Book One
Esclarmonde’s Collective
The murder of beloved Friar Jordi thrusts his adopted son—friar and reluctant scholar Theo—into a world of deception. Ancient texts, hidden identities, a clandestine organization, and the suppressed legacy of a forgotten Christian sect rise from the shadows, pulling Theo toward a truth buried since the days of the Cathars.
Theo bands together with an unlikely group of Brown University students and their professor. Troubled by dreams of a fierce heroine from the Albigensian Crusade, they find themselves drawn into a centuries-old conspiracy. Their search leads them from an Ivy League library to the mountains of Montserrat and deep into the Vatican’s hidden chambers.
From the shadows, orchestrating her own brand of justice for Friar Jordi’s murder is Fox—a razor-sharp protector. When a deadly inquisitorial unit closes in on Theo and his friends, loyalties begin to fracture. To save the sacred manuscript at the heart of the mystery, Theo must confront betrayal, challenge his faith, and face the truth of who he is.
The past isn't over. It's waiting to be remembered.
A murder. A vanished sect. A secret the Church would kill to protect.
What People Are Saying
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Reading Esclarmonde's Collective was like watching a movie.
— Advanced Copy Reader
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loved the strong female characters.
— Advanced Copy Reader
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Enjoyed learning about the Cathars.
Advanced Copy Reader
The space where history and mystery converge captivates Jo Garceau. Drawn by the silences in the historical record and the questions left unanswered, she writes to illuminate the shadows of the past and the echoes they leave in the present. Her debut novel, Esclarmonde’s Collective, delves into the hidden legacy of a forgotten sect, exploring how secrets survive across centuries through memory, spirit, and the collective unconscious. Blending historical intrigue with elements of spirituality and suspense, her work reflects a fascination with what lies just beyond sight—whispers of the past, the mysteries suppressed. Her fiction allows her to travel more secretive paths—where ancient voices speak, conspiracies unravel, and history itself seems to breathe.
Jo Garceau is a Minnesota-based author. When she isn’t writing, she can usually be found in the company of a certain opinionated cat—though both prefer to keep their secrets.