cover image Garden of Madness

Garden of Madness

Tracy L. Higley. Thomas Nelson, $9.99 trade paper (400p) ISBN 978-1-4016-8680-2

The biblical story of Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar’s seven years as a madman, found in the Old Testament Book of Daniel, deepens and broadens thanks to veteran author Higley’s historical research and vivid imagination. Tiamat, daughter of the mad king, finds herself at the center of palace intrigue when her husband, son of the imprisoned Israelite king, dies. Her mother wants her to wed a Median prince to preserve her family; the powerful mage Shadir intends her to marry his protégé, Amel-Marduk; Tiamat wants neither, torn between her desire for freedom and her feelings for Pedaiah, her late husband’s brother. Secrets pile upon secrets and danger lurks everywhere as Tiamat searches for answers. She must decide between the evil gods of her youth and the true God who promises peace and love, but may require that she give up the life she knows. Readers will find much to enjoy here: fine writing, suspense, mystery, faith, love, and a new look at an old story. Agent, Steve Laube (May)