(Reviewed by JD Jung)
Sign of the Cross is a gripping religious thriller that blends suspense, historical conspiracy, and theological intrigue. Calvin Donovan, a Harvard Divinity School professor who wrote a book on the history of Stigmata, was asked by the Vatican to travel to Rome to determine whether a young Italian priest, Padre Gio, has truly developed the stigmata of Christ (holy wounds)—or if he is a fraud.
What begins as a scholarly investigation quickly turns deadly. Padre Gio becomes the target of neo-Nazi extremists who believe the appearance of the stigmata is tied to touching one of three legendary Christian relics of the Crucifixion: The Lance of Longinus, the Crown of Thorns, and the crucifixion nails. According to ancient belief, bringing all three of these relics in close proximity to each other could unleash catastrophic destructive power.
The novel skillfully moves between 1930s Nazi Germany, where Heinrich Himmler pursued the same relics as part of the regime’s obsession with occult power and world domination, 1950s Buenos Aires, and the present day. I found the historical sections deepen the story without slowing the pace, making the timeline shifts engaging, and relevant. You may initially be confused with the significance of the time frames, but it will soon become quite clear.
Author Glenn Cooper paints his characters as human and emotional: from Cal, to Gio and his family. The antagonists are portrayed as truly evil and we are well aware of their motives.
With well-developed characters, escalating tension, and an unexpected final revelation, Sign of the Cross stands out among historical and religious thrillers. Fans of Vatican mysteries, and conspiracy-driven suspense will find this novel both entertaining and hard to put down. I hope to read more from this author.