Hising, writhing, the venomous cobra seeks out its prey… When Sir Keith Chase of Oxford University and Chandra Sen stumble upon the sacred crypt of Monosha in West Bengal, they think it is the archaeological find of the century. What Keith didn't know was that by breaking open the musty burial chamber, he had brought upon himself one of the most ancient and terrifying curses known to Man. The mysterious Temple of Anant, the burial location of Anandatirtha and his low caste wife, Khullana, is guarded by Lord Shiva, God of Destruction and his wife Durga. The depth of the couple’s love touched the hearts of the deities, who swore a pact with Anandatirtha to protect them within the sanctuary of the temple. Durga swore that she would stand guard with her sister Monosha, the mother serpent, whose earthly form is that of a cobra. Woe betide any god or mortal who dared to profane the sanctuary with their presence. Sir Keith’s son, James Chase, begins looking into the strange deaths that have been occurring in the area. However, he meets a surprising amount of resistance, both mortal, and supernatural. ‘… excellent ... Tremayne does his usual masterful job’ – Publishers Weekly ‘A classic puzzle.’ – Kirkus Reviews ‘cleverly plotted and beautifully written…’ – Independent.ie ‘the characters are most memorable. A very enjoyable read’ – Historical Novel Society 'Splendidly exciting' – Fred Nolan, author of Brass Target Peter Tremayne is the fiction writing pseudonym of the Celtic scholar and author Peter Berresford Ellis. Peter Berresford Ellis is a historian, literary biographer and novelist who has published over 90 books to date under his own name and that of his pseudonyms Peter Tremayne and Peter MacAlan. He has also published 95 short stories. His non-fiction books, articles and academic papers have made him acknowledged as one of the foremost authorities on Celtic history and culture. His other works with Venture Press include Island of Shadows, Nicor!, and Raven of Destiny.