Product Description

An ancient fortune has lain hidden for thousands of years, one so powerful that men will kill to protect it. And only one man can unearth it! Ex-SAS operative Ben Hope is living a peaceful life in rural France - until a phone call from an old army comrade turns his world upside down. Eminent Egyptologist Morgan Paxton has been brutally murdered while working on the mysterious 'Akhenaten Project' in Cairo, and Colonel Harry Paxton wants Ben to find his son's killer. Ben is unable to refuse the request from the man who once saved his life - but when Harry asks him to avenge his son's death he's in dangerous territory. Made worse by the fact that he finds himself attracted to Zara Paxton, Harry's new bride. Carving through the seedy Cairo underworld, Ben soon realises that there was more to Paxton's research than meets the eye as he is plunged into one double-cross after another. His mission leads him from Italy and Paris via the coast of Scotland to the banks of the Nile, climaxing in a tense showdown in the war-torn Sudanese desert. At the end of the trail lies the ultimate treasure, hidden away by three rebel High Priests during the reign of the 'Heretic' Pharoah Akhenaten - a collection so valuable that some will stop at nothing to possess it! A super-charged, heart-racing thriller, perfect for fans of Dan Brown, Sam Bourne and Wilbur Smith.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2248 in Books
• Published on: 2009-06-25
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback

Review
'shades of Ian Fleming meeting Dan Brown' Western Mail 'Mariani certainly knows how to rack up the tension in this high-octane thriller' Lancashire Evening Post Praise for Scott Mariani: 'This is a pacy, action-packed read.' Closer

About the Author
Scott Mariani grew up in St Andrews, Scotland. He studied Modern Languages at Oxford and went on to work as a translator, a professional musician, a pistol shooting instructor and a freelance journalist before becoming a full-time writer. After spending several years in Italy and France, Scott discovered his secluded writer's haven in the wilds of west Wales, an 1830s country house complete with rambling woodland and a secret passage. When he isn't writing, Scott enjoys jazz, movies, classic motorcycles and astronomy.

Customer Reviews

Another brilliant, well-paced Ben Hope adventure!
This is the fourth book in the Ben Hope adventure series (The other three being (in order) 'The Alchemist's Secret, The Mozart Conspiracy, The Doomsday Prophecy. I have read all the Ben Hope books and am a real fan - he is an ex-SAS operative with a bit of a tortured past so he makes a decent hero (and no it's not as cliched as it sounds!).

It's not necessary to read the books in order as each book has its own story and whatever important bits about Ben's past are going to be relevant again, you are told quite early on in the book.

Amazon has provided a synopsis so I won't reiterate what the story is about. Suffice to say that 'The Heretic's Treasure' is great because it has all the elements of a good adventure story and once the pace picks up, it just keeps racing. It's well-written with various twists so it keeps you interested in the story and keeps you rooting for the characters to the very end.

If you haven't read any of the other books and aren't sure if you will like Scott Mariani's style, I would say his books remind me most of Dan Brown both in terms of how the stories are structured and the writing style. I loved the Dan Brown books and I always seem to be hunting for another writer who can have me hooked in the same way!

So to summarize, if you like Dan Brown AND/OR you're just looking for an adventure story that will surprise and thrill you, get this (or start at the beginning with the first Ben Hope book if you like - you won't be disappointed!). 'The Heretic's Treasure' is a very entertaining page-turner; I read lots of thriller/adventure books and the Ben Hope books are definitely up there amongst my favourites - highly recommended!

A new favorite author!
I have not read Mr. Mariani before, but after enjoying this thriller/adventure his other books are on my reading list. Mr. Mariani's style of writing, adventure theme, and fascinating plot line involving an ancient mystery reminded me of James Rollins' novels. This book would make an awesome movie. The plot involves an ancient fortune that has been lost for thousands of years, ancient Egyptian archeology, and plenty of action adventure and few twist and turns to spin your head. It's great to have a cool new favorite author!

For another great thriller read that mixes in the ancient mystery of the I highly recommend the Indie cult hit "A Tourist in the Yucatan."

Treasure hunt thriller in Egypt and Sudan desert.
The Heretic's Treasure

Ben Hopes's fourth outing with a stronger plot than the previous Doomsday Prophecy.

Once again Hope endeavours to escape being the final line of defence in kidnap and ransom situations by setting up a training facility in France.
Then Hope receives a cry for help he can't refuse, from Harry Paxton the man who saved his live.

Immediately he is in conflict with Kaled Kamal a ruthless terrorist on a treasure hunt for Egyptian gold statues from the reign of Akhenaten worth billions.

Once again very well written, however the adrenaline pumps at a slightly lower level than the previous novels, but characterisation is just as good.

Another Ben Hope winner.