Two London detectives investigate a bloody death scene. An anthropologist witnesses a friend's fiery death in in Peru. A Scottish scholar commits suicide near the Templars' fabled Rosslyn Chapel, after a final message: It's all connected.

That connection is at the heart of Tom Knox's THE BABYLON RITE. Knox blends three distinct contemporary stories; adds myths and known facts about the Templar Knights, the Aztec and Moche cultures, and the Vikings; and stirs in the violence of rival Mexican drug cartels.

It's a fascinating story that rings true in every sense. I'm not well-versed in the histories that Knox draws on, but the theories he puts forth certainly seemed plausible to me. He also puts his characters in real danger every step of the way, and not everyone survives the journey. That uncertainty is part of what makes this book a gripping page-turner.

In a couple of areas, Knox has no choice but to use character as lecturer to give us a great deal of necessary knowledge about certain cultures or situations. If you don't want to have to think or learn, THE BABYLON RITE is probably not for you. Ditto if you can't stomach vivid descriptions of violent and bloody ritual killings.

If you enjoy a tightly woven mystery, steeped in ancient cultures and sweetened with strong, believable characters, THE BABYLON RITE is an excellent choice.