“Gothically gloomy New Year is, you’ll have gathered, prime time for publishers hoping to propel authors onto the Dan Brown bandwagon. By way of relief, here’s Raymond Khoury jumping off. Surfing the post-Da Vinci marketing wave brought him success while also revealing him as a world-class writer of pure-bred thrillers who urgently needed to dump the cod-mystical “code/conspiracy” tat before joining Connelly, Child, Crais & Co at the top table–a feat this achieves with aplomb.”

Lust for a potent, mind-ripping drug brings only trouble and dead bodies in this fast-paced thriller set primarily in Mexico and Southern California.

In 1741 Mexico, a Jesuit priest has an extraordinary experience that may destroy his soul. Over two centuries later in the same country, a covert U.S. drug operation turns sour. Years later in San Diego, a man and woman are murdered, drawing in ex–FBI agent Sean Reilly, the woman’s former lover.

Reilly’s girlfriend Tess takes the murdered woman’s 4-year-old son Alex under her wing as Reilly tries to learn the reason for this crime. Meanwhile, young Alex has drawn a disturbing picture he can’t explain, but that couldn’t have any connection to the mystery—or could it? Reilly had killed a man in that botched Mexican operation, and he now learns that all the events are connected. Suddenly he is thrown into a situation much bigger than the mortal threat to him and his family. A cartel is after the ancient secret to a mysterious hallucinogen that may have the power to shake the world to its core. The criminals see Reilly as the key to finding it—or is he the person they really want? The novel is full of twists, one of them hard to believe—or is it?

Reilly faces a formidable opponent in El Brujo, a vicious beast with interesting means of punishing his enemies, but they are not the only hazard Reilly faces. Luckily, he has critical support from Tess despite a couple of big surprises. What with all the poisons, gunfire and wholesale bloodletting, he needs whatever help he can get.

Vivid, energetic scenes ensure that Khoury’s tale never falters or bores. It’s the sort of novel that could make a colorful movie, but meanwhile, enjoy the book.

“An exciting thriller with a paranormal twist.” –Publishers Weekly

Feelin’ good, Billy Ray! 

Hi Raymond!

I just finished my advance readers’ copy of The Devil’s Elixir and all I can say is OMG OMG OMG!!!!

I love the way it was written, I was totally riding Reilly’s emotional rollercoaster with him.  I’m not gonna lie, there were a few parts that I stopped and prayed that there was some logic behind the madness and you delivered once again!

I was on the edge of my seat all week and it took everything in me to put it down for school and meals. I was enthralled from the very first page.  I do miss the Templars (mostly cause I’ve always been fascinated with their history) but keep this up and I’ll keep coming back for more Tess and Reilly. You have created amazing characters to carry your fantastic adventures and I can’t get enough!! Templars or not, yours are the best books I’ve read in a long time!

Thank you so much for blessing my collection with another great book!!!! I look forward to the next one!!!!

This is a blog I contributed to Beatrice.com about my first novel, and how it tormented me for more than a decade… Click here to read the full blog, I think you might find it interesting…