The Romanov Cross: A Novel
“In this fascinating, funny, and frightening supernatural thriller, [Robert] Masello skillfully weaves together the story of the deaths of the Russian royal family with the possibility of a new worldwide influenza pandemic. . . . Toss in a pack of slavering wolves, the undead, and a chilling ending, and the result is a terrific, can’t-put-it-down read. Fine prose and plotting help solidify Masello’s position at the top of this crowded subgenre.”—Publishers Weekly “A former Army epidemiologist contends with greedy locals and the harsh Alaskan terrain in order to prevent the recurrence of a deadly pandemic. . . . Masello weaves several disparate genres—medical thriller, historical novel, ghost story—into a coherent whole. A delicious sense of creeping dread permeates the first act, greatly enhanced by its setting in the stark but beautiful landscape of northwestern Alaska. . . . Tense, taut and impossible to put down.”—Kirkus Reviews(starred review) “The love story between Anastasia and the soldier tears at the heartstrings. The mixture of their love story, the history of what happened to the Romanov family and the depth of Anastasia’s despair during her escape would make a terrific stand-alone novel. Add Slater’s story and a modern-day flu epidemic possibly killing millions of people and the stories come together. There are even elements of a ghost story and outright horror. All these elements shouldn’t work together, but they do.The Romanov Crossholds readers’ attention from the beginning to the very end.”—Associated Press “The Romanov Crossis a rare book where the story will have you thinking long after you have finished reading. Masello has combined the history and mythic lore of the Romanov dynasty with the greatest health scourge of the twentieth century, coupled with a story that could have been taken out of today’s headlines. He weaved these elements into an edge-of-your-seat, nail-biting, suspense thriller.”—Suspense Magazine(5 stars) “Compelling . . . The book grabbed me from the start and never really let go. . . . If you are looking for a good thriller with overtones of the end of the world then this one certainly has enough to keep you glued to your seat.”—The Big Thrill “The perfect story to keep you turning pages through the end of winter . . . Russian political myth, modern epidemiology and the enduring human traits of heroism, greed, devotion to cause and sincere affection come together to make a terrifically intriguing and quickly evolving thriller. . . . Scene by scene, chapter by chapter, this book rushes along.”—The Dallas Morning News