edition were distracting and the plot lacked depth.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews