Amid the grandeur of the Vatican, the bones of Saint Peter—the Church’s most sacred relics—harbor secrets that could rewrite its history. Father Michael Dominic, Prefect of the Vatican Secret Archives, stumbles upon a mysterious inscription linking Linus, Saint Peter’s first successor, to pivotal decisions in the early Church. With Vatican archaeologist Marcus Russo, Michael uncovers cryptic clues buried deep within the Archives, revealing Linus as a hidden architect of the faith—and exposing truths the Church may not be prepared to face.
Their discoveries draw the attention of Elliot Voss, a powerful figure whose obsession with the relics goes beyond faith. For Voss, the bones are a means to ultimate power, and his dangerous ambitions threaten the sanctity of the Church. Manipulation and deceit pull Michael into a perilous game where every revelation holds deadly consequences.
As Michael and Marcus uncover Linus’s hidden legacy, their quest raises profound questions about history, faith, and preservation. Meanwhile, Michael’s evolving relationship with investigative journalist Hana Sinclair challenges his convictions, adding a deeply personal layer to the mysteries he seeks to unravel. Set within the shadowy intrigue of the Vatican, this gripping tale explores the intersection of power, faith, and the fragility of truth.
Amid the grandeur of the Vatican, the bones of Saint Peter—the Church’s most sacred relics—harbor secrets that could rewrite its history. Father Michael Dominic, Prefect of the Vatican Secret Archives, stumbles upon a mysterious inscription linking Linus, Saint Peter’s first successor, to pivotal decisions in the early Church. With Vatican archaeologist Marcus Russo, Michael uncovers cryptic clues buried deep within the Archives, revealing Linus as a hidden architect of the faith—and exposing truths the Church may not be prepared to face.
Their discoveries draw the attention of Elliot Voss, a powerful figure whose obsession with the relics goes beyond faith. For Voss, the bones are a means to ultimate power, and his dangerous ambitions threaten the sanctity of the Church. Manipulation and deceit pull Michael into a perilous game where every revelation holds deadly consequences.
As Michael and Marcus uncover Linus’s hidden legacy, their quest raises profound questions about history, faith, and preservation. Meanwhile, Michael’s evolving relationship with investigative journalist Hana Sinclair challenges his convictions, adding a deeply personal layer to the mysteries he seeks to unravel. Set within the shadowy intrigue of the Vatican, this gripping tale explores the intersection of power, faith, and the fragility of truth.
First Century – Rome
The year was AD 64, and Rome, the heart of an empire that stretched across the known world, was cloaked in a thick blanket of smoke and ashes. A great fire had raged through the Eternal City for seven days and seven nights, leaving a significant part of it in ruins. The once vibrant streets and bustling marketplaces lay smoldering, their echoes silenced by the calamity.
Emperor Nero, from the golden balcony of his sprawling palace, watched over his capital with a gaze that flickered between dismay and a dark, unspoken euphoria. Rumors swirled mercilessly like the smoke that rose from the city—rumors that Nero himself had set the city ablaze to make room for his grandiose architectural fantasies. But in the politically charged atmosphere of Rome, where the truth was often sacrificed at the altar of convenience, a scapegoat was needed to quell the public outcry. And Nero had found his.
Within days of the fire’s subsidence, the Christians, a small but growing sect despised for their disdain of Roman deities, were rounded up. Among them was an old man, a simple fisherman, robust in spirit but now frail in body, known among his brethren as Simon. Rumor had it that he was a close confidante of the crucified Nazarene called Jesus, whom many hailed as the Messiah, and who had given Simon the Aramaic name “Cephas,” translated as Peter—the rock upon whom His Church would be built.
Under escort by the Praetorian Guard, Peter was dragged through streets where he had walked freely just weeks before, now lined with citizens who cast stones and slurs with equal fervor. They reached the Circus of Nero, a vast, open space used for public entertainments that now served as the stage for a grim spectacle.
The charges against him were as absurd as they were severe—arson, treason against the divine majesty of Rome, and the corruption of Roman morals with foreign superstitions. Adorned in a robe as purple as the bruises on Peter’s aged body, Nero presided over the farcical trial. The evidence was scant, testimonies coerced, and the verdict foregone.
As the sentence was declared, the crowd erupted in a mixture of cheers and jeers. Peter was to be crucified, an execution method reserved for the lowest of criminals, a symbol of extreme humiliation and excruciating pain. Yet, in his final moments of judgment, Peter requested a last, bizarre act of mercy—that he be crucified upside down, as he deemed himself unworthy to die in the same manner as his Lord.
His request granted with a scoff, Peter was led to his gruesome fate. As the cross was raised, the upside-down figure of the old man became a poignant symbol against the backdrop of the smoldering city. His eyes, filled with an otherworldly peace, gazed skyward, fixated on a realm beyond the smoke and flames.
As Peter breathed his last, his followers, hidden within the shadows, whispered prayers and wept silently. They knew this was not the end of his story. In the darkness of that day, the seeds of a legacy were sown, one that would grow to outlive the empire that sought to crush it—a legacy of faith, resilience, and the indomitable spirit of a man known to history as St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles and, by tradition, the first Pope of the Roman Catholic Church.
* * *
As the dawn of the tenth century painted the Roman skyline with hues of gold and crimson, the ancient city bore the scars of time but none so revered as the Basilica of St. Peter. Constructed under the decree of Emperor Constantine in AD 324, the mammoth structure had been erected atop the site believed to cradle the remains of St. Peter, marking a pivotal shift in the religious landscape of the Roman Empire from pagan roots to a bastion of Christianity.
Over the centuries, the basilica had become a beacon for pilgrims from across Christendom, drawn not only to its sacred aura but to the promise of being near the earthly remains of the Apostle Peter. Yet, as devout as the visits were, the exact location of Peter's tomb beneath the sprawling church had grown obscure, cloaked in layers of marble and mystery and the shifting sands of theology and politics.
It was not until a series of unforeseen events in the early 900s that the ancient whispers about the apostle’s bones would stir the soil once more. The basilica, aged and weary from bearing the weight of centuries, required extensive renovations to preserve its grandeur and sacredness. It was during this period of restoration, under the watchful guidance of Pope John X, that a remarkable discovery was made.
Tasked with reinforcing the foundations of the altar, a group of workers, under the dim glow of torchlight, unearthed a hidden subterranean chamber directly beneath the towering Baldacchino bronze canopy that covered the high altar of the basilica. The air was thick with dust and sanctity as the overseer, a pious man named Gregorio, was called over by the workers to peer into the forgotten crypt. Inside, amid the relics of time and fragments of pottery, lay a simple stone sarcophagus, its lid adorned with faint inscriptions and primitive Christian symbols, graffiti that was unmistakably early in origin. The chamber proved to lead to secret tunnels branching out and leading to other parts of the Vatican.
The discovery sent ripples through the ecclesiastical hierarchy. Scholars and clerics were summoned, and careful examination began. The inscriptions, though worn, bore the telling marks of reverence: a Christian cross, figures of heavenly keys, and the words “Petros eni.” In Ancient Greek, ENI was often used as a contraction of the verb ENEOTI, meaning “is within.” The consensus took this to mean, “Peter is buried here.” Moreover, the positioning of the sarcophagus, directly below the altar of the old basilica, aligned too perfectly with the records of Constantine’s builders for it to be a mere coincidence.
With a mixture of reverence and trepidation, the sarcophagus was opened. Inside, the bones were modest, those of a sturdy, elderly man, consistent with historical accounts of Peter’s martyrdom. As word of the discovery spread, the basilica swelled with crowds hungry for a glimpse of the connection to the foundation of their faith.
In AD 914, Pope John X, recognizing the significance of the find, ordered the immediate resanctification of the tomb. A series of solemn ceremonies were held, attended by dignitaries and common folk alike, each eager to reaffirm their faith through the tangible remnants of their sainted apostle. The bones of Peter were carefully reentombed in a newly constructed shrine under the altar, this time with full honors and the eyes of the Christian world watching.
The rediscovery of St. Peter’s bones not only rejuvenated the spiritual life of Rome but also reasserted the papacy’s authority, which had waned under political pressures from both within and outside the Church. It was a moment of unity and revival, a reaffirmation of a centuries-old legacy that continued to shape the contours of Christian doctrine and devotion.
Thus, as the tenth century progressed, St. Peter’s Basilica stood not only as a monument to the Christianization of the Roman Empire but as a living testament to the enduring power of faith and the eternal watch of its founding shepherd over the flock he left behind.
CHAPTER 1
Present Day
The skies over Seattle were a tapestry of brooding clouds, a fitting backdrop to the sprawling estate of Elliot Voss situated in Hunts Point, an upscale enclave on the secluded outskirts of the city. The grounds were meticulously manicured, bordered by dense woods that whispered secrets with the wind. At the heart of this domain stood Voss Technologies’ headquarters, a masterpiece of modern architecture, its glass façade reflecting the turbulent skies of the Pacific Northwest.
Beneath this citadel of innovation, far from the prying eyes of the world, lay Elliot Voss’s most guarded possession—a state-of-the-art museum vault. This was no ordinary repository of valuables or corporate secrets; it housed a collection that would make the most seasoned curator pale—religious artifacts gathered from the darkest corners of history, each with a story soaked in mystic lore.
Elliot Voss stood at the entrance to this underground sanctuary, his silhouette a sharp contrast against the biometrically sealed door that responded only to his presence. With a slight nod, he initiated the opening sequence, and the door slid away with a hiss, revealing the sanctum that fed his obsession and fueled his ambitions.
Inside, the vault was a cathedral of the arcane and the profound. Climate-controlled glass cases lined the walls, each illuminated with soft, reverential lighting that cast an ethereal glow on their contents. Here lay shards of pottery rumored to be from the very chalice of the Last Supper; there, the tattered remnants of a robe said to have belonged to Joan of Arc; and in a particularly unassuming case, a fragment of wood believed to be from the True Cross.
Voss walked among these relics with the air of a zealot, his eyes reflecting a fire that burned with an unquenchable curiosity and desire. His footsteps echoed in the vault as he approached a central console, where screens displayed data streams that monitored every aspect of the room, from humidity to security.
At this console he paused, his gaze fixating on a particular case that held his latest acquisition—a dusty, age-worn scroll purported to contain lost Gnostic gospels. It was a testament to his reach and resources, having been secured through shadowy channels that intertwined with the illicit and the clandestine.
His gloved hand reached with reverence toward the scroll, yet he did not touch it, for he knew the fragility of history and the cataclysmic loss it would be should this scroll crumble under his fingers. The scroll had been in his possession for days now and each day he returned, awaiting his technology’s translation to reveal what secrets the cryptic images might hold for him alone.
A soft beep from the console drew his attention back. His breath held, his fingers danced gracefully over the keys of the console as he called up the now deciphered translation of the scroll. The text was cryptic and labyrinthine, a pattern of allegories and metaphors that would have left any ordinary mind confounded.
But Elliot Voss was no ordinary man. After a careful few minutes, the message came clear. The translation spoke of St. Peter’s bones being imbued with divine power. It hinted at secrets hidden within their marrow—keys to unlocking human regeneration and longevity. The potential to extract these energies and fuse them with Voss’s advanced technology sparked possibilities too tantalizing to ignore. The ability to manipulate biological life at its core was within his grasp, potentially offering him immortality and, with that, possibly even control over human will.
A shadow twisted across his face—a mix of hunger and fear as he pondered this power. He had always believed in destiny, in predestination. The thought of transcending human limits, of attaining the immortality of godhood, brought forth an intoxicating thrill where every beat of his heart felt like the loud footsteps of destiny approaching.
With this awe-inspiring revelation sending currents of excitement rushing through his veins, he sank into the chair, his gaze never leaving the cryptic text on the screen. The potential was beyond astronomical; the profound implications of this discovery surpassed any tangible comprehension. It was the holy grail of humanity, a leap toward immortality wrapped in age-old scriptures.
Heaving a sigh as if to release the breath he didn’t realize he had been holding, Voss stood and turned, surveying the room full of treasures. His dark eyes flitted from one artifact to another, each holding secrets that could shatter the foundation of knowledge humanity had built over thousands of years. All his efforts collecting these had led to this—the one artifact that held the key to his destiny. With that key, he had only to retrieve one more artifact to fulfill that destiny. None other of his “finds” held power as potent as the one treasure he coveted now more than any other—the bones of the Apostle St. Peter, currently secured in the Vatican.
He moved away from the console and began to pace in front of the scroll, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts. Though he was alone within the vault, there was a sense that he was being watched, that every decision he made within this hallowed ground was subject to unseen judgment. He cast a glance toward the remnants of St. Joan’s robe, remembering the tales of her visions and divine guidance. Would she condemn this pursuit of godhood or recognize it as a holy mission bestowed upon him?
Returning to the console, Voss began accessing another file, this one pertaining to his ongoing Voss Laboratory biological research. Charts and graphs filled the screen as he studied the results carefully. His team was on the brink of breakthroughs; their experiments had shown promise in genetically manipulating cells for regrowth and enhanced performance.
The implications were clear: if they could harness the power within St. Peter’s bones and integrate that with their current research, they could potentially rewrite humanity’s DNA. Such immense power would bring about a new era—an era where death was not an end but an unnecessary pause, where life could be extended indefinitely.
The glorious dream of immortality, he knew, had a precipitous flip side. The whispers of caution from history’s greatest tragedies echoed in his mind, reminding him of Icarus, who flew too close to the sun, or Pandora’s box, which, once opened, unleashed more than what was bargained for.
Voss fell into deep thought, his gaze again drawn to each artifact in turn—each one a testament to faith, conviction, and sacrifice, each one bearing witness to history’s tendency to repeat itself in cycles of triumph and devastation. Could his pursuit of immortality and control incite another cycle? Could it be that this vault of relics served not just as a collection of history’s mystical remnants but also as cautionary tales?
With every tick reverberating through the silent vault, Voss felt closer to making a decision that would irrevocably alter the course of human evolution. The allure of immortality gnawed at him, each artifact in his collection jeering and cheering in equal measure. A multitude of possible futures played out in his mind like a reel of film, each one more dramatic and tantalizing than the last.
His eyes lingered on the scroll once more. It was not just an artifact; it was a map to a forbidden treasure filled with hidden depths and unexplored possibilities. And Voss, with his relentless ambition, unquenchable curiosity, and virtually unlimited resources was ready to navigate its labyrinthine paths, regardless of where they may lead.
“Elliot, the system diagnostics are complete. All artifacts are stable,” chimed a voice from the console, the AI assistant that managed the operations of the vault.
“Thank you, Ada,” Voss replied, his voice steady but tinged with an underlying anticipation. “Prepare the analysis module. It’s time we unlocked further secrets.”
As the AI hummed in compliance, Voss turned his attention back to the collection. Each piece was a node in a network of power he was meticulously wiring—a power not of this world but of a realm that danced on the edge of the divine and the eternal. His belief was unshakeable: within these relics lay the keys to transcendent human capabilities, to mastering not just the mortal coil but also the essence of fate itself.
His phone buzzed discreetly, a reminder of the dual life he led. On the surface, he was the brash young CEO of a tech giant, a visionary pushing the boundaries of AI and biotech. But here, underground, he was a seeker of truths hidden since the dawn of recorded time. Not wishing to be disturbed, he let the call go to Ada, who would route it accordingly.
Voss stood in silence for several long moments, lost in contemplation. Then, with a solemn nod to himself, he engaged the locking mechanisms on the console and turned to leave the vault. His Gulfstream G700 was being prepared for a flight to Italy, leaving within the hour, so getting to Boeing Field was the priority.
As he emerged from the vault, Voss saw the storm that had been brewing in the Seattle skies break with a brilliant flash of lightning followed by a deafening clap of thunder, as if in answer to his philosophical thoughts. A prophetic reckoning of the cataclysm that might befall should Elliot Voss unlock the secrets of life and death. He knew his pursuit for immortality had only just begun; a quest that could ultimately cost humanity more than it could possibly comprehend. For what is man but mortal? And what does he become when he breaks those shackles?
The journey toward immortality was fraught with dangers, not only for Voss but also for a world that was blissfully unaware of the tempest gathering force beneath its feet.
First and foremost, a large thank you to Reedsy Discovery and Gary McAvoy for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
Gary McAvoy returns with another instalment of the Vatican Archives series. The collection has been both strong and highly informative, leading the way throughout various Vatican-based situations and historical anomalies. When Father Michael Dominic is preparing for the anniversary of St. Peter’s bones being laid to rest within the Vatican, he is approached by a wealthy collector who wishes to provide significant funding to the Vatican Archives. However, there is a secret plan in the works to capitalise on some important relics. All the while, Father Dominic uncovers some previously unknown aspects of Peter's role as the Church's first bishop, things that could significantly change how many see the institution and its progress. A stellar addition to the series that shows how dedicated McAvoy is to the subject matter.
While the Vatican has many wonderful pieces of history tucked away, the bones of St. Peter, the Church’s first bishop, hold a special place in the collection. While much is presumed about St. Peter as Christ’s chosen representative to continue on the foundational development of Christianity, new revelations could significant change what the Church knows and its followers believe. Father Michael Dominic, who works diligently as the Prefect of the Vatican Secret Archives, has uncovered something highly mysterious and potentially earth-shattering, depending on the perspective. Might Peter not have been the sole leader of the early Church? How does an obscure message carved in an ancient language shed light on what truly happened in the early years of Christianity?
Working alongside Vatican archaeologist Marcus Russo, Father Dominic follows the clues in the message to uncover the role of Linus in the early Church and how he would be seen, given the notoriety he may have had. These curiosities are only overshadowed when a mysterious collector of ancient relics arrives in Rome with a proposition to finance the Vatican Archives with some significant donations. While Father Dominic is shocked, he feels there must be a catch.
Elliot Voss is more than a collector and sees these relics as anything but ancient items. He has dangerous and mischievous plans as he works on the black market to amass a collection for his private museum in Seattle. While Voss is working on a plot to take possession of Peter’s bones ahead of the 1100th anniversary celebration, Father Dominic has plans of his own to turn that caper on its head. However, both men are determined to get their way and will do whatever it takes to ensure success. McAvoy delivers a gripping novel that has all the elements needed for yet another strong thriller, particularly with the cliffhanger that awaits the dedicated reader!
I have long enjoyed the work of Gary McAvoy, particularly this highly informative series. He is always keen to speculate on issues closely relating to the Catholic Church. The narrative clips along, fuelled by great storytelling and well-developed ideas that propel things forward with ease. McAvoy is keen to educate the reader while also providing wonderful ideas to ponder along the way. Characters prove effective, not only to flavour the narrative, but serve as vessels to properly illustrate many of the key historical events that transpire from chapter to chapter. McAvoy has a way with his selection of individuals, many of whom help add depth to an already strong story. The plot points are well placed and help keep the reader intrigued about what is going on and how it will play a role in the larger narrative. There are also key learning moments that McAvoy uses to shed light on possible truths and deceptive use of fiction to keep the stories strong and wonderfully entertaining.
Kudos. Mr. McAvoy, for a great addition to an already strong series that has never lost its momentum.