The Devil's Bible

A Novel

Dana Chamblee Carpenter

She’s spent the last seven hundred years hiding in plain sight. But Mouse's past is about to catch up with her.

The Devil’s Bible. Once considered an eighth wonder of the world, the ancient book is shrouded in mystery. No one knows who wrote it or where it was written. Even dry-boned scholars whisper about the secrets hidden in the book: How it calls to the power-hungry. How it drives people mad. How it was written in the shadows by the hand of the devil himself.

But no one knows the truth—no one except Mouse.

She’s been running from the truth at the heart of the Devil’s Bible for so long that no one even knows her name anymore. She calls herself Emma Nicholas—a normal name for a normal college professor living a normal life. But all of it is a lie, and, when forces emerge that threaten to expose her, Mouse has no choice but to take flight once more.

Desperate and on the run, Mouse unexpectedly finds hope in a stranger’s kindness. But it will take more than hope to win this game of souls—a battle between good and evil set in motion long ago at the birth of the Devil’s Bible.

Dana Chamblee Carpenter is the award-winning author of short fiction that has appeared in The Arkansas Review, Jersey Devil Press, and Maypop. Her debut novel, Bohemian Gospel, won Killer Nashville’s 2014 Claymore Award.  She teaches creative writing and American Literature at a private university in Nashville, TN, where she lives with her husband and two children.

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Endorsements & Reviews

"Mouse is both strong and vulnerable, constantly struggling with the dark legacy of her father, her own powers, and her efforts to be a good person. This exciting, poignant novel continues the strong opening in Bohemian Gospel and leaves room for more in Mouse’s fascinating world." Publishers Weekly

"Carpenter’s follow-up to her debut novel, Bohemian Gospel, is as richly woven as her first. A terrific follow-up." Booklist

"Darkly entertaining. " Kirkus Reviews

"Carpenter’s follow-up to Bohemian Gospel is similarly crammed with theological mystery and suspense. The journey through lesser-known landscapes and areas of religious history is absorbing." Historical Novels Review

"A strong protagonist in a swift-moving novel that zips to Rome and Prague with several unexpected detours along the way." Criminal Element

"Fans of historical fiction with a supernatural bent will thrill to the surprises Carpenter reveals within the ancient parchment pages of The Devil’s Bible." Chapter 16

"Part fantasy, part historical fiction, part mystery and part Dan Brown thriller. Absolutely unputdownable! I can hardly wait for the next installment in Mouse’s life." Eleanor Kuhns, award-winning author of 'A Simple Murder'

"Look out, Dan Brown. Dana Chamblee Carpenter is the angels'''''''''''''''' new champion in the timeless battle between darkness and light. The Devil''''''''''''''''s Bible is not just a book, but a shining, vibrant tale for the ages—told with history and heart—that will have readers both weeping and cheering not only for brave Mouse, but for all of humanity." Laura Benedict, author of 'Bliss House' and 'The Abandoned Heart'

"An arresting thriller with historical and literary prowess, defying expectations in every chapter. A remarkable tale of a heroine who transcends her name—Mouse is undeniably mighty. She refuses to accept her own boundaries, ignoring rules of both society and science. Superb." Erica Wright, author of 'The Red Chameleon'

"The Da Vinci Code meets Twilight—only darker, edgier and more literary. There’s an underlying tension with every turn of the page. I really enjoyed it!" Oscar de Muriel, author of 'The Strings of Murder'