Description
Six years after his Flight of the Fox ordeal that dubbed him the American Prometheus, humble math professor Sam Teagarden becomes embroiled in another mission involving decoding a secret document provoking tragic reactions around the world. Unearthed in northern Israel, the ancient parchment is called the Q Document, for the German word quelle, meaning: source. Biblical scholars believe it may be the original source for the two Gospels: Matthew and Luke. If decoded, it could shed light on the creation of the world’s most widely observed religious faith.
This time, instead of trying to kill him, the FBI formally taps Teagarden to assist—and help stop—a contagion of mass suicides among religious zealots. Each cult group is motivated by fear of what may, or may not, be revealed if the document is decoded and published. His mission is supposed to last two days on foreign soil. When the plan goes awry, Teagarden is forced to work alone, without the promised protection from the FBI and CIA.
The journey takes him from New York to Israel, across the Mediterranean Sea to Rome, and finally Berlin. As he tries to decipher the two-thousand-year-old enigmatic parchment, he must outsmart two fanatical and equally dangerous groups: one entrenched in religious faith, the other rooted in fervent atheism. He learns that one group wants him dead, while the other wants him alive—until their goals reverse midstream.
Will he become another casualty caught up in the controversy caused by fear of the Q Document? Or, if he survives the gauntlet of extreme violence, will he be blamed for conveying news to the world that millions will not want to hear?
Praise for MADNESS OF THE Q:
“Madness of the Q is a wild and breathless pursuit with Sam Teagarden on the run, desperate to connect with the right people and evade the wrong ones from New York to Israel to Italy to Germany in a non-stop plot that reminds us of Dan Brown, Ludlum, Fleming, and maybe even a bit of Umberto Eco.” —Thomas Perry, author of The Butcher’s Boy, The Burglar, and A Small Town
“This would make for an exciting movie in the Dan Brown genre. It’s a thrilling story that you’ll be glued to from start to finish!” —Brenda Repland, Eyes on World Cultures
Michelle Mirchandani –
Gray Basnight and Sam Teagarden are back! Madness of the Q is just as thrilling as Flight of the Fox, but also a very different kind of ride. It starts with a secret religious text getting deciphered. Then Teagarden is caught in a thrill-a-minute international pursuit. Where Flight was more about mental puzzles, Q is all about the chase. The characters are wildly outrageous. The locations are vivid and dynamic. The ‘madness’ and the close encounters are edge-of-my-seat fun. Through it all, Teagarden keeps his head straight having conceptual/imaginary conversations with his wife, which the romantic in me loved. Honestly, I read it in three sittings, and was both excited and bummed when I was done. Madness of the Q is fast paced, really well written, and there’s not a single dull moment. I did think that the actual deciphering was too quick / a bit short-changed. I found myself wanting some further investigation and pressure testing, some more of Teagarden’s math skills. But I get that that would have come at the cost of the ensuing thrill, so away I went! Hey, Coen brothers, please call Basnight. He’s got great stuff for you (and a secret message). And readers, this is wonderful!