The Devil is on the march and only one woman has the power to stop him—if she makes an unbearable sacrifice. Television investigator Lauren Grayson’s life is shattered when a Prague professor discovers an ancient document known as the Devil’s Codex—with Lauren’s name embedded in the text. She’s forced to travel to Europe, where she’s abducted, drugged, grilled, and threatened. A string of gruesome murders terrify the city, and police consider Lauren the prime suspect. Ancient texts reveal a supernatural plan to raise an army from Hell to conquer the world. Lauren searches for the key to preventing an apocalypse in the Monk’s Grimoire, only to find critical pages have been removed. In the midst of the unearthly chaos, Lauren’s arcane powers intensify, at the same time that her young son Henry also exhibits strange abilities. Lauren is faced with the impossible burden of solving the murders, clearing her name, and stopping the devil himself—while a prophecy foretells that she will be forced to make a terrible sacrifice. If you like supernatural suspense, pulse-pounding action, relentless twists and turns, and Old World mythology brought to life, you’ll love The Monk’s Grimoire.

What is a grimoire? The word has a familiar ring to many people, particularly as a consequence of such popular television dramas as Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Charmed. But few people are sure exactly what it means. Put simply, grimoires are books of spells that were first recorded in the Ancient Middle East and which have developed and spread across much of the Western Hemisphere and beyond over the ensuing millennia. At their most benign, they contain charms and remedies for natural and supernatural ailments and advice on contacting spirits to help find treasures and protect from evil. But at their most sinister they provide instructions on how to manipulate people for corrupt purposes and, worst of all, to call up and make a pact with the Devil. Both types have proven remarkably resilient and adaptable and retain much of their relevance and fascination to this day. But the grimoire represents much more than just magic. To understand the history of grimoires is to understand the spread of Christianity, the development of early science, the cultural influence of the print revolution, the growth of literacy, the impact of colonialism, and the expansion of western cultures across the oceans. As this book richly demonstrates, the history of grimoires illuminates many of the most important developments in European history over the last two thousand years.

Television investigator Lauren Grayson's life is shattered when a Prague professor discovers an ancient document known as the Devil's Codex-with Lauren's name embedded in the text.

Grimoires are books of spells that were first recorded in the Ancient Middle East and which have developed and spread over the ensuing millennia.

Strange signals from outer space. Unexplained phenomena across the globe. Are we alone in the universe? Are we sure we want to know? Television investigator Lauren Grayson and her husband Rowan are shooting a new show for The Escape Channel. But the assassination of a Russian cosmonaut—just as he declares that aliens exist—and her estranged brother’s discovery of bizarre space signals, interrupt their plans. Lauren races to find the truth and to stay ahead of world governments trying to stifle her investigation. Her efforts convince her that aliens not only exist but have drawn Earth into a cosmic confrontation. Every new discovery tells Lauren there is more to this than she comprehends. All she knows for certain is that the danger is real—and threatens everyone she loves. The Alien Accord is the third book in the riveting Veritas Codex series. If you like unexplained mysteries, startling revelations, fast-paced thrillers, and spellbinding action, you’ll love The Alien Accord. Phone home for The Alien Accord today!

This exploration of cultural resilience examines the complex fate of classical Egyptian religion during the centuries from the period when Christianity first made its appearance in Egypt to when it became the region's dominant religion (roughly 100 to 600 C.E. Taking into account the full range of witnesses to continuing native piety--from papyri and saints' lives to archaeology and terracotta figurines--and drawing on anthropological studies of folk religion, David Frankfurter argues that the religion of Pharonic Egypt did not die out as early as has been supposed but was instead relegated from political centers to village and home, where it continued a vigorous existence for centuries. In analyzing the fate of the Egyptian oracle and of the priesthoods, the function of magical texts, and the dynamics of domestic cults, Frankfurter describes how an ancient culture maintained itself while also being transformed through influences such as Hellenism, Roman government, and Christian dominance. Recognizing the special characteristics of Egypt, which differentiated it from the other Mediterranean cultures that were undergoing simultaneous social and political changes, he departs from the traditional "decline of paganism/triumph of Christianity" model most often used to describe the Roman period. By revealing late Egyptian religion in its Egyptian historical context, he moves us away from scenarios of Christian triumph and shows us how long and how energetically pagan worship survived.

Lauren Grayson went looking for Bigfoot, UFOs, and even pirates. But now, evil forces will use any means to destroy her. Dr. Lauren Grayson is determined to see the voodoo priest, Papa Dauphine, brought to justice for the attempted murder of Rowan, her husband and co-host of The Veritas Codex television show. But Dauphine aligns himself with Lauren's mortal enemy, Enlil, creating an overpowering alliance. As he gathers his forces, Enlil seems poised to topple the great peace accord. With his pawns in the Middle East, Enlil’s forces use Rowan to find an ancient weapon that could destroy not only the accord but the entire world—or give Enlil the power to control it. Isolated from her husband, Lauren works to protect her family as dark forces close in. But she also finds unlikely allies. The more she investigates, the more she becomes convinced that although Enlil wants the world, he first wants what is most precious to her—Rowan. And he will stop at nothing until Rowan has been eliminated. Can Lauren defeat a god, prevent him from gaining control of an ancient weapon of apocalyptic power, and save her husband? Is love enough to prevent the collapse of the greatest peace accord ever brokered? And if peace fails, can chaos be far behind? Uncover the truth in The King’s Ransom!

Lauren Grayson has investigated Bigfoot, the Mayan apocalypse, even UFOs. But she never expected to find herself at the mercy of pirates… When the Oceanic Channel's newest research vessel, the Explorer of the Deep, goes missing on its maiden voyage to the Bermuda Triangle, television investigator Dr. Lauren Grayson and the Veritas Codex Crew are asked to investigate. Paired with oceanographer Trevor Thorpe and his crew from sister-show Expedition: Nautilus, they set off to find the network’s missing million-dollar ship. Soon after they embark, a mysterious storm descends and the Nautilus is fired upon by what appears to be a seventeenth-century pirate ship. Lauren is taken prisoner by the infamous Captain James "Jackdaw" Childers—who looks disturbingly like her husband. But there couldn't be any connection between this wicked monster and her husband. Right? Lauren learns that the ship and its crew have been damned by powerful forces that blame Childers for the abduction of a beloved mermaid—and want revenge. Can Lauren survive the pirate's curse? Or will she be lost in the Bermuda Triangle forever? “In the sixth book of the Veritas Codex series, The Pirates Curse, author Betsey Kulakowski takes her readers and her characters to times and places they have never been before. The perils of time travel have never been so vivid or fraught with consequences. Even the nicest gods have a limited amount of patience with humans infringing in their domain, and the other kind can be downright nasty. Find a safe place to cuddle up and read this fascinating and frightening adventure. I might even suggest a cup of hot tea to complete the experience— with or without brandy.” Rick Ludwig, author of Eyes of the Beholder “The Pirate’s Curse is a thoroughly enjoyable addition to the Veritas Code series. I have enjoyed reading each book in the series, and the author does a wonderful job of building on previous stories without the repetitive retelling of the series’ story arcs. Lauren and Rowan Pierce’s family continues to grow, and with it, each member plays a part in their next adventure. And if you like pirate stories, this is a nice one with plenty of twists and turns, plus the protagonists must take significant risks to come back together as a family—great story, a great author, and highly recommended. I’m looking forward to the next.” Mark Edward Jones, author of Peculiar Activities and Shadowed Souls

Some truths were never meant to be told … Join Dr. Lauren Grayson, the daring host of a popular travel/adventure show—The Veritas Codex—as she searches for answers to the world's greatest mysteries. Pursuing Bigfoot and aliens and lost treasures, she delves into the unknown…and unravels dark forces threatening everyone on Earth. Embark on a thrilling journey through captivating locations in this Collector's Edition box set. Because her father left when she was a small child, Lauren has long blamed her for their broken home and her long-standing feud with brother Michael. When Lauren finds the truth about her past, her present begins to make more sense…and may involve protecting Earth from dark forces threatening us from outside this world. The Veritas Codex paranormal thriller series takes readers on journeys from the Pacific Northwest to Mexico and the ancient ruins of Chichén Itza to Egypt and the Czech Republic with many more places left to discover. Where will adventure take you? Join the quest for truth with the first six books of The Veritas Codex Series in this wonderful Collector’s Edition box set which contains The Veritas Codex, The Jaguar Queen, The Alien Accord, The Monk’s Grimoire, The Lost Templar, and The Pirate’s Curse.

Lauren Grayson has spent her entire life searching for the truth about unsolved mysteries. But learning the secrets of her past could be dangerous—especially if they erase her future. While working on the season finale of her investigative TV show, The Veritas Codex, Lauren returns home to Eastern Oklahoma. She plans to take her growing sons on a safe investigation—hunting for the elusive Skunk Ape. But her investigation encounters bizarre, unexplained twists when her sons find a cave filled with ancient runes. Lauren reads the cryptic words, unintentionally creating a rift in the fabric of time. Lauren and her sons are hurled to a mysterious location where she finds Tsul’Kalu, her Sasquatch spirit guide, and a band of lost Templars. As Lauren’s health declines—an effect of temporal displacement—her sons fight to learn the secrets of a sacred treasure the Templars have sworn to protect. But one rogue member of the Templar party has other plans for the treasure and will stop at nothing to prevent Lauren and her friends from discovering it. Can Lauren uncover the secrets that have been withheld her entire life, make peace with the past, get her family back to the present, and protect their future? Join the quest for The Lost Templar today!