THE HIDDEN OASIS

2152 BC, Egypt: As the 94-year reign of pharaoh Pepy ll draws to a close, fifty priests set out under cover of darkness into the Western Desert, dragging with them a mysterious object swathed in cloth. Four weeks later, having reached their destination, the priests calmly slit each other’s throats, the last one left alive cutting his wrists.

1988, Georgia, USSR: A plane takes off from a small airfield near the recently decommissioned Mtskheta nuclear research facility. Somewhere over Egypt’s Western Desert the plane disappears.

Freya Hannan, 32, arrives in Egypt for the funeral of her elder sister Alex, a desert explorer. Recently diagnosed with a degenerative condition, Alex has taken her own life. Only two other non-Egyptians are present at the funeral: Professor Flinders ‘Flin’ Brodie - tall, rugged, handsome - a world authority on pre-dynastic Egypt; and Molly Kiernan, an American working at the UN. As Freya sorts through her sister’s possessions, she becomes increasingly uneasy. Why had she chosen this mode of suicide given her lifelong fear of injections?

When a Bedouin turns up at Alex’s home with objects found in the desert, explaining that she had promised to pay him for news of any unusual remains, Freya realizes that it is not only her sister’s death that raises questions, but her life as well. And when Alex’s home is broken into, the objects stolen, Freya has to run for her life. She goes to Flin and rapidly both their lives depend on finding answers.

'The Hidden Oasis is that rarest of literary entities: an intelligent, compelling, beautifully written thriller. You will enjoy every page of this breathtaking ride - and the secret at the heart of it will knock the top of your head off.' William Bernhardt (author of the Ben Kincaid series)

‘Another winner from Paul Sussman --- hands down one of the best writers of international suspense in the business. Told with authority and style, excitement melds with adventure --- you can feel the scorching desert heat and the chapping, acrid winds. The Hidden Oasis offers bone chilling thrills, a flair for the macabre, and off-the-charts suspense. Superb.’ Steve Berry

‘A rip-roaring gem of a read – you are in for a real treat!’ Raymond Khoury

‘Believable characters, fascinating history and an evocative sense of place - especially Cairo and the dry heat of the Sahara. There’s nothing dry about the visceral violence and thrilling action scenes, however, and best of all is the terrifying secret at the heart of the story - The Hidden Oasis itself’ Michael Cordy - author of The Messiah Code

'I loved the mystery of the oasis, the utterly insane improbable location and subsequent events that develop and yet never once did I feel that I was being duped or failed to suspend my disbelief. It's a thrilling ride and one I'd highly recommend' My Favourite Books blog

Sales

Bantam Press UK;

Metafora Czech Republic;

Columbus Slovak Republic;

Grove Atlantic USA;

Tiderne Skifter Denmark;

Random House Mondadori World Spanish;

Bertrand Brazil;

AST Russia;

W F Howes Unabridged Audio;

Unieboek NL;

Presses de la Cite France;

Mondadori Italy;

Muza Poland;

WSOY Finland;

Cappelen Damm Norway;

Partvonal Hungary;

Bard Bulgaria;

Varrak Estonia;

Pegasus Turkey;

RAO Romania;

Skorpion Croatia.

Material: Finished copies of US edition (505pp)

THE LAST SECRET OF THE TEMPLE

Inspector Yusuf Khalifa of the Luxor Police is back!! When Dutch archaeologist Piet Jansen is found murdered, Yusuf Khalifa soon finds alarming parallels with his first murder case of thirteen years earlier, in which an Israeli woman, Hannah Schlegel, was found dead at Karnak. Against the advice of his superiors, Khalifa, uneasily collaborating with an Israeli police officer, Arieh Ben-Roi, who, in turn depends on the information uncovered by Palestinian journalist Layla al-Madani, soon realises that the identity of Schlegel’s murderer involves the mystery surrounding an age-old religious treasure smuggled to the castle of Castelombres in France, and the whereabouts of aged Nazi sympathisers…

'Not just a tightly-plotted, richly-observed, thought-provoking thriller, but one with a soul. Which is what makes it really special. Paul Sussman doesn't evidently just know what he's writing about; he cares about it, deeply. The compelling mix of tough, page-turning suspense, archaeology, history, and characters caught up in the brutal politics of the Middle East, make this a timely and authentic novel. Paul Sussman builds his story with the meticulous strokes of a craftsman, growing it from a seemingly innocuous death in the shadows of the Pyramids to a discovery that threatens millions of lives. His storytelling comfortably blends historical mystery with unflinching contemporary suspense, all of it told through utterly convincing depictions of setting and character. Inspectors Khalifa and Ben-Roi are heroes of our age: conflicted, harassed, noble and, most crucially, very human. I hope we see more of them very soon.' Raymond Khoury, author of The Last Templar

‘The intelligent reader’s answer to THE DA VINCI CODE: a big, fat, satisfying archaeological puzzle story…clever plotting and solid characterisation.’ Independent

'While Paul Sussman's brilliant novel, THE LAST SECRET OF THE TEMPLE, will be compared to Dan Brown's eight-hundred-pound gorilla, it is so much more. The mystery runs deeper, the history more accurate, the suspense drawn to a keener edge. It also shines a light into a bloody part of the world, where it is hard to tell enemy from friend, and where ancient debts of pain and murder echo to the present. Here is a thriller on par with the best literature out there. Challenging, shocking, evocative…it should be required reading during these harsh times.'
James Rollins, New York Times bestselling author of Black Order and The Judas Strain

'Two for two. Another sure fire winner from a gifted storyteller. Hopefully, The Last Secret of the Temple won't be Paul Sussman's last.'
Steve Berry, author of The Romanov Prophecy, The Templar Legacy and The Third Secret

“The Last Secret of the Temple is a gripping mystery, intricately plotted and eloquently told, with more hairpin turns than the road to Hitler's Berchtesgaden. But more than that, its tale of an ancient artifact and the grudging alliance of an Egyptian detective and Israeli cop is as urgent and meaningful as the best journalism. Paul Sussman’s novel is not just thrilling, it makes the tension and promise of the Middle East heartbreakingly alive.” William Dietrich, author of Napoleon’s Pyramids

“The Last Secret of the Temple is a brilliant detective novel, hidden within a medieval saga, tucked inside of an archaeological mystery, surrounded by a modern-day Middle-East Terrorist Thriller. Paul Sussman has managed the impossible: a multi-layered quest-- where all the characters are real and alive, and we should expect the completely unexpected.” Katherine Neville, author of The Eight

Sales

Transworld UK;

Grove Atlantic USA;

Piper Germany;

AST Russia;

Presses de la Cite France;

Plaza y Janes World Spanish;

Mondadori Italy;

Unieboek NL;

Metafora Czech & Slovakia;

Cappelens Norway;

Tiderne Skifter Denmark;

Muza Poland;

Ulisseia Portugal;

Kadokawa Japan;

Bard Bulgaria;

Varrak Estonia;

Partvonal Hungary;

Alma Lithuania;

Enigma Croatia;

WSOY Finland;

Diigisi Greece;

RAO Romania;

Laguna Serbia;

Bertrand Brasil Brazil;

Nokhook Thailand;

Kontinents Latvia;

Pustaka Alvabet Indonesia;

Nokta Yayincilik Turkey

Audio: WF Howes

Material: Finished copies

THE LOST ARMY OF CAMBYSES

APRIL 2005 WINNER OF THE GOLDEN EARPHONE AWARD, THE AUDIO INDUSTRY'S OSCARS (narrated by Gordon Griffin)

A contemporary thriller set against an epic backdrop, a refreshingly different, powerful, and action-packed first novel by a hugely talented author.
THE LOST ARMY OF CAMBYSES introduces readers to the beguiling Egyptian detective, Inspector Yusuf Khalifa. His preliminary enquiries into a modern-day murder soon show him a mystery involving hidden treasure, greed, fanaticism, violence, love, secrets, betrayal, and further death.
And, as the mystery deepens, Khalifa finds himself faced with the question of how, in 523 BC, the Emperor Cambyses' army of 50,000 men could simply disappear in a sandstorm forever.

‘A great adventure, one of the most intriguing mysteries of the past, a great novel masterfully written.’ Valerio Massimo Manfredi

‘A plot as complex as a hall of mirrors, and almost as gripping as a death threat.’ Kirkus Review

‘Rip-roaring adventure mystery.’ Booklist

'A spine chilling, fast-paced thriller...in a style reminiscent of Patricia's Cornwell's early novel, it shocks as well as enthralls.' Business Post

'At last, a thriller that gets away from the hackneyed old 'curse of Tut' stuff; and since Sussman has actually excavated in Egypt himself, we can trust his background details...the fast-paced plot is one among many good things in this very assured first novel.' Scotland on Sunday

'A tough, sometimes brutal, but always engrossing thriller. Sussman knows his Egypt, past and present, and he has the gift of creating engaging heroes of both sexes and really, REALLY vile villians.' Dr. Barbara Mertz, Archeologist

'Set against the backdrop of modern-day Egypt, The Lost Army of Cambyses is a gripping first novel from young British writer Paul Sussman.

It's a spine-chilling, fast-paced thriller packed with vivid descriptions of Egypt from the glistening sands of the western desert to the stinking back streets of Cairo.
It has all the ingredients of a James Bond adventure: exotic locations, priceless antiquities, evil fanatics bent on global domination, brutal murders, corrupt policemen, human heroism, and it keeps you guessing right up to the final chapter.

It's rare to find a book which sets your heartbeat racing as you timidly but compulsively turn the page, terrified at what might jump out in the next paragraph. But in a style reminiscent of Patricia Cornwell's early books, The Lost Army of Cambyses shocks as well as enthralls.

Sussman's talent for characterisation emerges as a major strength. Male novelists are often accused of writing unconvincing female characters, but this novel has created a strong protagonist in Tara Mullray. Minor characters are also well charted, complete with personal and often repulsive idiosyncrasies. Sussman works in deeper themes such as the appeal of fundamentalism for impoverished young Muslims and the domination of the Egyptian archaeology by western interests. It's a subtext which betrays the author's own feelings but he doesn't allow it to stand in the way of a good yarn. A compelling read.' Sunday Business Post, Ireland

Sales

Transworld UK;

Piper Kabel Germany;

Unieboek NL;

Grove Atlantic USA;

Presses de la Cite France;

Kadokawa France;

Plaza y Janes World Spain;

Mondadori Italy;

Cappelens Norway;

Oceanida Greece;

AST Russia;

Wahlstrom & Widstrand Sweden;

WSOY Finland;

Columbus Slovakia;

Metafora Czech Republic;

LAL Kitap Turkey;

Opus Press Israel;

Tiderne Skifter Denmark;

Varrak Estonia;

Kontinents Latvia;

Bard Bulgaria;

Alma Lithuania;

Record Brazil;

Ulisseia Portugal;

Magyar Konyvklub Hungary;

Laguna Serbia;

RAO Romania;

Enigma Croatia;

MKZ Slovenia;

Muza Poland;

Jaeum & Moeum Korea;

Arab Scientific Publishers Lebanon;

Pustaka Alvabet Indonesia;

Nokhook Thailand;

Audio: WF Howes.