The Relic Master by Christopher Buckley

Published by Simon & Schuster on December 8, 2015

The Relic Master is a fun, light-hearted story. It combines action with comedy, a bit of romance, occasional drama, and a touch of mad genius. Funny, touching, and sometimes exhilarating, The Relic Master is a shrewd Middle Ages romp with a surprisingly coherent plot.

Dismas makes a living hunting down religious relics for his two rival clients, Archbishop Albrecht and the ruler of Saxony, Frederick the Wise. Bits of bone from a saint’s skeleton, shards of wood from the cross, and straw from the manger are just a few of the thousands of items that collectors seek. Most of the relics are fake and Dismas stays away from obvious attempts to defraud, but by applying a series of tests (does the relic have a sweet smell? has it been known to promote healing?) he tries to authenticate them as best he can. Frederick is the more discerning of his clients while Albrecht wants to acquire as many relics as possible and doesn’t much care whether they are genuine.

With the approval of Pope Leo X, Albrecht (among many others) sells relics as indulgences -- buy one and your time in Purgatory is shortened. The more you pay, the less time you need to serve. Apostle Peter’s fishing boat might knock a couple hundred years off a wealthy man’s sentence. Half of the sale proceeds go to the Pope, who uses them to build cathedrals or to …. well, there are rumors. Dismas doesn’t recall the Bible mentioning anything about buying one’s way out of Purgatory by investing in indulgences but it is not his place to criticize. Martin Luther is more vocal in his criticism, citing indulgences as evidence of church corruption that justify the Protestant Reformation.

The historical background to the story is sound, but the story gets its kicks from both the characters that Christopher Buckley invents and from a lively plot that involves the greatest relic of them all -- a burial shroud that, before it made its way to Turin, was known as the Shroud of Chambéry. Dismas and an artistic friend get into a bit of trouble with one version of the shroud and Dismas can only redeem himself (or die trying) by getting into trouble with another.

Dismas is a likable character, kind-hearted but crafty and not immune to temptation. Personality traits of other characters (greed, vanity, lasciviousness, slothfulness) are magnified in amusing ways. Buckley introduces a female character who adds wisdom and common sense to the mix while serving as a love interest for Dismas.

The Relic Master moves at a good pace. Clever plot twists in the last quarter lead to a satisfying conclusion. This could almost be classified as a tongue-in-cheek historical thriller with a romantic element, but the novel actually defies classification. It is both original and enjoyable.

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