Book of Hours: Unholy Error

by J.S. Anderson

Once again in its long life, the Book of Hours was in danger. And Alphaios had put it there... While recreating a resplendent fifteenth century Book of Hours as a gift for the pope, Brother Alphaios and archivist Inaki Arriaga discover shreds of an ancient parchment thrust into its covers. Though warned away by a visibly shaken Prior Bartholomew about the danger it holds, they pursue the few haunting words that remain, only to stumble on a dark secret that could undermine the very foundation of Catholicism. Now they are torn in a battle between the Church, which wants to destroy the parchment or bury it forever, and its owner, real estate mogul Salton Motice, who wants to use it for nefarious purposes. Meanwhile, the brothers of St. Ambrose learn that Motice intends to buy their midtown cloister and replace it with a skyscraper. The monks will be displaced from their home of nearly two centuries with no certainty at all about their future. Drawn ever further from the cloister into the chaotic city, Alphaios again encounters some of its most intriguing residents-a strange young woman obsessed with painting enormous replicas of master artworks under one of the city's great bridges, and a couple who, decades later, are still coping with having to flee from despots in their own country and almost certain death. Through it all, Brother Alphaios wrestles with allegiance to his religious vows as he searches for a way to protect the document for the terrible truth it tells.

434 pages, Paperback

Published October 22, 2016

Reviews

[Join the Penguin Resistance! · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review: BOOK OF HOURS: UNHOLY ERROR by J. S. Anderson

An exceptionally riveting novel, which captured me on page 1 and glued me to the story! I often like to "read for myself" in the evenings, review reading during the day, but I simply could not set aside BOOK OF HOURS: UNHOLY ERROR, and read it in one day. The author has worked together so many venues: history, religion, Inquisition, Cathars [a particular interest of mine], billionaire' s megalomania, art history, illuminated books, the Roman Catholic Church, cloistered orders, urban congestion, architecture...rest assured this is not potpourri tossed in a jar, but instead a tapestry of indelibly interwoven design that is unforgettable.

I eagerly anticipate the next in the series.

[Jerry Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed the novel. At times the author was a bit over descriptive in setting up scenes, but it didn’t take away from the story. With measured pacing, and the story not presented in fast action tidbits to facilitate short attention spans, the author finely tuned and developed the story. The protagonist and primary characters are well-crafted with each having their own motives and goals. None came off as filler to carry the plot forward. I was impressed how the author fleshed out the historical subtext around the central conflict in the story, that for me enhanced the book’s realism. And the subplots didn’t come off as superfluous, even though the one wrapping up at the end of the story came close to being a bit cliched. I also wish there was a bit more fleshed out as to Alphaios, the main character, and his interaction with a character from the previous novel, Robert. Their relationship here seemed a bit sterile; I thought the author could have cultivated it more enhancing why one of the characters came off as standoffish. Maybe because in the previous book, I saw their relationship was core to the plot on how the two characters helped each other to grow, and I was hoping for more of the same. Overall, did I say I enjoyed the book, and I was able to make time, I finished it no time. (With the minor issues, I would have given the story 4.5 stars, but I have no problem rating it 5. I found the novel memorable and well worth the time.)