Renée Stone is a successful English mystery novelist and an independent free spirit. In this first book of the series, she finds herself in Ethiopia for the coronation of Haile Selassie I in 1930. There she meets John Malowan, a bumbling archaeologist whose grandfather unearthed the Epic of Gilgamesh. Unbeknownst to Stone and Malowan, a host of parties are conspiring to take advantage of the grandson in order to get their hands on a hidden treasure that dates back to Mesopotamian times. Renée Stone finds herself in the midst of a murder mystery full of colorful characters who could have come straight out of her novels.

Novelist Renée Stone and archeologist John Malowan hold a map leading to the incredible treasure of Assurbanipal—but they are not the only ones seeking it. From Ethiopia to Djibouti and far-off Azerbaijan, will they manage to stay one step ahead of their assailants... and lay their hands on the Assyrian king's untold riches?

The thrilling conclusion to the inaugural adventures of British mystery novelist Renée Stone.After countless twists and turns, we finally learn the endgame of scheming billionaire Anis Badian, who has orchestrated ruses, abductions, and even murders in order to position Stone and archeologist John Malowan at an ancient site outside Mosul, Iraq, in search of invaluable treasure: that of legendary Assyrian king Assurbanipal. Meanwhile, renowned journalist Graham Gray has undertaken to clear the name of trafficker Henry de Frick, who has been accused of murdering Malowan and Stone...