Museum curator Natalie Landau is desperate to learn who murdered her reporter sister in Iraq and why. Pursued by powerful forces seeking the mysterious gift her sister Dana sent her before she was killed, Natalie is fighting for answers and for her life. Dana had thought the evil eye necklace she found in Iraq was a trinket, never imagining it concealed a biblical treasure from the dawn of creation: a treasure taken from the palace of Nebuchadnezzar and hidden for centuries, possessing the power to transform -- or destroy -- the world. As enemies close in on Natalie from all sides, her only ally is former MSNBC bureau chief Jim D Amato. Together they try to stay alive and find out what is so powerful, so valuable that bodies pile up all around them as they race to outrun danger and death.
"Jill Gregory and Karen Tintori return with another extraordinary thriller after their outstanding The Book of Names. Their new novel, The Illumination, skillfully weaves history, ancient art, dark legend and religious fanaticism into a story of high-stakes terror and international intrigue. The excitement stays at a high pitch from the opening scene at the looted Iraqi National Museum to the final sensational twist. A page-turner extraordinaire." -- Douglas Preston, author of The Monster of Florence and do-author of The Wheel of Darkness
"Stirring and imaginative. A tense, intelligent, and surprising thrill. Drum tight in execution, fueled by imagination, the plot is as sharp as a broken shard of glass. If you like your tales loaded with intrigue, treachery, and a wealth of secrets you're going to love The Ilumination." -- Steve Berry, author of The Charlemagne Pursuit
"The intrigue is high. The excitement is palpable. The story is priceless. Combining mysticism, history and fanaticism, this is one thriller that's simply impossible to put down until you've reached the ending - breathless and so well satisfied. Kintori and Gregory are first rate story tellers and this book is more fine proof of their ability!" -- M.J. Rose, international bestelling author of The Memorist.
Jill Gregory and Karen Tintori are writing partners and long-time best friends. Jill Gregory is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author and Karen Tintori is the author of several acclaimed family memoirs. They live in Michigan.
