By Way of the Valley chronicles the quest of a would-be writer beset by adversity who strives to fulfil his destiny. It is a thrilling mystery novel set in an arcadian Tuscan valley whose breath-taking beauty stands out against the underlying sinister aspect of Italian society.
Duncan Dyer's lifelong dream of becoming a writer is slipping further out of his grasp as a series of unfortunate events hit him hard. The death of his beloved mentor, Gordon Bell, spurs Duncan to embark on a journey to the Valdichiana, determined to retrieve a precious diary, which is the elixir he needs to re-establish his self-worth.
The untimely death of the world-famous Scottish expatriate author Gordon Bell has been told off by the Italian police as a case of accidental mushroom poisoning, but Duncan thinks otherwise and is determined to unravel the mystery surrounding his beloved mentor's demise.
Duncan's quest, spurred by the mysterious Elijah, turns into an extraordinary ordeal of the mind, body and spirit, as he travels from one ancient hilltop town to another, unravelling clues that are concealed amidst priceless Medieval and Renaissance works of art from the likes of Luca Signorelli and Bartolomeo della Gatta.
During his turbulent journey, Duncan encounters the alluring but elusive Laura, an unemployed Italian art historian, who impulsively teams up with him. In a frenetic journey that spans distance and time; that transcends the world of the living and the dead, Duncan reinvents himself into the man he always longed to become, but risks being smothered by the sinister forces that have stirred up to stop him from taking the lid off the dark closet.
★★★★★ Amazon reviews of By Way of the Valley:
"..a relatable tale which captures the essence of what it means to be alive."
"A real page turner, which keeps you wondering what will happen next, and surprises you with its unexpected turn of events."
"...abundant details of landscape setting, cultural heritage and local colour woven into the narrative..."
"A pleasant read at a time when journeys have taken on a more poignant significance than ever before."
"I am not a big fan of sequels... but 'By Way of the Valley' is one of those books which pauses but does not end with the last line."
