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It's the ULTIMATE CONSPIRACY . . .
and it's about to unfold . . .
Novelist Jessie Mercer has always had the gift of precognition.
Shortly after she conjures up the idea for her newest book, The Ultimate
Conspiracy, she is drawn into a web of conspiracy, intrigue, and murder. Bits of
a previous life in the far-distant past are slowly revealed, uncovering ancient
secrets that connect Egyptian pharaohs, the Freemasons, the Knights Templar,
Mary Magdalene, the Sumerians, the Roman Catholic Church, the
devil, and even God. For Jessie's story, it turns out,
began in ancient Egypt and has
 woven
its thread through the tapestry of human history—only to come to an astonishing
climax in modern America.
Fans of Alex Marcoux's previous novels Façades and Back to Salem will be
enthralled by this spellbinding new novel, which heralds the return of her
well-loved characters Jessie and Taylor, along with high-powered talent agent
Sidney Marcum. And readers unfamiliar with her work, especially those whose
interest was piqued by Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code, will revel in A Matter of
Degrees, which takes the story of world control by secret societies and
the Catholic Church to a whole new level.
NEW REVIEWS:
"FANS OF MARCOUX'S OTHER BOOKS WILL WELCOME THE RETURN OF
JESSIE MERCER AND HER LOVER, TAYLOR ANDREWS, from Back to Salem and mentions of
Sidney and Anastasia from Façades. In addition, the Freemasons, the Sumerians,
the Catholic Church, the Trilateral Commission, and other secret societies are
all players in this WELL-RESEARCHED THRILLER."
— Books to Watch Out For
"Thrilling ... One of the
BEST NOVELS I've read in a long
time!"
— Laura Placeres, Darker Side of the Moon
“A Matter of Degrees by Alex Marcoux crosses literary
boundaries the same way that it crosses centuries, nations, and time and space
itself. Marcoux skillfully weaves ancient tales of the mystery religion of
ancient Egypt into the present day mystery, yet carefully conceals how the two
interrelate until the very end. The tale is FILLED WITH TWISTS AND TURNS, and
the revelations at the end should surprise even the most jaded mystery reader. .
. . A HEART-THUMPING RIDE through Jessie's world as she searches for her
brother's killer and finds much more than she bargained for. This page-turner
WILL FULFILL THE FONDEST WISHES OF THOSE WHO LIKE A NICE THICK, MEATY, MYSTERY
READ.”
— Anna Furtado, East Bay Voice, L-Word.com
"In A Matter of Degrees, author Alex Marcoux—who has been
called the “lesbian Dan Brown”— trumps
The Da Vinci Code because she doesn’t just take on the Vatican and the
Sacred Feminine, but builds on the anti-Biblical and the seemingly
interconnected world of fraternal organizations, including the oldest and
largest: the Freemasons... Marcoux does
a brilliant job of snagging even the most reluctant reader in the
intrigue, in ancient myths and history, in the grand-conspiracy theory of world
control that, even after nearly 300 pages, you hate to have her wrap up."
— JoAnne Myers, Inside Out Hudson Valley
RAVE EARLY REVIEWS:
“FASTEN YOUR
SEATBELT and prepare for a wild ride. In A Matter of Degrees, Alex Marcoux
has brilliantly twisted religion, Freemasonry, reincarnation, and Egyptian
mysticism into a rollercoaster ride of suspense. Think you know what will happen
next? Think again!”
—Lisa Gardner, New York Times bestselling author of Gone
“Mix a little Dan Brown conspiracy with a little Philip K. Dick sci-fi and what
do you get? A Matter of Degrees, the new blockbuster mystery thriller by
Alex Marcoux! Weaving A GENRE-BENDING TALE OF CONSPIRACY, COVER-UPS, AND MURDER,
Marcoux returns to the game with beloved
characters from her earlier novels Façades and Back to Salem,
bringing them together in an explosive mix of spine-tingling action! A Matter of
Degrees IS AN OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD READ and SHOULD NOT BE MISSED!”
—Sherry L. Stinson (outlookpress.com)
“A multilayered story of intertwining lives and loves. . . . FAST-PACED
AND SUSPENSEFUL, this novel will sweep you into an exciting world of conflict
and intrigue and the ultimate conspiracy.”
—Robin D. Owens, PRISM and RITA award winner; Author of Heart
Mate, Heart Thief, and Guardian of Honor
“Alex Marcoux is
a rare writer. She can weave AN ENGROSSING, EXCITING, AND ROMANTIC TALE THAT
LEAVES YOU TOTALLY SATISFIED and wondering when the next book will be written.
This is a compelling story and Alex is a welcome voice in the literary world.”
—Kris Radish, bestselling Author of Annie Freeman's
Fabulous Traveling Funeral, Dancing Naked at the Edge of Dawn
and The Elegant Gathering of White Snows
“If you were
drawn into the contemplation of ancient secrets and the societies who still
guard them today by Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code, GO ONE STEP FURTHER
and infiltrate one of
those societies,
the Freemasons, in Alex Marcoux’s vividly imagined new novel. Moreover, for
those who like suspense meted out by strong women, THERE ARE HEROINES HERE
WITH COURAGE TO
SEND CHILLS UP YOUR SPINE-AND TO BREAK YOUR HEART.”
—Lynn Vannucci, Author of Coyote and Revolution in the
Garden
“I COULDN’T PUT
IT DOWN! . . . A riveting look at the Freemasons and conspiracy theories with a
paranormal twist—a must-read for any Dan Brown devotee. This book is for anyone
who ever wondered what happened behind the closed doors of a secret, all-male
society, and for anyone
captivated by
strong women who aren't afraid of operating outside of the box.”
—Christine Goff, two-time Willa Literary
Award Finalist; Author of Death Takes a Gander
Author’s Note & Acknowledgements
When I write, I allow life’s events to inspire where my stories
go, and then somehow filter the information onto the pages. After reading this
book I’m sure you’ll wonder what events triggered me to ponder the ancient
Egyptian mysteries, gardens of Sumer, Mary Magdalene, or the Knights Templar.
You may even wonder what took me inside of Freemasonry’s Blue Lodge and Scottish
Rite. As a woman though, how could I?
For those of you who have followed my writing from Façades and Back to Salem, I
thank you for continuing this journey with me, and it really has been a journey.
As you will soon see, my stories are a bit more complex than my earlier work. If
your memory is good you will see the subtle connections between the characters
of the three books. For those of you who aren’t familiar with my earlier work,
thank you for hopping on board! It’s not too late, because we’re really just
getting started!
There is an endless list of author’s whose work helped percolate this story onto
the pages. They include: Michael Baigent, William Bramley, Manly P. Hall,
Richard Leigh, Henry Lincoln, Jim Marrs, and Zecharia Stitchin. The Masonic
rituals’ dialog is based upon excerpts posted on “Saints Alive in Jesus” website
(www.saintsalive.com) which is provided by the Ex-Masons for Jesus and Ephesians
5:11, Inc. (http://www.ephesians5-11.org). I found “The Deadly Deception” by Jim
Shaw & Tom McKenney helpful in capturing the essence of the ceremonies, as well
as providing the lecture for the thirty-second degree. Books by Rosemary Clark
and John Van Auken were helpful in depicting the ancient Egyptian rituals and
customs.
Sincere thanks to everyone at Haworth Press for making this book a reality.
Thanks to my editor, Nancy Deisroth who has been along for the ride since
Facades. Over the years there have been endless drafts and enthusiastic
volunteers who have read my work and provided valuable insight. Thank you:
Aggie, Janet, Joe, Kris, Sandra, Sharon, Sherry, and Susan. Thanks Mom, for
reading it and not going off on me!
In every writer’s life there is a support system, a team of people cheering you
on from the sideline. My support system changed dramatically while I wrote this
story. There has been one voice, though, since the story’s inception. One
individual has walked by my side, has held my hand when I’ve needed it, has
smiled for no reason other than they’re with me. I hear his giggle in my head as
I write this. I want to thank my son, Preston, for being with me since this
story’s maiden voyage.
This book took years to research, write, and rewrite. To say it’s a work of
passion is an understatement. I cannot say that the theories expressed here are
my beliefs, because my own develop as my journey unfolds. My hope is that “A
Matter of Degrees” opens minds to other possibilities no matter how outrageous,
improbable or impossible they may seem, because we owe it to ourselves to seek
Truth. But also, I hope you enjoy this tale!
AM
A special thanks to
Tyler Creative for cover
design.
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