Head of Zeus

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District VIII

by Adam LeBor

Danube Blues, 1

Balthazar Kovacs, a detective on Budapest's murder squad, is on the trail of a dead man.

Minutes ago, Kovacs received an anonymous SMS showing a body and an address: 26 Republic Square – the former Communist Party headquarters and once the most feared building in the country. But now, amid the ruins of the demolished building, Kovacs finds no dead body, just six members of the Gendarmerie – an elite police force reporting directly to the prime minister – and an invitation to hand over his phone and cease his investigation.

Kovacs has taken his first step on a journey deep into Budapest's dark heart, towards a deadly intersection of the criminal underworld, the corridors of power and the ghosts of history. A journey that will force him to choose between the law and family loyalty.

Head of Zeus * Crime Fiction

08 Mar 2018 * 368pp * £8.99 * 9781786692719

REVIEWS

'Adam LeBor reveals that crime fiction still has exciting new avenues to explore'

Val McDermid

'A first-class crime thriller ... with an original and engaging protagonist'

Charles Cumming

'LeBor writes fiction with the scrupulous focus of the journalist ... the world he creates is driven by the sharp edge of reality'

Alan Furst

'A cleverly written crime thriller ... the crime-reading public is in for a treat as District VIII satisfies every need on a crime story, heroism, villains, corruption and justice ... You won't regret picking this book up!'

Books Books Books

'The discipline necessary for a successful journalist comes through very clearly in his work ... Everything he writes about is well researched, and essentially believable. He blurs fact and fiction in his stories'

TripFiction

'The real joy about the novel comes in the descriptions of Budapest, which rival any guide book. LeBor clearly knows every nook of the city and its various districts'

Jewish Chronicle

'More than just a procedural crime, it's a real novel with an interesting theme. I haven't been to Budapest but will now'

Frost magazine

'This sophisticated thriller blends expert storytelling and social commentary ... Written with authority and verve, it takes the reader on a chilling journey'

The Lady

'An excellent thriller, entwined with plenty of topical issues ... Kovacs gives the reader insights into an alien culture that is by and large reviled, and adds an exotic note to a gripping tale'

Crime Review.

ALSO IN THE SERIES

Author

Adam LeBor

Adam LeBor is the thriller critic of the Financial Times and a veteran former foreign correspondent who lived in Budapest for many years. He is the author of seven novels and eight non-fiction books, including Hitler's Secret Bankers, which was shortlisted for the Orwell Prize. He is an editorial trainer and writing coach for numerous publications and organisations and also writes for the Critic and The Times. He lives in London with his family.

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