A Richer Dust Concealed

by R.P. Nathan

A gripping historical mystery thriller you won’t be able to put down!

This is a tale that spans four centuries, revolving around the fabulous Most Holy Cross of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. This priceless artifact is buried in Cyprus in 1570, to hide it from the invading Ottoman Turks.

An Italian squire named Girolamo Polidoro is witness to the secret hiding place of the treasure, the beauty of which is forever burned into his mind. Polidoro leaves a diary in Venice, the end of which is a coded message of the cross’s whereabouts.

An English code-breaker comes across the diary in 1915 but dies in Gallipoli before he can crack the secret. And all the while the mysterious Venetian ‘Council of Ten’ has also been searching for the cross.

When John, one of six young back-packers, buys a book in Rome in 1992, he has no idea of the danger he has just put himself and his friends in. A treasure hunt begins, but will the Council of Ten allow it to continue?

For those who find history fascinating A Richer Dust Concealed will hook you with its ingenious plot and meticulously researched content. Mystery and puzzle solving fans will also love this timeless and intricate tale. Throw in a believable slow-burning romance (with just a dash of sex) and wonderfully described locations and this book is a true gem. It’s Dan Brown meets Donna Tartt: the perfect intelligent page-turner.

Genres: Mystery, Historical, Fiction

390 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 7, 2021

About the author

R P Nathan is an author and astronomer who has been writing fiction for all ages for over 30 years. He is best known for ground-breaking YA novel "Now We Are Animals"; historical mystery "A Richer Dust Concealed"; exquisite literary thriller "The Collaborators"; and hilarious romantic comedy "The Second Best Man".

You can read more about these books and more at his website, rpnathan.com

Reviews

[Deacon Tom (Feeling Better) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an extremely interesting book.

It revolves are some group young people who’s goal traveling trying to decode a secret code.

The characters are strong and very relatable.

The pace of the book is rapid and I never lost my place. From the 16th century to the modern era with a stop in the early 20th century. In many ways it reminded me of a Dan Brown book.

I recommend this great book.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Nadishka Aloysius · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one. Suspense, history, travel...
I liked the pseudo autobiographical style which added a touch of authenticity to the narrative. The shifts in time and space were handled well, as were the multiple narrators. This is the kind of book that you may want to read a second time so that you notice the hidden clues you missed out on the first time. The long explanations regarding code breaking was a tad boring for me (I hate math) and I skipped through.
Overall, a good read.

[Claudete Takahashi · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing return to the past full of mystery, deceit, rivalry mingled with the present which is no less complicated. Four boys in their late teens are traveling through Europe and meet two girls. From this encounter, a deep friendship and a rivalry will flourish as well as a romance that will only bloom at a later stage. They will learn how difficult it is to get old and not be able to recollect your past accordingly or not be able to take care of oneself, how not to have siblings or any other family how lonesome old age can be. It's a story of the discovery of values - the meaning of life and what is really important, and the impact that the imbalance between personal and professional life may have on one's body. The descriptions of places, paintings, and other art objects, as well as buildings façades, are really beautiful. A very good plot with very interesting characters results in a most interesting and entertaining story.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Joyce · Rating 2 out of 5]

318 pages

2 stars

I did not finish this book. It started out so awful. I stuck with it until twenty per cent and couldn't take it anymore.

We have some college grads touring Europe and salivating over various girls (yuk). One wanders into a bookstore looking for a gift for a girl he has a crush on and spends one hundred pounds on a book in Italian (he doesn't read Italian), and a soldier's supposed translation of the journal. The book is supposed to be four hundred years old, but it evidently is not.

The text of the book wanders and is inserted with quotes from the soldier's journal without warning. The transitions are very poor. The writing and plotting are also weak. The juvenile behavior of the two men who are supposed to be preparing for their doctoral theses is abhorrent.

I won't be looking for this author's next book.

[Aparna Preethi · Rating 5 out of 5]

R P Nathan's 'A Richer Dust Concealed' is about an Italian squire named Girolamo Polidoro. He is in search of the Holy cross of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. The cross is concealed so that no one can invade it. Polidoro's diary note gives hints about the cross for other searchers who come after his way. As the story is set in four time spans in Cyprus, Rome, London, and Venice, the interconnections between the characters are so in-depth and unpredictable. Along with the characters, Polidoros diary notes play an important role in the book. Starting from 1570 to 1992, the long story is full of surprises and twists.

I think those who love history would love this story. It might be complex as it has counterparts of time and characters. But I like this type of story where one character affects others even after centuries of his death.

[Guadalupe Herrera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful addition to history!

Take history and religion, put them together and add a mystery, and that is what this book is all about. It takes us on a journey, not just between countries, but centuries as well. It is not often that I read stories with religion as one of the focuses that can keep me wanting more. To see where the characters will go and what they will do. I can very well believe the author did extensive and careful research on the subject this book contains. That is what made me want to keep reading. I love History, and being able to weave a plot like this one as well as make the characters fascinating to read, is something I love about this book. I found myself wanting to solve the puzzle alongside the characters just to see if I can figure it out. Truly an enjoyable read! I would recommend this book to anyone, especially those interested in History.

[ELISABET · Rating 3 out of 5]

This mystery story, which spans four centuries of History, talks about the Most Holy Cross of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, and the efforts to keep it because it is invaluable for humanity.
I must admit that when I saw the cover, I thought this book was about art. After reading it, I can say that it has some art in it but most important of all it has a lot of mystery. It has been a tremendously exciting reading. It put my mind to the test, because there are many hidden clues along the story. In that sense, it reminds me of the “Da Vinci Code”. I would recommend it to fans of historical plots mixed with intrigue, clarifying that, in my opinion, it is not necessary to be an expert in religion to read it.

[Nela · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Richer Dust Concealed by R P Nathan is a true story, as its author highlights in the first pages. It is a historical mystery about the Holy Cross of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. And, from my point of view, it is a riveting thriller.

I was particularly impressed by the catching storytelling. Once I started reading, the story developed fluently and the storyline became more and more engaging. The pacing moved steadily fast in quick successions of scenes. Also, I went through many emotions reading this book and it is something any reader who like history can benefit from reading.

To sum up, I highly recommend this masterfully written thriller.

[Roger Charles · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the lowest book rating I believe I have ever given. I guess I could have given it a 3 star but I had to really work to get through this book; too hard actually.

If one wants to learn how to decode or the history of decoding this may work well for you?

I had some difficulty in keeping up with which character was speaking as it seemed to change throughout the book. Maybe I was missing something but I don’t think so.

The basic story is good, probably too much character detail and the ending is quite good but it’s all too long and drawn out in my Opinion.

Sorry to be so negative but this book disappointed me overall.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

A group of university students backpacking in Italy become friends (or frenemies) as they share the story of a holy relic buried and hidden centuries prior. With the help of a journal and an ancient memoir containing a cipher, the search for this golden, gem-encrusted cross captivates, and wholly-consumes, these students over the course of the next twenty years. Mystery, secrets, unknown assailants, and double-crossing lead to an ending not expected. Thank you to Net Galley for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review. #ARicherDustConcealed #NetGalley

[Mary Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a successful mix of a story of the 16th century and a group if contemporary young people that get highly involved in the decoding of a secret treasure site code. The action was combined well and I liked that the sections were written from the differing points of view of the major characters. The ending wasn't totally anticipated and wrapped the storyline well. The final two pages are interesting but mention a character that I wasn't very fond of - so if sequel features him, I won't read it.

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Right from the start, this book pulled me in and I couldn’t seem put it down! Yes, it is reminiscent of Dan Brown books, however it holds a uniqueness all its own. I thought that the author did a good job with character development, creating characters that were likeable and relatable and those that were not. The story spans four centuries, which I really enjoyed, and was narrated by individuals from those places - Cyprus, London, Rome and Venice. Highly recommended. Such a fun read!!

[Rosario Barrera · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book about a hunt for hidden treasure. Living in the country where Francis Drake’s lead casket is supposed to be, I can so much relate to looking for something that is legend. Took me a couple of pages to get into it, but I quickly caught on. The book reads lije a detective thriller, everyone giving their own theory and each character rather well developed. A great book that I really enjoyed!

[Doug Yonce · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of research went into creating this story. Spanning centuries, the characters were well developed and appropriate for the era. Parts of the story moved at a good pace and held my interest, while there were a few sections that slowed down a little too much. I received an advanced digital copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher and voluntarily provided an honest review.

[S.E. Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this well crafted novel with interesting characters, twists and turns. Having inter-railed around Italy at around the same time, I found it very convincing. It's not fair to make comparisons, but a real Da Vinci Code type book set in a different period (and actually, rather more plausible.)
(Read courtesy of a NetGalley ARC._

[Lorna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great historical fiction book. A pre-college group go to Europe back packing. John buys an old book to impress Sara and unbeknownst to him, this book causes them all grief throughout the next decade. This book explores Venus in the 1500’s through wartime's, its effect on the citizens and the strong loyalty to their country to present day. A very enjoyable read.

[Carolyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was 2 stars instead of 1 star due to the concept- it had a lot of potential to be a great story. But execution was very poor in my opinion and character development seriously lacking. Also, no book needs sex scenes to be entertaining. Honestly there few things as boring as a perfunctory sex scene.

[Sandra Gapin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

I loved this book! It was filled with twists and turns, and stories within stories, within stories. I enjoyed how the book was separated by the different character's point of views. It was very well written and fun to read. I loved the history and the various time periods. I highly recommend this book. R.P Nathan is an excellent author.

[Ilona · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love puzzles, mystery and history, but the puzzle was a bit over my head, the history a bit repetitive. Not quite my reading.
Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for letting me read this for my honest opinion.

[Anne Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story

I enjoyed this book. The changing time line and changing protagonists did irritate at first but as I got into the book I understood that each character brought their own perspective. An interesting story and likeable characters.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very gripping story

Great read loved the descriptions of Rome Venice and Cyprus. Interesting story line and believable characters.
Couldn't put it down had to finish it couldn't wait to see how it ended

[sarah franklyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable read

I have read this book while on holiday and felt like a good read whilst lying in the sun. I liked how the author weaved the past and present into an interesting story.

[Stephanie Dawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating historical tale

Historical intrigue with interpersonal relationships in a first person story of mystery, obsession, and revelation. Keeps the reader engaged and turning the pages.

[Patricia L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok Read

The story is a gem…the characters feel like people you know….BUT it’s just to LONG and unless you are cypher minded it becomes tedious to slog thru some of it.
The ending is lovely a cliff hanger but a good one.

[angelaT · Rating 5 out of 5]

Believable but still surprises

I found myself believing that I was reading a friend's story. I was right there with them. And, I just had to root for stoic, misunderstood John..

[John Polley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb Story

The story grabbed from the beginning and held my attention. I really enjoyed the various twists and turns as it progresses through the lives of the four protagonists.

[Simone Bucci · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was intrigued from the first to last page. Enjoyed this novel very much. Interesting history details.

[pamela boseman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Richer Dust Concealed

Loved this book,the code history was very interesting.The characters great.The twists and turns were fast paced and very exciting.A great read.

[Margaret Swanson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent story

What a fantastic story. The suspense is awesome and intriguing. The historical facts are stirringly emotional and heart wrenching and yet amazing.

[Joyce Montminy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an interesting story

First read of this author. Great story and character development. I liked his telling the story from each characters perspective. Bravo