I'm pleased to welcome Matthew Peters to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Matthew writes the Of Gods & Men series. THE IGNOBLE LIE is the first book in the series and was released earlier this year.
Kathy: In THE IGNOBLE LIE ex-Jesuit Scott Larson and adventuress Zady Jones receive a series of mysterious clues that point to the existence of a shocking historical secret. What makes historical secrets and treasure hunting so intriguing?
MP: I think we, as humans, are curious about secrets. There is something very appealing about historical secrets, especially those involving conspiracies, that never seem to lose their allure. Life seems so incomprehensible, unbelievable, and/or irrational at times that people look for explanations outside the mainstream, especially when conventional answers seem unconvincing or trite. I think treasure hunting strikes a deep chord in most people because it fills us with a childlike hope that we will discover something that has eluded everyone else, something that is inherently valuable and perhaps life-altering.
Kathy: I've always been interested in both Ancient Egypt and biblical archaeology. Did you have an interest in these subjects before writing this book?
MP: I’ve been fascinated with ancient Egypt since I was a child. Both the architecture and the longevity of the pyramids have always amazed me. As I got older, I was struck by the sophistication of Egyptian culture—a culture so old, and so advanced just fascinated me. I became interested in biblical archaeology later in life, especially when I tried to understand the Bible as a series of historical documents.
Kathy: I've read interesting stories about Moses, mainly that it can't be proven if he was a historical person or not. One theory holds that he was an Egyptian pharaoh. Do you have an opinion?
MP: I do have an opinion. It’s one that’s explored in the book, so I’ll leave it at that for now 😊
Kathy: Some of the political ideation of your fictional president seems to be true of some current politicians. Did today's political climate influence your thriller?
MP: Absolutely. I’m a political scientist by training and so I’ve been inundated with the political climate for most of my adult life. One of the issues I’m particularly interested in is the intersection of politics and religion in American society. I know the old adage is not to discuss either of these topics in mixed company, but we live in an age in which I don’t think they have ever been more important.
Kathy: What first drew you to thrillers?
MP: I was drawn to thrillers because it’s the genre that best suits my research interests. I love researching my novels extensively, and I firmly believe that you should write what you love, topics that interest you enough to spend a long time with them, the time it takes to write a book.
Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?
MP: I’ve written another book in a different genre. It is literary fiction, with an element of magical realism. When it comes to reading fiction, it’s the type of book I enjoy most—with or without magical realism. I took the book, CONVERSATIONS AMONG RUINS, out of print with the intention of making it longer, but I haven’t done so yet. The book explores two topics that are very important to me: mental health and substance abuse. I’d very much like to work on it again, and hope I have the opportunity to do so in the not-too-distant future.
Kathy: Tell us about your series.
MP: Currently the series is about an ex-Jesuit and an adventuress who are trying to solve the mystery behind a series of violent events that seem connected, and involve a combustible mix of politics and religion.
Kathy: Do you have a favorite character? If so, who and why?
MP: That’s so hard to answer 😊 I really like the male and female protagonists who are interesting in different ways, but I also like a female senator who plays a large role in THE IGNOBLE LIE.
Kathy: Did you have a specific inspiration for your series?
MP: I loved THE DA VINCI CODE, so I have to say that.
Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?
MP: I thought the story was interesting and important enough to hopefully resonate with a number of different readers.
Kathy: If you could have a dinner party and invite 4 authors, living or dead, in any genre, who would you invite?
MP: I love this question! Dostoevsky, Hesse, Thomas Mann, and Truman Capote. Can you imagine?!
Kathy: What are you currently reading?
MP: A wonderful book on writing by the inimitable Brenda Ueland called IF YOU WANT TO WRITE. I’m rereading it for the umpteenth time because it never fails to inspire me when I’m writing a new novel.
Kathy: Will you share any of your hobbies or interests with us?
MP: Besides reading, movies, movies, and more movies. My wife and I own over 5,000 titles (both movies and TV shows)—we’ve essentially resurrected Blockbusters. My favorite genre is horror, but my interests are wide-ranging and include foreign films, musicals, and true crime. I also have to mention music. I listen to many genres, from classical to heavy metal. Right now, I’m really into Joy Division and Sigur Rós.
Kathy: Name 4 items you always have in your fridge or pantry.
MP: Food: yummy. Crunchmaster crackers, smoked gouda, Hershey kisses, and Lays Kettle potato chips (plain). But my wife makes me eat healthy for lunch and dinner ☹
Kathy: Do you have plans for future books either in your current series or a new series?
MP: I do. I’m currently writing the second book in the “Of Gods & Men” series. It should be available later next year. I’d love to continue the series for a while.
Kathy: What's your favorite thing about being an author?
MP: I love doing research before I start writing, and I love exposing people to different perspectives, especially those outside the mainstream.
THE IGNOBLE LIE
by Matthew Peters
July 7 - August 1, 2025 Virtual Book Tour
Synopsis:
Of Gods & Men Series
What if the Ark of the Covenant isn’t a reference to the chest containing the Ten Commandments God revealed to Moses atop Mount Sinai?
What if it refers to the tomb of an Egyptian pharaoh whose contents would revolutionize religious history?
As ex-Jesuit Scott Larson and adventuress Zady Jones learn, such a discovery can be deadly.
A terrorist attack on the Great Pyramid of Giza ratchets up the tension in Washington, D.C., where President John Jenkins has been impeached for an order declaring the U.S. a Judeo-Christian nation. The terrorists threaten more attacks in Egypt and the U.S. unless their demand is met—and it’s something only Larson and Jones can give them. When the efforts to meet the terrorists’ demand goes awry and Zady’s sister is kidnapped, Larson and Jones race to save her. Along the way, they receive a series of mysterious clues that point to the existence of a shocking historical secret, one that could not only topple Jenkins’ presidency but upend Judeo-Christianity.
Praise for The Ignoble Lie:
"This fast-paced religious thriller will especially appeal to fans of The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. Unlike that book, though, The Ignoble Lie digs deep into Biblical lore and ancient history, back to the origins of the historical Moses in ancient Egypt. If you like your thrillers seasoned with Church conspiracies, Egyptian archaeology, and murderous mercenaries, look no further. You won't be able to put it down."
~ Chris
"The Ignoble Lie by Matthew Peters is a sophisticated geopolitical thriller that intertwines religious history, political intrigue, and clandestine warfare... I loved the characters in The Ignoble Lie — believable and thoroughly explored. The prose, the sparkling dialogue, and the deft plotting are the elements that captivated me, together with the suspenseful storytelling. 5 Stars"
~ Christian Sia for Readers’ Favorite
Book Details:
Genre: Political/Religious thriller
Published by: Mélange Books
Publication Date: May 12, 2025
Number of Pages: 368
ISBN: 979-8886533712 (print)
Series: Of Gods & Men, Book 1
Book Links: Amazon | Apple Books | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | BookBub | Mélange Books
Read an excerpt:
SUNDAY
Chapter 1
Under a spring sunset, the pyramids of Giza stood like pointed stone islands in a timeless sea of desert sand. At the northeast corner of the plateau, several armed guards perched atop camels at the base of the Great Pyramid of Khufu. The leader of the security force nodded as three lean bearded men garbed in long, white robes and carrying cameras and other electronic equipment approached. The trio formed a loose line and then trudged up the massive beige limestone blocks to the main entrance on the north face of the pyramid.
When they stepped inside, the cool air moved slightly like a palm frond breeze fanned by ancient servants. The men could still hear the hum of the generator outside as they made their way down a long, sloping, cramped corridor in the pale glow of the electric lighting. Following the metal conduit from the generator, they began climbing a longer passage. Their stated job was simple: set up the cameras needed to film the contents of the recently discovered room behind the west wall of the King’s Chamber, one of only two known chambers in the vast structure. Official filming by an international team would commence in the morning and the world would soon learn of the contents.
An hour later, one of the men burst out of the pyramid’s entrance covered in blood. Sweat drenched his brow as he bent over, his hands on his knees, trying desperately to suck oxygen into his lungs. Fortunately, the guards were not in sight. After a few moments, he raised himself to a fully standing position and wiped blood from his hands onto his dove-colored djellaba. He looked up at the sky beseechingly. The setting sun was glorious: red, orange, bronze. The scene was somehow new and final: the first sunset and the last. The celestial canvas suddenly looked like an unfolding scroll and for one fleeting moment on that scroll he saw painted what he’d glimpsed in the hidden room.
A golden rectangular chest with two winged lions with human heads on a peaked, shiny lid. Four gold rings were set into the bottom four feet, through which golden poles were placed for carrying. It was—
No, it couldn’t be...
Could it?
It was almost impossible to believe, but what if it was? After all, it looked exactly as it was described in the Torah, though that source couldn’t entirely be trusted.
But if there was even a chance that it was, no matter how small...
At least, that’s what they’d told him. And in the end, that was all that really mattered: what they had told him. Because the money that would go to his family was more than he could ever make in a whole lifetime.
With shaky hands, he fumbled for his cell phone and punched the #1 button.
“Yes?” a voice said after one ring.
“It’s as you feared.”
“Now is the time,” the voice responded.
“Allahu Akbar,” the man whispered and ended the call.
He took a deep breath, the kind a long jumper takes just before the approach, then punched the code on his phone.
He held his breath until the explosive detonated.
Then there was nothing but blackness that stretched into forever.
***
Excerpt from The Ignoble Lie by Matthew Peters. Copyright 2025 by Matthew Peters. Reproduced with permission from Matthew Peters. All rights reserved.
Author Bio:
Matthew Peters has a B.A. from Vassar College and an M.A., and Ph.D. from Duke University. He is a member of International Thriller Writers and currently resides in North Carolina. He is passionate about exploring religious, political, and socioeconomic issues from a variety of different perspectives and especially values the views put forth by marginalized groups or people. His writing involves a good deal of research, and he is committed to writing plausible novels, in the hope of giving readers food for thought.
Catch Up With Matthew Peters:
www.MatthewPetersBooks.com
Amazon Author Profile
Goodreads
BookBub - @matthewpeters
Instagram - @matthewpetersbooks
BlueSky - @matthewpetersitw.bsky.social
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What a great interview! Fun and interesting. Thanks so much for sharing.
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