Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1532847
7 gozotoday | FRIDAY • 28 FEBRUARY 2025 BOOKS MILITARY veteran Gus Harper wants nothing more than quiet days and open waters—just him, his boat, and Arty, his decorated ex-special forces war dog. A sun- soaked island paradise. A simple life. That was the plan. But one night, they haul in more than a fish—a half-drowned survivor of human trafficking, terrified and clinging to life. Gus and Arty are drawn back into a world of duty—one they thought they had left behind— confronting corruption, decep- tion, and ruthless men willing to kill to protect their trade. With an unlikely alliance—a Maltese Cardinal, a vivacious widow, a mysterious Polish hand- yman, and a former US Navy SEAL—together, they expose a criminal network stretching from North Africa to Malta's corridors of power, where those sworn to serve instead profit from corrup- tion and treachery. With danger mounting, friends falling, and their peaceful lives slipping away, Gus and Arty must summon the courage and use an- cient hidden backdrops to face down a powerful enemy and bring justice to the island's shores. Set against the backdrop of Mal- ta's ancient landscapes and time- less legends, Tide of Shadows is a pulse-pounding tale of ordinary people—and a dog—facing ex- traordinary circumstances. Dive into the thrilling plot • Rescue and resolve: Follow Gus and Arty on a heart-pounding journey as they rescue Aisha and unravel a sprawling trafficking network. • Allies and enemies: Meet an unforgettable cast, including Sylv- ie Santoro, who continues her late husband's fight against corrup- tion; Chris and Jennifer Lawson, former US intelligence operatives with crucial connections; and the mysterious Marek Kowalski with a shadowy past. • High stakes: Face off against Malik, a ruthless North African kingpin ruling a vast criminal em- pire. • Climactic confrontation: Expe- rience the tense final showdown in ancient smuggler caves, where Gus and his allies take their stand against evil forces. Tide of Shadows is a gritty, fast- paced thriller. From the vibrant local communities to the shadowy underworld of organised crime and corruption, the novel paints a vivid picture of a land steeped in history and conflict. If you love high-octane thrill- ers where ordinary people take a stand against extraordinary dan- gers, Tide of Shadows will keep you turning pages late into the night. About the author PT Leonard lives on the Med- iterranean island of Gozo. His connection to the Maltese Islands runs deep. His Maltese mother and British father's story inter- twined with the island's wartime history. His father served in Operation Pedestal, the crucial 1942 convoy that saved Malta, before joining the submarine service in 1943, reasoning it would be safer (and better paid). Following in his father's wake, Leonard served in the Royal Navy as a nuclear submarine engineer. His duties took him from the North Pole to the South Atlantic, and all points in between. After his naval career, he spent over two decades in international business development and holds an MBA from Manchester Uni- versity Business School. When not writing, Leonard can be found exploring Gozo's ancient paths with his dog. Tide of Shadows: A new, Gozo-based, Mediterranean thriller P T Leonard, author of Tide of Shadows, with his dogs