Will iconic images recorded in the grooves of an ancient vase unite the Holy Land or rip it further apart?

THE VASE

A novel by Mark M. DeRobertis

Muhsin Muhabi is a Palestinian potter, descended from a long line of potters. His business is run from the same shop owned by his ancestors since the day his forebears moved to Nazareth. The region's conflict saw the death of his oldest son, and rogue terrorists are in the process of recruiting his youngest in their plot to assassinate the Pope and Israeli prime minister.

Professor Hiram Weiss is an art historian at Nazareth’s Bethel University. He is also a Shin Bet operative on special assignment. With the help of fellow agent, Captain Benny Mathias, he plans to destroy the gang responsible for the death of his wife and only child. He puts a bomb in the ancient vase he takes on loan from Muhsin’s Pottery Shop.

Mary Levin, the charming assistant to the director of Shin Bet, has lost a husband and most of her extended family to recurring wars and never-ending terrorism. She dedicates her life to the preservation of Israel, but to whom will she dedicate her heart? The brilliant professor from Bethel University? Or the gallant captain who now leads Kidon?

Harvey Holmes, the Sherlock of Haunted Houses, is a Hollywood TV host whose reality show just flopped. When a Lebanese restaurant owner requests his ghost-hunting services, he believes the opportunity will resurrect his career. All he has to do is exorcise the ghosts that are haunting the restaurant. It happens to be located right across the street from Muhsin’s Pottery Shop.




Friday, July 25, 2014

Hot July Day in Bay Area

As you may or may not know I live in the Bay Area, AKA Northern California, and it sure is hot today. It's in the 90s, and sometimes it gets over 100. It's July after all, and it's in July when my stories in Killer of Killers and Killer Eyes take place. That wasn't really planned, nor is it specified more than once, I think in KOK.

The Vase takes place in April, and John Dunn is an ongoing time frame, where it could be any time of the year. But weather is not really a factor in any of the stories. It's a nighttime scene in KOK where I specify the weather is fine, since it's in New York in that scene, and New York can be cold in the Winter, so that was a necessary description.

As for my upcoming novel, Second Chance? It's Fall of course, because it takes place during football season. Yeah, football season stretches from Summer to Winter, but the bulk of it takes places during the Fall. And football season is upon us even now. My son is already practicing for the college team he'll be playing for this coming Fall. He played in the High School All Star game a couple days ago, and scored a TD on a 30 yard run. He's a great player.

Meanwhile, buy a copy of Killer of Killers before Killer Eyes comes out. It's a must read before you read Killer Eyes. And don't forget about The Vase. Thanks.

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