As major financial centres are on high alert for the imminent collapse of Lehman Brothers in September 2008, a young couple in New York is swept into an ancient financial plot. Around the world, strange and seemingly unrelated events a murder in Venice, a plane crash in the South China Sea, a fatal accident in Sao Paulo coincide with politicians and central bankers receiving secret messages. The powerful shadowy organization behind centuries of financial crises springs into action once again. Izaias Almada is a well-known Brazilian novelist, playwright and screenwriter, the author of four novels, three short story collections, three non-fiction books, a biography and several plays and movie scripts. He has received numerous awards, including a gold statue for advertising at the Cannes Lions Festival in 1984, the Literary Revelation Award in 1989, the prestigious Vladimir Herzog Award of Human Rights, 1995.