The Lost Relic
Buy the Book: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Blackwells, Hive, Waterstones, WHSmithSeries: Ben Hope #6
Published by: Avon
Release Date: 5 May 2016
Pages: 448
ISBN13: 978-1847561978
Synopsis
Has Ben finally met his match …
While in Italy visiting an old army comrade, a chance encounter leads ex-SAS soldier Ben Hope into a prestigious art exhibition near Rome. But the gallery is soon attacked by ruthless killers prepared to do anything to obtain an obscure, rediscovered work by the artist Goya – and Ben is caught up in a violent hostage situation.
In the wake of the bloodbath, Ben is lauded as a hero . . . but not for long. Accused of a crime he didn’t commit, and with his life in tatters, he is suddenly a fugitive, hurled into a wild chase across Europe with the police and the determined, attractive law enforcement agent Darcey Kane hot on his heels. Vowing to hunt down the art gallery killers, Ben must puzzle out the clues: why did the villains target a relatively valueless sketch when they could have taken grand masters worth millions? Who are the real players behind the scenes?
Piece by piece, Ben uncovers an international conspiracy at the highest level. At its heart lies the secret of the lost ‘Dark Medusa’, and a tale of doomed romance and death dating back to the tumultuous events of the Russian Revolution. This time, Ben is fighting not only for justice, but for his own freedom . . . but has he finally met his match in Darcey Kane?
Praise
‘This is Scott Mariani’s sixth book and it has all the same addictive ingredients, suspense, authenticity and action, as the other books in the Ben Hope series.’
—The Clitheroe Advertiser and Times
‘Well researched, superbly plotted, full of mystery, bloodshed, dark humour and a cast of colourful characters, sees the Scottish author on top form.’
—Pendle Today
‘The helter-skelter pace kept me hooked like a prize catch . . . if Mariani can type at the pace his novels move, then his PC must have breathed a sigh of relief every time he finished work for the day.’
—Crime Squad Reviews
‘Fast-paced, violent and shot through with a delicate thread of romance, The Lost Relic poses the serious danger of being devoured in one session.’
—The Lancashire Evening Post
‘”Page-turner” is a hackneyed phrase in the world of books, but Mariani’s Ben Hope adventures take the thriller genre to its dizziest and most dazzling heights.’
—The Chorley Guardian
‘A first-rate thriller with just the right blend of adventure and historical background to make it stick. Mariani has his finger on the pulse, and this is a brilliant piece of pure escapism grounded in fact. Terrific!’
—Books Monthly Magazine
‘An exciting read with lots of twists and turns, that will keep you guessing until the end.’
—Closer Magazine
‘A high-voltage story from an utterly great writer . . . a must read.’
—Simply Readers
Read an excerpt here