Additional information
by Luke Richardson (Author)
Governments in chaos. Violence in the streets. A new world order is coming.
When Brent Fasslane, an exiled American conspiracy theorist, disappears in Istanbul, no one's surprised. Afterall, if you're a thorn in the side of the establishment, it's a matter of when, not if.
But, when the attention of the world's media sends Fasslane's new book up the charts, the powerful start to worry. A damning account of corruption within the world's governments, the book fuels a demand for change, with fear, violence, and bloodshed not far behind.
Leo and Allissa head to Istanbul in an attempt to prevent all out anarchy. But, when sinister forces intervene, it's clear the ancient city won't make it easy for them. Afterall, this wouldn't be the first-time civilisations have fallen in the labyrinthine streets of old Byzantium.
Can Leo and Allissa find the world's most famous missing person, before order crumbles for good?
Istanbul Icarus Frequently Asked Questions:
What is Istanbul Icarus about?
Istanbul Icarus is a fast-paced political conspiracy thriller and international detective novel set in Istanbul, Turkey. When controversial American author and conspiracy figure Brent Fasslane disappears after a staged assassination at the Hagia Sophia, Leo Keane and Allissa Stockwell are drawn into a case involving civil unrest, political manipulation, corporate power, and a dangerous technology company planning to control the personal data of millions. Key locations include the Hagia Sophia, Sultanahmet, the Bosporus, hidden Byzantine cisterns, underground chambers, city backstreets, and the districts around Istanbul's historic centre. The story also touches on Uludağ, Ankara, Brighton, and the wider political landscape of modern Turkey.
What inspired Istanbul Icarus?
Istanbul Icarus was inspired by my visit to Istanbul in 2016, and later by my overland journey across Europe to reach the city by train. Istanbul is ancient, chaotic, beautiful, and layered with history.
What makes the International Detectives series different?
The International Detectives series begins with location. Each book takes Leo Keane and Allissa Stockwell somewhere new, and the place shapes the investigation as much as any clue or suspect. These are not traditional police procedurals. There are no forensics labs, police stations, or routine interrogations at the centre of the books. Instead, Leo and Allissa search for people who do not want to be found in vivid international settings most detective novels rarely visit.
Is Istanbul Icarus clean or family-friendly?
Istanbul Icarus contains danger, tension, violence, political unrest, and adult themes connected to crime and corruption, but nothing gratuitously explicit. There is no swearing, no graphic sexual content, and nothing gratuitously graphic.
Can Istanbul Icarus be read as a standalone?
While Istanbul Icarus can be read as a standalone international thriller, it is the final book in the International Detectives series, following Kathmandu Killers, Hong Kong Gone, Berlin Underground, New York Nightfall, and Riga Rising.
