Checkmate

Tenth century Spain.

Cordoba, the capital of Moorish Spain is at the centre of a power struggle in the medieval world.

With its diverse population of Muslims, Christians and Jews, political and religious rivalries are never far from the surface in the city.

After a tense chess match between high ranking officials, one of the players, Aiden - a Christian professor of mathematics at the university - is found murdered.

With the threat of an international war at stake if the crime isn’t solved, the Caliph’s Jewish Vizier, Hasdai ben Shaprut, finds himself in a race against time to catch the killer.

Each of the chess players comes under scrutiny and it isn’t long before another murder is committed.

As the plot thickens will the answer slip through Hasdai’s fingers?

Or will he manage to Checkmate the killer?

‘Checkmate’ is a novel of murder, chess, astronomy and political intrigue set amongst the palaces and mosques of 10th century Cordoba. It is perfect for fans of C.J. Sansom.

'Brilliantly plotted and rich in period detail.' - Robert Foster, best-selling author of 'The Lunar Code'.

'A gripping historical mystery.' - Tom Kasey, best-selling author of 'The Dante Conspiracy'.

Mark Dewar has a fascination for Spain in the time of the Moors, Al Andalus, and for crime fiction. This is his first novel.

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