Deceit Power Death Passion The world's leaders trade entitlements for votes. National currencies have become worthless. People across the globe revolt. The strategy created by Magus Crayle remains in play. It relies upon failed governments, and they topple like dominoes. Innocents fall victim to several nuclear devices, the ascendency of Chin Yao-wu in China the fruit of that death and destruction. Sylvain Lalumiere-masquerading as the Man in the Iron Mask-is back in the game, his target the homeland of his aristocratic French ancestors. Hunting him is Magus Crayle. At risk: tens of thousands of innocent people. Crayle and his team must overcome Lalumiere's CIA support and unmask the Illumine leader known only as the Elder. Along the way, recovering amnesiac Crayle discovers new facts about himself. In The Crystal Seduction, Dennis Bowen carries forward the heroes, the villains, and the lethal intrigues that made The Water Diamonds and The Blackstone Perfection what readers describe as ..". thrillers with a killer twist "