David Grant has a masters degree in ancient history. He is responsible for a number of international patents stemming from ideas that set out to challenge the status quo in one way or another, life experience which gave him his academic tenets: always challenge accepted norms, the past is never dead, and believe what you read at your peril.

Unsurprisingly, his first 917-page on Alexander the Great book set out to question and contest the 'standard model' of the Macedonian king. His controversial questioning and reconstruction of ancient events extends into this new book on the mysteries of the royal Macedonian tombs.

John Hughes is based in Sydney. He has published six books, all acclaimed and highly awarded, including the National Biography Award and Premier's Book Awards. His previous novels, The Remnants and Asylum were critically acclaimed, and in 2019, No One was shortlisted in the Miles Franklin Award 2020.