The story was a bit far-fetched, but still enjoyable to read. Two parallel stories take place almost 2,000 years apart, both with well-developed characters and settings. The inclusion of myth and historical detail add depth and interest to a suspenseful storyline. Plenty of topics for discussion make this a good book club selection.

We reviewed this last night at our meeting. Everyone who has read Goodman said this wasn't her best effort. The descriptions of places and villas were excellent, but the overall character issue just didn't gel for most of us.

Our group generally was bored with the book and didn't feel there was much to discuss. There was some talk about cults and the definition of a cult. There was also some talk about the historical aspects and what research she did. All felt it was a leap that she was recovering from a collapsed lung and hiking through ruins, caves and places where it would be hard to catch your breath under normal circumstances.