Synopses & Reviews
Cambridge archaeologist Sarah Weston and anthropologist Daniel Madigan team up for another expedition and adventure in this second book in the Sarah Weston Chronicles. While working on the Qaryat al-Fau archaeological site in Saudi Arabia, the pair uncovers a mysterious ancient scroll composed as a riddle. As they attempt to date and decipher the scroll, a flurry of ills befalls their expedition and the scroll is stolen. A trail of clues leads to India, Jerusalem, and the Judean wilderness, where the two discover the scroll was written by the enigmatic King Solomon as a map to an ancient manuscript. Meanwhile a privileged young Briton, Trent Sacks, has invested years and a fortune looking for his manuscript. Believing he is the last descendant of the House of David in the line of Solomon, Sacks will do whatever it takes to amass the ancient relics which will prove he is the Jewish Messiah. Leaving a string of murders in his wake, Sacks vows to crush Sarah and Daniel for challenging his quest. Journeying through the worlds of the occult, corporate greed, geopolitical conflict, Judaic mysticism, and biblical archaeology, Sarah and Daniel race to uncover the powerful ancient message that could have an explosive impact on modern Israel.
Review
“The characters are lively, and the story is fast-paced and exciting, especially for inveterate fans of the genre.” —Booklist on The Tenth Saint
Review
"D. J. Niko's storytelling carries the grit of desert dust and the seductive scent of incense on every page as Sarah Weston races with a madman to save the treasures that King Solomon left behind." —Mary Anna Evans, award-winning author, Artifacts and Wounded Earth
Review
"The Riddle of Solomon is authentic and inspiring." —Laurence O'Bryan
Review
“If you like adventure books in which you can help solve a mystery through subtle clues, this book is for you! Niko will thrill you throughout the novel and completely surprise you in the end. Just when you think you might have it figured out, youll be slapping your palm to your forehead.” —Hookofabook.com
Review
“It is no coincidence that this piece has been compared to Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Da Vinci Code. Niko seamlessly weaves together fact and fiction into a fast-paced adventure that is guaranteed to leave readers on the edge of their seats. Cover to cover I was captivated by the twists and turns Niko worked into the plot.” —Flashlight Commentary
Review
“With summer coming, I am putting a list of reads together for my audience and I am happy to suggest The Riddle of Solomon for anyone taking their Kindle or a paperback to the beach. It is rich in detail, has a fast-paced plot, and I give it 4 CROSSES!” —Sir Read-A-Lot
Review
“If you are looking for something new and exotic to sink your teeth into this summer, then this is the series for you. Suspense, archaeology, and history make this series one to watch and not to be missed!” —The Lit Bitch
Review
“The books strength lies in its fusion or blending of historical fiction with modern-day issues. As a sort of academic thriller, readers are treated to the usual wild chase whilst the two heroes muddle their way through history, cryptic clues, and dead languages.” —Bitches With Books
Review
Like a sandstorm roaring out of the Judean Desert, The Riddle of Solomon rips readers out of the familiar world, dropping them breathless in a place where ancient kings still keep their secrets. D. J. Nikos storytelling carries the grit of desert dust and the seductive scent of incense on every page as Sarah Weston races with a madman to save the treasures that King Solomon left behind.”
Mary Anna Evans, award-winning author of Artifacts and Wounded Earth
"The Riddle of Solomon is authentic and inspiring." ~Laurence O'Bryan author of The Jerusalem Puzzle
"Take a dash of Dan Brown, a sprinkle of Raiders of the Lost Ark, and a whole lot of originality, and you've got the recipe for D.J. Niko's latest novel, the second in the spellbinding Sarah Weston saga. For readers who like their adventures steeped in research, authenticity, and nonstop intrigue, The Riddle of Solomon is highly recommended!"
~Ronald Malfi, author of Floating Staircase and Cradle Lake
If you like adventure books in which you can help solve a mystery through subtle clues, this book is for you! Niko will thrill you throughout the novel and completely surprise you in the end. Just when you think you might have it figured out, youll be slapping your palm to your forehead.”
~Hookofabook.com
It is no coincidence that this piece has been compared to Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Da Vinci Code. Niko seamlessly weaves together fact and fiction into a fast-paced adventure that is guaranteed to leave readers on the edge of their seats. Cover to cover I was captivated by the twists and turns Niko worked into the plot.”
~Flashlight Commentary
With summer coming, I am putting a list of reads together for my audience and I am happy to suggest The Riddle of Solomon for anyone taking their Kindle or a paperback to the beach. It is rich in detail, has a fast-paced plot, and I give it 4 CROSSES!”
~Sir Read-A-Lot
If you are looking for something new and exotic to sink your teeth into this summer, then this is the series for you. Suspense, archaeology, and history make this series one to watch and not to be missed!”
~The Lit Bitch
The books strength lies in its fusion or blending of historical fiction with modern-day issues. As a sort of academic thriller, readers are treated to the usual wild chase whilst the two heroes muddle their way through history, cryptic clues, and dead languages.”
~Bitches With Books
Detailed, vivid description is among the authors greatest strengths. Whether sketching the ancient marvels revealed by the archaeological quest, the interiors of caves, the colossal machinery developed by demonic Trent Sacks, or the landscapes shifting desert sands, Ms. Niko puts us where her imagination wants us to be.”
~Phil Jason, Fort Meyers Florida Weekly
Ancient history has never been more exciting. With the pace of Indiana Jones and the intelligence and puzzle solving of The DaVinci Code, this book is a true keeper that readers will enjoy again and again. Stepping away from the norm when it comes to archaeological digs, usually set in the Valley of the Kings, this tale offers new locales, new looks at the old world, and an adventure of mammoth proportions. After reading this one, fans will be begging for book three.”
~ Amy Lignor, author of 13, The Sapphire Storm, and The Heros Companion
If you are looking for a truly outstanding read, The Riddle of Solomon is definitely one to check out. You do not have to have read book 1, The Tenth Saint, to be up to speed, but Id recommend picking it up if for no other reason than that it, too, is a great read.”
Love Romances and More
About the Author
D. J. Niko is the pseudonym for Daphne Nikolopoulos, who is an author, an editor, and a former journalist. She is the author of "The Storm Gourmet "and" The Tenth Saint," and her articles have appeared in publications such as the "Boston Herald," "InStyle," the "Miami Herald," "National Geographic Traveler," and Frommer's Travel Guides. She lives in West Palm Beach, Florida.