The Martyr’s Curse

The Martyr’s Curse
Scott Mariani

AN ANCIENT CURSE. A SHOCKING MASSACRE.A THREAT TO UNLEASH THE ULTIMATE DISASTER.Could Ben Hope have found peace at last?That’s the question he’s asking himself after his wanderings through Europe have led him to a remote medieval monastery in the French Alps. A haven of serenity, a place he wants to remain.But wherever Ben goes, trouble is never too far behind.When a team of merciless killers invade his newfound sanctuary and slaughter the innocent monks, Ben’s revenge quest quickly draws him into a bewildering mystery of stolen treasure, deception and murder.What is the truth behind the cache of gold bullion apparently hidden for centuries under the monastery? What is the significance of an ancient curse dating back to a cruel heretic burning in medieval times? What are the real ambitions of the enigmatic leader of an organisation of doomsday ‘preppers’ calling themselves Exercitus Paratorum: the Army of the Prepared?As he works to unravel the clues, Ben is confronted with a terrifying reality that threatens to devastate the world and reshape the whole of our future. The race is on to prevent the ultimate disaster, and there’s only one man who can do it.BEN HOPE is one of the most celebrated action adventure heroes in British fiction and Scott Mariani is the author of numerous bestsellers. Join the ever-growing legion of readers who get breathless with anticipation when the countdown to the new Ben Hope thriller begins…

SCOTT MARIANI

The Martyr’s Curse

Copyright (#u7c78c84e-d3f4-5c03-990d-376e6b565342)

Published by Avon

An imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd

1 London Bridge Street

London SE1 9GF

www.harpercollins.co.uk (http://www.harpercollins.co.uk)

First published in Great Britain by HarperCollins 2015

This ebook edition published by HarperCollinsPublishers in 2018

Copyright © Scott Mariani 2015

Cover photographs © FooTToo

Cover photographs © Shutterstock

Cover photographs © Henry Steadman

Cover design © Henry Steadman 2018

Scott Mariani asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

A catalogue copy of this book is available from the British Library.

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins.

Source ISBN: 9780007486182

Ebook Edition © JUNE 2015 ISBN: 9780007486373

Version: 2018-08-17

Praise (#u7c78c84e-d3f4-5c03-990d-376e6b565342)

Join the army of fans of Scott Mariani’s Ben Hope series …

1.1million copies sold in the UK alone – and counting!

‘For those who are yet to meet Ben Hope, beware – he is highly addictive!’

‘Another gripping tale’

‘Just when you think Ben Hope has settled into some kind of normality his life spins apart. Amazing twists and turns … plenty of action. Never a dull moment!’

‘Once again Scott Mariani has hit the bullseye!’

‘Yet again Ben Hope – the man we’d all secretly like to be – triumphs in the end!’

‘Scott Mariani is a storyteller of the highest quality’

‘Thank you, Scott, for keeping me so well entertained and enthralled’

‘Isn’t it about time Mr Mariani lets Ben Hope settle down?… I hope not! I am enjoying the series too much!’

‘Heart-stopping!’

‘Ben Hope is the hero we all need’

‘One of the best thriller series of our time!’

‘Just keeps getting better and better!’

‘Only one word to describe it – AWESOME!’

‘Loved every single page: the style of writing, the detail of plot, history, geography, technical knowledge and romantic tension. Thank you, Scott!’

‘Constant twists and turns urging you to read the next page to reach the final thrilling conclusion’

‘Ben Hope at his best’

‘Five stars are not enough’

‘Full of action and fast-paced thrills, these books are just fantastic’

‘Makes you regret that you read it too fast’

‘Thrills, spills, terror and excitement’

‘Another cracker from Scott Mariani’

‘Once again, Scott Mariani has delivered a superb, action-packed, edge-of-the-seat adventure that leaves you just wanting more. Bring it on!’

‘Probably the best Ben Hope yet!’