The Labyrinth of Osiris - Softcover

Sussman, Paul

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0802121802 ISBN 13: 9780802121806

Publisher: Grove Press, 2013

Synopsis

Detective Arieh-Ben Roi of the Jerusalem police is tasked with the investigation into the death of a well-known Israeli journalist, Rivka Kleinberg, who is found brutally murdered in a cathedral in Jerusalem. Known for her fearless exposés, Kleinberg had made many high-powered enemies, including international corporations, the Israeli government, and the Russian Mafia. Looking for leads, Ben-Roi begins researching which stories Kleinberg was working on before she died, and finds a connection to Egypt which confuses him.

At a stumbling block, Ben-Roi phones up his old friend, Yusuf Khalifa of the Luxor Police, and asks him if he will help him investigate the case. Khalifa is happy to help, and begins looking into another story that Kleinberg was researching just before her murder: the mysterious death of a British Egyptologist in the 1930s. This Egyptologist was said to have uncovered a giant labyrinth-like gold mine of incredible riches written about in the works of Herodotus. But what connection could this gold mine have with Kleinberg’s murder?

With a plot that moves from Israel to Egypt to Vancouver to Romania, The Labyrinth of Osiris is an intelligent, gripping novel from an internationally acclaimed master of thriller writing.

About this title

About the Author

Paul Sussman (1966-2012) was a journalist, author and field archaeologist, whose first novel, The Lost Army of Cambyses, was an international best seller that was translated into twenty-eight languages. His books have sold over two million copies worldwide.

Review

Praise for The Labyrinth of Osiris:

With his fourth and best novel to date, Sussman takes his place on the must-read lists of those who value plot and characterization. . . . There is redemption, nobility and friendship, and all the right stuff that makes us human beings.” Bookreporter.com

Taut, entertaining archaeological murder mystery-meets-spy thriller by genre-meister Sussman. . . . a trained archaeologist, [he] knows his stuff and how to make a reader jump, too. . . . A mayhem-rich view of the world through the eyes of mummies and villains, and a lot of fun.” Kirkus Reviews

Threads and connections, a whole spider’s web’s worth’ only twist . . . into even more byzantine intrigues embracing both Egypt’s ancient archaeological treasures and modern-day religious clashes. Sussman dexterously weaves the many subplots into a taught skein, never losing sight of his characters’ humanity and troubled lives.” Publishers Weekly

Its 500-plus pages travel across borders between Egypt, Israel and America and across generations, bringing to life a cast of believable characters. But it is the central characters an Egyptian policeman and his Israeli counterpart that really pull the reader into the tale which takes on issues including cyber-crime, sex-trafficking and sectarian hatred.” The Northern Echo

This is the fourth, and, tragically, the last thriller from the bestselling author Paul Sussman . . . an absolutely top-notch thriller captivating, intelligent and notably well-written, and with a depth of characterization which most thrillers don’t even attempt. Like its three predecessors, this novel combines a modern detective story with Egyptian archaeology . . . in Sussman’s hands that combination works impressively well. . . . Sussman’s plotting is terrific, as is the confidence with which he allows its story with its richly detailed contexts and characters time to develop.” The Daily Mail

Sussman must have come wearily familiar with people describing him as the thinking person’s Dan Brown.” Certainly, there are surface similarities. . . There are, however, key differences. Sussman was a far better writer. An elegant stylist, he drew a sharp pen-portrait and had an impressive grounding in archaeology . . . Sussman knew how to keep a complex plot bowling along while constantly ratcheting up the tension. He also writes unusually well about Egypt. . . . Top-drawer popular fiction and is sure to become an even bigger bestseller than Sussman’s three other novels.” The Mail on Sunday

Brilliant detective fiction set in the complex and dynamic world of post Arab-Spring Israel and Egypt with closely observed characterization and an exploration of the many different facets of family. . . . a fine final novel from the much missed Paul Sussman.” NudgeMeNow.com

A satisfying sense of being set in the real world, with sub-plots involving cyber crime, sex trafficking and terrorism. It’s the sort of thing Dan Brown would write if he had a feel for people and places, and reminds us that crime fiction is one field where the Brits give the Americans a run for their money on the medal table.” Daily Telegraph

The two detectives are real, and you feel for them as their fortunes rise and fall over and over again. . . .[One] scene was the most dramatic I have ever read. And I read a lot.” NwBookLovers.org

The third in the series of police procedurals-cum-architectural thrillers that began in 2002 with Lost Army of Cambyses novels whose stylish writing and deep research showed how careful you should be not to judge a genre by its worst examples. The Labyrinth of Osiris reunites Yusuf Khalifa of the Luxor police and Jerusalem detective Arieh Ben-Roi . . . It's the three-dimensionality of the characters that makes the package work so well; what a shame there won't be another.” The Guardian

If Paul's past books are anything to go on it's a must-read. He enters the world of the ancients with such ease and veracity.” Terry Jones

Sussman mixes a police procedural with an archaeological mystery [a] superlative thriller.” Recorded Books Blog

Praise for Paul Sussman:

[Sussman is] hands down one of the best writers of international suspense . . . excitement melds with adventure . . . bone chilling thrills, a flair for the macabre, and off-the-charts suspense. Superb.” Steve Berry, author of The Charlemagne Pursuit on The Hidden Oasis

Sussman has managed the impossible: a multilayered quest where all the characters are real and alive, and we should expect the completely unexpected.” Katherine Neville, author of The Fire and The Eight on The Last Secret of the Temple

[A] gripping mystery, intricately plotted and eloquently told . . . not just thrilling, it makes the tension and promise of the Middle East heartbreakingly alive” William Dietrich, author of Napoleon’s Pyramids on The Last Secret of the Temple

[A] thriller on par with the best literature out there.” James Rollins, The New York Times best-selling author of Black Order and The Judas Strain on The Last Secret of the Temple

[An] intelligent, compelling, beautifully written thriller. . . a rip-roaring gem of a read.” Raymond Khoury, author of The Last Templar on The Hidden Oasis

Edition details

• Publisher: Grove Press
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 0802121802
• ISBN 13: 9780802121806
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 576