A city´s dark secret holds the key to the gates of hell … When ex-priest Tom Shaman, jaded from years in the Los Angeles ghetto, decides on a last-minute trip to Venice, he gets much more than he expected. A brutal killer is on the loose and Tom finds himself in the midst of a series of ritualistic killings unlike anything Venice has ever seen. Enlisted by the Italian police, Tom teams up with young investigator Valentina Morassi to dig deep into the city's darkest history, stretching from an ancient civilization to the sexual decadence of eighteenth-century Italy to the gritty underworld of modern-day Venice. As Valentina and Tom trace the killings through the centuries, they uncover a deadly secret that generations have killed to protect: a priceless mosaic known as the Gates of Hell. As the clock counts down, Tom and Valentina's adventure builds to an astonishing and satisfying end. Exotic and well-researched, The Venice Conspiracy will continue to build Christer's name in the hit-thriller genre. “A suspenseful religious conspiracy thriller ... A solid entry in the post-Da Vinci Code subgenre.” Publishers Weekly “An intelligent, exciting and seductive elaboration of both truth and fiction, a morality tale that tingles with all the tensions and menace of a fast-paced crime thriller.” Lancashire Evening Post “Well-plotted and well-executed, this is a chilling and clever thriller.” Daily Telegraph “A self-assured first novel.” The Wall Street Journal “Smart, slick and effective.” Daily Mail “A thrilling read.” Toowoomba Chronicle About the Author Sam Christer is the pseudonym of an award-winning documentary maker. His first job was as a messenger for a newspaper, and he has since worked for several major television studios as a director, producer, host, and reporter. His books have been sold in thirty-five countries.