Synopses & Reviews
“A sweeping saga reminiscent of Jeffrey Archer and Susan Howatch, Heart of Lies is brilliantly researched and beautifully written. I could not put this book down.”
—Karen White, New York Times bestselling author of The Girl on Legare Street
A smart, exciting historical suspense novel set in Europe, Shanghai, and New York before World War II, Heart of Lies is a breathtaking introduction to M. L. Malcolm. This extraordinary new writer immediately takes an honored place among Frederick Forsyth (The Day of the Jackal), Ken Follett (Eye of the Needle), Susan Howatch (Glittering Images), and other masters of compelling historical fiction. Inspired by true events in the authors familys past, Heart of Lies is an extraordinary reading experience that Library Journal praises as, “A superbly crafted story, creatively capturing a slice of history with eloquence and realism.”
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“A deeply compelling and extraordinary debut novel. It has everything you want: suspense, adventure, and romance across several continents.” Dorothea Benton Frank, New York Times bestselling author of Return to Sullivans Island
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“Heart of Lies takes the reader on a thrill ride that spans continents and decades, but at heart its an enduring love story.” Melanie Benjamin, author of Alice I Have Been
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“Ambitious, captivating....The expansive plot and rapid-fire pacing are underscored by brilliant depictions of postWorld War I Europe and Asia.” Atlanta Magazine on Heart of Lies
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“Fascinating and deftly-written....The writing is exquisite, wrapping the reader in another time and place.” Historical Novels Review on Heart of Lies
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“A sweeping saga reminiscent of Jeffrey Archer and Susan Howatch, Heart of Lies is brilliantly researched and beautifully written. I could not put this book down.” Karen White, New York Times bestselling author of The Girl on Legare Street
Synopsis
Leo Hoffman was born with a gift for languages. When his dreams for the future are destroyed by World War I, the dashing young Hungarian attempts to use his rare talent to rebuild his life, only to find himself inadvertently embroiled in an international counterfeiting scheme. Suddenly Leo is wanted across the European continent for a host of crimes, including murder. Left with no options, he must escape to Shanghai with his lover, carrying with him a stolen treasure that could be his salvation . . . or his death warrant. But the gangsters who control the decadent Asian city have no intention of letting him outrun his past. And when the Japanese invade, one wrong move could cost Leo Hoffman everything he holds dear.
An epic tale of intrigue, passion, and adventure, Heart of Lies heralds the arrival of a remarkable writer.
About the Author
M. L. Malcolm has won several awards for short fiction, including recognition in the Lorian Hemingway International Short Story Competition, and a silver medal from ForeWord magazine for Historical Fiction Book of the Year. Malcolm has lived in Florida, Boston, Washington, D.C., France, New York, and Atlanta, and currently resides in Los Angeles.