Out of the searing heat and sand storms of Baghdad's infamous summer of 2003 comes a gripping tale rooted in ancient Mesopotamian lore and its little-known but profound significance for the world.

John Madison is a Turkish-American art dealer raised by his much older brother Samuel, a respected Mesopotamian scholar. Caught between Samuel's obsession with saving a priceless relic looted from Iraq's National Museum and a deadly game of revenge staged by his childhood friend, John must solve a puzzle to find the link between a modern-day witch and an ancient one.

Aided by Tomas, an archaeologist, and Ari, an Iraqi photojournalist - two men with their own secrets to hide - John races against time to decipher a Biblical prophecy that leads to the dark history behind the science of alchemy: Is the notion of turning lead into gold possible after all?

Against his will, John returns to Iraq where a fabulous treasure trove awaits discovery and where the truth behind a famous story the world believes to be a myth is finally revealed.

D.J. McIntosh a member of the Society for Mesopotamian Studies and a former co-editor of Fingerprints, the newsletter of the Crime Writers of Canada. She is a strong supporter of Reporters Without Borders and the Committee to Protect Journalists. She lives in Toronto.

D.J. Mcintosh's profile page

A book so good, everyone should buy it twice. - National Post

McIntosh combines stellar research with superb writing skills. This book is the first of a planned three featuring Madison and Mesopotamia. I can't wait for the next two. - The Globe and Mail

A sinuous barnburner of a story, steeped in reams of fascinating Mesopotamian history and conjecture but not derailed by it. McIntosh has taken on the (largely American) arcane masters, and beaten them at their game. Good on her. - Winnipeg Free Press

Soaked in the blood of centuries, yet as fresh as tomorrow's headlines. D.J. McIntosh is articulate, literate, and scary. - Alan Bradley, bestselling author of The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie

Is D.J. McIntosh the next Dan Brown? - The Globe and Mail

From Iraq, ancient history and alchemy combine to terrorize us in this stunning historical thriller. A terrific read. - Louise Penny, NYT bestselling author of Bury Your Dead

With a plot that moves like a racetrack pickpocket and a hero who has more lives than a cat and uses them all, D.J. McIntosh's The Witch of Babylon is one terrifying ride. Connecting the recent looting of antiques in war-torn Iraq with Mesopotamian conspiracy contrived almost three thousand years ago, the plot ingeniously weaves the two, keeping the reader on edge and guessing to the very last page. Full of an equal amount of mayhem and erudition, this novel marks a remarkably inventive and lively debut. - James W. Nichol, bestselling author of Midnight Cab

An impressive debut. The first of a projected trilogy, The Witch of Babylon is a well-crafted novel that will appeal to readers in search of fast-paced action thrillers. Containing puzzles within puzzles, plot twists and complex characters, it will appeal to fans of The Da Vinci Code - though in fairness it is much better written. - The Sherbrooke Record

The Witch of Babylon is hard and gritty, with enough satisfying twists and surprises to please the most ardent thriller fan. - Quill & Quire