Overview

Egypt 1099 CE, Qahira (Cairo) Samuel, a Jewish doctor versed in alchemy, and Gregory, his English apprentice, are investigating a terrifying plague. The Nile has turned red with blood and fish are dying. Near a small island, they wrangle a badly torn body from the jaws of a crocodile - but was this beast the killer? Samuel suspects foul play yet the authorities block his efforts to find the truth at every step. Ignoring the warnings from people in high places, and with nothing more to guide him than his scientific method, Samuel is determined to persist in his quest, especially after a series of gruesome murders seem to confirm his early suspicion. Little does he know that the secret he will stumble on could shake the empire. Assassins are on the prowl. A child is being hunted. Who finds him first will change the course of history.

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Reviews

""Blending deep research with sharp storytelling, Adam Williams stands among the finest historical novelists we have. His passion and knowledge of his subjects shine through in every chapter. He has shown us China and Spain during eras of turmoil. With A River of Blood, in a roaring adventure of mystery and betrayal, he gives us the Middle East in 1099."" - Humphrey Hawksley, best-selling author of Dragon Strike series. ""Adam Williams has brought off a tour de force in this enthralling narrative of Jews, Muslims and Christians living a precarious existence in 11th Century Cairo and in a Jerusalem besieged by Crusaders. Plots and conspiracies abound in this rich and flamboyant story, and the lead characters - Samuel, Zumurrud and Gregory - are admirably drawn."" - Flora Fraser, author of 'Pretty Young Rebel, The Life of Flora MacDonald ""A River of Blood is an evocation of an ancient world every much as complicated as our own. Alas, modern media tends to infect our thinking with a cartoonish stereotype of the people of the Middle East. Adam's novel powerfully unmasks our modern conceit."" - M. A. Aldrich, author of Old Lhasa: A Biography ""A superb offering by one of the most exciting historical novelists working today. Adam Williams focuses on the Fatimid caliphate in Egypt at the time of the First Crusade in 1099, and takes a succession struggle as the basis for a fast-paced thriller of gore and intrigue. His narrative is enriched by the descriptive power with which he conveys the sights, sounds and smells of mediaeval Cairo and Jerusalem."" - Philip Snow, author of China and Russia: Four Centuries of Conflict and Concord ""If you want to understand the Islamic world 1,000 years ago, then read this novel. The author spent 12 years writing and weaving the history, philosophy and poetry into an intricate and captivating murder story. It is the modern version of Agatha Christie. Don't miss out!"" - Hong Ying, author of The Daughter of the River ""Adam Williams has written a story that is at once a pacy page-turner of a compelling murder-mystery adventure and yet, at the same time, an exploration of profound themes that resonate in our contemporary world in loud echoes from the twelfth-century setting of this tale: themes of the fragility of rationalism in the face of fanaticism; the paradox of sectarian violence and hatred amongst religions with a universal message of peace; the plight of refugees; the abuse of knowledge; the demonisation of the 'other' in the service of tyranny; the manipulation of truth in the service of political power, and more are woven into what is, first and foremost, a cracking good story. A good read that makes you think. What more do you want from a book?"" - Richard Pratt, author of A Dance to Wake a Dragon

Author Information

Adam Williams has previously written four highly applauded historical novels, including The Palace of Heavenly Pleasure, and The Book of the Alchemist, a prequel to A River of Blood. Adam was born in Hong Kong and has spent most of his life in China and Japan. He worked for many years for the trading house, Jardine Matheson, and his work as Chairman of the British Chamber of Commerce in Beijing earned him an OBE. Retired, he is now a full time author, living in Beijing with his wife, Hong Ying, herself a well known Chinese author and film director.

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