The Bone Church: A Novel

I couldn't put it down. Great characters and very believable.
Wonderful writing. I have visited Prague and the Bone Church and hard to think such terrible times existed there during and after WW2
Thank you Victoria.

This is a fantastic first novel by Victoria Dougherty. The plot twists and turns like the medieval winding streets of Central Europe. Couched in vivid historical details and amazing imaginings, the author takes us with her hero and heroine every step of the way!

I enjoyed the premise of the story and thought the story itself was a good one, but I did feel lost multiple times and having to retrace the steps through the story to be sure I was understanding the sequence of events and characters. If it weren't so difficult to follow at times, I definitely would have given a better rating.

Not being religious at all, I'm probably wrong, but isn't there some "idol" thing somewhere? So that would be the first question about this book. Second would be the church in the title. !? It's mentioned twice and the settings in both cases could have been anywhere. A true historical history of this place would be far more interesting. A few reviews describe the difficulty in following the settings and timelines. Add to this, Felix's trips to the twilight zone that he seems to take a few times. Seeing people that are not there or are dead. A for effort. It wasn't a bad book. But only a C for execution. Might have been 4 stars if it had been explained how a hockey player became James Bond. Not only assassination attempts on a Nazi official, but shooting down 2 helicopters while helping his ex-girlfriend and their child escape the commies. Set your expectations low, then you might enjoy it. And who blew up the house in Santorini?

I think there was an interesting story of war and love to tell, but I did not care for how it was told. There were many things that confused me here. I'm not that familiar with Czechoslavakia's towns or history, nor had I ever heard of the Infant of Prague, but I believe the author assumed that I as a reader would already have such knowledge . (Thank heavens for Wikipedia!) I think the author assumed I would remember every physical detail and the names of even minor characters so that when mentioned several chapters later, I would know who was being referenced. Also the switching back and forth between the timelines, which normally is fine with me, just did not work here. It took fully half of the book to get to the plot and I was contemplating abandonment of the whole thing, if not for another reviewer telling me not to give up. The second half is much more fast-paced and eventful than the first, but I was still confused over and over again and hated the ending.
One of the reasons I read historical fiction is to learn the history I had no interest in learning in school. With this book I learned that Wikipedia could fulfill that need just as well sometimes.

OK, so.....in my kindle I have two collections.......one is labeled "read" and has hundreds of books in it ...including almost all of Stephen kings books and then there is this other collection reserved for the very rare and this collection is labeled as "couldn't stand to finish" and after adding this book to that collection gave me a total of 3 books in it lol I tried..honestly I did. I tried to read it once and couldn't stay on task..so I thought maybe it was just my mind was occupied etc.....so I tried it again and still nothing....I read the reviews which were spectacular so I really wanted to give this a try and get into to it.....its too confusing with the wording and bouncing around....I honestly wanted mgo like this book....just seemed very boring

Yes, I had high expectations for this book because it had many good reviews about it. It started off catching my interest right away too. Unfortunately, it didn't hold it for long.
There was plenty of action and lots of death, but felt that the author failed to capture the excitement of it all. It lacked the shock and awe. Lots of names were thrown around which made it difficult to keep up with everyone and what their connection was in the story.
I wanted more in depth description of the church because I find it fascinating but the author also sold me short on that.
It was just a big disappointment but not so disappointed that I just gave it one star. It was worthy of two, but just barely.

'The Bone Church' by Victoria Dougherty is a beautifully crafted piece of fiction. Set largely in and around Prague, the narrative alternates between the time of the Nazi occupation and specific events in 1956 when Czechoslovakia was under the heel of the Soviets. The central concept deals with the lengths people will go to in order to survive in an inhuman landscape.

The writing is spare and tense, with an authentic Eastern European feel. The Sword of Damocles hangs over the heads of the main characters, Felix and Magdalena, and the reader is drawn skilfully into a world of mistrust and paranoia. The threat of betrayal is ever-present. The twisting narrative - enhanced by its time-dislocated structure - is claustrophobic and dark, a meditation on suffering and redemption.

At times, I was put in mind of the works of Milan Kundera, while the novel also has something of Graham Greene's 'The Third Man' about it. The Church of All Saints (the 'Bone Church' of the title) sits at the metaphorical core of the book, a constant reminder of impermanence and mortality. Like Eliot, and Webster before him, Ms Dougherty knows well the skull beneath the skin, and how life and death elide.

Peopled with memorable characters and with some fine plotting, Ms Dougherty's novel is a serious candidate for my Book of the Year 2014.

“The Bone Church” is one of those fascinating combination of historical exploration of real places and a deliciously dark tale of two fictional young people whose lives are impacted by death and by the Nazi’s. The harrowing content weaves beautifully two narratives set during WW11 and during the Cold War.

It is not an easy read and is a little challenging but I did not mind concentrating on the heavy material. It didn’t take long to be swept by a foray of themes that never lets up and be captivated by this world where there is mistrust, paranoia and deceit. I was immediately taken by the main characters. Featuring, Magdelena, of Jewish heritage, and Felix her Christian husband both caught up in very scary situations during the occupation of Czechoslovakia in WW11 and during the 1956 Soviet post-war occupation. Along the way they make dubious alliances…a mysterious Roman Catholic cardinal, a reckless sculptor and a gypsy among other big players is Josef Goebbels…they path is often twisted and muddied as we can expect in this sort of scenario. It is essential to keep focus on the content and between time frames to enjoy, to imagine, to wonder and finally to ponder. Once into it this novel it is practically impossible to put down.

Having said this, although I was highly captivated by “The Bones Church” this novel is definitely not for everyone.

Walter Cronkite coined the phrase, 'You Are There', many years ago for his newscasts!

Reading "The Bone Church: A Novel" this reader's mind was a reel of film playing out dark and somber moments of war movies from my youth... One can read about Felix Andel, Magdalena Ruza, and the richly portrayed characters from the many 5-Star reviews here on the store, the failed attempts of fleeing Prague, the emergence from World War II into the Cold War... Choose the metaphorical summation - a tapestry, a painting, a portrait - and it will be a correct depiction of "The Bone Church - A Novel."

My focus is on the author's immense talent, her own unique family experience in that Eastern European environment, and the ultimate truth of her fiction. Reading Victoria's book here or her excellent blog, 'Cold', is reading an author whose life has been punctuated by stark reality. Victoria Dougherty is an author you will not want to miss.

A fascinating combination of historical exploration of real places and time-periods in history, and the fictional tale of two young people, THE BONE CHURCH, opens with the story of two fugitive lovers, whose lives are impacted by the natural death of her mother (in difficult circumstances), and the murder of his father (and their protector) by the Nazi's.

Weaving the Nazi invasion of Prague and the Cold War in Czechoslovakia into the lives of these two people provides a stark reminder of the length of impact that wars have had on that part of the world. The idea that the same two people who fled the Nazi's are still being impacted in the mid-1950's was chilling, although that is tempered by the lengths to which people who are willing to help will go. And a well judged sense of humour.

The style of storytelling is particularly interesting in THE BONE CHURCH. Whilst the main thrust is sparse, matter-of-fact and so all the more chilling, much of the atmospherics, and environment comes across as sumptuous and utterly at odds with events. Using that sparse style, the author is able to look at those events, in particular the impact of the invasion and the subsequent war on Jewish and Gypsy populations, in a clinical and precise manner, whilst weaving them into a complex plot. The way that the action ebbs and flows and shifts and spins was realistic, in particular the way that the impetus for both good and bad is often in the hands of the people who surround Felix and Magdalena. Because of that, try as they might, their path forward is twisted and frequently muddied by others. As you'd expect in that sort of scenario, everything cannot always be drawn to a tidy conclusion and the reader is left to imagine, to wonder and to ponder. An unsettling experience when the paranoia of the time is so stark.

A very assured debut, THE BONE CHURCH is a really good thriller. It is also a character study, an exploration of the human psyche, with a touch of history and a strong sense of place as well.

[...]

This author has definitely done her research on Nazi and Soviet occupied Prague and Czech Republic (or Czechoslovakia as it was known as then). I found myself walking the streets with our characters, feeling the fog on my skin, breathing in the dry must of the Bone Church, and seeing the magnificent architecture present in that majestic city.

The author has re-created the atmosphere present in those days as well as creating the structures and geography of Prague and Kutna Hora; one felt the desperate rush towards liberation in 1944 Nazi occupied Prague and the bleakness of the Soviet occupation with no “liberation” in sight. Ms. Dougherty has created a novel that infuses itself into the senses of the readers in such a way that dreams, or rather nightmares, result. Bravo for that skill as it’s not evident in everyone.

An intense and riveting spy thriller/survival story, the author developed a story that stands worthy among the spy thriller greats. Nothing is as it seems, no one’s motives are clear, and just around the corner could be next clue or our character’s deaths. Misinformation and suspicious motives abound in this novel and kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time.

The one ding I have against this novel is the esoteric, and sometimes just plain weird, aspects of the book. Moving and emotive statues, dead friends helping with escape and rescue, and appearances of sword-wielding archangels and saints made this novel a bit hard for me to swallow at times. The author may have been trying for something that I just wasn't getting; I don’t know. Yet, it just felt like these elements didn't fit with the rest of the action-packed, suspenseful spy thriller I was presented with.

This is a spy thriller that any enjoy-er of the genre will like. Foggy street corners and twists of plot all make their presence known and will make spy lovers thrilled to their fingertips. With fantastic skills at scene-setting, research, and story, this author shoves her way to the head of the pack for this genre. While there were a few parts of the mixture I personally found eye-rolling and not really having a place in the narrative, that could not hold true for another reader. Make the judgment for yourself. Either way, definitely give this book a gander as its well worth the read.

Note: Book received for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley.

The Bone Church by Victoria Dougherty is an historical thriller that skillfully weaves two stories into one. One story is set in 1956-a mission to smuggle a woman from Czechoslovakia, aided by the Vatican. The other story line is set in German-occupied Prague during World War II.Both plots involve Magdalena and Felix.

You will find espionage, freedom fighters and all manner of Cold War activity. So, pull up a chair, light a cigarette and get ready to be whisked away to another time and place. The book is entertaining and dramatic; and as rich and textured as velvet. This is definitely a book you have to put on your TBR list.

Here's one of my favorite quotes:
“Vera had also hated lipstick, Marzipan and Lutherans - excluding her husband, but not her late mother-in-law. Most of all she hated being governed by anyone or anything.”

I should probably have thrown in the towel when the story stopped working for me and I was forcing myself to continue reading the book. But no, this was a NetGalley book and I was going to finish it. This is the last time I think so, next time when the book fails me I will just stop and read something else instead of suffering through I book that is clearly not meant for me.

The Bone Church follows two separate storylines, WW2 in Prague and after the war several years later; unfortunately it just didn’t work because it just made the story confusing to read. Suddenly you are in the past and you reading about characters you hardly remember. I just felt lost and also the characters weren’t memorable, I just didn’t care if they found each other or if the real infant of Prague was found (apparently that was part of the story also). Frankly my dear I just don't give a damn!

The Bone Church: A Novel by Victoria Dougherty

I received a free e-copy from NetGalley for review. I gave this book an almost four star rating.

I found this to be dark, depressing reading, ofttimes exposing appalling conditions of 1940's wartime in Prague & the depths of degradation that comes with it. Man's inhumanity to man runs rampant throughout this tale. It was hard to know who could be trusted. The lovers Felix Andel & Magdalena Ruza who is a Jewess, are separated by events beyond their control even though they had intended to marry.

The Bone Church, is officially the Church of All Saints, though no one called it that.

The Prague Bone Church is where a life or death battle for Felix occurred. It is also called the Ossuary of Sedlec.

Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic. The Czech Republic is a central European country which borders Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Poland. The population of Prague now is approximately 1.2 million people.

Approaching the Czech-Polish border Magdalena held her arms tight around Felix's neck & he hears her whispering an Emily Dickenson poem "Hope", which was her version of a prayer.

They had to remain on high alert because of soldiers. In addition, there were their own countrymen were sometimes eager to turn them in for an extra meat ration.

Felix saw his father murdered by a German soldier, but had no ready recourse at the time.

"His father had once told him that a boy becomes a man when his father dies, even if he's long been the master of his own life. He becomes the true man of the house of his ancestors. He becomes the sole guardian of his family name."

Felix is a well known hockey player. Because of that he is easily recognizable.

They met the gypsy Srut who seemed to know his way around the war torn city. He was hiding a group of gypsys underground. He did not like, or trust the sculptor Svoboda or Monsignor Mellini who claimed to want to help him & the fleeing couple. The feeling of mistrust was mutual.

Victoria Dougherty has certain ways of turning a phrase that creates such a vivid visual. Here is an example.

"Though ice still hung like snot from the noses of gargoyles, it was the first pleasant day in a month."

Here's another: "A thin stream of blood budded from under the wire & trickled down onto the man's collar, the cotton absorbing it like linen stationery drinking ink from a fountain pen."

The Infant of Prague, a Catholic icon is significant throughout this novel.

Felix's father was instrumental in making a valuable counterfeit of the Infant of Prague in an attempt to confound & embarrass Joseph Goebbels. It did not succeed.

Felix mentions a small replica of "The Infant of Prague": "A family legacy, he hadn't seen the Infant talisman in years. Lately, however, it had been popping up all over the house, his father moving it from room to room like a garland of garlic to ward off vampires."

Later he mentions: "Now they were sold at every kiosk in town, reducing the Infant...to the level of kitch on par to a lucky rabbit's foot."

The standard uniform of Joseph Goebbels consisted of a brown Nazi party jacket, with no insignia, and a bare swastika armband. This generic "catch-all" style uniform was worn by many top Nazis who held cabinet and ministry level positions in the German government.

Goebbels at the party in honor of his mistress stated: "Revenge, our virtue; hatred, our duty!" He was pleased that he had come up with another slogan for the Reich.

Present day travel brochure describing "The Infant of Prague is ranked #52 of 299 attractions in Prague. This is one main reason to visit Prague. The Church of Our Lady of Victories is a beautiful building and the Shrine of the Infant of Prague is stunning. The Church is free and open all day with regular Masses. When visiting make sure you visit the museum through a door right of altar as you face the Sanctuary. Go upstairs to see an array of the Infants hand made vestments and sacred objects. Also visit the shop and sacristy where you may bump into Fr. Anastasio who will welcome you and you will leave as good friends. The church is also a perfect place to be in peace and quiet."

The bone church is ranked as third of tourist attractions, out of seventeen in nearby Kutna Hora.

The group of gypsies that Srut had hidden were discovered & 'eradicated'. Genocide of European Roma (Gypsies), 1939–1945 — Article stated: "Between 1933 and 1945, Roma (Gypsies) suffered greatly as victims of Nazi persecution and mass murder. Building on long-held prejudices, the Nazi regime viewed Gypsies both as “asocials” (outside so-called normal society) and as “racial inferiors”—believed to threaten the biological purity and strength of the “Aryan” majority. During World War II, the Nazis and their collaborators killed up to 220,000 Gypsy men, women, and children across German-occupied Europe."

They travel to Kutna Hora, Czechoslovakia which "reminded Felix of a miniature Prague. A 'Royal City' & mint after the discovery of silver there in the 14th century, it had the same elegant, weary bones. Coal-stained stone monoliths festooned with squatting gargoyles stood shoulder to shoulder..."

I gave this book an almost four star writing. There were times it was hard to follow because there were some deeply spiritual, even supernatural events that occurred during the couple's escape & it wasn't made clear what was really happening. While interesting, some of it is slow reading. I hope the number of typos would have been edited out before final print.

THE BONE CHURCH is my kind of historical fiction. Beautifully written with compelling characters, an intriguing, twisty plotline, and full of historical details. I love it when a book interests me enough in the subject matter to make me want to learn alllllll about what I'm reading. For example -- Google "the Bone Church." I bet the pictures you see will make you want to read this book, especially once I tell you there's a very important part of the book set in the Bone Church.

THE BONE CHURCH seamlessly melds two timelines together, 1956 and 1943-1944. In both times, Felix and Magdalena are trying to escape Czechoslovakia, from the Germans and then from the Soviets. In 1943, Felix accidentally gets caught up in an attempt to assassinate Josef Goebbels. In 1956, he's a Jesuit working with a corrupt cardinal to smuggle people out of Soviet controlled countries. In both times, Felix's goal is to rescue Magdalena.

The whole time I was reading THE BONE CHURCH, I had no idea what was going to happen next. I always enjoy that, because it's no fun to predict the end before you finish the book. The author continually surprised me with every twist and turn. She also made me feel like I was right *there*, hiding behind Felix's shoulder, waiting for the next spat of gunfire. The author didn't shy away from describing the worst of humanity and living conditions, but in a way that left you with a tiny bit of hope. Aside from feeling like I was in war torn Czechoslovakia, I also felt the paranoia of everyone involved, not knowing who to trust, and of having no choice but to trust, to put your life in someone else's hands.

The book is gritty and dark, maybe even hard to read at times because Felix and Magdalena face overwhelming odds and incredibly dangerous situations. But along with the spark of hope that runs through the book, Felix has some angelic help. While some of the religious aspects probably went over my head, I thought everything tied together really well. I do wish the ending had more on what Felix and Magdalena face in the future, but looking back, I can't really imagine a different ending.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Copy received from Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours for an honest review.
Copy of review at http://booknerdloleotodo.blogspot.com

So, Bone Church. First, I have to say that yes, I liked this book. But I also have to say that I had so many questions at the beginning of the story that I was lost for a big chunk of the book. I am however, happy I stuck with it. It was a fantastic journey but one that requires patience.

The beginning of the story gave me goosebumps. "Friend" was terrifying to me because my overworked imagination kept coming up with different reasons for him.

Felix and Magdalena were a mixture of hope, despair, optimism and finally a sad reality. Their love story was very beautiful but by no means perfect. I loved how the author interwove the different elements in the story. There was Felix and Magdalena. They gave a big heart and soul to the story. The Infant of Prague was also a key figure in the story. The author was able to include it's significance and at the same time introduce the history of the Czech Republic/ Czechoslovakia. The uneasy feeling that began in the story carried all the way through. The author kept me constantly guessing and wondering what would happen. The reality of the Bone Church and how it symbolically provides a full circle moment for the story and the characters, was brilliant.

I've had the honor of traveling to Prague and can attest to the history of this beautiful city and the feeling surrounding it. The uneasy of the Cold War and the uncertainty of the time. Ultimately, I was happy and satisfied with The Bone Church and highly recommend it to anyone that enjoys history and reading a book that is like a puzzle. Slowly the pieces come together and the final production is worth it!

Victoria Dougherty's The Bone Church is not an easy read. It hits the ground running and never lets up. Paired with decidedly heavy material and themes, the narrative is more than a little challenging, but that said, it is easily one of the best historical thrillers I've had fortune to come across.

Those who follow me know the WWII references in the description are what drew me to this piece, but it was Dougherty's application of history, how she utilized and built her fiction around it that captivated my attention. Both storylines are sculpted from verified truths making it difficult to determine where fact meets fiction. The resulting seamlessness enhances the tension within the narrative and generates such excitement that the novel is practically impossible to put down.

Dougherty's treatment of Magdalena and Felix also stood out to me. It would have been easy to paint these characters in bleakly sympathetic tones, but Dougherty didn't go that route. There is an authenticity to this couple. They are trapped and hunted, but there is a tenacious intensity in their make-up that draws admiration rather than pity. An edginess in their story that plays on the reader's emotions in a way that is both inspired and unexpected.

A deliciously dark and addicting foray into a world of mistrust, betrayal, paranoia and deceit, The Bone Church was a wholly unexpected pleasure. Yes, I had to work for it and familiarize myself with previously unknown chapters of historic detail, but when push comes to shove, I can't say I regret a moment spent with this piece.

The Bone Church by Victoria Dougherty is a sumptuous cross-examination of the human condition and reminded this reader of the later work of Alistair MacLean. There are two story lines brilliantly interwoven describing the lives of Magdalena and Felix. We have the Cold War of 1956 in Czechoslovakia and the Nazi occupation of that country during WWII. Both occupying forces showed a callous resentment to Jews and Gypsies and it is here the author excels at delving into the human psyche.
This reader marvelled at the lengths these subjugated people would go to survive, never losing their dignity, never degrading, always uplifting with hope on the distant horizon. I loved the journey Magdalena and Felix endured, so well described in a minimalist style that left plenty for this reader to imagine and mull over. The assortment of characters they met were wonderfully entertaining and some extremely unpleasant. The feeling of paranoia and mistrust bled from every page and created anxiety in my own mind too. I really stepped into the lead characters' minds and lived through their eyes, endured their suffering and heartbreak.
And finally there is the Bone Church, a mystical place and all I will say here is the author's description created a stunning masterpiece that should be hung in the Louvre. Incredible.
This FIVE STAR Cold War thriller is so highly recommended I would say beyond all doubt this would be declared the thriller novel of the year.

The Bone Church transcends the normal historical war story by delving into what can only be called "The Good Luck Lottery." Why does one person survive in war while thousands of others perish?
Throughout my life I have been impressed by books interweaving any kind of unexplainable mysticism, often in the form of an other worldly figures such as Indians or gypsies. These figures act as guiding lights at significant turning points in the lives of important people in a book. Victoria Dougherty's "The Bone Church" intriguingly paints one such character, a gypsy called Strut. Ironically, her portrayal reminds me of Bulgagov's intense book, "The Master and the Margarita", but also resembles, in its rite of hard-earned passage theme, a more recent great thriller written by Rags Daniels called "Lallapaloosa".
Dougherty's diligently researched tale abounds with detail and twists and turns enough to satisfy the most demanding reader. Minutiae decorate many passages and help to make the story credible. As I said earlier, the unique element of this story is how it transcends the normal with a hopeful message about survival. Believe and it could be you. Pick up this book to traipse through the chaos of a World War and marvel at how `lady luck' blesses some. A wonderful read.

The first part of Victoria Dougherty's The Bone Church is not an easy read. It begins with a harrowing scene and never lets up. Add in some decidedly heavy material and WW2 themes, with a narrative that is oft more than a little challenging, and your head will be spinning.

BUT, don’t give up! One third of the way through and I discovered I was hooked. The WW2 references are wonderful, and the author’s knowledge of history inserted with her own brand of fiction will capture your attention. Indeed, sometimes I found myself wondering which was fact and which was fiction.
Main characters Magdalena and Felix stood out. They are trapped and haunted in their untenable position, but I felt an admiration for their plight more than mere woe.

That said I had to work in some parts to understand what was happening…the reader has to pay attention to the date at the beginning of each chapter; the time changes back and forth.
Nevertheless, this novel is an interestingly addictive foray into a world of paranoia, deceit mistrust, and ultimate betrayal.
Awarded four stars and recommended for history lovers.

Evocative, suspenseful, and poignant with a good dollop of dark humor, Victoria Dougherty's first novel sends us on a powerful journey we won't soon forget. The story of Felix and Magdalena is primarily set in Prague during the waning days of World War II and also a dozen years later, after the Communist invasion. Felix, a former Czech Olympic hockey star attempts, again and again, to get his young bride to safety out of the country. It's a gritty, desperate time in both decades. High ranking members of the Catholic church assist the Prague Resistance but danger and certain death are always imminent, making for a gripping and informative read.

I usually enjoy thrillers that take place during WWII and the Cold War but this one seemed flat and uninspired. I didn't find any of the characters appealing and the ending was disappointing. Dougherty's writing is good enough for me to try another of her books but I can't say that this one is more than mediocre.