The Darkness of the Night

Death Among the Artefacts

Renowned historian Elizabeth Lawrence has been found in her car, bitten by a cobra. Her colleague and friend, Dr Evan Wilding, doesn't believe she committed suicide. From the crime scene and the cause of death, he can deduce more than is at first apparent. Together with Addie Bisset, a detective from the murder squad, he tries to find the killer and the real reason for Elizabeth's death.

Evan is sought out by an old friend of Elizabeth's, who later turns out to be a Mossad agent, who claims she was close to acquiring a priceless artefact. It seems that several other scientists, an art dealer, the bankrupt heir to a major collection, the founder of a foundation financing a museum dedicated to Moses, a hunter of ancient treasures, a mysterious Jordanian diplomat, and possibly someone else are also trying to acquire it.

Did Elizabeth remain true to her principles until her death, or did she succumb to temptation and allow herself to be bought in order to finance her institute? The case is complicated by another death, where the murder weapon once again carries a certain message. What are the killer's motives? Who will be the next victim? Will Evan clear his friend's name and find the rare artefact? Or will he lose the race against time and the killer?