About this item
THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA WERE THERE WHEN JERUSALEM FELL, THEY WERE THERE WHEN THE TEMPLARS DISINTEGRATED, AND THEYRE THERE NOW . . . WAITING IN DETROIT FOR A BORN-AGAIN CON MAN TRYING TO SAVE HIS FAMILY.Former con man Fletcher Doyle is finally home after six years in the pen. Hes working a menial job, regaining his bearings in the world, and trying to revive his relationships with his wife and twelve-year-old daughter. No easy feat.But when Fletcher and his family go on a mission trip to Detroit - in the company of the condescending church leader who also happens to be his landlord - Fletcher finds his old life waiting for him. Within hours of arriving in the city, hes been blackmailed into doing a job for a mysterious criminal who calls himself The Alchemist.A series of relics hidden by the Knights of Malta, as ancient as they are priceless, are in the sights of The Alchemist. What he needs is a gifted grifter with a background in ecclesiastical history . . . what he needs is Fletcher Doyle.Between hiding his reawakened criminal life from his wife and trying to hide her from their relentless landlord, Fletcher is ready to give up. But when his family is drawn into the dangerous world he cant shake, Fletcher is forced to rely on his years in the game to save the only people who mean more to him than the biggest con in history.
About the Author
An award-winning preacher and Bible teacher, Zachary Bartels has served as pastor of Judson Baptist Church (www.churchlansing.com) since 2005. He holds degrees from Cornerstone University and Grand Rapids Theological Seminary.
His debut novel, Playing Saint, has been called an "intrigue-filled thriller" (Library Journal) and "a page-turner from the very beginning . . . gripping and realistic" (RT Book Reviews) and was a finalist for the 2015 Inspys and Carol Awards. His followup, The Last Con (HarperCollins Christian Fiction) "will leave readers stunned" (RT Book Reviews) and also short-listed for a 2016 Inspy. Playing Saint: All Souls Day (the sequel to Playing Saint) is set for release on October 30, 2017.
Zachary lives with his wife and son in the capital city of a mitten-shaped state, where he enjoys film, fine cigars, stimulating conversation, gourmet coffee, reading, writing, and cycling. He also hosts Clinch: A Podcast of Fiction and Not-Fiction and co-hosts The Gut Check Podcast (www.zacharybartels.com/podcasts) .
You can find more information about Zachary (as well as follow his blog, twitter, and facebook) at www.zacharybartels.com.
