



The Medusa Amulet
A Novel of Suspense and Adventure
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4.3 • 45 Ratings
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- $5.99
Publisher Description
“A wonderful treat . . . Masello [is] a master entertainer unafraid to pull out all the stops.”—Chicago Tribune
Benvenuto Cellini, master artisan of Renaissance Italy, once crafted a beautiful amulet prized for its unimaginable power—and untold menace. Now the quest to recover this legendary artifact depends upon one man: David Franco, a brilliant but skeptical young scholar at Chicago’s world-renowned Newberry Library. What begins as a simple investigation spirals into a tale of dangerous intrigue, as Franco races from the châteaux of France to the palazzos of Rome in a desperate search for the ultimate treasure—and an answer to a riddle that has puzzled mankind since the beginning of time. Aided by a beautiful young Florentine harboring dark secrets, pursued by deadly assassins, and battling demons of his own, Franco must ultimately confront an evil greater than anything conjured in his worst nightmares.
BONUS: This edition contains an excerpt from Robert Masello's The Romanov Cross.
Praise for The Medusa Amulet
“Fascinating . . . an unpredictable and exhilarating journey . . . [Robert] Masello expertly blends contemporary thrills with a historical spin.”—Associated Press
“In addition to its taut story, there is an impressive amount of scholarship, and enough detail to please art lovers or history buffs. Great writing and rich detail combine for a gripping read.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“Engrossing and fun.”—Library Journal
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In this less than successful thriller with supernatural trimmings from Masello (Blood and Ice), Dante expert David Franco, whose beloved sister, Sarah, has advanced breast cancer, unexpectedly gets an offer that could enable him to save her life. Kathryn Van Owen, a major donor to the Chicago academic library where he works, asks him to track down a mirror bearing an image of the legendary Medusa, which she claims was crafted by Renaissance artist Benvenuto Cellini. Success would lead not only to a promotion but to a $1 million reward that could be applied to Sarah's treatment. The trail takes Franco to Florence and Paris, where he's pursued by the usual assortment of shadowy assassins and aided by Olivia Levi, an attractive Italian tour guide and scholar with her own offbeat theories. The burgeoning romance and frequent brushes with death all follow formula, while the conceit that the mirror holds the secret of eternal life fails to convince.