The fifth of eight (and counting) in the Nic Costa series, this is the fourth of Hewson's books I've read and third in the series.The core cast of characters is now up to six which makes it a challenge when you add in others to make a good story. And you know it is going to grow exponentially when there is a list of "Principal" characters ahead of the introduction that is in excess of 30.Despite that, I found it wasn't too bad keeping up with all these folks. What I did find challenging at times was the storytelling shifts from current to past. One segment was clearly denoted by being in italics, but there were other times when scenes were from the past that weren't.There were a few good twists and it wrapped up nicely where it began (in a sense). So I liked the ending. In fair warning, the descriptions and some incidents are rather violent/graphic, as you are dealing with at least one psycho involved in no less than nine or ten murders, so I guess you should expect some 'creativity' in the methods.I'll continue to read the series and felt this was a bit better than the Sacred Cut, and on par with Lizard's Bite.
What do You think about The Seventh Sacrament (2007)?
I know I enjoyed this one a little more than the first book in the series (and have not read 2-4), but perhaps it's because I knew right off that it was a series. The Seventh Sacrament didn't have as much historical information as I would have liked, but maybe that's because Mithraism isn't that well known.This mystery is solved more by technology and human error than by knowledge of the past. I really enjoy the developement of Lupo in this book and might have to read 2-4 to find if there's more of her in those.
—Juliette
Reading David Hewson's Nic Costa series is like slipping on a comfy pair of shoes. You know what you're going to get but you're not disappointed.This book jumps backwards and forwards between now and 14 years ago. With no indication at the beginning of the chapter which year it is did using it can be a bit confusing to start with, but you soon get in to the flow of it. This is the review of a cold case that comes back to hit the main characters with an unseen twist at the end.It also continues the personal lives of Nic, Falconi and Peroni. a you'll be caught up with them, even if this is the first of the series you read. Though why don't you start with book 1?
—Sharon Thomson
The Seventh Sacrament is the fifth in David Hewson’s police detective series set in Rome and featuring agente Nic Costa and his friends. It is as compelling as all his others. Set against a backdrop of modern Rome, we are led deep underground for much of the story, into the world of the archaeologist. The backdrop for this tale of mystery, suspense and murder are the buried temples of a pre-Christian religion, Mithraism, practiced principally by the military, the Praetorian Guard, and the many troops who conquered and defended in the name of Rome. The Seven Sacraments of the title are the sacrificial steps the followers had to progress through in order to achieve the highest level. Mithraism is said to have had more followers than any other pre-Christian religion. It was largely wiped out, its few survivors forced underground, by the enforced conversion to Christianity by the Emperor Constantine in the year AD 312.This is a book rich in historic detail, but with a contemporary story so complex and so bloody, even for Hewson, that at times I found myself skimming over the more horrific parts. As with all the books in this series, the story delivers non-stop suspense, and a surprise ending. Don’t start this book at bedtime unless you have tomorrow off. As always, Hewson adds very informative endnotes, for those (among whom I number) who want yet more history.Highly recommended. This a good read.
—Blair McDowell
