<p><b>Bringing 1950s Morocco vividly to life, Jane Johnson's masterful new novel, <i>The Black Crescent</i>, is a gripping story of murder, magic and divided loyalties...</b></p><p>Hamou Badi is born in a mountain village with the magical signs of the zouhry on his hands. In Morocco, the zouhry is a figure of legend, a child of both humans and djinns, capable of finding all manner of treasure: lost objects, hidden water.</p><p>But instead, Hamou finds a body.</p><p>This unsolved murder instils in Hamou a deep desire for order and justice: he trains as an officer of the law, working for the French in Casablanca. But the city is trapped in the turmoil of the nationalist uprising, and soon he will be forced to choose between all he knows and all he loves...</p><p><b>Praise for Jane Johnson:</b> <br />'An irresistible story-teller' Barbara Erskine <br />'Page-turning stuff' <i>The Times</i> <br />'Jane Johnson writes with such grace' Carol Drinkwater <br />'Beautifully written' <i>Mail on Sunday</i> <br />'Johnson writes the sort of books you want to tell everyone about' Katie Fforde</p>
<p>Set in the mid-1950s against a backdrop of the violent end of the French protectorate, <i>The Black Crescent</i> sees Jane Johnson return to Morocco with a novel filled with romance, mystery and murder...</p>
<b>PRAISE FOR JANE JOHNSON</b>: <br />
'A beautifully written and intriguing story that stayed with me long after I had turned the last page' Santa Montefiore. <br />
'A wonderful blend of the past and the present day making an unputdownable, beautifully written novel' Katie Fforde. <br />
'I wanted to live in this story. Jane Johnson writes with such grace and ease' Carol Drinkwater. <br />
'<i>The Sea Gate</i> just blew me away. Utterly compelling and one of the few books for a long time that kept me reading deep into the night' Barbara Erskine. <br />
'Johnson weaves a passionate, lyrical story of family secrets, wartime Britain and modern-day Cornwall. Think <i>Arabian Nights</i> meets du Maurier's <i>Rebecca</i> – I loved it'
J.S. Monroe
<p>Jane Johnson splits her time between Cornwall and Morocco.</p>
<p>Interesting and engaging author who is very well connected; Jane is the UK editor for authors including George R.R. Martin and Robin Hobb.</p>
<p>THE TENTH GIFT was Jane's bestselling novel, also set in Morocco – Jane has carved out a real niche for writing in this area.</p>
<p>MARKET: Victoria Hislop; Kate Mosse; C.J. Sansom.</p>