The latest Jack Howard thriller from internationally bestselling mastermind David Gibbins. 258 As the blood of martyred Christians runs through Rome's catacombs, Pope Sixtus entrusts their most sacred object to a devoted follower. Soon after, the Holy Grail disappears into the darkness of time. 1684 While overseeing the evacuation of the English colony of Tangier, Samuel Pepys attempts to retrieve a treasure which has resurfaced after more than a thousand years. Meanwhile, a Jewish merchant is tortured by the Altamanus, a secret group determined to locate the Grail. Present Day A wreck off the Cornish coast reveals clues to a mystery that marine archaeologist Jack Howard had thought beyond solving. He embarks on an epic quest that takes him to the sunken ruins of the pirate city of Port Royal in Jamaica. But the specter of the deadly Inquisition dogs his every step, and Jack must face a descent into hell itself if he is to uncover the greatest reward in Christendom. Gibbins, who has led numerous underwater archeology expeditions around the world, writes with an authority that makes "the astounding seem more than plausible" (Parmenion Books). This latest Jack Howard novel brings together historical details and a thrilling plot for an action-packed adventure.

Author Biography

DAVID GIBBINS is the internationally bestselling author of the Jack Howard novels, which have sold over three million copies worldwide and is published in thirty languages, and the Total War historical novels. He has a PhD from Cambridge University and taught archaeology. He is a world authority on ancient shipwrecks and sunken cities. He has led numerous expeditions to investigate underwater sites around the world. He currently divides his time between fieldwork, England and Canada.