Sub Rosa - The Lost Formula

by Patrick Sean Barry

Paris France, 1815 A.D. The story takes place in the early days of Napoleon’s return from his exile in Elba. In the chaos, confusion and struggle between Royal and Loyalists to Napoleon, one man has gained access to the prized and storied Vatican Archives which Napoleon seized on his campaign in Italy years before. From that cache a rare and treasured book has been recovered, missing for centuries and returned to its original owner the enigmatic Marquis Jean-Marc Baptiste de Rennes. As Napoleon’s man strives to find him to benefit from his secret resources, members of the newly re-instituted Holy Roman Inquisition, who are also ancient enemies in pursuit, track their man to the iconic medieval city of Toulouse. Meanwhile, the marquis—also known as the legendary and mysterious Count de Saint Germain—must complete an alchemic quest for knowledge he began centuries before in Alexandria, so that others may share the gift he has had for eons.

530 pages, Paperback

Published February 15, 2016

About the author

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

An honors graduate of Amherst College, his first professional writing credit being the Sherlock Holmes Radio Theater, Barry wrote creatively for animation, television and film. His produced television credits include: Star Trek: The Next Generation, Hunter, Beast Wars and War of the Worlds. Barry also wrote a range of projects for location-based entertainment including Universal Studios’ Star Trek Attraction, Chicago’s Adler Planetarium Tour of the Universe, as well as, the Davy Crockett one-man show Ridin’ into the Storm for the Texas State History Museum’s Spirit Theater. Barry also wrote for major computer games including Electronic Arts’ Command & Conquer and Lands of Lore.

Beyond the creative content field, Barry developed computer-based management training courses, served as a marketing consultant in the automotive industry, and worked as an editor and writer for Glencoe McGraw-Hill where he authored three ten-chapter professional communications curriculum workbooks (on Technical Communications, Cross-Cultural Communications and Dynamic Listening). He has written for magazine publications ranging from communications technology to the martial arts. He is also a black belt sensei in both Karate and Toshin Ryu—Japanese weapons. Barry has worked for the last eleven years as a Solutions and Product Marketing Manager, and a white paper author, for a leading global communications technology company. He lives in Southern California with his wife, two children, and two dogs.

To learn more about the author, visit: www.patrickseanbarry.com

Reviews

[Kenneth Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't have the time to read a lot of fiction. But this series appealed to me for all its well-researched historical detail. This detail doesn't get in the way of the story and the suspense. The story here continues the main characters from the first volume and introduces some new ones (including those we hope to see in future installments). But you could start with this book and not miss a beat, as the back story is artfully filled in. If I hadn't read the first book, this one wouldn't be confusing--and you could treat the first as a "prequel," reading them out of order without compromising a thing. The Lost Formula is a bit more action-packed out of the gate compared to the first Sub Rosa book. And quite a bit longer. If you like historical fiction with a mix of mystery, action, suspense, and a dose of supernatural--this book and series are for you.

[Patrick Barry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since I wrote this book, I think it's better to share another reader's words on my book. DC Fontana, legendary Star Trek writer had this to say: "As a standalone read, I found it rich in accurate and engaging history including notable research about ancient alchemy and the suppressed Cathar tradition, all presented in a fast-paced story set in the dramatic 100 days of Napoleon's stunning return to power. With compelling characters, wonderfully surprising twists, and elements of an excellent mystery, I enjoyed the book immensely."