"Absolute proof" by Peter James

An audio book.

2005. American magician Mike Dalaney got sacked from his TV show and is drinking. Ross Hunter, a UK reporter, had a vision of his twin brother. After, he found out that his brother had died at that moment. Ross had been sent to Afganistan, barely escaped death, returned to find his wife Imogen in bed with another man. She was sorry. Brother Angus, a UK monk, is soon to die. Brother Peter is in a Greek monastery. Big Tony, an assassin, lives in Monaco. Wesley Wenceslas (46) has got rich from preaching. Dr Harry Cook contacts Ross. He says he has proof of God - 3 sets of coordinates that reveal the Holy Grail (at Glastonbury), a possession of Jesus, and the location of the 2nd coming (the last 2 locations coded). Cook says that God thinks the world is in trouble. He tells Ross something only Ross would know, and gives Ross a long document. Someone's keeping Ross under observation.

Ross has amassed a variety of contacts over the years. A friend points out that Ross's life might be in danger, that the messages received by Cook may come from the antichrist. Ross goes to Cook's house. It's been ransacked and Cook's been murdered. Someone's been digging at the first site. Ross finds what might be the Grail there. An attempt is made on his life. Cook's trusted solicitor and a medium give him info on the 2nd location - Egypt. He goes there, finds what may be Christ's tooth in a cave and is attacked by helicopter gunship. He survives, returns to England and gets the 2 items DNA-tested. He doesn't realise that he's being followed all the time - a Pharma company, Kurclew, want to market the DNA. Imogen receives threatening e-mail. Ross finally tells his wife what's going on. The DNA of the tooth and the grail's blood match.

MI5, the Vatican and the Church of England contact him. Though Ross thinks he's been cleverly avoiding being tailed, his movements and purpose seem known to several organisations, including Wenceslas. He hides the relics with Angus (his uncle!). He escapes from a car chase involving 3 other vehicles. The solicitor is killed. Ross's house is ransacked. Imogen moves out.

Ross is driven by ambition and morals more than money, but his pregnant wife is in danger and they're in debt [My hunch is that his dog will be his weak point]. He distrusts everyone (momentarily, at least). He's careful about saying things on the phone. He doesn't realise that his house is bugged. He meets Sally, a flirty Bristol radio presenter whose uncle is on the Kurclew board. Wenceslas is murdered before Ross was aware of any connection with him (Wenceslas had Ross under observation and was ready to get him killed). Brother Angus contacts his cousin Brother Peter, asking him to collect the relics.

At about the same time, both Ross and the Kurclew board discover that the 3rd set of coordinates is a Hollywood location. A friend does a DNA database search and finds that in Hollwood there's a man with a DNA match down both the female and female lines to christ's blood - Mike Dalaney. His parents had been killed in a mock-crucifixion. Ross heads for Hollywood, unaware that Big Tony is following him. Sally happens to be on the same flight - Ross doesn't believe it's a coincidence. In LA he sees Imogen across the road. He discovers that Delaney volunteers in a drug rehab centre, doing miracles according to the manager. He meets Delaney, performing in a cheap bar for drinks. Dalaney knows Ross's name, knows Dr Cook and knows his own identity. He says he's not the second coming, he's checking to see if humanity is ready. Outside the bar Delaney saves Ross from being run over, dying in the process. Ross tells Sally everything [which is a surprise]. He talks to Imogen - she's with 2 Kurclew people. He pours the DNA away while they're watching. Meanwhile, Peter's collected the relics then loses them to yobs. The 2 Kurclew people die in the flight back to the UK. Imogen and Ross break up - she's miscarried. Sally and Ross are together. Around the world the skies suddenly go dark and a rainbow appears. His story is published much more briefly than expected. He gets an offer of millions for the full story.

Over 16 hours long - much the longest audio book I've listened to. Nothing bored me, though several sections could have been shorter while being just as effective. I think the monkey plot could have gone, and I don't see why both John and Peter are needed.

Other reviews

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• Rebecca McCormick (I generally liked the book, although I felt a couple of threads or characters could have been eliminated.)
• carpelibrum (I found Ross's character to be a little irritating at times and I soon grew weary of wading through the endless descriptions of scenery and mundane tasks. Ross's ruminations also took up too much space and only served to recap his thoughts on the goings on; which is boring if you're the sort of reader able to keep up with what's happening. And the ending? Where do I start? The ending left far too many unanswered questions. It was ambiguous and anti climactic)
• Dane Cobain (there were also a few things that I wasn’t too keen on, including the ending, which sort of just petered out. I wasn’t particularly keen on the secondary romance plot either, which didn’t really need to be there.)