Italian Ben Pastor specializes in historical mysteries set amid military occupations. A hit with both audiences and critics, Lumen is the first in a series of titles starring officer Martin Bora, inspired by Nazi Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg, played by Tom Cruise in the film Valkyrie. In Nazi-occupied Poland in 1939, German officer Martin Bora finds the body of a nun murdered in cold blood inside the convent. The victim, Mother Kazimierza, gained a legion of followers thanks to her supposed gift of prophecy. Through the motto "Lumen Christi Adiuva Nos" (Light of Christ, help us), she brought comfort to hundreds of Poles distressed by the German occupation. Who would have motives to kill her? American priest Malecki is in Poland on orders from the Vatican, tasked with investigating the powers of the prophetess. After Kazimierza's death, he receives new orders: he is obliged to remain in the country and follow the investigation into this brutal crime. The cleric and the soldier are united by an idealistic and intense desire for justice. As the Germans consolidate their control over Polish territory, expropriating farmers, beating civilians, and sending Jews to forced labor camps, Father Malecki's perseverance and courage lead him into dangerous political territory. At the same time, Bora is surprised by the violence of the occupation and the ideological fanaticism of his colleagues. Through the officer, Ben Pastor highlights the countless contradictions and dilemmas faced by those forced to serve a criminal state. By blending elements of psychological thriller and existential reflection, Lumen challenges the reader to reconcile faith with the reality of the Nazi regime. Like Bernhard Schlink in The Reader, the writer explores the human side of her executioners and questions whether the discovery of their fragility would legitimize the unforgivable.
