FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Matthew James Publishing is pleased to announce the acquisition of ‘The Scorpion Archipelago’ by author David Palin.
Described as “a haunting exploration of obsession, belief, and the cost of uncovering the truth,” ‘The Scorpion Archipelago’ follows archaeologist Jane Sutch as she joins her legendary father on his final expedition. A thrilling supernatural mystery, ‘The Scorpion Archipelago’ plunges the reader into the middle of a daring journey, fraught with secrets.
David Palin says: “I think this story shows that some riddles are not worth solving, some coded words are best left undeciphered, and dreams that become obsessions should sometimes be abandoned. It also reveals that the darkness at the heart of mankind is the one constant in our history.”
Synopsis
When a legendary oceanographer announces one final expedition, his archaeologist daughter, Jane Sutch, joins him on a journey shrouded in secrecy. Accompanied by a vaunted photographer and Jane’s reckless husband, whose motives are far from pure, the team set off for a remote, unmapped group of islands, unknown to the modern world.
What they discover is more than just a forgotten civilisation. A trap laid centuries ago is triggered, ancient evils start to resurface, and history begins to repeat itself. At the heart of the Archipelago, they uncover buried truths – both within the island and within themselves – truths that were never meant to resurface.
A dark and atmospheric thriller laced with ancient mystery and unsettling power.
Worldwide rights to ‘The Scorpion Archipelago’ were acquired by James Shaw, publishing manager at Matthew James Publishing “David’s work always has me on the edge of my seat, and ‘The Scorpion Archipelago’ is no different”.
David Palin has published two previous novels with Matthew James. ‘Let The Game Commence’, a cultish whodunnit centred around a sinister board game, was published in 2023. This was followed by the globe-trotting white collar thriller ‘The Wife Before Last’ in 2024.
‘The Scorpion Archipelago’ is set to be published in January 2026.
ENDS
About David Palin
David Palin has an appetite for the dark and mysterious. Born in West London but now residing in Berkshire, he is intrigued by the things that hide, often in plain sight, in the shadows beyond the light of our everyday lives. From studying both English and German literature, he believes we are drawn to darker tales and imaginings. All of this manifests in his work. Away from writing David enjoys sports, music, and the theatre — all of which have seemed like elements of a fantasy tale in our recent tough times.
About Matthew James Publishing
Matthew James Publishing is an imprint of Andrews UK. Matthew James Publishing focuses on high-quality contemporary fiction and popular non-fiction books.
