ET JE TE DONNERAI LES TRÉSORS DES TÉNÈBRES

A deftly-crafted supernatural thriller blending fact, action and suspense.

November 24, 1248. A landslide in the Grande Chartreuse Mountains causes the face of Mount Granier to slide into the valley. Thousands are killed, including Jacques-Guillaume Bonnivard, to whom Pope Innocent IV had entrusted the papal treasure during his exile in France. Nearly eight centuries later, a group of four impassioned cavers, three medical students, Joël, Xavier and Alexis, and a student of medieval history, Nadine, have put together an expedition to explore the renowned Granier cave system. They are careful not to reveal the true nature of their expedition, however: to discover the Pope's gold. The expedition's chief financial sponsor is the mysterious Russian firm, Geotechnik, represented in France by Didier de la Renardière, an insufferably arrogant businessman with unlimited funds who joins the Granier exploration team, specialists Igor, Basile and Renaud in tow. As the expedition pushes its way deeper and deeper into the underground galleries, little do the explorers suspect they are being watched by a secret society. For centuries, a ruthless enemy has been guarding the Pope's treasure and, in particular, two priceless relics, the authentic shroud of Christ and the holy chalice. The brotherhood will stop at nothing to prevent the precious artifacts from falling into sacrilegious hands. The adventure quickly turns into a nightmare. The underground environment is hostile, and perhaps even supernatural. When a fatal accident occurs, the team is forced to reluctantly abandon the search. Weeks go by. But each of the explorers will resume the quest, in secret, and ultimately discover the treasure's location. Didier de la Renardière will duly attempt to eliminate his partners, to claim the treasure for himself alone. Fine reporter, war correspondent and former director of a magazine, Albert Londres Prize in 1967, Jean Bertolino takes us on a thrilling quest that compete esoteric traditions, the power of money and companions looking for an Ideal.