La Hermandad de la Sábana Santa (utgåvan 2006)

In this story we follow an investigation of the art crimes department in Italy, who are studying the case of the 'Sindone', the shroud of Christ. Throughout history the Sindone has often been threatened; it is now stored in Turin, where strange fires and accidents keep happening, involving men who have no tongue and no fingerprints. Alongside the story of the investigation we are given a secondary story, telling the history of the Sindone.
It turns out that two competing groups are after the Sindone, and the investigative team ends up in the middle of an ancient conflict, with disastrous results.

I enjoyed the historical parts and thought they formed a nice background to the investigation. The investigation itself also keeps you on the edge of your seat. I did guess the involvement of the different parties at quite an early stage in the book, but I still enjoyed following the investigation.
One thing I found annoying is that Navarro feels a need to give lengthy explanations in a way that breaks up the story. Often she lets the investigators tell parts of the history to each other, even if the characters both know the story already - this gives the strange effect that obviously the characters are only having that conversation for the sake of the reader. It feels very awkward and also slows the story down.
I also found the ending somewhat annoying - nothing gets resolved, and there is no real 'wrapping up'. It seems like nothing has changed and the conflict will simply go on forever, with all the investigative work having been useless. I guess that is how it works sometimes, but it left me dissatisfied. ( )

A mutilated body is found in Turin Cathedral, the home of the Shroud of Turin and the department of Art theft is called in, the body has no tongue, just like a previous attempted theft and as the unit start investigating they start uncovering a multi-layered, many people conspiracy. Between the art investigation unit and a curious journalist the story unravells and Navarro builds a convincing story.

And yes I had some problems with it, not with the alternating story , that was interesting but with the cast of characters, they didn't come across as distinct enough some of the time and I found myself wondering who it was that I was dealing with at that time. Still it kept me up and guessing what was going on.

I do want to read more by this author I think it's an interesting idea and much better written than the Da Vinci Code. ( )

Twee gewetenloze broederschappen hebben het voorzien op de heilige lijkwade van Christus: een bloedig conflict, dat z'n oorsprong vindt in de eeuwenoude geschiedenis van het christendom. En zelfs vandaag de dag nog gaan ze over lijken...
na een brand in de Dom van Turijn wordt het lijk gevonden van een man met een afgesneden tong. In Turijn zit bovendien al enkele jaren een man zonder tong in de gevangenis. Commissaris Marco Valoni staat voor een raadsel. iemand lijkt het op de Sindone te hebben voorzien - de heilige lijkwade van Christus, de kostbaarste relikwie uit het christendom. Wie zijn die zwijgende mannen? Is er een verband met eerdere branden?
Hun speurtocht voert Marco Valoni en kunsthistorica Sofia Galloni naar het verleden, naar een nauw vervlochten netwerk van twee geheime broederschappen: een vroegchristelijk genootschap uit Turkije en zeer invloedrijke nakomelingen van de Tempeliers. Wanneer Marco, Sofia en de Spaanse journaliste Ana Jiménz - die een eigen onderzoek is begonnen - de geheimen van de Tempeliers dreigen te ontraadselen, brengen ze zichzelf in groot gevaar.

This is another one of those that I've tried to read at least twice. The jubject is interesting so I'll give it another try someday.

Julia Navarro escribe novelas de intriga con enigma histórico, de las que nacen con el Código da Vinci, pero lo hace bien y consigue entretener. En este caso el enigma está relacionado con la Sábana Santa, un equipo de la policía italiana especializado en arte interviene en la investigación de una serie de incendios y accidentes ocurridos en la catedral de Turín; todos los sopechosos de haber participado en los hechos son mudos ( )