Review: The Demon Code (Joe Mason #2) by David Leadbeater

                    

Print Length: 362 pages

Publisher:  AVON BOOKS UK (September 15, 2022)

From Goodreads.com: High in the Italian alps, cut off from the outside world, sits a chapel battered by winds and icy blizzards. The priests who guard this sacred place have sworn to protect the dangerous treasure that lies within their walls.

But when Joe Mason and his team are called to the remote church, they find its ancient stones reduced to rubble, the priests murdered in cold blood and their precious cargo stolen.

As Mason pursues the thieves across continents and dangerous waters, he wonders what incredible secret the priests laid down their lives for… And if he can recover it before it claims more innocent victims, and brings the downfall of civilization as we know it…

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My Rating: 2 stars out of 5

Let me begin on a positive note; there was enough background information given about the events that happened in the first story that I didn't feel as though I had missed anything when I read this one. 

Also... well.. .that is kind of it. 

I wanted to like this story as the synopsis had a very Dan Brown feel. Unfortunately, this story never got there despite trying its best. I feel like there were just too many characters who despite having different names and supposedly different backgrounds and skill sets, seemed to blend together to the point I had trouble remembering who was supposed to be who. 

The overall plot of the story also seemed less believable than what I am used to, even suspending reality. For example, how is it that their contact in the Vatician seems to know everything about everything? How could a paper and leather "bible" have survived all these thousands of years? How possible is it really for both teams (the good and the bad) to figure out the clues so quickly that they arrive to the different hiding spots so close together? There was just so much throughout this novel that just didn't make sense or didn't add up. 

Judging from some of the other comments I have seen,  I know that I will likely be in the minority with my thoughts of this one, but it just wasn't for me.

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

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                                              The Demon Code is available on Amazon.com