Based on the tone of the book and its themes, it’s pretty much a done deal that the two will end up in bed together, and with an eventual happily ever after. For example, the contemporary main character Meredith, on her first evening in Rennes-les-Bains, meets Hal and by the next day they are hugging, hand-holding, and feeling intense attractions for each other, as though they have known each other for their entire lives.

Perhaps as a literal representation of the Tarot theme, characters meet–coincidence or fate?–and form intensely close relationships very quickly with few questions asked. As Labyrinth had its references to a hidden history of the holy grail and those who seek to use its power to their advantage, Sepulchre is based on a mystery Tarot deck and the shady character who is trying to recover it. She treats the reader to plenty of descriptions of everything-scenery, people, significant objects, feelings-and throws in fun bits of romance and intrigue.

Mosse’s writing style is that of a formula writer, one quite familiar with her subject matter, who treats the reader as a comfortable co-conspirator in a guilty-pleasure read that is full enough of facts to make it feel more worthwhile than it is. Sepulchre takes a cue from Mosse’s previous novel, Labyrinth, in being not only based in the same region of Southern France, but operating on the same double-timeline plot progression featuring a secret history that the contemporary main character must uncover.

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