by Layton Green
For anyone who thinks mishaps never occur within an organization as critical to the Public Health as the CDC, I direct you to the six vials of forgotten smallpox at a government lab, and boxes full of other less lethal materials. During testimony at a House hearing, Thomas Frieden, former director of the CDC, admitted to a pattern of safety lapses that included mishandling anthrax and flu and shipping active and potentially dangerous samples to other labs. gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CHRG-113hhrg92323/html/CHRG-113hhrg92323.htm.
My research on molecular biophysics, gene editing, and recombinant DNA was particularly eye-opening. CRISPR is real and unnerving to read about. The future has already arrived. For those unfamiliar with the topic, a good place to start is this Wired article: wired.com/2015/07/crispr-dna-editing-2.
Finally, along with my own research and visits to homeless shelters and townships, I utilized Heather Parker Lewis’s powerful account of her social work with South African street kids in Also God’s Children? (Ihilihili Press, 2007).
Acknowledgements
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Thanks to Richard Marek for another amazing edit. Ryan McLemore, Rusty Dalferes, John Strout and my wife also immeasurably improved the book. Lisa Weinberg, Maria Morris, and Bill Burdick are invaluable supporters and early readers. Jaye Manus is a book formatter and all around problem solver who I could not do without. Gary Chidarikire, my brother-in-law and bon vivant, has always been a font of information on South African life, culture, and politics. Dan Ozdowski, IT expert extraordinaire, ensures the technology in my novels is germane to the twenty-first century. A special thanks to Dr. Han Kim, cardiologist with Duke University, for advice on medical issues and his patience with my persistent line of inquiry beginning with “but could it happen?”
Author
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Layton Green is a bestselling author who writes across multiple genres, including mystery, thriller, horror, and fantasy. His novels have been nominated for multiple awards (including a finalist for an International Thriller Writers award), optioned for film, and have reached #1 on genre lists in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany. Layton lives with his family in North Carolina, and you might also find him in a dark and smoky café in Prague, researching the next Dominic Grey novel.
If you are new to the world of Layton Green, please visit him on Author Central, Goodreads, Facebook, and at www.laytongreen.com for additional information on the author, his works, and more.
Finally, word of mouth is crucial to the success of any author. If you enjoyed the book, please consider leaving an honest review HERE, even if it’s only a line or two.
If you are new to the world of Layton Green and would like to read more, below is a description of The Summoner, the first novel in the Dominic Grey series.
THE SUMMONER
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 of Religious Phenomenology Viktor Radek, as well as 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 . . .
PRAISE FOR THE DOMINIC GREY SERIES
“Relentless.” —Publishers Weekly
“One of the top ten books of the year.” —BloodWrites Mystery Blog, on The Summoner
“Layton Green is a master of intellectual suspense.” —JT Ellison, New York Times bestselling author of EDGE OF BLACK
“The Summoner is one of those books that make you want to turn on all the lights in your house and lock the doors . . . [t]he settings are authentic and you can feel and smell the countryside . . . [t]his is a wonderful read for those who enjoy both suspense and action stories.” —Seattle Post-Intelligencer
On The Egyptian: “Stirring and imaginative . . . both the characters in the story and the reader are in for a wild ride.” —Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling writer of THE KING’S DECEPTION
“I do believe Layton Green has moved into my top 5 author category — not an easy feat to attain!” —A Novel Source
“The confines of a page are not enough for Layton Green’s writing. His work begs to be translated into 100-foot high IMAX images, rendered in 3D, and given a score by Hanz Zimmer.” —Biblioteca
On The Diabolist: “A well-crafted and exciting thriller with a pair of interesting protagonists . . . and a charismatic villain who makes our skin crawl.” —Booklist
“This is what you get when you combine Indiana Jones with Ludlum’s Jason Borne . . . A must read for all you lovers of conspiracy theories, thrillers and mysteries alike!” —Baffled Books
“Layton Green is an absolutely brilliant writer.” —Everything To Do With Books
“Green’s debut The Summoner was such a great read, I was hoping that he’d duplicate his literary excellence. In his second book, The Egyptian, Green exceeded my expectations.” —BookPleasures.com
“Favorite book of the year so far.” —A Novel Source
“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
“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
“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.” —BloodWrites, Mystery Pick of the Week
“[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
“Green writes like a dream.” —Melody Moezzi, award-winning Author, HALDOL AND HYACINTHS
“[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.” —1000+ Books To Read
“Dan Brown is pretty good at what he does and I don’t begrudge him his success, but when it comes to interesting characters embarking on a thrilling exploration into the dark world of cults, religions and magic Layton Green does it SO much better.” —Nylon Admiral Reviews
“Layton Green kicks things up a notch and delivers a novel that should, if there’s any justice to be found upon the shelves, make him a household name. The Diabolist is a dark, intelligent, spellbinding novel . . . I cannot recommend this one highly enough.” —Beauty in Ruins Reviews
“Green’s The Summoner proved his great talent. The Diabolist ensures his place at the top of crime fiction: his number 1 place. Unbelievably good, unbelievably intricate, unbelievably Green.” —The Review Broads
On The Diabolist: “[A] story that will move you to the edge of your seat.” —Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Information
Other Books by Layton Green
Dedication
Epigraph
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter
3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
VIP Reader's Group
Author's Note
Acknowledgements
About the Author