by RaymondKhoury (Author)
Naples, 1750. In the dead of the night, three men with swords burst into the palazzo of a marquis. The intruders' leader, the Prince of San Severo, accuses the marquis of being an impostor, and demands to know a secret that he believes the man harbours. In the fight that ensues, the false marquis escapes over the rooftops, leaving behind a burning palazzo and a raging prince who is now obsessed with finding his quarry at any cost. Baghdad, 2003. An American army unit hunting down Saddam's inner circle makes a horrifying discovery: a state-of-the-art, concealed lab where dozens - men, women, children - have died after enduring gruesome experiments. The mysterious scientist they were after, a man believed to be working on a bioweapons program and known only as the hakeem - the doctor - escapes, taking with him the startling truth about his work. A puzzling clue is left behind, crudely carved into the wall of one of the underground prison's cells: a circular symbol of a snake feeding on its own tail. So begins Raymond Khoury's explosive new novel, placing two bold women at the centre of the action as they get caught up in a murderous trail of ancient clues.
Format: Paperback
Pages: 480
Publisher: Orion
Published: 12 Jun 2008
ISBN 10: 0752893408
ISBN 13: 9780752893402
Book Overview: THE SANCTUARY combines history and cutting-edge science to deliver even more of the brilliant mystery and rapid-fire suspense that made Khoury's debut novel, THE LAST TEMPLAR, a Sunday Times, New York Times and #1 international bestseller. THE LAST TEMPLAR was THE debut hit of 2006, with rights sold in 33 countries. It has sold over half a million copies in paperback alone. Raymond unites gripping action-packed narratives with fascinating historical research and emotive issues. In his new novel he brings past and present together around a highly topical subject - the question of human longevity. The issue of how we age and when we die is both a mythic age-old obsession and a question of cutting-edge science. Raymond Khoury received terrific reviews for both his novels: 'A high-octane roller-coaster ride of thrills and spills' Irish Mail on Sunday. 'The perfect read for those for whom Dan Brown was the start but not the finish' Sunday Express.