The Last Ember

Jonathan Marcus was a promising young archeologist studying at the American Academy in Rome when a terrible accident during an illegal excavation resulted in a friendas death and Jonathanas expulsion from the academy. Jonathan abandoned archaeology for the law, developing a reputation as a skillful advocate for some of the art worldas less scrupulous antiquities dealers.

When his firm sends Jonathan to Rome to discredit the testimony of a prominent U.N. antiquities official, heas stunned to discover that the expert is Dr. Emili Travia, a friend and fellow student at the academy who was also at the excavation. This chance reunion prompts Jonathan, against his better judgment, to help Emili as she searches for the fabled Tabernacle Menorah, a priceless historical artifact seized by Roman invaders in the first century A.D. and brought to Rome where it disappeared. As they scour the ancient sites of Rome for hints to the menorahas whereaboutsadeciphering clues to its location left by ancient spies and eighteenth century art restorersait quickly becomes clear that they are not alone in their quest.

What follows is a treasure hunt like no other, a race to find the menorah in order to control a historical perspective of who can defineaand redefineathe past.

By turns a riveting page-turner and a compelling character study, set in the high-stakes arenas of art, politics, and terrorism, The Last Ember is a provocative and fast-paced glimpse into history, religion, and international law.

Jonathan Marcus a young American lawyer and a former doctoral student in classics, has become a sought-after commodity among antiguities dealers. But when he is summoned to Rome to examine a client's fragment of an ancient stone map, he stumbles across a startling secert: a hidden message carved inside the stone itself. The discovery propels him on a perilous journey from the labyrinth beneath the Colosseum to the biblical-era tunnels of Jerusalem in search of a hidden 2,000-year-old artifact sought by empires throughout the ages. As MArcus and a passionate UN preservationist, Dr. Emili Travia, dig more deeply into the past, they're stunned to discover not only an anicent intelligence operation to protect the artifact, but also a ruthless modern plot to destroy all trace of it by a mysterious radical bent on erasing every remnant of Jewish and Christian presence from the Temple Mount. With a cutting-edge plot as intricately layered as the ancient sites it explores, The Last Ember is a gripping thriller spanning the high-stakes worlds of archaeology, politics, and terrorism in its portrayal of the modern struggle to define--and redefine--history itself.

-Elie Wiesel, bestselling author of Night

"A smart, sophisticated thirller that entertains as it educates, The Last Ember is engrossing. Levin knows his stuff and it shows-- to the reader's great pleasure. Fans of The Da Vinci Code will devour it happily!"

-Christopher Reich, bestselling author of Numbered Account

"In his fast-paced, erudite, and original debut, Daniel Levin reveals a vivid world where archaeological, legal, and religious secrets swirl together into a thrilling nexus. Its rich texture and global cast of characters ignite genuine suspense and intrigue. Readers will savor this novel and await more blockbuster Daniel Levin adventures."

-Matthew Pearl, author of The Dante Club

"What a glorious journey from the tumultuous world of today's Middle East to the imperial world of Roman antiquity and then back. With a flair for detail, drama and elegant prose, Daniel Levin keeps us transfixed by his page-turning tale of deception, politics, history and life."

-Alan Dershowitx, Harvard Law School

"A banquet of everything I crave: history, conspiracy, secrets, action, adventure. Strap yourself in and hold on for some heart-throbbing, throat-grabbing, pedal-to-the-medal pacing. Levin captivates the reader with both plausibility and imagination. The Last Ember is a prize to be savored. A superb debut from a talent that bears watching."

-Steve Berry, author of The Charlemagne Pursuit and The Amber Room

"Levin's religious and archaeological thriller has all the elements needed to appeal to Da Vinci Code fans: long-buried secrets, hidden puzzles based on ancient religious texts, and a race around the Mediterranean."

-Booklist

"Da Vinci Code addicts will enjoy Levin's debut, a dense, complicated novel of religious suspense."

-Publishers Weekly