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The Marks of Cain

by Tom Knox

     

The Marks of Cain is an intriguing thriller, which provides an unflinching look at the age-old theme of man’s inhumanity against man. The story deals with racism, racial extermination, and eugenics. It also uncovers a hidden shame of the Catholic Church and the Western world. I found the story of persecution against the little known races of Basques and pre-Caucasians called Cagots to be quite disturbing. This story is multi-layered and filled with thought-provoking ideas throughout.

When lawyer David Martinez’s grandfather dies, he bequeaths his grandson two million dollars and a strange, ancient map of Southern France and Northern Spain. There is only one hitch.  On his death bed, his grandfather told David to go check out the churches in the areas of Bilbao and Lesaka. He also told him to look up a man named Jose Garravillo.

In the big picture, David, an orphan, is required to go to a strange country and try to untangle his past. At first, David does not want to answer the call to adventure, but since his job as a lawyer and his life are basically empty, he finally decides to go. Plus, once he arrives in Bilbao, the two point one million dollars will be deposited into his bank account. What follows after that is the adventure of his life, which almost costs him his life, but also leads to the love of his life.

Meantime, another story is intertwined with David’s story. A London journalist, Simon Quinn, who we first meet as a recovering poly-drug user, becomes involved in a homicide investigation whose victims also come from villages in the Basque region.

Two seemingly unrelated murders  are tied to what Simon later learns was the murder of David’s parents fifteen years earlier. David had been told his parents died in a car accident while vacationing in France. Simon goes on his own investigation in the same region.

"The Marks of Cain" becomes a metaphor for the heinous crimes committed by the Nazis on members of the two little known races of people, as well as against the Jews. The theme goes back to the Bible, when Cain killed his brother Abel. It also ties into early teachings which postulate that Cain was the son of the wicked one, The Serpent Seed.

According to the character Emma, Walden Professor of Church History at King’s College London, "There are some other odd and mysterious hints in the Pentateuch of non-Adamite humans—other races of already existent human beings, apart from Adam and Eve." She goes on to say, "And the LORD set a MARK upon Cain lest any finding him should kill him." Emma then questions Simon, (who was interviewing her), "Who were these other people if there were only Adam and Eve at the time?"  Views such as this and others make this book a fascinating story.

My heart pounded as I read the on-going chase that went on after David and his newfound love, Amy. I found Miguel, also known as the Fox, a local terrorist (the son of Jose Garravillo), to be a despicable psychopath. Although he was terrifying, his pursuit of David and Amy made for a frightening read. I couldn’t figure him out until the end of the book.

The story was well-researched and has a unique premise. I recommend this book for anyone interested in a compelling, different type of read.

The Book

Viking
May 2010
Hardcover
0670021911
International Thriller
More at Amazon.com
Excerpt
NOTE: Violence

The Reviewer

Maxine Thompson
Reviewed 2010
NOTE: Reviewer Maxine Thompson is the author of How To Promote, Market and Sell Your Book Via eBook Publishing, The Hush Hush Secrets of Writing Fiction That Sells, and The Hush Hush Secrets of Creating a Life You Love. Her fiction includes The Ebony Tree, which won a small PEN award, No Pockets in a Shroud, a short story collection titled A Place Called Home, and the recently released Hostage of Lies. Her next novel, LA Blues, is due out in October 2010.
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