Hello from the Gold Coast,

Yesterday, a package landed on my doorstep. Inside: the first printed proof copy of Enigma. Crisp pages, the weight of the cover, the quiet satisfaction of seeing the story in its final form.

Tomorrow, the ebook launches. On the 14th, the print edition follows.

If you enjoy historical puzzles, forgotten relics, and secrets that echo across centuries, this one is for you. The world of Enigma opens tomorrow, and holding the proof copy has made the countdown feel very real.

I am literally holding my imagination in my hands.

To set the mood, here’s a small curiosity from the real world.

⭐The alchemist’s library that was scattered⭐

Emperor Rudolf II kept a secret collection of alchemical manuscripts — formulas, coded diagrams, and treatises on transmutation. But decades after his death, in 1648, Swedish troops plundered Prague Castle, carrying away priceless books and treasures. Many manuscripts eventually found their way into libraries across Europe, including Leiden in the Netherlands. Imagine the secrets those centuries-old pages might still hold.