The Wheel of Darkness by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child

FBI Agent Pendergast and his ward Constance Greene are on a retreat to a Tibetan monastery high in the mountains when it is discovered that a sacred relic has been stolen. Pendergast is asked to find the relic, yet the monks can't seem to give a satisfactory description, only that is is very evil and can cause great harm in the wrong hands. A murder leads Pendergast and Greene to sail on the maiden voyage of the Britannia, confidant that the murderer and the relic are aboard. Preston and Child weave a complicated and frightening tale of suspense. A good read. Sandy Penton