Torri Pines

In the Name of the Winter Queen Torri Pines

A Czech academic historian, Vanda Skalická, faces another puzzle, one involving a golden locket and a limb lost on a muddy battleground of the Thirty Years' War. Dramatic events bring the researcher from Bohemia to Lebanon, only to experience consequences of a thousand years of conflicts in the Middle East. To help a friend archaeologist in need, Vanda gets involved with the mysterious Dr. Morel, a former politician, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. Thanks to him and his connections, the protagonist, an idealistic scholar, is confronted with the murky, behind the curtain politics ruled by money and influence. The mystery of the past develops around a medallion that brings the reader to the 17th century Europe swept by cascades of conflict between Catholics and Protestants. Mercenaries from all over Europe seeking fortune fought on both sides, Scotsman Ian Garrow among them. Through his eyes, the reader experiences notable battles, meets prominent political figures, and witnesses everyday life and death of a regular soldier of fortune.