The King of Swords

Nick Stone

Oct 2009 · Harper Collins

About this ebook

Miami, 1981. Cocaine Central. Murder Capital, USA.

A city about to catch fire.

Detective Max Mingus and his partner, Joe Liston, are anticipating a routine murder investigation when they are called to the scene of death at Miami's Primate Park—until the victim's family is found slaughtered, and a partly digested tarot card, the King of Swords, is discovered in the victim's stomach.

A trail that's growing bloodier by the hour is leading Max and Joe to the most powerful criminal in Miami: the infamous Solomon Boukman. Few have ever set eyes on the evil, intensely feared enigma, but rumors abound of voodoo ceremonies, dark rites, and friends in very high places. Malevolence is running rampant in a city choking on hatred, rage, and official corruption—as Max races to discover the terrifying truth about Boukman before death's shadow reaches his own front door.

Ratings and reviews

Great book - read it after Mr clarinet , and this is a great prelude to the series !

About the author

Nick Stone is a British author, born in Cambridge, England in 1966. He lived in Haiti with his grandparents for four years. He returned to England in 1970, where he has lived on and off throughout his life. He is a graduate of Cambridge University in history. Before becoming a writer, he worked as a legal clerk, dishwasher, and various white-collar office jobs. In 1996, he returned to Haiti. It is there that he found inspiration for his first novel, Mr. Clarinet (2006). It is the first book in the Max Mingus series and followed by King of Swords (2007), and Voodoo Eyes (2011). His most recent book is The Verdict (2014). He is an award-winning writer. His debut novel, Mr. Clarinet, won him The CWA Steel Dagger (2006), International Thriller Writers Award for Best First Novel (2007), and the Macavity Award for Best First Novel (2007).