I must confess that Katherine Neville is a favorite author of mine, and her book, The Eight, is one of my all-time treasured novels. Although her portfolio of work is small, her complicated plots are filled with everything from science to history to symbolism. Her women are intelligent, her heroes bold and swoon-worthy, and her stories will keep you on your toes. If you've never tried Neville then begin with The Eight, the best of the bunch. While the rest of her work doesn't match the scope and intensity of this beloved classic, each of her books offers hours of reading pleasure.
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The Eight
by
Katherine Neville
This epic novel alternates between two women—Catherine
Velis, a computer expert living in New York City in 1972, and Mireille de Rémy, a novice at
Montglane Abbey in the south of France in 1790. Their fates are intertwined due
to the Montglane Chess Service, an ancient (and possibly magical) chess set
once owned by Charlemagne. As both women are compelled into searching for the chess
pieces scattered around the world, their lives are forever changed, because
entering the Game means a race for unlimited power. This novel was published in
the 1970s but still holds up today. Ms. Neville has woven fiction around
history, with many famous players showing up—Catherine the Great, Napoleon
Bonaparte, and French mathematician Fourier—and the resulting story is so
seamless that you will be hard-pressed to distinguish fact from fabrication.
She also deeply explores the science behind her fictional Montglane Service;
you won’t be disappointed by the revelations. I guarantee you’ll never look at
the game of chess the same again. This is a gripping, hard-to-put-down novel
that will make you feel smarter from having read it. I highly recommend.
Find The Eight at Amazon
*****
The Fire
by
Katherine Neville
The Fire is a follow-up to The Eight and features many characters from that book, namely Cat Velis and Alexander
Solarin, who is now her husband. This story centers around their daughter,
Alexandra. Like her father, she’s a chess prodigy, but when the book opens, she
hasn’t played in years. I won’t discuss the circumstances of why because it’s a
huge spoiler—and there are a few additional shocking plot twists along the way,
so keep reading. You’ll definitely want to get to the end. As in The Eight, the
characters are caught up in a hunt for pieces from a famous (and fictitious)
chess set that dates back hundreds of years and is entwined with alchemical
mysteries. Alexandra must join forces with an adversary from her childhood, Ukrainian
Chess Master Vartan Azov, who’s also not-too-shabby in the looks department.
There’s secrecy, riddles, science, mysticism, and a dash of romance, along with
a dual story set in 1822 that eventually intersects with modern day. The ending
was a bit too obscure for me, but Ms. Neville has written a clever plot populated
with engaging characters. I was quite swept away with the story.
Find The Fire at Amazon
*****
The Magic Circle
by
Katherine Neville
The Magic Circle
is an ambitious novel, and for that I commend Ms. Neville. However, it was a
challenging book to read. I loved the heroine, Ariel, but the family relationships—and
there are many limbs on the tree—became increasingly difficult to follow. By
the end, I really had no idea who was related to who, and the romantic entanglements
between ‘cousins’ left me feeling a bit off-kilter. However, there’s such an
abundance of history here (a lengthy backstory starring none other than Jesus)
and an odd side-story involving Hitler, that it’s clear that Neville worked
hard on this massive book. My favorite character—Sam—didn’t have enough screen
time, but Ariel was a strong protagonist, if not a little too trusting of the
men in her life. Despite my frustrations with this novel, it's definitely worth a read.
Find The Magic Circle at Amazon
*****
A Calculated Risk
by
Katherine Neville
Verity Banks is the youngest female executive at one of the
largest banks in the world. When her boss sabotages her chance to become Director
of Security at the Federal Reserve, she decides to do something daring—steal from
the bank, use it to earn 30 million dollars, and return the money before anyone
realizes what she’s done. To aid her in this quest, she joins forces with a former
mentor—a brilliant computer scientist, Dr. Zoltan Tor. This book was published
in the 1990s, and the technology reflects it, but it offers a fascinating peek
at data management thirty years ago. It’s a clever cat-and-mouse game with high
stakes and romantic elements between Verity and Tor. I really had fun reading
it.
Find A Calculated Risk at Amazon
*****
The Tuesday Club
by
Katherine Neville
This short story is classic Neville, with a collection of historical figures front and center. While in France, Benjamin
Franklin is called upon to decipher an encoded message from Scotland that could
have startling ramifications for the fledgling United States. As he deciphers
the missive—and very cleverly, I might add—he bounces ideas off none other than
Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. This quick read is delightful, with a really shocking twist.
Find The Tuesday Club at Amazon
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