Where there's Hope there's trouble! Ben Hope lives on the edge. A former elite member of the SAS, Ben is tortured by a tragedy from his past and now devotes his life to finding kidnapped children. But when Ben is recruited to locate an ancient manuscript which could save a dying child, he embarks on the deadliest quest of his life. The document is alleged to contain the formula for the elixir of life, discovered by the brilliant alchemist Fulcanelli decades before. But it soon becomes apparent that others are hunting this most precious of treasures - for far more evil ends. When the secrets of alchemy hidden within the pages remain impenetrable, Ben teams up with beautiful American scientist Dr Roberta Ryder to crack the code. It seems that everyone - from the Nazis during WW2 and powerful Catholic organisation Gladius Domini - wants to unearth the secrets of immortality. The trail leads Ben and Roberta from Paris to the ancient Cathar strongholds of the Languedoc, where an astonishing secret has lain hidden for centuries!

史考特‧馬利安尼 Scott Mariani

生長於蘇格蘭，聖安德魯斯，於牛津大學攻讀現代語言。在成為全職作家前，他曾擔任譯者、職業音樂家、手槍射擊指導員與自由記者。在義大利與法國居住多年後，史考特發現最適合他的寫作之處乃是位在西威爾斯荒野的房子；這棟屋子建於一八三○年，周邊有樹蔭森森的林地與祕密小徑。沒有提筆寫作之時，史考特喜歡投身於爵士樂、電影、經典機車與天文學中。

著有：《鍊金術士之秘》、《莫扎特陰謀》(暫名)、《末日預言》(暫名)等多部作品。

史考特‧馬利安尼官方網站：www.scottmariani.com/