Labyrinth

kate mosse

In the Pyrenees mountains near Carcassonne, Alice, a volunteer at an archaeological dig, stumbles into a cave and makes a startling discovery-two crumbling skeletons, strange writings on the walls, and the pattern of a labyrinth. Eight hundred years earlier, on the eve of a brutal crusade that will rip apart southern France, a young woman named Alais is given a ring and a mysterious book for safekeeping by her father. The book, he says, contains the secret of the true Grail, and the ring, inscribed with a labyrinth, will identify a guardian of the Grail. Now, as crusading armies gather outside the city walls of Carcassonne, it will take a tremendous sacrifice to keep the secret of the labyrinth safe.

Genres historical fictionfictionfantasymysteryhistoricalthrillerfranceadventureadultmystery thriller

515 pages, Paperback

First published July 7,2005

Series

Languedoc

Literary awards

british book award,

Places

france, carcassonne,

This edition

Format: 515 pages, Paperback
Published: February 6, 2007 by Penguin Publishing Group
ISBN: 9780425213971
ASIN: 0425213978
Language: English

Characters More characters

Alice Tanner

DR ALICE TANNER (1976 – )Alice is a strong, brave and fiercely independent woman.She was born and bred in Chichester, in West Sussex, a city twinned with Chartres in northern France and Ravenna in northern Italy. Her parents died in a car accident in 1994...
Alaïs Du Mas

ALAÏS DU MAS (PELLETIER) (1193-1244)Alaïs is the second daughter of Bertrand and Marguerite Pelletier. Born in Carcassonne in 1193, she was a frail child and, at first, not expected to survive. Her older sister Oriane is much more robust. But, although qu...
Paul Authié

PAUL AUTHIÉ (1965 – )Born in Montauban, Paul Authié is an unscrupulous, ruthless lawyer who, bankrolled by his estranged wifes money and helped by his membership of the Noublesso Véritable, has built a formidable reputation in Carcassonne as an anti-immig...
Bertrand Pelletier

BERTRAND PELLETIER (1157-1209)At the beginning of Labyrinth in 1209, Bertrand Pelletier is a relatively old man by medieval standards. He has been Intendant – steward – of the Trencavel household since 1191. He lives with his two daughters in the Château ...
Jehan Congost

JEHAN CONGOST (1172 – 1209)Jehan Congost is a weak and ineffectual man. He is attached to the household of Raymond-Roger Trencavel, Viscount of Carcassonne, Béziers and Albi as escrivan – scribe.In this capacity he attends meetings between Trencavel and h...
Esclarmonde De Servian

ESCLARMONDE DE SERVIAN (1149 – ? 1213)The name Esclarmonde has two possible interpretations. Firstly, éclair du monde could mean ‘light of the world.However, éclair doesnt just mean ‘light – it also means ‘lightning.Esclarmonde de Servian is a Cathar beli...