Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #40774 in Books
• Published on: 2005-07-07
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 544 pages

BIRMINGHAM POST, 30 July
"Brings the world of 13th century Languedoc beautifully to life... [An] absorbing tale."

Review
"The thinking woman's summer reading, chick lit with A levels... saturated with a passionate understanding of the region's past in a way that puts more conventional historical accounts to shame. Mosse wears her learning so lightly, knitting her historical research so neatly into her narrative, that we never get the slightest sense of being preached or lectured to... reminiscent of Jean Plaidy and Mary Renault [in conveying] the texture of various patches of the past with such rich complexity." (Kathryn Hughes THE GUARDIAN, 13 August )

"This is a novel clearly fuelled by an authorial obsession with a history, region and concept. The settings are evocative and... there are also some powerful dramatic scenes: the climatic moments where the good and evil women meet and battle it out are particularly compelling... [An] intriguing...passionate book." (Lucy Atkins THE SUNDAY TIMES, 31 July )

"Kate Mosse's Labyrinth provides this year's gripping romp... Labyrinth is very much a Girl's Own story: a grail quest in which women aren't helpless creatures to be rescued, or decorative bystanders, but central to the action, with the capacity to change history." (Geraldine Bedell THE OBSERVER, 31 July )

"A spellbinding adventure story" (REAL, 5-19 August )

"An action packed adventure of modern conspiracy and medieval passion ... a Grail gripper [and] elegantly written timeslip novel set in France." (THE INDEPENDENT, 15 July )

"An old-fashioned romance cum spiffing adventure story. Mosse has done her homework.. she puts in lots of colourful, sensual detail. Enjoyable." (Michele Roberts THE TIMES, 16 July )

"'A good book .. and a very interesting adventure" (BBC RADIO 4's FRONT ROW )

"Magnificent... such a pleasurable read. Mosse infuses each scene with such depth of atmospheric detail that full immersion is inevitable.. the author's vision is epic in scope. Mosse wields admirable control over the vast body of her material and manoeuvres through it with subtlety and grace. [There is a] joyous, whooping pleasure evident in the work of Mosse... [whose] skills are generous and irresistible. (MSLEXIA, Jul-Sept 05 )

"[A] riproaring Grail-quest-for-girls." (THE INDEPENDENT chart listings, 12 August )

"Labyrinth brings the world of 13th century Languedoc beautifully to life. Fascinating and gripping... and the characters beautifully drawn. Enjoy this absorbing tale." (IRISH EXAMINER, 30 July )

"Prepare to be chilled by Kate Mosse's archaeological thriller." (RED, August issue )

"LABYRINTH is a reader's Holy Grail, mixing legend, religion, history, past and present in a heart-wrenching, thrilling tale. Eat your heart out, Dan Brown, this is the real thing." (Val McDermid )

"A lovely, intelligent novel of discovery and loss, generous in its historical scope and intimate in its tender details." (Nicci Gerrard )

"A thumping read: Mosse creates a world so complete I began to miss it before the last page. More intriguing than Dan Brown, a conundrum with lasting depth and vigour, Labyrinth captivates from t he first page until the final twist." (Denise Mina )

"Combines a compelling storyline with a genuinely evocative sense of place." (Professor Jonathon Phillips )

"Labyrinth, a thrilling quest novel and rattling good read, is destined for the bestseller list!" (South Coast Magazine )

"Wonderful! Page turning medieval history and adventure - sure to give Dan Brown a run for his money." (Chichester Observer )

"A spellbinding novel. Mosse mixes a Grail adventure with passion and great writing in a book that for once features two feisty lead women." (Danuta Kean NEW BOOKS MAGAZINE, Summer Reading, Jul/Aug 05 )

"Compelling reading... a time-slip adventure story which skilfully blends the lives of two women living 800 years apart." (LEICESTER MERCURY, 12 July (& other UK regionals) )

"A colourful blend of historical fiction, romance, intrigue, betrayal and passion in a rich setting with interesting characters. Labyrinth contains everything you need for that perfect summer read." (SUFFOLK FREE PRESS, 30 June )

"Brings the world of 13th century Languedoc beautifully to life... [An] absorbing tale." (BIRMINGHAM POST, 30 July )

Professor Jonathon Phillips
'Combines a compelling storyline with a genuinely evocative sense of place.'

Customer Reviews

Unconvincing
Whilst the subject matter is interesting to me (and also very fashionable at the moment), this book was a big disappointment. I'm baffled that the critics' reviews and comments are so full of praise for Labyrinth, when the book is poorly written. Given the author's profile in British art and literary circles, were some favours called in?

The story takes an awful long time to get going, and it was a bit of a struggle to get to grips with all the characters and their significance, if any. Whilst the medieval sections were interesting and evocative, I could not muster much feeling for the present day characters.

After forcing myself to get past half way, it all seemed worthwhile. The seeds of the plot started to come together, and for a while I was enthralled.

As the story reached its conclusion though, significant flaws in the plot became apparent, and the story just lost any credibility. At the supposedly dramatic climax, I didn't really care what happened because the plot just left me feeling so unconvinced.

Very disappointing
Like so many other reviewers on this site I had really high hopes for this book. The fact it had been on the Richard & Judy book list suggested it would be the perfect summer holiday read but sadly reading it was like wading through treacle. The idea behind the book is intriguing but it is far too long and drawn out. There are too many subplots that bring nothing to the main story and too many poorly drawn characters for you to really care about them. The last few chapters move quite quickly but it is a long slog to get there. A book like this should be a great addition to your summer holiday - instead it felt like taking on a second job.

Please don't believe the hype and waste your money!
I simply do not understand how this book found a publisher.
The basic idea is great but after that it is down hill all the way. It is the most unsatisfying, clunky, over-descriptive piece of writing I've ever read. Kate Mosse has many contacts in the literary world, it is a shame no-one had the guts to be honest with her, or to introduce her to a decent editor!