Part of Cotton Malone, book 5.5
First published 2010
Cassiopeia Vitt ventures deep into Bulgaria's Rila mountains on a mission for billionaire Henrik Thorvaldsen. She seeks ancient artifacts hidden in a Thracian king's tomb, relics of extraordinary rarity from a civilization lost to time. The treasure hunt turns deadly when Russian operatives discover her presence in their secret mining territory. Trapped in hostile terrain with enemies closing in, Vitt must identify allies from threats in a landscape where the wrong choice means death. Her survival hinges on reading people correctly while navigating the treacherous politics of buried gold and modern greed. This digital exclusive story captures Vitt in her element, combining archaeological intrigue with life-or-death stakes in the forbidding Bulgarian wilderness.
Genres: historical-fiction, adventure, mystery, archaeology, thriller, espionage
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-allies, life-or-death-stakes
Setting: Rila Mountains, Bulgaria
Period: modern
20 pages · Kindle Edition · Ballantine Books