THE MANDYLION by Joe Giordano

Fiction, Anthology, Suspense, 

4****

Blurb: After two-thousand years, the Mandylion, a priceless, lost ancient image of Jesus, has resurfaced. To authenticate and secure the piece, Anthony Provati and his sister Valentina Esposito are lured to Paris, France by Sophia, Anthony’s notorious ex-lover.  Upon arrival, they’re plunged into a murderous pursuit for the icon threatened by Russian spies and Arab terrorists who also seek the art. Readers will identify with Anthony and Valentina, both unlikely heroes, thrust into extraordinary circumstances. Anthony is a jazz pianist, an art gallery owner, and sailor. His half-sister Valentina was abandoned to an orphanage as an infant but has rewritten her destiny by becoming a brilliant computer programmer. The collection includes five Detective Bragg mysteries. A gold shield homicide detective out of Brooklyn South, Bragg tackles a set of tangled murder cases that sometimes frustrate his sense of justice. The final two short stories in the collection draw the reader into the speculative realm.

Thoughts: This is a series of short stories, some of them connected, some not. The ones that are connected by characters are also connected to the Anthony Provati Thriller series of books by Mr. Giordano. Then there are several stories about Detective Bragg. The last two stories are not connected to the previous ones or to each other and ad the touch of the paranormal. All the stories are intriguing and have interesting endings. They are short so you can read one on your lunch break, or do like I did and read them all at once. 

Recommendation: For short, interesting reads, pick this one up. You won’t be disappointed.

Disclaimer: Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”