Aaron's Rod

In 1938, during archaeological digs at Lachish, James Starkey discovered a copper scroll that had been buried in a clay cylinder, hidden beneath a pyramid of skulls. 

It is believed to date back to the 7th century and the Assyrian conquest. The contents of the scroll are so shocking that Starkey decides to hide them in a cave where his body is found the next day.

Some 70 years later Professor Joshua Black, professor of surgery at London University, is discovered hanging from a tree on Hampstead Heath. It's theorised that he committed suicide.

But not everyone is convinced of this, including an elderly and somewhat genteel older lady called Olive Hathaway. Dr Sanjay Manchanda also doubts that it was a suicide and the Indian born doctor and the elderly widow team up as a somewhat unlikely detective team.

The duo follow a trail from London to the Holy Land and discover the mysterious scroll that had been hidden  decades previously.

Deep beneath the site of the temple of the ancient Samarian Kingdom, near to the modern day borders of Syria and the Golan Heights they discover an amazing treasure trove hidden in a secret vault.

But why were ISIL interested in their search? And what, exactly, would they find?

This is a compelling adventure novel and at £7.99 will make a spiffing Christmas gift.

It's published by Matador at £7.99 and can be bought here https://goo.gl/wdCFDG.