Labyrinth

by Kate Mosse

Reviewed by Julia Witherspoon

Three secrets. Two women. One Grail.
Alice Tanner is a young British woman working on an archeological dig in the south of France (near Carcassone to be precise) when she discovers a new cave which has been hiding secrets for centuries. The story then jumps back 800 years when another young woman, Alais, has to protect an ancient book that contains the secrets of the Holy Grail. Their stories are told in alternating chapters, weaving the two women’s lives together like a medieval tapestry, as both of them struggle to hide and protect their secrets. As historical clues unfold over the centuries, both find themselves immersed in the history and evil that surrounds them.
Kate touches on themes made popular by Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code—the grail, the history and legends of France. While Brown bows to history, Kate immerses her story in it. She has a home in Carcassonne, and her novel shows her intimate familiarity with the ghosts and landscapes of the area.
The winner of Richard & Judy’s book of 2007, Kate deserves special kudos for her imaginative take on the grail itself in this elaborate thriller.

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