In the early reign of Nebuchadrezzar II, remnants of Assyrian ritual still haunt Babylon. When a solar omen terrifies the priests, a commoner is elevated as substitute king - honoured in appearance, doomed in fate.
But in a palace of omens and intrigue, survival is never simple. Betrayal, espionage, and forbidden alliances entwine as he struggles to resist the destiny imposed upon him.
When the King Must Die: A Novel of Babylon blends historical fact with fiction, bringing to life one of history's most haunting rituals in a tale of courage and conspiracy.