Author: Matilde Asensi

ISBN: 978-0-06-082857-8

The following review was contributed by: Sue Vogan, Writer & Author of NCO-No Compassion Observed: To read more of Sue's reviews Click Here

Dr. Ottavia Salina works as a paleographer for the Vatican and the work keeps her in the secret recesses below ground. She is a stickler for accuracy and perfectionism as she preserves the most sacred documents and artifacts and will not tolerate anyone who is negligent. But, of course, that could be attributed to her first career choice -- that of Catholic nun.

Her office is "furnished with an old wooden desk, a pair of tall stools, a crucifix on the wall, and several shelves crammed with books." The office, "four floors belowground" and "invisible, nonexistence even," contains documents that "many historians and researchers would have given half their lives to consult." Only the third and fourth floor holds thousand-year-old, all kept under high-security. Once they reached these floors, the "Classified Archives," they never again see the light of day. These were the documents that passed through Dr. Salina's hands on a regular basis.

Dr. Salina is summoned from bowels of the Vatican for a special conference with His Eminence. She is more than curious as to why she has been called for. This was most unusual.

It's a murder that stuns the Catholic church and the reason Dr. Salina is summoned. It seems that the dead man has been linked to a mysteriously grave crime against the Church and...his body is of great interest. Dr. Salina's job is to find out what the ambiguous tattoos, and letters and crosses mean on the dead man's remains.

Travel, challenges, and tests will push Dr. Salina to the limits -- in her quest to "unravel the age-old mystery of THE LAST CATO in a non-stop thriller that will introduce Matilde Asensi to U.S. audiences in an unforgettable way."

The author, who lives in Spain, "has worked for Spanish national radio and has contributed to several press agencies and magazines. She is the author of previous international bestsellers "Jacobus," "The Amber Room," and "The Lost Origin." This is Ms. Asensi's first novel published in English.

This book is similar to The Da Vinci Code and is just as well written. A fast-paced, good read that you will remember for a long time.