{"product_id":"the-tower-a-novel-isbn-9780062225900","title":"The Tower: A Novel","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn \u003cem\u003eThe Tower\u003c\/em\u003e, the thrilling conclusion to Simon Toyne’s bestselling Sanctus trilogy, an ominous countdown has begun that some believe could be the first sign of an imminent global catastrophe.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eToyne’s latest thriller opens at the NASA Control Center in Maryland where the center’s director has gone missing and all that can be found is a bizarre message on his computer screen. FBI Agent J. J. Shepherd believes some of this might be related to an explosion at the Citadel, a secretive monastery in Ruin, Turkey; the viral outbreak that followed there; and the chilling disappearance of a woman named Liv Adamsen.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eAs strange events and natural disasters occur around the world, Liv searches for the final secrets of the prophecy, while inside the walls of the Ruin, her lover, Gabriel Mann, infected by the virus, battles to survive. Is this the end of days?\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eIn the tradition of Dan Brown’s \u003cem\u003eThe DaVinci Code\u003c\/em\u003e and Steve Berry’s \u003cem\u003eThe Columbus Affair,\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cem\u003eThe Tower\u003c\/em\u003e will keep you riveted until the very last twist.\u003c\/p\u003e | \u003cp\u003eAfter the risecomes the fall\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhen a cyber-attack at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland disables the Hubble telescope and the Nobel Prize–winning scientist in charge disappears, the only clues left behind are a cryptic countdown clock and a chilling message displayed on the missing man's computer: Mankind Must Look No Further. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNewly appointed FBI agent Joe Shepherd, a former academic star with degrees in astrophysics and computer science, is uniquely qualified to handle the investigation, but he is also hiding some secrets of his own. He discovers a note in the missing scientist's handwriting that reads \"end of days\" and further evidence linking the cyber-attack to a series of strange events from eight months earlier—an explosion at the Citadel, an ancient monastery in Turkey; the deadly viral outbreak that occurred in its wake; and the disappearance of an American journalist named Liv Adamsen and ex–special forces operative Gabriel Mann.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLiv has been trapped in the Syrian Desert, a prisoner of the prophecy that drove her there and now whispers of terrible things to come. Gabriel, infected and tormented by the deadly virus he carried out of the Citadel, is desperate to return before it spreads.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eShepherd's investigation takes him on a journey to the secrets at the very edge of the universe and also deep into his own past as the countdown clock continues and extraordinary events begin to manifest around the globe—animals migrating out of season, extreme weather battering the planet, people deserting the cities as they answer a growing urge to return to their original homes. In this exhilarating conclusion to the internationally bestselling Ruin trilogy, one woman's destiny weaves the past and present together in a way that will change the future for us all. But what is the \"end of days\" and what does it really mean for humankind—will it be revelation or devastation?\u003c\/p\u003e | \u003cp\u003e“Toyne’s descriptive skill makes for a story that is cinematically vivid. . . . the relentless pace makes the action addicting.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Toyne cranks up the drama with the second entry in a conspiracy thriller series. . . . Well-written, fast-paced and delivered with an admirable economy of words, this book offers an edge-of-the-seat story filled with action and adventure, as well as a puzzle that the main characters must somehow put together before the world simply disappears. . . . [A] taut thriller.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews on The Key\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“If you like your secrets deeply hidden and your action breakneck, then Toyne’s sophomore thriller is just the ticket. . . . As in his debut, Toyne delivers a gripping, intricate story of religious and political intrigue that’s sweeping yet somehow intimate and very personal. Wow.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eBooklist (starred review) on The Key\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“A cliffhanger . . . that aspires to towering heights . . . Toyne has a realistic bent and the derring-do and scriptural intrigue never get too unwieldy or too unworldly. His characters, too, are well-rounded and credible . . . A bonus: Toyne’s battery of good guys include strong women characters, with no condescension; too many books of this kind treat women as afterthoughts, if not mere love interests. And there’s some nice elaboration of the plot, keeping the reader guessing whether the heretics are good guys or bad . . . A promising debut . . . . the right ingredients are all here.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“A far better written, smarter book than \u003ci\u003eThe Da Vinci Code\u003c\/i\u003e . . . \u003ci\u003eSanctus\u003c\/i\u003e has enough delicious plots and counterplots to fill a cathedral. . . . What elevates \u003ci\u003eSanctus\u003c\/i\u003e above the pack is that Toyne is a compelling writer who covers this ground with confidence and flair. . . . Toyne handles all of the disparate narratives with aplomb . . . it’s a fun roller-coaster ride. . . . \u003ci\u003eSanctus\u003c\/i\u003e is highly enjoyable.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Globe and Mail\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“A fast moving, thoroughly enjoyable, adventure—plenty of action, plenty of intrigue and a wonderfully imaginative reinterpretation of a slice of religious history. The sort of novel to devour in one sitting.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eKate Mosse, New York Times bestselling author of Labyrinth\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“A huge, bold thriller, \u003ci\u003eSanctus\u003c\/i\u003e is a bloody, twistedly perverse story about a battle against a secretive group of heretical, conspiring monks . . . . the most engaging writing I’ve read in months.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eSan Jose Mercury News\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“A wickedly clever call to adventure from beyond the grave. A bloody confrontation against a heretical Church in a fallen, alternate universe. A tale as theologically twisted and perverse as the snake in the Garden of Eden. Lies, lies and more lies. In other words, damn good fiction.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThomas Greanias, author of The 34th Degree\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Hard to think of it as a debut, better to think of it as the beginning of a massive new adventure, and a so-long to Dan Brown. . . .” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Daily Mirror (UK)\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“[A] cool, confident debut. A talented new writer who instinctively grasps the broad rules of superior action thrillers and adapts them with pace, grace, humor and a keen eye for cinematic effect.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eDaily Telegraph (London)\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"William Morrow","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44890372210917,"sku":"NP9780062225900","price":25.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780062225900.jpg?v=1730233136","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/the-tower-a-novel-isbn-9780062225900","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}