The Egyptian (40 page)

Brother Alexander trod through the forest, following the bottom of the limestone plateau for most of an hour. He hiked until he reached a withered oak tree that he and Stefan had once thought resembled an old
babushka
. The branches of the tree stroked the cliff-face with spindly fingers.

He dug his fingers into a crack in the limestone. It looked the same as the millions of other cracks in these cliffs. The crack loosened and then enlarged, and he removed a block of limestone that he and Stefan had pried loose as children.

He set the package inside the tiny hole. He hoped there was nothing inside the package that would bring harm to anyone, but he would never know. He had given his childhood friend one last vow.

He said a quick prayer for Stefan’s soul, and replaced the stone.

Endless thanks once again to my esteemed editor, Richard Marek, for guiding the way; to Rusty Dalferes, up-and-coming editor and co-conspirator extraordinaire; to James Luis of Pura Vida Entertainment, for your practical advice and your help in shaping Dominic Grey; to Angie for your encouragement and friendship; to JWall and LB for your wise counsel and for generally putting up with me; to Strout for your support and many thoughtful read-throughs; to Matt & Mel for being awesome, as always; to C-Money for all your incredible hard work with promotions and a hundred other tasks; to McLemore at First Ward for all the excellent publishing help; to all the fantastic book bloggers who helped launch this series; to my wife, for your brilliance and love; and as always, to Mom and Dad and the Brothers for the fabric of it all.

Layton Green divides his times between Miami and Atlanta, and might also be spotted in the corner of a dark and smoky café in York, researching the next Dominic Grey novel. Please visit him on Facebook and at
www.laytongreen.com
.

Layton is also the Kindle bestselling author of
The Summoner
, the first (and standalone) work in the Dominic Grey series. See below for information on
The Summoner
, and please visit Layton’s website for additional information on Layton, his other works, and more. Look for
The Diabolist
, the next novel in the Dominic Grey series, coming soon!

THE SUMMONER

A Novel of Suspense

A United States diplomat disappears in front of hundreds of onlookers while attending a religious ceremony in the bushveld of Zimbabwe.

Dominic Grey, Diplomatic Security special agent, product of a violent childhood and a worn passport, is assigned to investigate. Aiding the investigation is Professor Viktor Radek, religious phenomenologist and expert on cults, and Nya Mashumba, the local government liaison.

What Grey uncovers is a terrifying cult older than Western civilization, the harsh underbelly of a country in despair, a priest seemingly able to perform impossibilities, and the identity of the newest target.

Himself…

The first work in a globe-hopping series whose protagonists investigate the world’s most bizarre and dangerous cults,
The Summoner
is a stylish, haunting novel of mystery and suspense that will linger long after the last page is turned.

Praise for
The Summoner

“
The Summoner
is one of those books that make you want to turn on all the lights in your house and lock the doors… The settings are authentic and you can feel and smell the countryside… This is a wonderful read for those who enjoy both suspense and action stories.”

—
Seattle Post-Intelligencer

“Favorite book of the year so far.”

—
A Novel Source

“Mystical, complicated, completely believable and terrifying… [w]ith an ending that will catapult you out of your reading chair. Riveting.”

—
The Review Broads

“Layton Green has written a tale with supernatural and political undertones that unravels with ever increasing suspense… The book is plain terrific.”

— Richard Marek, former President and Publisher of E.P. Dutton

“I moved a little outside my comfort zone with
The Summoner
, and I am glad I did. A blend of action, history, anthropology, thrills, and chills, all delivered with a mature, polished voice. I am eager for more from this author.”

— Scott Nicholson, Bestselling Author

“[T]his book is above and beyond in its narrative, its cohesiveness, the depth of its characters and the quality of the writing. This is one of the best books I’ve ever read for Odyssey Reviews.”

—
Odyssey Reviews
(Winner—
Odyssey Review’s
Award of Indie Excellence)

“Green writes like a dream. Dominic Grey is a fascinating protagonist, and his quest for justice in the heart of a troubled African city gripped me from start to finish.
The Summoner
also beautifully captures Zimbabwe’s diverse and conflicting landscapes—both urban and rural, ancient and modern. The result is a fast-paced and searing narrative that offers a glimpse into a world of religion, politics, and culture few could imagine. The next installment of Green’s suspenseful storytelling and Grey’s next journey can’t come soon enough!”

— Melody Moezzi, Award-winning Author,
War on Error

“[C]alls to mind such series as Jason Bourne and Indiana Jones, with supernatural/religious overtones thrown in. I recommend
The Summoner
to anyone looking for a suspense-filled journey into a unique—and at times, terrifying—culture that’ll keep you guessing.”

—
Bookhound’s Den

“Yes, I did put TWO Five Stars up there… giving Green’s
The Summoner
Five stars and Five stars alone downplays how I felt about this book… BUY THIS BOOK.”

—
1000 + Books To Read

“Layton Green is a gifted writer.”

—
Readers Favorite

“An awesome read… The writing is polished and evocative, the subject matter fascinating, the characters intriguing, and the pace non-stop. Spooky and occasionally metaphysical,
The Summoner
harkens back to The Serpent and the Rainbow in its ability to convincingly portray seemingly paranormal events in a realistic (and therefore even creepier) manner.”

—
Blood Writes
, Mystery Pick of the Week

“Wow. This book, it packs a walloping punch… What a truly original story this was.”

— Tiffany Harkleroad, Book Blogger and Amazon Vine Voice

“This is truly a captivating novel. The excitement travels from page to page and this is one story that will stay with you way after you turn that last page.”

—
Socrates’ Book Review