Shadow Ritual

European bestsellers Giacometti and Ravenne make their U.S. debut with this intrigue-filled thriller, the first in a nine-book series. French Freemason archives were plundered by the Nazis during WWII, then captured by the Russians, and finally returned to France. Now separate ritual murders strike down archivist Sophie Dawes at the French embassy in Rome and concentration-camp survivor and biblical expert Marek in Jerusalem. Embassy security chief Jade Zewinsky takes charge of the investigation, aided by homicide detective and Freemason Antoine Marcas. Zewinsky and Marcas must pool their talents to thwart the members of a clandestine Aryan society founded long before the Nazi period determined to assemble the mysterious ingredients of the Shadow Ritual that will reveal the immense power of a “sublime secret.” The plot may be formulaic, but those into Freemason lore and Nazi myths will be satisfied. (Mar.)