Lion Of Babylon A Marc Royce Thriller Book 1

Marc Royce works for the State Department on special assignments, most of them rather routine, until two CIA operatives go missing in Iraq--kidnapped by Taliban forces bent on generating chaos in the region. Two others also drop out of sight--a high-placed Iraqi civilian and an American woman providing humanitarian aid. Are the disappearances linked? Rumors circulate in a whirl of misinformation. Marc must unravel the truth in a covert operation requiring utmost secrecy--from both the Americans and the insurgents. But even more secret than the undercover operation is the underground dialogue taking place between sworn enemies. Will the ultimate Reconciler between ancient enemies, current foes, and fanatical religious factions be heard?

The first in an exciting new adventure series from the award-winning and internationally bestselling author of The Presence whose books have sold more than 6 million copies—Indiana Jones meets The Venetian Betrayal in this thrilling, rollicking read! Storm Syrell sells antiques in Palm Beach, Florida. An art historian, Storm arranges her life as she does her work—into neat, orderly categories. However when her grandfather dies under suspicious circumstances, she struggles to uncover clues he left behind in a frayed leather journal. Leaving behind Palm Beach for the untamed wilds of Cypress, Africa, and beyond, Storm is joined by one Harry Bennett—a scruffy, professional treasure hunter (aka, ex-con) who claims he must be the one to help solve her grandfather’s murder. Can Storm trust Harry? Does she have a choice? Before long the two form an unlikely alliance as they dash across the globe to figure out what Storm’s grandfather had been working on before his death…and get tangled up in a quest for secret historical writings that could spark a new crisis in Middle Eastern politics. Racing from the teeming gold markets of an Arabian souk to the highest ranks of European governments—and even to the depths of the Mediterranean Sea—Storm and Harry set out to find the documents before they fall into the wrong hands. Clearly they’re up against some formidable enemies, shady characters who will kill with impunity… and who won’t hesitate to kill again. And now Storm senses that someone is watching her very closely. With seconds to spare, the CIA, FBI, and then Interpol become involved in this hotblooded game of international intrigue, but Storm and Harry may learn the hard way that the only ones they can rely on are themselves. Gold of Kings is an exhilarating, atmospheric read. Like the best of James Rollins, Dan Brown, and Steve Berry, Davis Bunn combines an intoxicating blend of adventure and romance to keep readers gripping their seats and yearning for more.

Praise for the Marc Royce Adventures "A precise and intricate tale of cross-cultural friendship and loyalty."--Publishers Weekly on Lion of Babylon "Thorough characterizations, a fast pace, and attention to detail make this a sure bet."--Library Journal on Rare Earth "They're out there. The danger is real... and inbound." --Marc Royce An under-the-radar phone call from the U.S. State Department puts Marc Royce once again on assignment--ferreting out rumors of a clandestine operation stretching from Asia to the Mideast. At stake is Iran's threat to blockade the narrow Strait of Hormuz, cutting off vital shipping routes and escalating global tensions beyond the breaking point. Under the guise of investigating money laundering via high-end art purchases in Europe, Royce finds himself in Switzerland with only sketchy information, no backup, and without a single weapon other than his wits. His appointment with a gallery owner in Geneva is a dead end--the man is on the floor with a bullet through his chest. But it turns out Royce does have backup. The Mossad has sent someone to keep an eye on this undercover op, which is of more than casual interest to the Israelis. And it's someone Royce knows... A small team gathers around Royce-- a single objective against multiple enemies.

Following the internationally acclaimed Gold of Kings, Storm Syrrell returns in the compelling story of The Black Madonna. Antiques expert Storm Syrrell heads to Europe to investigate the clandestine trade in religious artifacts. She dismisses superstitious tales of miraculous healings and divine omens. Yet when an obsessive Russian oligarch calls—just as her friend Harry Bennett vanishes—all assumptions must be cast aside. Storm seeks answers in a medieval monastery. There, the scarred visage of an icon provokes ever more startling questions. Is she prepared to confront both earthly and spiritual powers? Storm remains haunted by lessons in love and betrayal that lie just outside her grasp. But hesitation now holds mortal consequences.

Undercover agent Marc Royce is back on assignment. As war breaks out in Kenya over valuable land, how far will he go to bring peace?

First-century Rome is a perilous city as Nero stalks the political circles and huddled groups of believers. To be safe, Christians must remain invisible. Gallus Sergius Vitas is the only man within Nero’s trusted circle willing to do what it takes to keep the empire together. He struggles to lessen Nero’s monstrosities against the people of Rome—especially the Christians. But as three Greek letters are scrawled as graffiti throughout the city, Nero’s anger grows. As the early church begins to experience the turbulence Christ prophesied as the beginning of the last days, an enemy seeks to find John’s letter, Revelation, and destroy it. Meanwhile the early Christians must decipher it and cling to the hope it provides as they face the greatest of all persecutions.

"For more than one hundred years the West has failed to understand Islam" (U.S. State Department Official, 1992). This quote from the original edition of Riders of the Pale Horse introduces the story of two young Americans, a foreign-service officer and a mission volunteer who cross paths near the Afghanistan border on very different assignments and yet with a common goal: to stop nuclear materials from falling into terrorists' hands. High-stakes political and spiritual conflict keep readers on the edge of their seat in this suspenseful story from bestselling author T. Davis Bunn.

Weaving themes of historical and emotional conflict in World War II Europe, T. Davis Bunn and BHP team up to launch an explosive series, Rendezvous with Destiny. From his own years of living in Europe, Bunn captures the power and reality of this important slive of history. Readers will learn to know the men, the women,a nd children struggling to survive amid incredible carnage and destruction. They will notice the overarching theme of divine destiny as God's purposes are revealed through the circumstances and events moving and challenging these characters. As the dust settles on the bombed-out European cities, Allied forces must divide the fallen Third Reich into occupation zones. In this historical setting for Rhineland Inheritance, Captain Jake Barnes is transferred to the American base camp near Baden-Baden, the former pleasure-resort of the Nazi elite now reduced to rubble. with rumors already running high, Barnes is assigned the impossible task of patrolling a 100-mile border zone. When he recovers a small token of stolen Nazi treasure, he also uncovers a plot that represents greed at the highest levels on both sides of the conflict. Though hardened by his war experiences, Barnes is moved to the depths by the impoverished German children left orphaned or abandoned by the war. Reaching out to help them, he finds emotional barriers within himself dissolving--and an awakening to spiritual truth and love that almost frightens him. It is then that he glimpses a touch of compassion in the lovely diplomat who has built her own personal barriers. When his commanding officer disappears, Jake finds himself in the ultimate test of skills as a soldier and a leader of men.