The Museum of Mysteries

A Cassiopeia Vitt Adventure, Book 1

By: Steve Berry, M. J. Rose

Narrated by: Natalie Ross

Length: 3 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

Cassiopeia Vitt takes center stage in this exciting novella from New York Times best-selling authors M. J. Rose and Steve Berry.

In the French mountain village of Eze, Cassiopeia visits an old friend who owns and operates the fabled Museum of Mysteries, a secretive place of the odd and arcane. When a robbery occurs at the museum, Cassiopeia gives chase to the thief and is plunged into a firestorm.

Through a mix of modern-day intrigue and ancient alchemy, Cassiopeia is propelled back and forth through time, the inexplicable journeys leading her into a hotly contested French presidential election. Both candidates harbor secrets they would prefer to keep quiet, but an ancient potion could make that impossible.

With intrigue that begins in Southern France and ends in a chase across the streets of Paris, this magical, fast-paced hold-your-breath thriller is everything you've come to expect from M. J. Rose and Steve Berry.

©2018 Steve Berry and M. J. Rose (P)2018 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Not my cup of tea

I am accustomed to Steve Berry’s books being less “out there”. More believable. I also did not particularly like the narrators voice and cadence.

Loved it!

I love all of Steve Berry's works. The plot is excellent as is the connection to the past that I find so fascinating. The characters come alive. Loved it.

Cassiopeia Vitt adventures on her own

I expected a story similar to the Cotton Malone books. This was different. Not bad by any means, but definitely different. This had a much more pronounced female feeling. The subject matter also of a more intimate nature. Mind you, not obscene by any stretch, but there is a definite sexual element to the story. Where as Cotton tends to force physical confrontations, Cassiopeia leans into the intellectual challenge. This suits the character well and makes for an interesting story.

My only quibble, and it's a small one, is that the narrator had a really hard time with the voice of Cotton when he makes his brief appearances. I recommend this book, although perhaps not for younger readers for the reasons I alluded to above.

Not a typical Steve Berry

I have mixed feelings about this book. While I found the narrator’s voice interesting, it did not give the strength to Cassiopeia that is her image in the other Steve Berry books. The spirit world that is part of this book was not as interesting to me as the historical aspects that Steve Berry generally brings to his books. I would not read the sequel to this. I want the other Steve Berry back.

Interesting

This story has aspects of both past and present political intrigue with reincarnation as a bridge between the two parts of the story. If you can suspend your disbelief you may enjoy the story.

A Good Attempt at Being Clever

I love the chemistry of the perfume industry and the healing and hypnotic effects of different extracts. I was disappointed by the continuous slippage of the Berry/Rose narratives into more mysticism and spiritualism. The extra efforts to be anti-Christian does not enhance the overall product. Thankfully, M.J. wrote the sex scenes. That is one of the best orgasms I've heard since a Nora Roberts audiobook.

Less is Less

I've read all of Steve Berry's novels (even an ARC of his upcoming 2/23 release about mad King Ludwig), so there are two things I know for sure about The Museum of Mysteries: a) Cassiopeia Vitt is one of my favorite characters from his Cotton Malone series, a strong, smart woman who can run stride for stride with Cotton, and b) this novella with her in the lead role diminishes that character by allowing another writer, M.J. Rose, to hijack her into a distinctly non-Berry-like story.

The opening museum heist in Eze is pure Berry, but from there we are pulled into Rose's world of the supernatural and standard romance, the supernatural elements, mystical perfumes, sending Cass on hallucinogenic trips into the past where the romance kicks in. And then it seems Berry jumps back in to make it all fit into present day election shenanigans in France.

The resulting genre mash up just doesn't mesh right. The novella form doesn't leave enough room for the disparate threads to properly cohere nor for the past and present intrigues to fully develop. It's frankly a mess that does a disservice to Cassiopeia, Berry, his loyal readers, and possibly Ms. Rose too.

As this was their first collab, I'll give them a chance to redeem themselves down the road.

good read

loved the way it unfolded and the archeological facts about the writer of the authentic King Arthur.
the way the reincarnation unfolded the modern story.

Museum of Mysteries

The joint writing of Berry and Rose continues to hit home runs. Cassiopeia adventures hook the reader (listener) within the first paragraph and keeps you on the edge of your seat up to the climax and through the anticlimax. Not sure the order, but Lake of the Learning is another Berry and Rose story to get. Cassiopeia as a stand-alone main character is the perfect heroine. I know I’ll be looking forward to many more works from these terrific writers.

Misogynistic

I love Steve Barry’s Cotton Malone books. Sadly, This one is a akin to soft porn and an insult to female crime and intrigue readers. Don’t bother.