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Rogue Angel #49
The Devil's Chord
Da Vinci's greatest and most dangerous legacy…
In the midst of a lover's quarrel on a Venetian bridge, a pair of art thieves loses a priceless, stolen Lorraine cross to the canal's murky waters. Suspecting a connection between the cross, Joan of Arc and da Vinci, Annja Creed's former mentor, Roux, sends the archaeologist to oversee the search for the missing artifact. But someone else knows about the cross…knows enough to kill for it.
Despite several vicious attacks during their underwater expedition, Annja and Roux's hired diver recovers the cross. But when the diver's loyalties are called into question and he disappears—along with the treasure—Annja is certain there's more to the ancient object than Roux is letting on. She soon discovers the cross is only one piece in an intricate enigma—a key that, when combined with a series of musical notes, may unlock one of Leonardo da Vinci's most fantastical inventions. But the price Annja must pay to stop this key from falling into the wrong hands may be her life.
In the midst of a lover's quarrel on a Venetian bridge, a pair of art thieves loses a priceless, stolen Lorraine cross to the canal's murky waters. Suspecting a connection between the cross, Joan of Arc and da Vinci, Annja Creed's former mentor, Roux, sends the archaeologist to oversee the search for the missing artifact. But someone else knows about the cross…knows enough to kill for it.
Despite several vicious attacks during their underwater expedition, Annja and Roux's hired diver recovers the cross. But when the diver's loyalties are called into question and he disappears—along with the treasure—Annja is certain there's more to the ancient object than Roux is letting on. She soon discovers the cross is only one piece in an intricate enigma—a key that, when combined with a series of musical notes, may unlock one of Leonardo da Vinci's most fantastical inventions. But the price Annja must pay to stop this key from falling into the wrong hands may be her life.
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 2, 2013
9 people are currently reading
315 people want to read
About the author
Alex Archer
99 books237 followersA house name for the Rogue Angel series, published by the Harlequin Publishing's Gold Eagle division.
The first eight novels were written by Victor Milan and Mel Odom. New writers joining the series starting with book nine include Jon Merz and Joseph Nassise.
The first eight novels were written by Victor Milan and Mel Odom. New writers joining the series starting with book nine include Jon Merz and Joseph Nassise.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 3, 2020
A high end theft of a priceless artifact directly related to Joan of Arc brings Annja Creed to the city of Venice and its watery environs. But... what do Leonardo DaVinci, Roux, and the outlawed Devil's Chord have to do with the lost item? And why is it that its recovery could allow Annja to get answers to questions that she has had since she became the holder of Joan's Sword?
Writing under the Alex Archer house name, MIchele Hauf, in this the 49th in the adventures of the Rogue Angel, spins a story that touches on the hopes and losses of it reoccurring characters as some hope to reset time and others want to protect the past.
These stories are always fun, and while the ongoing story arcs throughout the books can be daunting to new readers, the authors tend to provide enough background information that the casual readers can pick up the story and enjoy as a stand alone...though... those reoccurring themes may prompt them new readers to pursue earlier stories. But...isn't that the hops of ALL good authors?
Writing under the Alex Archer house name, MIchele Hauf, in this the 49th in the adventures of the Rogue Angel, spins a story that touches on the hopes and losses of it reoccurring characters as some hope to reset time and others want to protect the past.
These stories are always fun, and while the ongoing story arcs throughout the books can be daunting to new readers, the authors tend to provide enough background information that the casual readers can pick up the story and enjoy as a stand alone...though... those reoccurring themes may prompt them new readers to pursue earlier stories. But...isn't that the hops of ALL good authors?
July 12, 2015
3.5 stars - was able to borrow the book from my local library.
No longer able to purchase the eBooks from Harlequin.com, and they aren't available in my territory!
No longer able to purchase the eBooks from Harlequin.com, and they aren't available in my territory!
September 2, 2024
3 stars.
Listened to this during a road trip. It was a good way to while away some hours. This time it's an artefact belonging to Leonardo Da Vinci that is the main attraction. As usual, it's all a bit far-fetched and the friends to enemies to friends situation between Roux and Garin continued. It did make me want to have Italian for dinner though. :)
Listened to this during a road trip. It was a good way to while away some hours. This time it's an artefact belonging to Leonardo Da Vinci that is the main attraction. As usual, it's all a bit far-fetched and the friends to enemies to friends situation between Roux and Garin continued. It did make me want to have Italian for dinner though. :)
April 9, 2015
This is my 10th Rogue Angel book and its similar to the others I have read. Each book has primary protagonist Annja Creed in it and also one, or sometimes both, of two other protagonists, i.e. Roux and Garin. This particular episode has both Roux and Garin in it.
The story lines are not superb but they are usually entertaining, which is partly why I keep reading them. That and each episode usually reveals one or two tidbits of information about one or more of the protagonists that wasn't revealed previously.
Alex Archer is a pen name that the publisher uses and there are actually a team of about 6 writers who are the true authors. Each episode is written by one of these 6 authors and his/her name is revealed inside the front cover but nowhere else. This particular episode was written by Michele Hauf. I find I like the prose style of some of the authors better than others. But each author follows the series formula for each episode.
Annja Creed is an archeologist who, in episode 1, has inherited the sword of Joan of Arc. The sword has magical/mystical aspects about it. Annja keeps it, for example, in the "otherwhere". She simply wills the sword to appear and it appears in her hand. She sends it back to the otherwhere the same way. In addition the sword seems to give Annja more rapid healing powers. She heals more rapidly since obtaining the sword than she did before.
The two secondary characters, Roux and Garin were knights who were present when Joan of Arc was Martyred and have remained alive for the five or so centuries since then.
I have to say this episode implied more mystical notions and ideas that I hadn't expected to read. I wonder too, how far the publisher intends to take this series. Now with more than 50 episodes, will it end anytime soon? Presumably if they are making money on it they will keep going. But as a reader, I long for a conclusion or at least an explanation of the various events that have transpired. How have Roux and Garin lived for so long and how has Joan's sword played a part in it? Annja's life is tied up with the sword and perhaps to Joan as well. The experience that Annja had at the end of this episode is another piece of the puzzle. And the very last line of the book, just what decision did she make?
The story lines are not superb but they are usually entertaining, which is partly why I keep reading them. That and each episode usually reveals one or two tidbits of information about one or more of the protagonists that wasn't revealed previously.
Alex Archer is a pen name that the publisher uses and there are actually a team of about 6 writers who are the true authors. Each episode is written by one of these 6 authors and his/her name is revealed inside the front cover but nowhere else. This particular episode was written by Michele Hauf. I find I like the prose style of some of the authors better than others. But each author follows the series formula for each episode.
Annja Creed is an archeologist who, in episode 1, has inherited the sword of Joan of Arc. The sword has magical/mystical aspects about it. Annja keeps it, for example, in the "otherwhere". She simply wills the sword to appear and it appears in her hand. She sends it back to the otherwhere the same way. In addition the sword seems to give Annja more rapid healing powers. She heals more rapidly since obtaining the sword than she did before.
The two secondary characters, Roux and Garin were knights who were present when Joan of Arc was Martyred and have remained alive for the five or so centuries since then.
I have to say this episode implied more mystical notions and ideas that I hadn't expected to read. I wonder too, how far the publisher intends to take this series. Now with more than 50 episodes, will it end anytime soon? Presumably if they are making money on it they will keep going. But as a reader, I long for a conclusion or at least an explanation of the various events that have transpired. How have Roux and Garin lived for so long and how has Joan's sword played a part in it? Annja's life is tied up with the sword and perhaps to Joan as well. The experience that Annja had at the end of this episode is another piece of the puzzle. And the very last line of the book, just what decision did she make?
August 6, 2014
This edition of the series had me both delighted and scratching my head. I loved the elements of Roux and Braden intersecting with Leonardo da Vinci in the 15th century. It's always nice to get more of a sense of the history of the two immortals of the series.
The modern elements were a little less sensible. Seriously, da Vinci built a 'time shifter'? Roux would work with an archaeologist who approaches him without bothering to look him up? I loved the atmosphere of Venice, but once they leave Venice it becomes a little more generic (and they never dealt with Annja being framed for poisoning someone, leading to her having to run. Seriously, how can she even travel anymore?). And I never really get much of a handle on just what the antagonist was really in it for. His motives were just a little too muddled. And the end of the story just threw up it's hands and said 'enough!'.
Still, even when they are bad (which this one wasn't, really) the Rogue Angel books are fun reads, and this one is no different.
The modern elements were a little less sensible. Seriously, da Vinci built a 'time shifter'? Roux would work with an archaeologist who approaches him without bothering to look him up? I loved the atmosphere of Venice, but once they leave Venice it becomes a little more generic (and they never dealt with Annja being framed for poisoning someone, leading to her having to run. Seriously, how can she even travel anymore?). And I never really get much of a handle on just what the antagonist was really in it for. His motives were just a little too muddled. And the end of the story just threw up it's hands and said 'enough!'.
Still, even when they are bad (which this one wasn't, really) the Rogue Angel books are fun reads, and this one is no different.
February 12, 2015
Leonardo Da Vinci is definitely one of my favorite historical figures. I absolutely LOVED this imaginative tale. He was a genius beyond his time.
At any rate, the story was entertaining. The mystery was intriguing enough that it kept me reading. The adventure, as always, was very exciting. All in all, a wonderful story.
At any rate, the story was entertaining. The mystery was intriguing enough that it kept me reading. The adventure, as always, was very exciting. All in all, a wonderful story.
August 2, 2014
Very disappointing. All three main characters seem to have had radical personality transplants since the last book, and, despite what the back cover says, the book has little to do with the main protagonist. I hope the next one is better (This, as was the Hardy Boys series and Nancy Drew, is actually from a stable of authors).
April 12, 2017
Not one of the best but not one of the worse either - still a page turning good read.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews