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Cassiopeia Vitt Adventure #2
Le Musée secret - Une aventure de Cassiopée Vitt
Cassiopeia Vitt takes center stage in this exciting novella from New York Times bestsellers M.J. Rose and Steve Berry.
In the French mountain village of Eze, Cassiopeia visits an old friend who owns and operates the fabled Museum of Mysteries, a secretive place of the odd and arcane. When a robbery occurs at the museum, Cassiopeia gives chase to the thief and is plunged into a firestorm.
Through a mix of modern day intrigue and ancient alchemy, Cassiopeia is propelled back and forth through time, the inexplicable journeys leading her into a hotly contested French presidential election. Both candidates harbor secrets they would prefer to keep quiet, but an ancient potion could make that impossible. With intrigue that begins in southern France and ends in a chase across the streets of Paris, this magical, fast-paced, hold-your-breath thriller is all you’ve come to expect from M.J. Rose and Steve Berry.
In the French mountain village of Eze, Cassiopeia visits an old friend who owns and operates the fabled Museum of Mysteries, a secretive place of the odd and arcane. When a robbery occurs at the museum, Cassiopeia gives chase to the thief and is plunged into a firestorm.
Through a mix of modern day intrigue and ancient alchemy, Cassiopeia is propelled back and forth through time, the inexplicable journeys leading her into a hotly contested French presidential election. Both candidates harbor secrets they would prefer to keep quiet, but an ancient potion could make that impossible. With intrigue that begins in southern France and ends in a chase across the streets of Paris, this magical, fast-paced, hold-your-breath thriller is all you’ve come to expect from M.J. Rose and Steve Berry.
183 pages, Paperback
First published July 17, 2018
1275 people are currently reading
2607 people want to read
About the author
Steve Berry
110 books7,504 followersSteve Berry is the New York Times and #1 internationally bestselling author of twenty-two novels, which include: The Last Kingdom , The Omega Factor , The Kaiser's Web, The Warsaw Protocol, The Malta Exchange, The Bishop’s Pawn, The Lost Order, The 14th Colony, The Patriot Threat, The Lincoln Myth, The King's Deception, The Columbus Affair, The Jefferson Key, The Emperor's Tomb, The Paris Vendetta, The Charlemagne Pursuit, The Venetian Betrayal, The Alexandria Link, The Templar Legacy, The Third Secret, The Romanov Prophecy, and The Amber Room. Steve has also co-written a novel with Grant Blackwood, The 9th Man (a Luke Daniels Adventure), and four novellas with M. J. Rose: The End of Forever, The House of Long Ago, The Lake of Learning, and The Museum of Mysteries, all Cassiopeia Vitt tales. His books have been translated into 41 languages with over 25,000,000 copies in 52 countries. They consistently appear in the top echelon of The New York Times, USA Today, and Indie bestseller lists. Somewhere in the world, every thirty seconds, one of his novels is sold.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 304 reviews
July 18, 2018
There are few authors I could read every day without tiring (I say this never having tried, haha!), but Steve Berry would have to be one. His mix of mystery and little-known historical events blend together to make sensational stories. He has a well-established Cotton Malone series, which has permitted one of its supporting characters—Cassiopeia Vitt—branch out onto her own on one previous occasion. Berry has teamed-up with M.J. Rose, an author I have not read, to create this wonderful novella with Vitt in the driver’s seat. Visiting a friend in the French village of Eze, Cassiopeia Vitt finds herself chasing someone who has just stolen a costly item from a museum. This is not just any box, but a Sabbat Box, filled with elixirs and potions and used in mediaeval times. Apparently brought to auction six months before, the Box contains items that trace back to the fifth century and could be called an ancient ‘pharmacy in a box’. Vitt catches the apparent thief and slides one of the vials into her pocket, curious about what its powers might be. Soon, Vitt is attacked herself and the Box stolen once again. Confronting the original thief, Vitt learns the true power of the Box, having inhaled some of the fumes from her own vial. This takes her back in time, into the body and mind of one Morgan le Fay. During this state, Vitt (le Fay) encounters a man she has been waiting for and with whom she has a romantic connection. Does this hallucination speak to the present course of events? If so, who is this man, if not Cotton Malone (who is on his way to America)? Baffled but adamant that she will retrieve the Sabbat Box, Vitt follows clues she obtains while conversing with a Paris detective. With a French presidential election under a week away, the Sabbat Box could play a larger role that that of the ballot variety in swaying the results. The trouble is, no one is entirely sure how! A brilliant teaser for those waiting for Berry’s next Cotton Malone novel as well as the many fans Rose has of her own work. Recommended specifically for Berry fans who like what Vitt brings to stories (for I cannot speak of anything Rose has penned).
As I mentioned above, I have long been a fan of Steve Berry’s work and leapt at the chance to read this piece while I await the next Cotton Malone novel. Berry and Rose have created an interesting tale that pulls on both the present time and distant ages past. Cassiopeia Vitt, who has long been a secondary character, plays the protagonist in this piece. Her backstory is fleshed out a little more, with discussion of her childhood and upbringing. The authors also put her grit and determination front and centre, allowing the reader to better understand this woman who has often been called the ‘billionaire building a castle’ and more recently Cotton Malone’s love interest. The handful of other characters help to offer a stronger story, both in modern France and medieval Europe, though there is surely a sinister revelation that awaits the patient and attentive reader, revealed through intense dialogue presented within the narrative. The story straddles both time periods and uses alchemy to bind them. Without offering up too much of the story (and thereby spoiling it), there is a definite pulse to the story that requires the reader to understand what is going on during both time periods, which can then be bound together by the closing pages of the novella. Berry and Rose Bering their experiences together in this piece, adding some of their characters to the novella and creating a handful of others. While sorcery and magic is not my cup of tea, this piece did pique my interest and I may have to see what M.J. Rose is all about. Additionally, I am curious to see if Berry adds mention of it in his upcoming Malone novel. A great way to spend a short time reading and perfect for a beach afternoon!
Kudos, Mr. Berry and Madam Rose, for this piece that is both unique and on par with much that I have read in Berry’s series. I hope you work together again, as this was a wonderful collaborative effort.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
As I mentioned above, I have long been a fan of Steve Berry’s work and leapt at the chance to read this piece while I await the next Cotton Malone novel. Berry and Rose have created an interesting tale that pulls on both the present time and distant ages past. Cassiopeia Vitt, who has long been a secondary character, plays the protagonist in this piece. Her backstory is fleshed out a little more, with discussion of her childhood and upbringing. The authors also put her grit and determination front and centre, allowing the reader to better understand this woman who has often been called the ‘billionaire building a castle’ and more recently Cotton Malone’s love interest. The handful of other characters help to offer a stronger story, both in modern France and medieval Europe, though there is surely a sinister revelation that awaits the patient and attentive reader, revealed through intense dialogue presented within the narrative. The story straddles both time periods and uses alchemy to bind them. Without offering up too much of the story (and thereby spoiling it), there is a definite pulse to the story that requires the reader to understand what is going on during both time periods, which can then be bound together by the closing pages of the novella. Berry and Rose Bering their experiences together in this piece, adding some of their characters to the novella and creating a handful of others. While sorcery and magic is not my cup of tea, this piece did pique my interest and I may have to see what M.J. Rose is all about. Additionally, I am curious to see if Berry adds mention of it in his upcoming Malone novel. A great way to spend a short time reading and perfect for a beach afternoon!
Kudos, Mr. Berry and Madam Rose, for this piece that is both unique and on par with much that I have read in Berry’s series. I hope you work together again, as this was a wonderful collaborative effort.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
November 25, 2018
This is so far removed from anything Steve Berry has done in the past that I have to conclude R.J. Rose did most of the heavy lifting. It reads like what I assume a romance novel written by a woman for women would be like. I have always enjoyed the Casseopia Vitt character so this was a huge disappointment.
June 7, 2019
This was both similar and different from what I would have expected from a Steve Berry work. I liked reading it from Cassiopeia’s POV because we see quite less of her in Cotton’s series but she is such a formidable character.
This one has a mix of Arthurian legends and hallucinatory potions which made for quite an interesting read, but also felt very unrealistic. However, it definitely makes for a fun bridge novella.
This one has a mix of Arthurian legends and hallucinatory potions which made for quite an interesting read, but also felt very unrealistic. However, it definitely makes for a fun bridge novella.
December 10, 2018
Cassiopeia Vitt is visiting a friend's antique shop, when a thief runs off with a rare item: an bejeweled Sabbat Box, filled with elixirs, harking back to medieval times. The apparent thief turns out to be a family member of the prior owner, and alleges the heirloom was not supposed to have been auctioned. However, Vitt and the thief are attacked and a third party steals the "pharmacy in a box." One of the bottles is left behind, and Vitt succumbs to its hallucinogenic properties, finding herself transported in time to a battle between brothers. I found the current day story more interesting than the flashbacks, and did not find the pairing of Steve Berry and M.J. Rose meshed well.
July 9, 2020
I was so looking forward to this adventure of Cassiopeia...I was so disappointed and lost near the end.
August 7, 2018
First, I’m a huge fan of Steve Berry. I’ve read most, if not all of his thriller novels. I order an autographed copy before they’re published each year. I’ve attended one of his History Matters classes on thriller writing. He’s my guru on the art and craft of thriller writing. In my mind, no one does it better and I want to be just like him when I grow up! I have never read M.J.
Unfortunately I did not enjoy Museum of Mysteries. It didn’t read like a suspense/thriller and definitely not like one of Steve Berry’s novels. It came across like some sort of odd erotic/fantasy/thriller – and I did not enjoy. It was well written, but not what I was expecting from a Steve Berry novel.
If the authors go forward and make this Cassiopeia Vitt Adventure a series, I wish them well, but I will not join them. However, I can’t wait for the next Steve Berry novel!
Unfortunately I did not enjoy Museum of Mysteries. It didn’t read like a suspense/thriller and definitely not like one of Steve Berry’s novels. It came across like some sort of odd erotic/fantasy/thriller – and I did not enjoy. It was well written, but not what I was expecting from a Steve Berry novel.
If the authors go forward and make this Cassiopeia Vitt Adventure a series, I wish them well, but I will not join them. However, I can’t wait for the next Steve Berry novel!
July 26, 2018
I asked and received a copy of this book from the author/Inkslinger PR in exchange for my honest review. Thank you, Inkslinger PR, for providing the ARC.
Let me start by saying I have never read anything by either of these authors or anything from the series. But this can be read as a stand-alone or as part of a series of its own. It’s a novella and a good place to start reading the authors’ work.
The characters are wonderfully created, and the story slips effortlessly back and forth between the ancient past and present day. The protagonist is satisfactorily fleshed out that it has intrigued me to read the other stories in the original series.
The dialogues are very revealing of what lies at the core of the story and also the smarts of the writers.
If you like magic and sorcery, you’ll find yourself lapping the story in no time. And if you want to dip your toes in this genre, this is an excellent place to start.
My rating is four starts.
Let me start by saying I have never read anything by either of these authors or anything from the series. But this can be read as a stand-alone or as part of a series of its own. It’s a novella and a good place to start reading the authors’ work.
The characters are wonderfully created, and the story slips effortlessly back and forth between the ancient past and present day. The protagonist is satisfactorily fleshed out that it has intrigued me to read the other stories in the original series.
The dialogues are very revealing of what lies at the core of the story and also the smarts of the writers.
If you like magic and sorcery, you’ll find yourself lapping the story in no time. And if you want to dip your toes in this genre, this is an excellent place to start.
My rating is four starts.
July 22, 2018
I finished "The Museum of Mysteries: A Cassiopeia Vitt Adventure" by Steve Berry and M. J. Rose last night. Of course, it was a great read. If you want to know what it is about, think of all the things you enjoy most in a Steve Berry book--they are in there. What themes do you expect to find in a book by M. J. Rose? They are there too!
The past meets the present as Cassiopeia investigates an ancient Sabbat box which involves history, literature, herbology, reincarnation, politics, mythology vs truth, sibling rivalry, and more. The only key character that does not make an appearance is Cotton Malone. That is alright, since he knows Cassiopeia can handle it, and this is her story.
You owe it to yourself to read "The Museum of Mysteries". You will be glad you did.
The past meets the present as Cassiopeia investigates an ancient Sabbat box which involves history, literature, herbology, reincarnation, politics, mythology vs truth, sibling rivalry, and more. The only key character that does not make an appearance is Cotton Malone. That is alright, since he knows Cassiopeia can handle it, and this is her story.
You owe it to yourself to read "The Museum of Mysteries". You will be glad you did.
October 11, 2019
Steve Berry was different in writing a book about Cassiopeia Vitt instead of Cotton Malone although Cotton was briefly in the story. It starts out with a man running out of a museum with an important piece of history after Cassiopeia was held up with an empty gun. She gives chase and the story continues with vials filled with old concoctions of herbs. By smelling one of these she has memories of a past life including feeling that happened during her visit. It goes on into present day French elections and she saves the day. Making a long story short she finds that she now has some thoughts that are changing. This is a short story that has many ins and outs that are fascinating to think about.
August 1, 2018
I've been on a roll recently reading books by M.J. Rose. She co-authored this novella with Steve Berry who I'm not familiar with tho. It was a quick read ~ only 165 pages ~ and interesting. The protagonist, Cassiopeia, travels from present to past (repeatedly) via a vial of 'henbane' found in an ancient Sabbat Box. How handy would it be to have one of those at your fingertips?
If I keep reading about the occult, I will soon be schooled in (at least some) of the terminology of their craft. I wasn't familiar with a Sabbat Box before I started reading but it makes perfect sense that a herbalist, healer, sorcerer ~ whatever label you choose ~ would have a place to keep their plants and potions together, especially when they needed to be mobile. As demonstrated when it's stolen in the novella, in the wrong hands or using the contents without having been properly educated, it can be a dangerous weapon.
I am more and more fascinated by the properties of plants and all this reading is really feeding/fueling that interest! I think the modern era we live in has gotten us away from the knowledge of how powerful ingredients found in nature can be.
This was quick paced, as necessary due to its short nature, and the flashbacks to the Medieval Ages were the best part for me. I almost wish we could have spent more time there. The subject of ancient artifacts always piques my interest ~ then add the irresistible lure of seeing/touching something that's existed for centuries and I'm all in. Too bad 'The Museum of Mysteries' is a fictional place. Who knows, maybe there is one secreted away somewhere by another equally compelling name??
If I keep reading about the occult, I will soon be schooled in (at least some) of the terminology of their craft. I wasn't familiar with a Sabbat Box before I started reading but it makes perfect sense that a herbalist, healer, sorcerer ~ whatever label you choose ~ would have a place to keep their plants and potions together, especially when they needed to be mobile. As demonstrated when it's stolen in the novella, in the wrong hands or using the contents without having been properly educated, it can be a dangerous weapon.
I am more and more fascinated by the properties of plants and all this reading is really feeding/fueling that interest! I think the modern era we live in has gotten us away from the knowledge of how powerful ingredients found in nature can be.
This was quick paced, as necessary due to its short nature, and the flashbacks to the Medieval Ages were the best part for me. I almost wish we could have spent more time there. The subject of ancient artifacts always piques my interest ~ then add the irresistible lure of seeing/touching something that's existed for centuries and I'm all in. Too bad 'The Museum of Mysteries' is a fictional place. Who knows, maybe there is one secreted away somewhere by another equally compelling name??
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 7, 2019
Audiobook
A little strange trying to figure out what the meant or how it affected the present. And the ending left me thinking, now what is going to happen with the brother? Will he remember eventually or be changed forever. I think my problem is this book is # 13.5 in the series and it's the first one I read.
A little strange trying to figure out what the meant or how it affected the present. And the ending left me thinking, now what is going to happen with the brother? Will he remember eventually or be changed forever. I think my problem is this book is # 13.5 in the series and it's the first one I read.
Read
August 7, 2022DNF
While I am about half way through...I am done.
This is could have been a great read...however, the hallucinations to the past, which are so far of more of a sexual nature (while not overly descriptive), make for something that feels trashy rather than exciting....
I get it, this "priestess" is free to have sex, she likes it and uses it to her advantage....but please, can we move on? If I wanted to read trashy romance novels...I'd pick one....
While I am about half way through...I am done.
This is could have been a great read...however, the hallucinations to the past, which are so far of more of a sexual nature (while not overly descriptive), make for something that feels trashy rather than exciting....
I get it, this "priestess" is free to have sex, she likes it and uses it to her advantage....but please, can we move on? If I wanted to read trashy romance novels...I'd pick one....
August 28, 2018
Entertaining but too short.
I like the style of writing, the history involved, and the pace of the book. This novella could be a full sized novel. I feel like It wrapped up too quickly, and a lot more could be written into it.
I like the style of writing, the history involved, and the pace of the book. This novella could be a full sized novel. I feel like It wrapped up too quickly, and a lot more could be written into it.
July 23, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. It was more a short story. I think Mr Berry should expand on this; I for one would read it.
July 13, 2018
Firstly, it's settled. I want the Museum of Mysterys to be real. Surely there has to be something like this in the world? And I want to go there!
I love a book with alchemy, magic and mystery and oh god, I was hooked. I can't even tell you how much, each chapter was spurring me on, the alteration from past to present was just everything. I needed more!
The writers note. The shout out to history. To Kings. To maybe Kings. To scorned women. To Legend. This novella was just A+.
I love a book with alchemy, magic and mystery and oh god, I was hooked. I can't even tell you how much, each chapter was spurring me on, the alteration from past to present was just everything. I needed more!
The writers note. The shout out to history. To Kings. To maybe Kings. To scorned women. To Legend. This novella was just A+.
August 1, 2018
What happens when two of my idols come together to write a novella? Magic! My review and an interview with the authors here: http://bit.ly/2Kd8peI
June 19, 2020
Museum of Mysteries by Steve Berry and MJ Rose is a novella about Cassiopeia Vitt. Cassiopeia is visiting an old friend in French mountain village of Eze. While there a robbery takes place and Cassiopeia tries to chase down the culprit. Of course nothing is easy and although she catches up, the robbed item is stolen by another and then everything is gone - all the people and the item. Luckily it is only the first step in the need to find out more information for Cassiopeia. Searching for information and the item leads Cassiopeia on a chase through time and place.
Cassiopeia is a great main character. She is intelligent, strong and crafty. I enjoyed the novella and look forward to continuing reading about her independent of Cotton Malone. Museum of Mysteries by Steve Berry and MJ Rose is a good read!!!
Cassiopeia is a great main character. She is intelligent, strong and crafty. I enjoyed the novella and look forward to continuing reading about her independent of Cotton Malone. Museum of Mysteries by Steve Berry and MJ Rose is a good read!!!
January 4, 2025
This book was fine. I enjoyed it though I did not love it.
This is somewhere between a short story and a novella and as a story written by two authors, both of whom have series' with well-known and popular characters they have cherry-picked characters from their other books to put into this story which combines action, family drama and reincarnation/past lives into a story that also works in Arthurian legends.
As I said, it was fine but it was too brief to really dig into any of the aspects with more than a surface look so while it wasn't bad, it also wasn't anything special. That said, I got this from my library and since I did not have to pay to read it I am content.
This is somewhere between a short story and a novella and as a story written by two authors, both of whom have series' with well-known and popular characters they have cherry-picked characters from their other books to put into this story which combines action, family drama and reincarnation/past lives into a story that also works in Arthurian legends.
As I said, it was fine but it was too brief to really dig into any of the aspects with more than a surface look so while it wasn't bad, it also wasn't anything special. That said, I got this from my library and since I did not have to pay to read it I am content.
December 21, 2019
This was a total misfire!! Where is the Cassiopeia Vitt of the Cotton Malone series that we have all come to know and love? This is in no way reminiscent of Steve Berry’s historical adventures and it doesn’t read as though he had a hand in this story at all. It comes off as a boring fantasy, erotic romance.
95% M.J. Rose, 5% Steve Berry.....I’m not a fan.
95% M.J. Rose, 5% Steve Berry.....I’m not a fan.
December 4, 2018
This was a quick, enjoyable romp. There's mystery, potions, past life regression, legend of King Arthur and Morgan LeFay references, foreign locales and medieval structures with dungeons and secret passages.
March 26, 2021
Really loved this novella as I'm a true believer in both reincarnation and King Arthur. Also I love the fact that they make clear that women who new and used plants, herbs, bark were not witches but were called that by men who had no understanding of natures abundant healing powers.
March 15, 2022
Short but cute. I've read books by MJ Rose but never one by Steve Berry. I just saw this thin book on the shelf at the library and decided, what the heck. It was a cute and quick read and I enjoyed it. I didn't have any high expectations, just a desire for a quick read. I got exactly what I wanted.
November 24, 2019
Fun read. Get to Cassiopeia having here own adventure.
February 27, 2019
Ancient potions still affect people today.
August 11, 2020
This was my first non-graphic novel, and it was good.
July 30, 2018
I love Cassiopeia in the cotton Malone books, but this was slow to me
July 21, 2018
What an absolutely fascinating novella M.J. Rose and Steve Berry have created!
Cassiopeia has traveled to the village of Eze to visit her dear family friend, Nicodeme, as she usually does when she isn’t traveling. She wasn’t expecting someone coming in and stealing an ancient artifact, giving chase, and then being pulled into an entirely different time period.
It’s amazing how the writers combine magic, legend, lore, time travel, and a modern day contested French presidential election. You might think all this would be just too much in a book, especially a novella, but not in these two talented writers’ hands. They had me hooked from the very first pages. I was completely intrigued by the references to Morgan Le Fay and Authurian legend.
My favorite part of the book actually was the writer’s note. It gave a background of so many elements of the book and tied the story together quite nicely. It also made me add the French village of Eze to my bucket list of places to travel!
Cassiopeia has traveled to the village of Eze to visit her dear family friend, Nicodeme, as she usually does when she isn’t traveling. She wasn’t expecting someone coming in and stealing an ancient artifact, giving chase, and then being pulled into an entirely different time period.
It’s amazing how the writers combine magic, legend, lore, time travel, and a modern day contested French presidential election. You might think all this would be just too much in a book, especially a novella, but not in these two talented writers’ hands. They had me hooked from the very first pages. I was completely intrigued by the references to Morgan Le Fay and Authurian legend.
My favorite part of the book actually was the writer’s note. It gave a background of so many elements of the book and tied the story together quite nicely. It also made me add the French village of Eze to my bucket list of places to travel!
August 14, 2018
The Museum of Mysteries
Steve Berry and M.J. Rose
Cassiopeia Vitt is an enticing character who usually appears as the love interest and partner in adventures with Cotton Malone, the central character of mysteries by Steve Berry. In this novella, by M.J. Rose and Berry, she is on her own, except for a few long-distance phone calls with Cotton.
As with Berry's books, the Museum of Mysteries merges present with long-distant past in skillfully constructed plots. Cassiopeia's prodigious strength and remarkable physical and mental agility have been established in previous Berry books. In addition, she is, of course, quite beautiful and incredibly wealthy. She has been raised in affluent and exotic locales throughout Europe, and she has equally exotic and affluent friends whom she can call upon whenever she confronts a desperate challenge.
This particular episode in Cassiopeia's adventures hinges on an ancient gem-inlaid wooden chest, a Sabbat Box. It contains antique bottles that once held the elixirs gleaned through the knowledge and craft of those who were variously termed witches, healers, sorcerers, priestesses, soothsayers, or simply wise women. Even a brief whiff of one seemingly empty bottle's 700-year-old concoction creates powerful hallucinogenic responses. Thus we have the skillful means for our heroine to travel between Morgan le Fay, a damsel in distress of Arthurian legend era, and a nefarious plot to discredit Lydia St. Benedict, a popular candidate for France's presidency who also has rather kinky sexual proclivities.
There is quite a bit of informative discourse on the properties of various herbs and oils. Cassiopeia meets with characters who explain how sorcerers, perfumers, and apothecaries all return to the powers of the natural elements of belladonna, datura, henbane, mandrake, and nightshades, used in vastly differing combinations and dosages, to create poisons and perfumes, as well as medications, aphrodisiacs and hallucinogens. Cassiopeia relies on them for clues to how past lives influence the present.
The Museum of Mysteries was a good fast read, full of action and adventure, giving readers a larger-than-life super heroine. It's much easier to follow than many of Steve Berry's books since the historic references are not obscure. The ending neatly brings together the past and the present, visions and experience, all with a dash of magic potion.
E. Dianne Campbell
Steve Berry and M.J. Rose
Cassiopeia Vitt is an enticing character who usually appears as the love interest and partner in adventures with Cotton Malone, the central character of mysteries by Steve Berry. In this novella, by M.J. Rose and Berry, she is on her own, except for a few long-distance phone calls with Cotton.
As with Berry's books, the Museum of Mysteries merges present with long-distant past in skillfully constructed plots. Cassiopeia's prodigious strength and remarkable physical and mental agility have been established in previous Berry books. In addition, she is, of course, quite beautiful and incredibly wealthy. She has been raised in affluent and exotic locales throughout Europe, and she has equally exotic and affluent friends whom she can call upon whenever she confronts a desperate challenge.
This particular episode in Cassiopeia's adventures hinges on an ancient gem-inlaid wooden chest, a Sabbat Box. It contains antique bottles that once held the elixirs gleaned through the knowledge and craft of those who were variously termed witches, healers, sorcerers, priestesses, soothsayers, or simply wise women. Even a brief whiff of one seemingly empty bottle's 700-year-old concoction creates powerful hallucinogenic responses. Thus we have the skillful means for our heroine to travel between Morgan le Fay, a damsel in distress of Arthurian legend era, and a nefarious plot to discredit Lydia St. Benedict, a popular candidate for France's presidency who also has rather kinky sexual proclivities.
There is quite a bit of informative discourse on the properties of various herbs and oils. Cassiopeia meets with characters who explain how sorcerers, perfumers, and apothecaries all return to the powers of the natural elements of belladonna, datura, henbane, mandrake, and nightshades, used in vastly differing combinations and dosages, to create poisons and perfumes, as well as medications, aphrodisiacs and hallucinogens. Cassiopeia relies on them for clues to how past lives influence the present.
The Museum of Mysteries was a good fast read, full of action and adventure, giving readers a larger-than-life super heroine. It's much easier to follow than many of Steve Berry's books since the historic references are not obscure. The ending neatly brings together the past and the present, visions and experience, all with a dash of magic potion.
E. Dianne Campbell
August 9, 2018
Crap
A complete waste of my time and money. I'm not sure what he was trying to do, maybe he had sniffed some of the junk he was writing about and drifted off to another world.
A complete waste of my time and money. I'm not sure what he was trying to do, maybe he had sniffed some of the junk he was writing about and drifted off to another world.
December 6, 2018
I was disappointed to be reading this book to find so much sex in it. The story seemed to revolve a bit too much around it in the last half. There is no need for discriptions to make the story. I would have rated it higher if the book had been clean. It spoiled the entire thing for me and I will not be reading more from these authors.
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