Will she decipher the mysteries leading to the sacred relic, or be defeated by the foes racing to claim it and destroy her? A dealer in art and antiquities, Storm Syrrell arranges her life as she does her work -- into neat, orderly categories. But when her grandfather is murdered, all certainties are crushingly replaced by suspicions. She struggles to understand his death -- and decipher the frayed leather journal she finds hidden in his vault. Storm soon realizes that, far from being simply a discreet art broker, Sean Syrrell was a trusted go-between in the highest ranks of business and government in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. But not all of Sean's associates were quite so lofty. Enter Harry Bennett, a scruffy professional treasure hunter just released from a Caribbean jail, followed by Emma Webb, a US government lawyer with links to Interpol. Storm pushes her doubts aside, locks the door to her Palm Beach art gallery, and opens herself to the quest begun by her grandfather. Their trail leads them ever farther afield -- London, France, Istanbul, Cyprus -- and ever deeper into danger. The thrill of the search is haunted by Storm's determination to bring Sean's murderers to justice. Storm and Harry in turn are targeted by an unknown assassin and saved from death only by Harry's split-second reactions. Their quest homes in on the Copper Scroll of Qumran and controversial claims made by the Jewish historian Josephus. Hidden beneath the dust and mysteries of two thousand years lies the reason behind Sean Syrrell's murder and the find of a lifetime: a fortune in gold of great historical significance. Storm begins to grasp the potential magnitude such artifacts will have on contemporary religion and politics -- especially the competing historical claims to Jerusalem. Some seek to claim the gold for the treasure it represents; others are determined to destroy it. With the tangled motives of greed and power now in focus, old allies become new enemies. Through this, something unexpected tugs at Storm. The sacred relics represent a formidable metaphor to an ancient faith; will her search include a renewal of her own faith? In this slick adventure thriller, an antiques dealer, whose grandfather has suddenly and suspiciously died, teams up with a veteran treasure hunter to follow a series of clues in the dead man’s journal. The trail leads the pair across the world, as they chase after some valuable historical documents while keeping one small step ahead of some very nasty pursuers. Readers of James Rollins or Steve Berry (or fans of the Indiana Jones movies) will be on solid ground here and probably won’t mind that the story is perhaps a bit too derivative. The two leads, antiques dealer Storm Syrell and shifty treasure hunter Harry Bennett, are well constructed and likable, and Bunn, author of more than 15 previous novels, including the Marcus Glenwood legal-thriller series, keeps things moving at a brisk clip. Most of Bunn’s previous work has been marketed at readers of Christian fiction, but this one can be confidently recommend to fans of globetrotting thrillers as well. --David Pitt Davis Bunn is the author of numerous national bestsellers in genres spanning historical sagas, contemporary thrillers, and inspirational gift books. He has received widespread critical acclaim, including three Christy Awards for excellence in fiction, and his books have sold more than six million copies in sixteen languages. He and his wife, Isabella, are affiliated with Oxford University, where Davis serves as writer in residence at Regent’s Park College. He lectures internationally on the craft of writing. Gold of Kings A Novel By Davis Bunn Howard Books Copyright © 2009 Davis Bunn All right reserved. ISBN: 9781416556312 ONE The rain pelting Seventh Avenue tasted of diesel and big-city friction. Sean Syrrell stared out the limo's open window and let the day weep for him. Sean gripped his chest with one hand, trying to compress his heart back into shape. His granddaughter managed to make the end of the block only because her aunt supported her. They turned the corner without a backward glance. Not till they were lost from view did Sean roll up his window. Storm's survival demanded that she be cut loose. He had fired her because it was the only way he could protect her. Sean knew the enemy was closing in. He had felt the killer's breath for days. Storm was his last remaining hope for achieving his lifelong dream, and establishing his legacy. But the knowledge he had been right to fire her did little to ease the knife-edged pain that shredded his heart. The driver asked, "Everything okay, Mr. Syrrell?" Sean glanced at the young man behind the wheel. The driver was new, but the company was the only one he used ever since the danger had been revealed. If the enemy wanted a way to monitor his movements in New York, he'd handed it to them on a platter. "Why don't you go for a coffee or something. I'd like a mo