“Imagine the Earth as a stage, you as an actor in life’s grand play, and the Universe scripting roles for your own personal growth and development.”

Mali, 2010: In the remote reaches of the Sahara, disparate groups of Islamic fundamentalists affiliated with Al-Qaeda have stealthily taken root.

Against this backdrop, a famed Canadian geologist toiling away at a remote exploration camp near Timbuktu discovers the motherlode of gold like no others. Alas, the law of unintended consequences reigns supreme. His compound is raided and in the ensuing confusion, Ayesha, his beautiful wife, is abducted.

Enters Jake Hall, a young and rising mining executive set to visit the camp to assess the scope of the discovery. As Hall escorts his host to Timbuktu for urgent medical care, he’s thrown off course, leading to his own capture by a band of smugglers. His life balances on a knife’s edge as he is forced to journey through some of the most rugged places on earth and endure the desert’s dangers.

Alternating between Hall and Ayesha, Into the Unknown is a gripping tale of captivity and survival of two people who are as different as day and night. Both harrowing and hopeful, the book explores themes of immortality, life’s purpose, prejudice, and the spread of Islamic fundamentalism.

Hai Van Le

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