Early in the seventeenth century, Filippo Veroneo encounters adven ture, intrigue, danger, and relentless enemies as well as unexpected friends when he journeys from Venice to free his father, Geronimo, a hostage in Afghanistan. Filippo plans to raise his father’s ransom in Hindustan at the court of the Mogul emperor Shah Jahan by using a magnificent diamond Geronimo cut and set years ago—a diamond men would spill blood for. A visionary from birth, Filippo finds his second sight enhanced after the diamond is embedded in his skull. A believable setting, strong characters, and a compelling plot rich in adventure, intrigue, and danger distinguishes this fine historical novel. mac Author lives in England but was born in India

Originally published by Egmont Great Britain, in 2003.