The Zealot's Bones

Two men seeking the bones of a martyr stumble upon the crimes of a devil in the stunning historical crime novel by bestselling author David Mark.

Hull, 1849: a city in the grip of a cholera outbreak that sees its poorest citizens cut down by the cartload.

Into this world of flame and grief comes former soldier Meshach Stone. He's been hired as bodyguard by an academic hunting for the bones of the apostle Simon the Zealot, rumoured to lie somewhere in Lincolnshire.

Stone can't see why ancient bones are of interest in a world full of them. Then a woman he briefly loved is killed. As he investigates, he realizes that she is one of many... and that some deaths cry out for vengeance.

“Mark brings some wonderful characterisation, particularly in the minor roles... His writing is quite brilliant - Crime ReviewThis novel is not for the faint-hearted, with more than a slice of Gothic horror about it, blended skilfully with all essential elements of a traditional crime thriller...Blood, gore, guts, bones, rats, asylums, seances - they're all here in this viscerally, but superbly descriptive book. - Historia The Zealot's Bones is a brilliant and darkly compelling novel. D.M Mark is a refreshingly original voice in historical crime fiction.[An] inventive , spiky book...a wonderful read - The TimesA luridly inventive and enjoyable Gothic thriller - The Sunday Times historical fiction books of the year”

Mark brings some wonderful characterisation, particularly in the minor roles...His writing is quite brilliant - Crime Review

This novel is not for the faint-hearted, with more than a slice of Gothic horror about it, blended skilfully with all essential elements of a traditional crime thriller...Blood, gore, guts, bones, rats, asylums, seances - they're all here in this viscerally, but superbly descriptive book. - Historia

The Zealot's Bones is a brilliant and darkly compelling novel. D.M Mark is a refreshingly original voice in historical crime fiction.

[An] inventive, spiky book...a wonderful read - The Times

A luridly inventive and enjoyable Gothic thriller - The Sunday Times historical fiction books of the year

D.M. Mark is the historical alter ego of David Mark, who was a crime journalist before becoming a novelist. He has written six novels in the McAvoy series: Dark Winter, Original Skin, Sorrow Bound, Taking Pity, Dead Pretty and Cruel Mercy, as well as two McAvoy novellas, A Bad Death and Fire of Lies, which are available in ebook. Dark Winter was selected for the Harrogate New Blood panel and was a Richard & Judy pick and a Sunday Times bestseller. The Zealot's Bones is his first historical crime novel. He chose to delve into the past after deciding that some stories served up by his twisted imagination are just too disturbing to feature in the present.

He lives in East Yorkshire and you can find him on Twitter @davidmarkwriter.

Two men seeking the bones of a martyr stumble upon the crimes of a devil in the stunning historical crime novel by bestselling author David Mark. Hull, 1849: a city in the grip of a cholera outbreak that sees its poorest citizens cut down by the cartload. Into this world of flame and grief comes former soldier Meshach Stone. He's been hired as bodyguard by an academic hunting for the bones of the apostle Simon the Zealot, rumoured to lie somewhere in Lincolnshire. Stone can't see why ancient bones are of interest in a world full of them. Then a woman he briefly loved is killed. As he investigates, he realizes that she is one of many... and that some deaths cry out for vengeance.

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