THE first Crusade is on the march to Jerusalem but is held up by the stubborn resistance of the Turkish garrison of Antioch.

Byzantine's special agent does his fair share of fighting but finds himself in a much more bizarre and disturbing battle against ancient forces of evil when he is called upon to investigate the murder of a Norman knight.

Harper matches bravery, pride and religious fervour against jealousy, betrayal and power politics in a historical novel that is as vibrant as it is intriguing.