Original, scary, rooted in the past but as current as tomorrow's nightmare. An enthralling read

One of the boldest recent adventures in historical fiction

A fantastic tale of human struggle against the forces of evil and an attempt to avert the apocalypse

Very much in the style of the epic thriller writers such as Wilbur Smith, Clive Cussler and Matthew Reilly, Scott has produced a veritable three course meal of a book in which every dish served up is superb

There are quite a few Ruth Rendells: the doyenne of the traditional English detective novel; the queen of the psychological thriller; the celebrated author of the literary thriller

Absorbing and also timely

Iain Pears has an uncanny historical sense ... splendid return to the grand 19th-century novel

Fireworks, inventiveness and excitement of part three and a curmudgeonly inventor of torpedoes

An indefatigably clever storyteller...witty, laconic dialogue; a galloping pace, particularly in the first and third narratives; the author's silky, fluid prose; and above all the concluding passages, which detonate a series of surprises as poignant as they are grim

A complex novel of mystery and suspense narrated by three fascinating characters...I thoroughly recommend this title

Well worth the ride

Pears is in a class of his own; no one else could possibly succeed in making the world of big finance so hugely entertaining.

this thoughtful, thoroughly satisfying novel... clever storytelling to reach imaginative heights