Out of the searing heat and sandstorms of the infamous summer of 2003 in Baghdad comes The Witch of Babylon , a gripping story rooted in ancient Assyrian 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 mover and shaker in New York''s art world. Caught between his brother''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. Kidnapped by villainous fortune hunters, John is returned to Iraq, where a fabulous treasure trove awaits discovery--if he can stay alive long enough to find it. International thriller-writing sensation D. J. McIntosh makes her American debut with The Witch of Babylon .