‘The Babylon Gene’ by Alex Churton

Published by Head of Zeus.
8 September 2012.
ISBN: 978-1-90880011-4

This is a lengthy and complex thriller, initially ranging from Istanbul to Oxford, before proceeding to embrace most of the civilised (if that's the correct word, given the amount of bloodshed!) world.

The story begins with the blowing up of a Freemasons' Lodge in Istanbul and spreads out from there.  The two main protagonists are polymathic Dr Toby Ashe (recruited by the SIS during his Oxford days) and cynically brusque Colonel Mahmut Asla (a career soldier), both trying to find out who was responsible for the Istanbul disaster and both, in their entirely different ways, very likable heroes. 

Throw loads of intrigue and danger into the mix, add firefights in the desert, the CIA, global threats and an Iranian scientist attempting to use genetic engineering as a weapon of mass alteration, plus a realistic combination of recent fact and believable fiction and you have a novel which will keep you engaged for much longer than the average adventure story.

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Reviewer: Susan Moody

Alex Churton is a writer and composer. An acknowledged expert on Western Esotericism. He is the author of ten non-fiction titles on subjects such as alchemy, magic and Middle Eastern religions. The Babylon Gene is his first novel.

Susan Moody was born in Oxford is the principal nom de plume  of Susan Elizabeth Donaldson, née Horwood, a British novelist best known for her suspense novels. She is a former Chairman of the Crime Writer's Association, served as World President of the International Association of Crime Writers, and was elected to the prestigious Detection Club. Susan Moody has given numerous courses on writing crime fiction and continues to teach creative writing in England, France, Australia, the USA and Denmark.  In addition to her many stand alone books, Susan has written two series, on featuring PI Penny Wanawake (seven books) and a series of six books featuring bridge player Cassie Swan.