The Fatal Scroll: A Herculaneum Mystery
$24.95 CAD-
Marcus Sinclair is a history teacher whose life is stuck in neutral when he inherits a papyrus scroll from his antiquarian uncle. The mysterious scroll might contain a lost masterpiece from ancient Rome or perhaps an ancient recipe for personal tranquility, but it’s unreadable unless Marcus can figure out a way to unroll the scroll without destroying it. His quest takes him to Naples, where he befriends a Google software engineer days before the man is found dead. Marcus is interviewed by an investigative journalist, Kristi Grainger, and they find themselves on parallel paths leading to a Neapolitan trafficker in antiquities, a tech mogul obsessed with the distant past, and a clutch of academics searching for the lost library of Herculaneum. In a seaside city that is by turns lush and lethal, Marcus must confront the unraveling of more than a scroll.
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Eric Siblin is the bestselling author of The Cello Suites, which was translated into 13 languages, named a Book of the Year in 2010 by The Economist, and nominated for five literary awards. He is also the author of Studio Grace, published alongside an album of original music. He lives in Montreal.
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Published: May 2025
ISBN: 9781770418400
Dimensions: 5.5 x 8.5 in.
Pages: 240
Reviews
“Very enjoyable and educational ... The author offers intrigue, brings history to life and skillfully weaves them into a compelling storyline.” — Edwards Book Club Reviews
“This new thriller focuses on a famed papyrus scroll which almost perished when the Roman city of Herculaneum was covered in ash and pumice after the eruption of the Vesuvius volcano in 79 AD.” — The Art Newspaper
“Who could have guessed that ancient artefacts could provide so much drama?” — Crime Fiction Lover