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The Royal Fifth
FROM AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR, JAMES PEYTON
The Royal Fifth is a thriller based loosely on historical events surrounding the Conqueror, Hernán Cortés, and their consequences brought into the present time.
In a world corrupted by its past, what could turn a law-abiding young artist into a killer?
Young Santa Fe artist, Martín Cortés, is devastated by the deaths of family members and the loss of a huge emerald that once belonged to Hernán Cortés.
Colin Glendaring, a disgraced archeologist with an insatiable passion for pre-Columbian artifacts, is responsible. Martín learns that another family descended from the Spanish Conqueror lives in Oaxaca. Rather than kill Glendaring, he heads south. He discovers an unconventional household that includes Ilhui, a beautiful young woman with a dangerous political agenda.
Martín is stunned when he learns how the family manages to live so well…then alarmed when he discovers that Glendaring is on his way to Oaxaca. Martín and Ilhui are soon accused of murder. On the run, they are betrayed, and Ilhui is kidnapped by a guerilla leader known for recreating grisly Aztec rituals.
With time running out, Martín makes a pact with a ruthless army officer and a crooked federal policeman. Will it be a deal with the devil, or can he do what has to be done to save his new family and love?
The Royal Fifth is a thriller based loosely on historical events surrounding the Conqueror, Hernán Cortés, and their consequences brought into the present time.
In a world corrupted by its past, what could turn a law-abiding young artist into a killer?
Young Santa Fe artist, Martín Cortés, is devastated by the deaths of family members and the loss of a huge emerald that once belonged to Hernán Cortés.
Colin Glendaring, a disgraced archeologist with an insatiable passion for pre-Columbian artifacts, is responsible. Martín learns that another family descended from the Spanish Conqueror lives in Oaxaca. Rather than kill Glendaring, he heads south. He discovers an unconventional household that includes Ilhui, a beautiful young woman with a dangerous political agenda.
Martín is stunned when he learns how the family manages to live so well…then alarmed when he discovers that Glendaring is on his way to Oaxaca. Martín and Ilhui are soon accused of murder. On the run, they are betrayed, and Ilhui is kidnapped by a guerilla leader known for recreating grisly Aztec rituals.
With time running out, Martín makes a pact with a ruthless army officer and a crooked federal policeman. Will it be a deal with the devil, or can he do what has to be done to save his new family and love?
408 pages, Paperback
First published April 4, 2022
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About the author
James W. Peyton
12 books129 followersAward-winning author James Peyton’s intriguing settings and memorable characters in his thrillers come from his years of international work and travel. With the publication of Not For Sale, the first four editions of his four-part thriller Artemas Salcido series are now available on Amazon; Legacy of Evil, Terror Crossing, La Buchona, and Not For Sale. Peyton’s stand-alone adventure thriller, The Royal Fifth, was released in 2022. James also has had five acclaimed books published on Mexican cooking, history, and culture. Peyton's writing reflects a depth of understanding and a unique perspective that sets his work apart.
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