By Robin Gibson
The Ghost Moths picks up where Farthing’s acclaimed debut novel, Summit, left off, reuniting readers with English mountain guide Neil Quinn on his next riveting, epic mountain adventure.
Blackstone Publishingis thrilled to announce the release of The Ghost Moths, a new novel by Harry Farthing, combining gripping elements of climbing adventure, history, and suspense. The Ghost Moths picks up where Farthing’s acclaimed debut novel, Summit, left off, reuniting readers with English mountain guide Neil Quinn on his next riveting, epic mountain adventure. Whilst searching a windswept mountainside for the fabled ghost moth fungus, a young Tibetan boy unearths a mysterious relic. Moments later the People’s Liberation Army of China marches into his isolated village in the valley below and begins to dismantle an ancient way of life. As the brutal oppression grows, the boy’s precious find becomes first a symbol of hope for the villagers then a tool of survival for a people and a religion. It must be preserved at all costs.
Sixty years later, mountain guide Neil Quinn is wrapping up his last climb of the season on the highest mountain in Tibet when a transport shortage leaves him stuck in an empty base camp. An earthquake sets off a chain of mysterious events that directly connect the English climber to the ongoing tragedies of a troubled land where the Chinese authorities strive still for complete control.
Manipulation and murder dog their every step as they strive to piece together a complex puzzle from Tibet’s tortured past while navigating the treacherous present.
Unsure of precisely what he witnessed yet determined to protect its truth, Quinn returns to Kathmandu and enlists the help of a famous historian of the Himalayas, an erstwhile American journalist, and a cast of locals as enigmatic as that ancient city — each with their own reasons for joining his quest. Manipulation and murder dog their every step as they strive to piece together a complex puzzle from Tibet’s tortured past while navigating the treacherous present.
“The Ghost Moths is an adventure story set in a fascinating part of the world by an author who knows it well. The metaphysical flavor adds to the intrigue.” — New York Journal of Books
“An erudite thriller that confronts the recent history of the ancient Himalayan cultures with unflinching honesty and considerable excitement. A damn good read.” — John Burdett, bestselling author of Bangkok 8
“Farthing is particularly good at creating a memorable bad guy, a sadistic Chinese security officer whose nickname is Yama, the Tibetan Lord of Death. Fans of Eliot Pattison will want to check out this issues-driven thriller.” — Publishers Weekly
“Farthing’s sprawling plot unfolds in short, elegantly written chapters…Farthing presents colorful bits of tapestry and trusts the reader to assemble them and locate the nexus between the physical world and the metaphysical. An extensive glossary, cast of characters, and maps are welcome aids. An ambitious, stylishly written, thought-provoking tale.” — Kirkus Reviews
An Englishman who lives in Charleston, South Carolina, Farthing is an experienced mountaineer, adventure traveler, and historian.
“An interesting mystery steeped with folktales, spirituality, and political unrest. I felt like I was transported to the Himalayas with his vivid descriptions of both the scenery and mountain climbing…It was fascinating to be immersed in a different culture while following this intriguing adventure.” — Book Junkie Reviews
“The Ghost Moths is a magical novel that feels like a work of fantasy and is made that much more amazing because everything described within is from our world and history. The mysteries are not all answered, but that is okay because the satisfaction of this read is in spending time in this place that takes us from the ground floor of ancient, dissolved villages to literally the top of our world at the peak of Mount Everest. Highly recommended for readers who want something more than just a mere historically based mystery/thriller.” — Criminal Element
An Englishman who lives in Charleston, South Carolina, Farthing is an experienced mountaineer, adventure traveler, and historian. He is the author of Summit. The Ghost Moths is his second novel.
