Product Description

Naples, 1750. In the dead of the night, three men with swords burst into the palazzo of a marquis. The intruders' leader, the Prince of San Severo, accuses the marquis of being an impostor, and demands to know a secret that he believes the man harbours. In the fight that ensues, the false marquis escapes over the rooftops, leaving behind a burning palazzo and a raging prince who is now obsessed with finding his quarry at any cost. Baghdad, 2003. An American army unit hunting down Saddam's inner circle makes a horrifying discovery: a state-of-the-art, concealed lab where dozens - men, women, children - have died after enduring gruesome experiments. The mysterious scientist they were after, a man believed to be working on a bioweapons program and known only as the hakeem - the doctor - escapes, taking with him the startling truth about his work. A puzzling clue is left behind, crudely carved into the wall of one of the underground prison's cells: a circular symbol of a snake feeding on its own tail. So begins Raymond Khoury's explosive new novel, placing two bold women at the centre of the action as they get caught up in a murderous trail of ancient clues.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #13005 in Books
• Published on: 2008-06-12
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 480 pages

IRISH MAIL ON SUNDAY
'A high octane rollercoaster ride of thrills and spills'

Review
"nail-biting suspense and colourful characters" (WATERSTONES BOOKS QUARTERLY )

"This high-octane thriller will grip you from the start" (SOUTH WALES ARGUS )

"the pace never relents" (GOOD BOOK GUIDE )

DAILY SPORT
'murder and mayhem and a heart-stopping seat-of-pants ride that will leave you thoroughly glad you decided to stay in to read it...'

Customer Reviews

all one needs in a thriller - just bloody fantastic


I have to admit that I just came by this book as I was despeartedly searching for something exciting without really knowning what I am looking. Maybe you know this feeling. In the novel section with the semi-religious thrillers I saw Raymond Khouray's second book and first thought that this is another one a la Da Vince Code. But I bought it nevertheless and - to my own surprise - I was hooked with page 1.

It is fast running thriller, based in the present with some historical background. The characters are very different and develop with this plot. They are no sterotypes and do not talk or act like robots. Is involvement in the BBC hit thriller "Waking the Dead" clearly shows here. Not that this a copy of that show but the charracters are much rounder and interesting than in the usual thrillers. That the story is mainly set in the Middle East, Beirout and here is background is an asset as he can describe country, city and atmosphere with much knowledge and passion. I like his style of writing a lot. And before I forget: the plot is just fantastic.I could not put this book down. I think the author can become very quickly one of my great favorites.

The best read of the year
I am a bookseller and in the course of a year I read huge quantities of books , all I can say is that Sanctuary is my best read this year , couldnt put it down , highly recommended . Alan White Fine Books

A 250 year old secret which re-surfaces with a vengeance in todays Middle-East
Raymond Khoury blends elements of history, modern politics and then adds more than a lavish measure of thrills and suspense in this his latest novel. A 250 year relic and people will kill to possess the secrets it holds.The plot is mostly set in the modern day Middle-East(The Lebanon, Iraq etc) and Mr khoury's excellent research into the history of the region is all too apparent in this fast moving thriller which I must say had me enthralled from page one through to its nail biting finish. The back streets of Beirut are vividly brought to life in this all action thriller involving an archaeologist, a kidnapping, The CIA and the kind of doctor you do not want to pay you a home visit.In all honesty I thought it would be very difficult for the author to equal his first book 'The Last Templar ' but in this book 'Sanctuary' he has more than equalled his first book and has produced a high octane thriller, skillfully written and with all the mastery of one of todays foremost thriller writers. I just hope that some film director out there reads the book......what a movie it would make