We follow the stories of several other characters through vividly captured glimpses of prehistory. Yet The Sceptre is more than anything else the story of Katya. Katharina Becker moves from Austria to America as a teenage girl, with her family. She chafes to expand her horizons from the small farming community in rural Ohio to the big city-Cleveland. She still hopes, deep inside, to find her lost love, Hans August Jung, who abruptly emigrated before she did. But she knows this will probably never happen, as America is a very big place.

In the 1930s Katya has moved to Cleveland. She found work as a seamstress, and her skill led to promotions. She not only gets to supervise others but even to try out some of her own ideas for dresses. She finds a husband, and a department store finds her and helps her to set up her own company for dress designs. She marries and has a child and becomes estranged from her husband. Her designs are remarkably successful, and she increases in fame. The world marches inexorably toward war.

Katya's life seems guided by the odd designs she once traced with her fingertips, designs that have become her trademark as she is increasingly respected for her artistry. They are ancient designs, simple yet powerful symbols of fertility and of complexity. The power in these designs transcends centuries. From the time they were first created they have been surrounded by reverence, and with it envy and violence. These innate characteristics have not faded away in the twentieth century.

There is a great deal more, but you will have to read the book to find out what happens to Katya, and how these powerful symbols from the distant past make their power known in more recent times. I will tell you that these symbols were used to create an artifact of great power, known as the Sceptre. I will tell you that Hans August Jung comes into and out of Katya's life more than once and that her love and longing for him border on obsession. I will tell you that Katya's designs affect not just women's dresses but the very tapestry of her times. I will tell you that I anxiously await the just-published sequel to this book, which is called The Labyrinth, and that I will share with you my thoughts after I read that.

Chuck Gregory--consultant to All Books and Records


Writers Digest Review   May 19, 2001
Dorothy Jane Mills (Naples, FL United States)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

Here is a review I received from Writers Digest. "The Sceptre demonstrates an impressive range of fiction skills worthy of a professional writer. I particularly like the mixture of historical setting, thriller, and the solid research that makes this so real. The intriguing title arouses immediate interest, and it is appropriate to the tone and content of the novel. The plot is compelling and suspenseful, maintaining reader involvement throughout. Clever subplots complicate the story in an intriguing way. The novel is populated with fresh and original characters whose conflicts and personal arcs we care about. Katya Becker is likable, intelligent, and riveting as a character. The author's sincere tone and intelligent voice adds a refreshing dimension that captures the attention and makes us want to pay attention. The style is nicely honed, with strong word choices and a rich texture. Dialogue is realistic and involving. The different characters are given their own unique voices that resonate throughout. Setting definitely enhances the story. Not only are the descriptions of the setting vivid, but the texture adds intensity to the story. The novel moves smoothly, with a consistent urgency. The reader feels compelled to find out what will happen next."'


A real page-turner   May 5, 1999
lwhaywood@aol.com (Orange Park, FL)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

Dorothy Mills' THE SCEPTRE is a real page-turner. Mixing ancient and WWII-period history with mystery and an exquisite use of symbolism, the book focuses on a strong and appealing female character, a woman of action and a woman of passion. It'll keep you up late.