The Eighth Veil: A Jerusalem Mystery    by Frederick Ramsay Order:  USA  Can Poisoned Pen, 2012 (2012) Softcover, CD, e-Book Read an Excerpt     Reviewed by Mary Ann Smyth Well-known for his Ike Schwartz mystery series, Frederick Ramsay has taken a different path with his Jerusalem mysteries – Judas being the first and now The Eighth Veil. The time is 28 CE at the palace of King Herod Antipas. A young girl has been found in the baths in the palace with her throat cut. Pontius Pilate is the Prefect, appointed by Rome. John the Baptizer had been killed and Pilate wants no more civil unrest. He coerces Gamaliel, the chief rabbi, to discover the girl's rapist and killer. Pilate wants to distance himself from the investigation. Gamaliel, a scholar, is unused to detective work but uses his logic to finally work out a solution. The plot is full of intrigue that makes the girl's death more than a rape. I found, however, The Eighth Veil more of a history lesson and I kept waiting for a pop quiz. My older brain just couldn't keep all the names and their relationships to the story straight. The research that went into this book must have been massive. However, research can be a life of its own and very interesting as well as informative. Ramsay certainly knows his subject and relates it well. Just a tad over my head, I'm afraid. But I am enamored of his Ike Schwartz mysteries as well as his Botswana mystery series. 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