For over five hundred years, the Voynich Manuscript has remained one of the greatest unsolved mysteries of the literary world. Its strange botanical drawings, arcane symbols, and cryptic language have defied the best minds of every generation. But when long-lost fragments emerge from the shadows, they point to a secret codex that could unlock not only the manuscript’s meaning but a dangerous truth long buried by history.
Drawn into the chase is Father Michael Dominic, a brilliant Vatican archivist who has dedicated his life to preserving the Church’s most sensitive records. By his side is Hana Sinclair, a determined investigative journalist whose tenacity for the truth knows no bounds. Together, with the help of trusted allies, they must follow a trail stretching across Europe—from cathedral archives and medieval fortresses to the silent chambers of the Vatican itself. Yet with every discovery, their enemies close in, prepared to kill in order to keep the past concealed.
Richly layered with historical detail, The Voynich Codex is more than a high-stakes adventure—it is a meditation on truth, power, and the perilous responsibility of knowledge. Readers who love the puzzles of Dan Brown, the historical depth of Steve Berry, and the atmospheric suspense of James Rollins will find themselves immersed in a story that asks one profound what happens when the world’s most dangerous secret refuses to stay hidden?
Gary McAvoy is an American novelist known for internationally bestselling thrillers that blend historical intrigue, religious scholarship, and modern suspense. A lifelong researcher of rare manuscripts and Church history, he draws on extensive archival study to craft narratives rooted in authentic detail. His work includes the Vatican Secret Archive Thrillers, the Magdalene Chronicles, and the Vatican Archaeology Thrillers. Before turning to fiction, McAvoy built a distinguished career as an entrepreneur, technology consultant, and collector of historical documents. He now writes full time from the Pacific Northwest, where he continues to explore the shadowed crossroads of faith, power, and history.
First and foremost, a large thank you to Reedsy Discovery and Gary McAvoy for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
Always a fan of Gary McAvoy and his work, I gladly accepted the latest in the Vatican Secret Archives series. Never one to shy away from history and obscure documents, McAvoy delivers another strong thriller I was able to devour in short order. The Voynich Manuscript has held botanical mysteries for over five centuries. Once targeted by the Vatican as potentially too revealing and controversial, it went underground, until now. When a fragment of the Manuscript goes up for auction and is secured by the Vatican Secret Archives, one nefarious group emerges to get hold of it, hoping to use some of its botanical powers for their own means. As Father Michael Dominic and Hana Sinclair work with friends and colleagues to protect their portion of the Voynich Manuscript, they are thrust into a battle of wits, as well as trying to wrest control away from a group of traitorous individuals who have shown their tendencies in the past. McAvoy presents another strong story in this series that matches the efforts of both Dan Brown and Steve Berry in its delivery.
The literary world has wondered about aspects of the Voynich Manuscript for over five hundred years. Its symbolic and botanical drawings are paralleled only by the cryptic language that posits many natural (and supernatural) powers to who can decipher it. Many have studied it, but no headway has yet been made to understanding its details.
After the Vatican comes into possession of a partial aspect of the Manuscript, many are curious. It was the Vatican that sought to silence and destroy these writings when first they were made for being too revealing about subjects it deemed beyond the understanding of the common person. It would seem studying these concepts has become a new desire. Father Michael Dominic provides a safe space to hold them, as head of the Vatican Secret Archives. When his fiancée, Hana Sinclair, uses her abilities as an investigative journalist to peel back the truths of the Manuscript, she learns that there could be deeper and more troubling aspects of the message on parchment.
While they seek answers across Europe, Michael, Hana, and a number of their colleagues are targeted by a ruthless man who thrives on power and deception. He will stop at nothing to get his hands on the Voynich Manuscript and decipher its botanical powers. In the wrong hands, the many powers of Manuscript are sure to create chaos for many, both inside and outside the Vatican. This is one mission whose consequences could be life-altering, while also providing deadly. Gary McAvoy delivers a winner for series fans and those who want an exploration of little-known historical facts.
Gary McAvoy has long been an author I turn to for both entertaining and educational novels. He has been able to develop my keen interest in religious and secret documents whose truths could surely change the world as I know it, while also keeping me excited with each thriller he pens. One. Plus easily see his work as a combination of Dan Brown and Steve Berry, but stands on its own quite effectively. The narrative takes flight from the opening pages and pulls the reader in as the adventure kicks into high gear. There is a build-up throughout, pitting two sides vying for a common goal. Characters are an essential part of the story, as McAvoy brings back many from the series, as well as introducing new personalities to flavour the larger story. I enjoy what appears to be sub-series within the large collection that allows Father Michael and Hana to lock horns with certain nefarious people. Plot points prove perfectly placed to keep the surprises high and the twists plentiful. There is little doubt that McAvoy wants this series to thrive on mixing fact and fiction, while always ensuring there is a shred of adventure to keep things edgy. I am eager to see where Gary McAvoy intends on taking things in this stellar series of novels, particularly with the coming event in Spring.
Kudos, Mr. McAvoy, for another powerful depiction of history and its mysteries!
The Voynich Codex, Gary McAvoy's latest book in his Vatican Secret Archives Thrillers series is a 7-layer dip of food for thought. He presents a powerfully intense topic, layers it with philosophy, religion, ethics, Human frailty, mysticism, innocent wonder, and accountability.
To make the situation even more complicated, Father Michael Dominic's archenemy, Christopher Vaux, reprises his role as the hit man behind the former Pharmaceutical company, Zentara. This time around, he is deadly serious about interfering with the Vatican's plans.
I enjoyed reading The Voynich Codex as it engaged my critical thinking skills. McAvoy is such a detailed researcher and a meticulous writer, he offers the reader many paths to tread with the information offered.
A book you can sink your teeth into, full of mysterious clues that may or may not be solvable, all of your favorite characters, and a Thriller as well, what more could you want or need? Buy this book, you'll be glad you did.
I love this series and am totally invested in the recurring characters but the last three books have left me cold. They are good but not great like the earlier ones. Perhaps a bit too heavy on science, at least for my tastes.
I found this book to be fascinating, especially in 2025, when many facts about encounters with UFOs have been released to the public. For me, it reinforces a hope that in the future we could live peacefully and cooperatively with other beings, I'm sure that can not happen until we learn to live together as human beings. Thank you Mr. Mcavoy for nurturing my hope. ,
Sorry but not one of my favorites from Gary McAvoy! I love his books a lot! I especially love when the book asks the questions of the Bible! Don’t like when they get to technical about science. But I will read any of Mr McAvoy’s books!!
Wow! I just finished reading this book and am so glad I have put in the time to get all the way through all 11 books. Each book has its strengths and weaknesses but overall the quality is high. This book is the best of the bunch! I was a little surprised it went in the direction it did but i loved it. I won't spoil any part of the story but suffice it to say, they spend a lot of time in the library, which I have missed, and plenty of time on quests in the archives of the outside world. The last 10-15% of the book was a bit drawn out, but there was a lot to cover. Michael for Cardinal!!
Ah ha, a new adventure for our heros, Rev Michael Dominic, Hana, Simon, Lucus and ah, what's his name. This is a continuation of the series and proves to be just as dangerous as the original series. By the way I am very happy that McAvoy has continued this series. In this book the adventurers have gotten involved in a dangerous situation where things happen to Hana that hasn't happened in the books before, so it gets a little dangerous for all of them. Their two guards from the Vatican Swiss Troop make sure that they are always protected even if they get ???? Keep it up Gary!
PS there were a few typos but nothing to screw up reading
This is by far the most complex and detailed adventure of Michael and Hana's. To deal with what we know, what we think and what lies ahead test the heart and souls of our characters. Faith. Reality. Spirituality, Celestial Happenings. These all come together for Michael and the whole world eventually. The continuation with new revelations makes us wonder if knowing the truth is really better than the journey to it. Cannot wait to see how this adventure and all the revelations continue in the next chapter of the lives of our adored characters.
As always Gary McAvoy gets the reader thinking and enjoying the novel content but also fosters factual thinking. Example is the principle of transparency over time. As always can’t wait for the next book.
I do not understand why the entertainment industry has not utilzed his Mary Series for movies or Micheal and Hana for a television series?
This series continues to entertain and educate in areas I had never heard of before. With this book, the author presents intricate histories which cause major reflections on philosophies and morals, at levels that have not been brought up in the past. This book is very deep. (In a positive and thoughtful way). I really enjoyed it.
Although this book was extremely detailed and somewhat repetitive, I did enjoy it; as I have all of Mr. McAvoy's books thus far. From reading his book, it has sparked my curiosity and I am going to look into the REAL Voynich manuscript, especially since he left the web site for it at the end of the book!
It was painfully mundane. The early books in this series seemed pretty well written with a lot of imagination. Now, it's seeming forced... repetitive. I belive I am done with this series.
Gary McAvoy continues to spin great reads. His characters are well shaped and their thoughts are to say the least thought provoking. Bravo. Can’t wait for more.
Leave it to Gary McAvoy to pick a complex historical manuscript such as the 15th century Voynich Codex, then with his masterful storytelling skills build around its mystery and meaning, weaving into a fascinating and intriguing plot.
So much excitement and wonder in this new book! Botanical experiments involving celestial alignments! Rituals connecting various phenomena to achieve precarious transformations! Moments of spiritual ecstasy! All these mysterious revelations give us the thrills.
The action gets underway in an auction house in Bruges, from where we are transported to the serenity of Rome’s apostolic archives. Then it’s on to ancient sites through Madrid, Toledo, Provence, Avignon, Montpellier, Grenada, and the Sierra Nevada Mountains, in pursuit of concealed timeworn historical records of mystical encounters.
It is delightful to watch the formidable Vatican team of Father Michael Dominic, Hana Sinclair, Ian Duffy and Sister Teri work tirelessly with Simon Ginzberg to interpret the script that defies decoding. They are bent on outmanoeuvring the dangerous intentions of Blackthorn’s Zentara Biogenics Corporation, whose obsession with power and greed makes them ruthless. The unsettling divine and cosmic implications of the codex have bewildered Father Michael. Yet, he and the team have tasked themselves with honouring Sister Juana de la Cruz’s legacy, to protect her encoded manuscript and pursue deeper truths; this while attempting to correctly balance botanical, celestial and spiritual insight. The two devoted Swiss guards Karl and Lukas push the boundaries of their strength, putting their lives on the line to keep the group safe.
This is another high paced and profound novel, powerful and intelligently written, leaving us in a constant state of mystical intensity and suspense. The author’s research and imagination are superb and never fail to thrill us.
Gary McAvoy brilliantly combines obscure historical facts with meticulous research, providing readers with a tension-filled, suspenseful storyline. An internet search surprises and gratifies the reader with how much the plot background is true. Like his informative and entertaining Hildegard Seeds, this returns to mysterious documents stored in the Vatican archives, and may have relevance today. His recurring characters are memorable and well-written, especially Father Michael, head of the archives, and his fiancée, Hana, a reporter. This is the 11th book in the series, and I have followed their adventures from the beginning.
For five hundred years, scholars have tried to interpret The Voynich Manuscript, but without success. It was written with cryptic clues in an unknown language and contains many botanical drawings. Documents are stored in the archives that may finally allow the Voynich Manuscript to be interpreted. It had been feared that the Voynich writings might threaten religious beliefs due to their alchemical, natural, and supernatural content. On the other hand, it could reveal plants of importance in curing present-day diseases.
Father Michael and Hana are working frantically to decode the writings, both in the Vatican archive and at far-flung locations. The intent is to interpret and protect the contents. Will they release their findings or return them secretly to the archives? A nemesis is working as a hitman for Zentura Pharmaceutical and will commit violence to obtain the truth for nefarious purposes.
This is an informative, action-packed story with mysterious writings, raising questions about the repression of truth and knowledge, while grounded in historical facts.
McAvoy has written a masterpiece! I have read all his novels, and The Voynich Codex has become one of my top three favorites. It is profoundly written and brings into consideration the relationship of the scientific, the spiritual, and the cosmos. Is there a relationship and if so, how do they influence each other? Which has the greatest truth? What should be shared and what should be buried? What is the end game and who should control it? Is the truth worth the chaos? Who makes the final decision? A deeply spiritual journey that could change everything. A deeply scientific journey that could change everything. And what is in the cosmos that could change the path of both science and spirituality? Michael, Hana, Ian, Simon, Teri, Luke, & Karl to the rescue. Why is there a mole in the Vatican? First time readers, you’re in for a real treat and a journey plus you’ll want to read all of McAvoy’s novels. Repeat readers, you’re in for a treat. The ending has a long-awaited surprise along with a dark turn of events. Enjoy!
I have read many of Gary McAvoy's books with great enjoyment, and particularly the adventures of Michael and Hana. But this book would have been greatly improved by the use of an enthusiastic red pencil, and might have ended up as a novella or even a short story. If I want to read theology, which I have done, I will go to the great sources and not to the Musings of Michael, which might have been a better title.
The first nine books are reading enjoyment. Books 10 & 11 are really “out there”. I believe botanical compounds show real evidence of healing powers but this went a little too far. Please go back to the style of your first nine books.
Usually love Gary McAvoys books... this one was a grind to read. Not a fan of the way it developed and how tie storyline built. Love the faith backed thoughts through the antiquities be usually had but this one weighed too much in that direction. Could have been a short story.
A mysterious and cryptic manuscript is at the center of the adventure. Once again, we have a power-crazed billionaire as the bad guy (again overplayed as in the last several books). It feels like it's time to add a member or two to the team.