Our reviews of
The Tenth Chamber by Glenn Cooper
Genre
Thriller (View all)
Synopsis:
Abbey of Ruac, rural France: A medieval script is discovered hidden behind an antique bookcase. Badly damaged, it is sent to Paris for restoration, and there literary historian Hugo Pineau begins to read the startling fourteenth-century text. Within its pages lies a fanciful tale of a painted cave and the secrets it contains and a rudimentary map showing its position close to the abbey. Intrigued, Hugo enlists the help of archaeologist Luc Simard and the two men go exploring.When they discover a vast network of prehistoric caves, buried deep within the cliffs, they realise that theyve stumbled across something extraordinary. And at the very core of the labyrinth lies the most astonishing chamber of all, just as the manuscript chronicled. Aware of the significance of their discovery, they set up camp with a team of experts, determined to bring their find to the world. But as they begin to unlock the ancient secrets the cavern holds, they find themselves at the centre of a dangerous game. One accidental death leads to another.And it seems that someone will stop at nothing to protect the enigma of the tenth chamber
Tony's Review
Reviewed: April/May 2010
After a fire in an abbey in France, a medieval book is discovered buried in a wall. The author of the book claims to be 220 years old. It has been written in code, and is lavishly illustrated. It also has a map. The book finds its way into the hands of a young archaeologist who identifies the map location as referring to an area outside a small town. He follows the directions, and discovers the hidden entrance to a system of caves which have been painted with fabulous scenes of a type previously unknown. They match the book illustrations, and the tenth chamber holds another secret encoded in the paintings. He realises that his research into the caves will be his life’s work, and gathers a team of experts to assist him, while trying to maintain the utmost secrecy. Then things start to go wrong. The town’s inhabitants think that their peaceful way of life will be disrupted by the inevitable publicity, and it seems that they would rather have the caves destroyed than lose their peaceful existence. But there’s much more going on than meets the eye. Glenn Cooper is a trained archaeologist and medical doctor, so he inserts some of his knowledge into his book, which makes it all the more interesting. A good book that’s worth digging into!