Review: Empire of Lies by Raymond Koury

Have you ever wondered what the world would be like if you could change one thing. Would it be better? Worse? Would people really change or is human nature and ideals fixed. Raymond Koury explores that in his novel Empire of Lies. It follows two very different points in history. Our contemporary time with cars and cellphones, and the distant past of 1683 and the turning point for the Ottoman Empire. When a mysterious stranger turns up in 1683 with a plan to conquer the rest of Europe for the Empire the present as we know it is changed. Our lead character, Kamal Arslan Agha, is an officer in Ottoman controlled Paris in the Sultan's secret police, but the recent unrest and growing paranoia are beginning to wear on him. The mysterious stranger turns up naked and covered in tattoos near the Seine sucking Kamal into a conspiracy of time travel. Was the stranger right to play with history and change things? Is the world he described as terrifying as he says or is it better than the tyranny they were living in now? Raymond Koury weaves an action packed and thought provoking tale in some of Europe's most iconic cities. Suitable for young adults and adults interested in history and alternative history as well as mystery, a bit of romance and military drama.