The Paradise Prophecy    by Robert Browne Order:  USA  Can Dutton, 2011 (2011) Hardcover, e-Book      Reviewed by Ricki Marking-Camuto Robert Browne's The Paradise Prophecy is a tour-de-force combining angels, demons, secret societies, and John Milton's Paradise Lost. Bernadette Callahan is an agent for the shadowy Section, a secret government agency. When she is sent to Brazil to cover the mysterious death of international Christian Pop sensation Gabriela Zuada, she is immediately met by superstitious locals. Callahan holds fast to her belief that a human killed Gabriela, not something supernatural. But the expert Section kidnaps and sends to her, Professor Sebastian 'Batty' LaLaurie, agrees with the locals. The tale he tells her of a secret society of guardians of the sacred traveler is hard to believe, but Callahan is soon forced to admit that they are up against forces not of this world. The hunt to find Gabriela's killer soon turns into a quest to find Milton's lost pages of Paradise Lost ... and the stakes get higher and higher as the lunar eclipse approaches. This was an intense thriller that built to a frantic pace as the story progressed. While the basis for the story revolves around Paradise Lost, no extensive knowledge of Milton's work is needed to enjoy The Paradise Prophecy. Browne has created a story to rival other tales of adventure and secret societies, complete with hidden chambers, codes, and supernatural baddies around every corner. Both main characters had fallibilities that they needed to overcome to complete their tasks, which made them very realistic and approachable. The twist at the end was just as it needed to be, creating a satisfying conclusion to a pulse-pounding ride. Robert Browne's The Paradise Prophecy is certainly a winner, and hopefully only the first in this type of work from the author. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Mystery books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews