In The Lafayette Sword, a killer infiltrates a Freemason temple to kill two and steal a ceremonial sword, and police detective and Freemason Antoine Marcas feels especially compelled to find the killer as one of the victims is not only his Freemason brother but also his close friend. Thus begins an intense chase involving two continents and a 700-year-old puzzle to stop the killer before he learns the alchemical secret which could destabilize the world.

Eric Giacometti and Jacques Ravenne are masters at crafting suspenseful action. Through exceedingly short chapters that end at just the right moment and rapidly alternate between three to four settings across centuries and continents, they keep readers on the edge of their seats. Furthermore, readers will find it difficult to predict how the various aspects of the plot will come together. Those who enjoyed The Da Vinci Code should give The Lafayette Sword serious consideration, and those who have read the latter may find themselves exploring the grounds of the Eiffel Tower with renewed interest the next time they are in Paris.

(Reviewed in exchange for a copy of book via Netgalley.)