The Gospel of Sheba
By Lyndsay Faye
4.5/5
()
About this ebook
When A. Davenport Lomax’s young daughter asks him whether spirits and faeries are real, the Edwardian librarian just pats the little darling on the head. But when a desperate man emerges from the winding passages of the library muttering about demonology, he gets Lomax’s attention. Theodore Grange is a member of the Brotherhood of Solomon, a secret society dedicated to unraveling the mysteries of black magic, and he believes he has found a book written by the Queen of Sheba herself. Said to hold the answers to one thousand demonic mysteries, the tome will poison any man who dares read it.
The next time Lomax sees him, Grange is at death’s door. To uncover the truth about The Gospel of Sheba, Lomax agrees to accompany Grange to a meeting of the brotherhood, where he will encounter darkness that threatens his life, his family, and his soul.
The Bibliomysteries are a series of short tales about deadly books, by top mystery authors.
Lyndsay Faye
Lyndsay Faye is the author of six critically acclaimed novels, including Jane Steele, which was nominated for an Edgar for Best Novel; The Gods of Gotham, also Edgar-nominated; and Dust and Shadow, a Sherlock Holmes pastiche. Born in Northern California, she formerly worked as an actress in the Bay Area and now lives in Queens, NY. Follow Lyndsay on @LyndsayFaye and www.lyndsayfaye.com
Read more from Lyndsay Faye
Dust and Shadow: An Account of the Ripper Killings by Dr. John H. Watson Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Whole Art of Detection: Lost Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Great Hotel Murder Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5
Related to The Gospel of Sheba
Titles in the series (45)
The Pretty Little Box Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5An Acceptable Sacrifice Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Final Testament Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Seven Years Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Hemingway Valise Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Book Thing Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Book of Virtue Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Death Leaves a Bookmark Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5What's in a Name? Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Pronghorns of the Third Reich Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Remaindered Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Rides a Stranger Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Last Honest Horse Thief Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Book Club Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Gospel of Sheba Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Scroll Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Book of Ghosts Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5It's in the Book Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Sequel Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Long Sonata of the Dead Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Compendium of Srem Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Book of the Lion Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5From the Queen Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Condor in the Stacks Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Haze Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Every Seven Years Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Little Men Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Mystery, Inc. Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Fantastic Crimes: Four Bibliomysteries by Bestselling Authors Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Reconciliation Day Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5
Related ebooks
The Gospel of Sheba Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5At the Age of Eve Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCatherine, Called Birdy: A Newbery Honor Award Winner Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Anna St. Ives Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Jessica Letters: An Editor's Romance Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLady Rosamund and the Horned God: A Rosie and McBrae Regency Mystery Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBlue-Stocking Hall, (Vol 1 of 3) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Dodo Knight Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Flight of the Shadow Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSecret of the Scarab Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Long Song: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Considerable Advantage Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDavid Copperfield Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Memoirs of a Midget: “Once a man strays out of the common herd, he's more likely to meet wolves in the thickets than angels.” Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCall of the Celts Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe English Teacher Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMemoirs of a Midget: A Surrealist Masterpiece & Winner of the James Tait Black Memorial Prize Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLetters from Bath; Or, A Friend in Exile Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Tenant of Wildfell Hall Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPerpetual Comedown Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMemoirs of a Midget Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Lost Hunter A Tale of Early Times Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFalkland: A Gothic Romance Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLetters to Various Persons (Barnes & Noble Digital Library) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Mysterious Death of Miss Jane Austen Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWinter Tide Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Camille Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Classic Vampire Tales (Vol. 1) Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Love Among the Lions A Matrimonial Experience Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRecollections of My Youth (Barnes & Noble Digital Library) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Occult & Supernatural For You
Welcome to Castle Cove: A Design Your Destiny Novel, #1 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5English Book of the Dead: Volume (1) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Invasion Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Lovecraft Country: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Bradbury Stories: 100 of His Most Celebrated Tales Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Witches of New York: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Sour Candy Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Welcome to Night Vale: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Before You Sleep: Three Horrors Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Nothing to See Here: A Read with Jenna Pick Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Weiser Book of Horror and the Occult: Hidden Magic, Occult Truths, and the Stories That Started It All Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Hollow Places: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Devil and the Dark Water: A Locked-Room Historical Mystery Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Pet Sematary Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Oracle Glass Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Rules of Magic: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Dunwich Horror Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5All's Well: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Stir of Echoes Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Lost Gods: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Floating Staircase Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Swan Song Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Book of Magic: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Weiser Book of the Fantastic and Forgotten: Tales of the Supernatural, Strange, and Bizarre Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsOnly the Devil Is Here Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Fireman: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Shadows in Summerland Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Magic Lessons: The Prequel to Practical Magic Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Nightmare At 20,000 Feet: Horror Stories By Richard Matheson Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Related categories
Reviews for The Gospel of Sheba
4 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
The Gospel of Sheba - Lyndsay Faye
Letter sent from Mrs. Colette Lomax to Mr. A. Davenport Lomax, September 3rd, 1902.
My only darling,
You cannot possibly comprehend the level of incompetence to which I was subjected today.
You know full well I never demand a private dressing room when stationary, as the very notion implies a callous disrespect for the sensitivities of other artists. However, it cannot pass my notice when I am engaged in a second class chamber en route from Reims to Strasbourg. The porter assured me that private cars were simply not available on so small a railway line as our company was forced to book—and yet, I feel justified in suspecting the managers have hoaxed their rising star
once again. The reek of soup from the dining car’s proximity alone would depress my spirits, even were my ankles not confined one atop the other in a padlock-like fashion.
I do so loathe krautsuppe. Hell, I assure you, my love, simmers with the aroma of softening cabbage.
The little towns with their sloping roofs and single church spires whir past whilst I write to you as if they were so many picture postcards. It’s dreadfully tedious. Loss of privacy for my vocal exercises notwithstanding, my usual transitory repose is impaired by the snores of a typist en route to a new position as well as a mother whose infant does us the discourtesy of weeping infinitely. Bless fair fortune that our Grace has already grown to be guiltless of such alarming impositions—though as you often remind me, I am not present at our home often enough to state so with scientific certitude. The fact you are right pains me more than I can express. Please pull our daughter close, and know in the meanwhile that I have never been more revoltingly ungrateful to be engaged in an operatic tour.
How have your colleagues responded to your request for a more appropriate wage as sublibrarian? The Librarian in particular? I cannot imagine a more worthy candidate than you for promotion, and thus live in hope that you have been celebrating so ardently that you simply neglected to inform your wife of the good news.
All my love, infinitely,
Mrs. Colette Lomax
Note pasted in the commonplace book of Mr. A. Davenport Lomax, September 3rd, 1902.
Papa,
This morning after chasing butterflys in the back area with the net you gav me I was asked by Miss Church if I wanted to go inside and record the shapes of their wings as I remembered them, I wanted to but more than that thought if there are butterflys why not faeries? You’ve allways said they don’t exist apart from our imaginashuns but I know we must use the sientific method to find out for certain and maybe they are real after all. I tried to find proof they weren’t real and didn’t manage it.
Love, Grace
Excerpt from the private journal of Mr. A. Davenport Lomax, September 3rd, 1902.
I have been pondering imponderables of late.
How comes it, for instance, that within mortal viruses like anthrax and rabies, potions can be extracted from poisons, and a doctor the caliber of Pasteur can create a vaccine from the disease itself? How comes it that my wife, Lettie, who apparently loves me infinitely,
accepts operatic contracts removing her from my presence for the foreseeable future? How comes it that a sublibrarian constantly assured of the value of his scholarship cannot so much as afford to keep his own carriage, let alone an automobile, and more often than not travels via Underground?
I’ve always adored paradox but, admittedly, some are far more tedious than others.
Take this contradiction, for example: compliments, at least insofar as my position at the London Library is concerned, have become a decided blight. The moment I accept a semi-public compliment from the Librarian—a press of his withered hand to my shoulder as we pass amidst the stacks, a wet and fibrous cough of approval when he is within earshot of my advice to our members—I am automatically consulted upon countless further topics. Last week it was rare species of maidenhair ferns, this week the principles of bridge engineering. Next week, I brace myself to field queries upon monophonic chants and perhaps the dietary habits of the domestic black pig.
The life of a sublibrarian surely wasn’t intended to be quite this difficult? Walking through St. James’s Square towards the queerly narrow building, the fog’s perennial grime painting a thin veneer upon the Portland stone and the many windowpanes distorting movements of blurred, faceless