Part of Virgil Flowers, book 7
First published 2013
A desperate man with a backpack searches Israeli shores for escape. Days later in Minnesota, investigator Virgil Flowers receives word from Lucas Davenport that trouble is heading his way. An Israeli police officer arrives pursuing a smuggler who stole an ancient inscribed stone that could reveal secrets about King Solomon. Virgil jokes about movie plots and mystical artifacts until he sees the Israeli cop isn't amused. The relic has attracted dangerous pursuers from across the Middle East and beyond. Palestinians, Syrians, Egyptians, Israelis, Turks, Americans, and possibly Vatican agents all want the stone. The Israeli officer calls them crazies, and they will eliminate anyone blocking their path. What begins as an international theft case becomes a deadly chase through Minnesota as religious extremists converge. Virgil must protect the Israeli investigator while staying ahead of killers who view murder as acceptable collateral damage in their quest for the biblical artifact.
Genres: adventure, mystery, crime, thriller, action
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: chase, international-conflict, religious-mystery
Setting: Israel, Minnesota
Period: Contemporary
376 pages · Hardcover · G.P. Putnam's Sons
Content warnings: violence