THE IGNOBLE LIE
by Matthew Peters
July 7 - August 1, 2025 Virtual Book Tour
Synopsis:
Of Gods & Men Series
What if the Ark of the Covenant isn’t a reference to the chest containing the Ten Commandments God revealed to Moses atop Mount Sinai?
What if it refers to the tomb of an Egyptian pharaoh whose contents would revolutionize religious history?
As ex-Jesuit Scott Larson and adventuress Zady Jones learn, such a discovery can be deadly.
A terrorist attack on the Great Pyramid of Giza ratchets up the tension in Washington, D.C., where President John Jenkins has been impeached for an order declaring the U.S. a Judeo-Christian nation. The terrorists threaten more attacks in Egypt and the U.S. unless their demand is met—and it’s something only Larson and Jones can give them. When the efforts to meet the terrorists’ demand goes awry and Zady’s sister is kidnapped, Larson and Jones race to save her. Along the way, they receive a series of mysterious clues that point to the existence of a shocking historical secret, one that could not only topple Jenkins’ presidency but upend Judeo-Christianity.
Praise for The Ignoble Lie:
"This fast-paced religious thriller will especially appeal to fans of The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. Unlike that book, though, The Ignoble Lie digs deep into Biblical lore and ancient history, back to the origins of the historical Moses in ancient Egypt. If you like your thrillers seasoned with Church conspiracies, Egyptian archaeology, and murderous mercenaries, look no further. You won't be able to put it down."
~ Chris
"The Ignoble Lie by Matthew Peters is a sophisticated geopolitical thriller that intertwines religious history, political intrigue, and clandestine warfare... I loved the characters in The Ignoble Lie — believable and thoroughly explored. The prose, the sparkling dialogue, and the deft plotting are the elements that captivated me, together with the suspenseful storytelling. 5 Stars"
~ Christian Sia for Readers’ Favorite
Book Details:
Genre: Political/Religious thriller
Published by: Mélange Books
Publication Date: May 12, 2025
Number of Pages: 368
ISBN: 979-8886533712 (print)
Series: Of Gods & Men, Book 1
Book Links: Amazon | Apple Books | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | BookBub | Mélange Books
****I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, NetGalley, book tours, and or authors. A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.****
My Review
The Ignoble Lie, book one of the Gods and Men Series, strongly reminds me of The Da Vinci Code. I enjoyed this blend of faith, old history, government, and secrets. Many characters appear in many global spots. The story spans just one week, so you must pay close attention. It deeply explores the politics between church and state. The book also covers a lot of religious history, some of which was new to me.
This was my introduction to Matthew Peters' writing. His deep research is clearly evident in this novel. The story kicks off with a chaotic event in Egypt: the bombing of the Great Pyramids. This event draws in Zady Jones and former Jesuit scholar Scott Larson. At its core, the novel revolves around a lost Biblical artifact. A worldwide chase for this treasure then begins as they follow several clues.
The USA President and the Pope are also in the story with their own struggles and involvement. Piecing it all together was fun. It’s not a simple book. You must pay attention, or you will be lost. Still, the story moves well. It is well-written and full of mystery. A bombing, a kidnapping, a treasure hunt, and mind-bending twists keep you guessing. I read it over several days to absorb it all. If you enjoy intense stories, "The Ignoble Lie" is for you.
Read an excerpt:
SUNDAY
Chapter 1
Under a spring sunset, the pyramids of Giza stood like pointed stone islands in a timeless sea of desert sand. At the northeast corner of the plateau, several armed guards perched atop camels at the base of the Great Pyramid of Khufu. The leader of the security force nodded as three lean bearded men garbed in long, white robes and carrying cameras and other electronic equipment approached. The trio formed a loose line and then trudged up the massive beige limestone blocks to the main entrance on the north face of the pyramid.
When they stepped inside, the cool air moved slightly like a palm frond breeze fanned by ancient servants. The men could still hear the hum of the generator outside as they made their way down a long, sloping, cramped corridor in the pale glow of the electric lighting. Following the metal conduit from the generator, they began climbing a longer passage. Their stated job was simple: set up the cameras needed to film the contents of the recently discovered room behind the west wall of the King’s Chamber, one of only two known chambers in the vast structure. Official filming by an international team would commence in the morning and the world would soon learn of the contents.
An hour later, one of the men burst out of the pyramid’s entrance, covered in blood. Sweat drenched his brow as he bent over, his hands on his knees, trying desperately to suck oxygen into his lungs. Fortunately, the guards were not in sight. After a few moments, he raised himself to a fully standing position and wiped blood from his hands onto his dove-colored djellaba. He looked up at the sky beseechingly. The setting sun was glorious: red, orange, bronze. The scene was somehow new and final: the first sunset and the last. The celestial canvas suddenly looked like an unfolding scroll and for one fleeting moment on that scroll he saw painted what he’d glimpsed in the hidden room.
A golden rectangular chest with two winged lions with human heads on a peaked, shiny lid. Four gold rings were set into the bottom four feet, through which golden poles were placed for carrying. It was—
No, it couldn’t be...
Could it?
It was almost impossible to believe, but what if it was? After all, it looked exactly as it was described in the Torah, though that source couldn’t entirely be trusted.
But if there was even a chance that it was, no matter how small...
At least, that’s what they’d told him. And in the end, that was all that really mattered: what they had told him. Because the money that would go to his family was more than he could ever make in a whole lifetime.
With shaky hands, he fumbled for his cell phone and punched the #1 button.
“Yes?” a voice said after one ring.
“It’s as you feared.”
“Now is the time,” the voice responded.
“Allahu Akbar,” the man whispered and ended the call.
He took a deep breath, the kind a long jumper takes just before the approach, then punched the code on his phone.
He held his breath until the explosive detonated.
Then there was nothing but blackness that stretched into forever.
***
Excerpt from The Ignoble Lie by Matthew Peters. Copyright 2025 by Matthew Peters. Reproduced with permission from Matthew Peters. All rights reserved.
Author Bio:
Matthew Peters has a B.A. from Vassar College and an M.A., and Ph.D. from Duke University. He is a member of International Thriller Writers and currently resides in North Carolina. He is passionate about exploring religious, political, and socioeconomic issues from a variety of different perspectives and especially values the views put forth by marginalized groups or people. His writing involves a good deal of research, and he is committed to writing plausible novels, in the hope of giving readers food for thought.
Catch Up With Matthew Peters:
www.MatthewPetersBooks.com
Amazon Author Profile
Goodreads
BookBub - @matthewpeters
Instagram - @matthewpetersbooks
BlueSky - @matthewpetersitw.bsky.social
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