This convoluted story takes place in both 1972 and 1790. In 1972, computer expert Catherine Velis is sent to Algeria to do some work for the then brand new organization OPEC. She and her friend, a chess master named Lily, end up in a search for a mysterious chess set. In 1790, during the French Revolution, a young nun named Mireille and her cousin Valentine are given the job of protecting pieces of the Montglane Service, a fabulous jeweled chess set that once belonged to Charlemagne. The one who possesses the entire set has access to a secret formula which will give them great power. What kind of power is not really explained but many would like to get their hands on it. The story jumps back and forth between time periods, explaining what happened to part of the chess set in France and the search for the pieces in Algieria in 1972. The main characters find themselves in life-threatening situations that are neatly resolved a bit too often. Prominent historical figures such as Catherine the Great, Robespierre, and Talleyrand are featured in the French portions. King Faisal and Muammar Qaddafi make appearances in the Algerian sections. After all the twists, turns, and intrigue the result was a bit of a let down. This one had the potential to be better.
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