Throughout their married lives, baseball star Gaspar Bethlen’s wife gave him a lovingly crafted mystery every year for Christmas. Solving the clues led him to his present, but the mysteries themselves were the true gift. Now, Beth has died, leaving Gasper a wreck of a man. But Beth left behind a clue, the beginning of one final Christmas mystery, and it’s much more than either of them expected.

The heartbroken man follows a coded message that leads him to an antiquarian bookstore, where he receives an old book―the next clue. Soon, Gaspar is caught up in a globetrotting adventure. Facing one danger and desperate escape after another, he races to unravel a puzzle involving a priceless jewel, ancient star maps, a noble bloodline, and an astonishing secret that dates all the way back to the very first Christmas.

Available in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook, with a paperback coming in November, 2023. Signed copies can be ordered through Eagle Eye Bookshop.

“John Adcox wields a gifted pen. His novel The Star in the East is a powerful work of fiction. Adcox creates a cast of memorable characters that jump off the page and escort the reader into a world that is simply unforgettable. The Star in the East kept me up late into the night. Highly recommended!”

—Steven Manchester, bestselling author of Ashes and Dad

“For all of us who consider Die Hard a Christmas movie, there’s The Star in the East—a fun, fast-moving Christmas thriller with heart.”

— Susan Petrone, author of The Heebie-Jeebie Girl and Throw Like a Woman

Carol’s illustrations: