RAGE OF THE JINN
by Ox Devere
Clandestine operatives race to prevent an ancient threat from unleashing global destruction in Devere’s paranormal thriller.
The mythology surrounding the historic Knights Templar has inspired much popular fiction, including, of course, Dan Brown’s bestseller The Da Vinci Code (2003). Fans of the genre won’t be disappointed in this action- and character-driven debut novel, which offers a fizzy blend of religion, real and imagined history, recent current events, political upheaval in the Middle East, and supernatural horrors. The story opens in Paris in 2022, during the restoration of Notre Dame Cathedral, which was nearly destroyed by fire in 2019. Workers make a shocking discovery under the broken flooring: an ancient iron sarcophagus with etchings of protective biblical warnings “against the forces of evil.” Witnessing the private opening of the sarcophagus are Ridley Samaras and her partner, Henri Michel, operatives of the CIA’s top-secret Osprey Division. The group’s off-the-books mission is to investigate bizarre, disturbing, and potentially world-upending phenomena. The mysterious sarcophagus fits the bill when the powerful jinn inside is unleashed, leaving destruction and bloodshed in its wake as it searches for its demonic brethren and pieces of an ancient artifact that, if joined, will have dire consequences for humanity. Ridley and Henri’s desperate race to stop it, in competition with a 700-year-old Templar splinter group’s deadly agenda, takes them from France to England, Italy, Syria, Portugal, Egypt, and finally to Jerusalem, “the city of ancient cities, the epicenter of faith for billions,” where forces target the intersecting holy places of three major faiths, threatening worldwide conflict. In Devere’s novel, readers will find that the decks are so thoroughly stacked with deliciously horrific manifestations of evil that there’s real suspense in wondering how good can prevail. There’s swift action, as well as lavishly described weaponry and tactical specifics, and the primary characters, led by Ridley, have enough individuality and well-integrated backstory to make them more than mere action figures. A few loose ends leave open a possibility for sequels.
A dynamic convergence of politics, religion, and the supernatural, featuring a strong protagonist.