First published 2000
Vicky Bliss enters what starts as an elaborate treasure hunt through the dark halls of Schloss Drachenstein. The brilliant art historian sees the contest as more than just a game. She wants to humble an arrogant young man who clearly underestimates her abilities. The prize draws her in completely: a shrine carved by Tilman Riemenschneider, the master sculptor of late Gothic Germany. The castle itself tells stories of violence. Blood has soaked into its ancient stones over the centuries. An atmosphere of menace hangs in the air like fog. Vicky expects to win easily, but the hunt takes a sinister turn. Someone becomes a target. The playful competition transforms into something far more dangerous. What began as intellectual sport becomes a matter of survival. Vicky must use all her skills to navigate the deadly game now unfolding in the forbidding castle walls.
Genres: adventure, mystery, thriller, art-history
Vibes: atmospheric, dark, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, survival
Setting: Germany, Schloss Drachenstein
Period: Late Gothic
6 pages · Audio CD · Blackstone Publishing