The Illumination: A Novel [Hardcover]

Karen Tintori (Author), Jill Gregory (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 20, 2009

It gleamed up at her like a small golden egg encrusted with jewels of lapis lazuli, carnelian, and jasper.  The classic eye, one of the most ancient symbols of protection. 

Natalie Landau, a museum curator with an expertise in Mesopotamian protective amulets and magical beliefs, has received a puzzling gift from her sister Dana--a necklace with a blue evil eye pendant on it. The Evil Eye is a symbol of protection common throughout the world, with a history connecting it to many religions.

When Natalie learns Dana was murdered only hours after sending the gift, she begins to think her evil eye amulet had something to do with her sister’s death. As she races to discover the origin of the pendant, Natalie is sucked into an international battle between powerful religious factions, each battling for the eye, which turns out to be far more valuable—and far more powerful--than she could ever imagine.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Gregory and Tintori follow their first thriller, The Book of Names (2007), with another average Da Vinci Code knockoff. In the near future, MSNBC reporter Dana Landau is murdered in Iraq after the chance purchase of the Eye of Dawn, an amulet believed to have supernatural powers. Fortunately, Landau managed to send off the talisman to her sister, a curator at a New York City museum devoted to the ancient Near East, before the bad guys who want to use it for evil tracked her down. The U.S. government also seeks the Eye of Dawn in hopes of harnessing its potential to solve the energy crisis. Muslim extremists scheming to destroy the Temple Mount in Jerusalem complicate a plot full of overly familiar action sequences and chase scenes. Still, the authors deserve credit for one original element—an underdeveloped attempt to link J.R.R. Tolkiens saga of magical jewels, The Silmarillion, with the Old Testament. (Jan.)
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Review

Praise for The Illumination

“The intrigue is high. The excitement is palpable. The story is priceless. Combining mysticism, history, and fanaticism, this is one thriller that's simply impossible to put down until you've reached the ending - breathless and so well satisfied. Tintori and Gregory are first rate story tellers! ”--M.J. Rose, international bestselling author of The Memorist

“Jill Gregory and Karen Tintori return with another extraordinary thriller after their outstanding The Book of Names. Their new novel, The Illumination, skillfully weaves history, ancient art, dark legend and religious fanaticism into a story of high-stakes terror and international intrigue. The excitement stays at a high pitch from the opening scene at the looted Iraqi National Museum to the final sensational twist. A page-turner. extraordinaire.”--New York Times bestselling author Douglas Preston, co-author of The Monster of Florence and The Wheel of Darkness

“Stirring and imaginative.  A tense, intelligent, and surprising thrill.  Drum tight in execution, fueled by imagination, the plot is as sharp as a broken shard of glass.  If you like your tales loaded with intrigue, treachery, and a wealth of secrets you're going to love The Ilumination.”-- New York Times bestselling author Steve Berry, author of The Charlemagne Pursuit and The Templar Legacy

Praise for The Book of Names

"WATCH OUT DAN BROWN. . .  an intelligent suspense thriller that combines the Kabbalah, tarot and the forces of good and evil into a tense murder mystery . . .The Book of Names self-assuredly fulfils the requirements of the religious thriller."--The Economist

"[A] page-turner . . .[Gregory and Tintori's] intriguing premise helps separate this tale from garden-variety religious thrillers. And where others have tried and usually failed, the authors give succinct explanations of the principles of kabbalah and Gnosticism, both complex and often misunderstood. Compulsively readable."--Booklist

“Book of Names grabs you on page one and doesn’t let you go. Weaving together the Kabbala, the tarot, and the forces of good and evil, this chilling thriller has a self-assured voice and all the right elements to make for a nonstop, nail-biting read.”--M.J. Rose, author of the international bestseller The Venus Fix

“Relentless and riveting, THE BOOK OF NAMES speeds you across continents and centuries in the ultimate seductive read. From fascinating characters to real-life legends, this debut ranks as unforgettable.”-- Gayle Lynds, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Spymaster

“Intricately plotted historical suspense . . . an intriguing synthesis of Jewish mysticism and modern murder mystery.  A swift, intelligent thriller.”--Kirkus

“Convincing characters and a rapidly moving plot combine to create an enjoyable religious thriller . . .”--Library Journal

“Readers seeking a page-turning suspense novel . . . look no further. This book will definitely keep your attention and pull you in . . . until the end.”--JewishInStLouis.org

"An engaging Jewish fairytale with plenty of action . . . chock full of thrills."--Mary Martin Reviews

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press; First Edition edition (January 20, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312375972
• ISBN-13: 978-0312375973
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.5 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,479,152 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hold On!, May 19, 2009

By 

Garrison Shaffer "morerush" (Madison, IN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Illumination: A Novel (Hardcover)

Great story, timely without the preachiness and pretense attached these days to novels with a Da Vinci Code feel. So expertly paced and lovingly crafted, not at all over-written. The story is so lean and yet so fulfilling. I appreciate that the Gregory and Tintori didn't try to suffocate me with hundreds of pages of ultimately unsatisfying detail. They keep the story, not just flowing, but leap-frogging from one hair-raising situtation to the next, all the while instilling into their characters a sense of humanity and humility rather than portraying them as fictional super heros. This is an extraordinary piece of fiction. Five stars and nothing less!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Illumination, March 27, 2009

By 

Marlynn Likens (Northern Virginia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Illumination (Audio CD)

Just finished this book (audio) and have fallen in absolute awe of these authors. This is the second book I have listened to by Jill and Karen. Yes, it is a "DaVinci Code" type of story - but, excuse me, there were DaVinci Code type stories out there before the "DaVinci Code" and I get tired of reviewers listing this as a "con." I saw reference to this one place and can't remember but it did not hold me back from buying the audio book. This story is a great adventure and educational experience. I am learning more about Jewish folklore, religion, and myth than I ever knew. Always remember myth is usually based on fact. I highly recommend this to you if you are looking for a great mystery adventure story. OK, I am a sucker for Indiana Jones. But -- WOW! I give it 10 STARS! Go for it.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Illuminating...and fun!, March 14, 2009

By 

Norma Beishir "author, Chasing the Wind & Fin... (St. Louis, MO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Illumination: A Novel (Hardcover)

I so enjoyed Gregory and Tintori's Book of Names that I couldn't wait for this one. I'm happy to say I was not disappointed. It's unique, well-written and researched, and fast-paced. They've included just enough historical information to hold the reader's interest. It's fascinating without reading like a textbook. The plot races at breakneck-speed, but unlike most "event novels," the authors manage to keep you emotionally invested in their characters in the midst of all the action. What motivates Natalie--her relationship with her deceased sister--makes the reader care as well.

Norma Beishir

author, Chasing the Wind