Secrets of the Scrolls (Paperback)

John Treweek

ISBN 10: 191917883X / ISBN 13: 9781919178837

Published by Mereo Books, 2026

About this Item

Paperback. Some secrets are written in ash. Others in silence.When forensic archaeologist Dr Jeannie MacLean joins a prestigious excavation near Herculaneum, she expects quiet discovery, not danger. Hidden beneath volcanic ash lie scrolls that will upend history-and her own life.The writings belong not to philosophers but to a slave-scribe, a man deliberately erased from record. As Jeannie fights to protect his testimony, she collides with ambition, coercion, and the toxic hierarchies of academia. When a senior researcher demands sexual favours for access to the technology decoding the scrolls, she must decide what integrity-and survival-really mean.From the ruins of Vesuvius to the sterile glow of modern labs, Secrets of the Scrolls entwines ancient injustice with contemporary reckoning. Told with forensic precision and emotional intelligence, it asks how far we will go to give voice to those the world tried to silence.A haunting novel of identity, power, and the cost of truth-perfect for readers of Maggie O'Farrell, Kate Mosse, and A. S. Byatt. A literary archaeological thriller set against the rediscovery of the lost Vesuvius scrolls - where scholarship becomes dangerous and buried knowledge threatens powerful interests. This item is printed on demand. Shipping may be from our Sydney, NSW warehouse or from our UK or US warehouse, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9781919178837

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Secrets of the Scrolls (Paperback)
• Publisher: Mereo Books
• Publication Date: 2026
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 191917883X
• ISBN 13: 9781919178837
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

"An engaging historical mystery with a strong central concept" - NetGalley Reviewer

"An interesting and richly imagined archaeological setting" - NetGalley Reviewer

What if the past refused to stay buried?

When a young archaeologist joins the excavation of a Roman villa destroyed by the eruption of Vesuvius, the discovery promises insight into a lost world. But as ancient scrolls begin to emerge from the ruins, the past reveals secrets that challenge accepted history - and begin to reshape the present.

Set against the dramatic backdrop of southern Italy, The Secrets of the Scrolls is an atmospheric work of historical fiction that blends archaeology, classical history and mystery. As the excavation deepens, buried narratives come to light, and the search for knowledge becomes a journey of discovery, ambition and consequence.

Exploring themes of truth, interpretation and the stories history leaves behind, this is a novel for readers drawn to richly imagined settings and thought-provoking historical intrigue.

A haunting novel of identity, power, and the cost of truth-perfect for readers of Maggie O'Farrell, Kate Mosse, and A. S. Byatt.

About the Author

John Treweek is a former academic and lifelong student of history and archaeology. His debut novel, Secrets of the Scrolls, unites rigorous research with a passion for untold stories and silenced voices.