In a secluded English village, the remnant of a heretical monastic order nurturing an undying hatred of the Pope and the Vatican, plots unspeakable vengeance against the Pope, and only a young acolyte and a Vatican priest stand in the way
He currently has a couple of new projects in the pipeline, including The Stormy Petrel, a fictional biography of Søren Kirkegaard, and The Savoy Truffle, a witty, dramatic novel about life in Britain's richest, wildest Surrey suburb in the early 1960s.
Picked up this little-known gem based on the title and description when looking through the horror section at a well-known half-price bookstore. While not what I'd call horror, The Serpent's Circle is an engaging allegorical thriller, bridging the gap between religion, spirituality, and the supernatural.
The plot involves a small and secluded sect of Christianity based on ancient rituals and traditions. A local boy, on the verge of becoming a man, is nearing his indoctrination into a respected position within that church when the book begins. His experiences, stemming potentially from his ability to see auras very clearly, lead him to question his path, causing turmoil that eventually seeks its way up to a very influential leader on an international scale.
There is a strong cast of characters, from the teenage lead character and his missing friend, all the way to the ominous leaders of the churches.
One catch - if you're a devout Christian, you may be uneasy at certain points in this book. The Serpent's Circle gleams and glows, but not in its representation of church morality. However, I did not feel it was a derogatory representation.
While I found this book an entertaining read, I have a sense that this book didn't really give me any sense of closure. The ending felt rushed and I didn't feel as if many of the storylines were completed with finesse and resolution.