
TP: I grew up in suburban Sydney and studied Veterinary Science at Sydney University. Marriage to an Air Force officer allowed me to experience life in other Australian cities and overseas, near London and in Washington D.C. I taught high school while we raised two beautiful children and later enjoyed more than a decade in the public service. Now we are permanently settled in Canberra, the national capital, with our daughter in Melbourne and son in Brisbane.
I love to travel the world, spend time with my family and chat with friends over coffee or lunch. Walking for exercise is an essential part of every day. But the writing bug has me in its grip and it takes up much of my time. My debut thriller has just been released on Amazon and other online bookstores and I’m currently working on the second book in the series.

TP: My aim was to write a thriller that would set pulses racing and have people turning every page to find out what happens next to my hero. I read about Simon Magus, a cult leader who was mentioned in the New Testament. His libertine sect disappeared by 400 AD, but I wondered about the possibility that it might still exist.
BBB: Tell us about your main character.
TP: The Reverend Jotham Fetcher is the main character in The Magus Covenant. He is in Rome to give a lecture on his PhD thesis about Simon Magus at the church where he fell to his death beside the Roman Forum. Jotham is an Everyman hero who has struggled with his faith since the death of his wife and baby in a car accident three years earlier.
A robed man is pushed from the belltower of the church at midnight and Jotham Fletcher becomes the prime suspect. His lover Antonella, an expert on ancient documents, has a shocking secret. Rumours fly about a papyrus scroll that mentions Magus. A ruthless Catholic Brotherhood will stop at nothing in their hunt for the Simonian Sect. And a reclusive billionaire has the chance of a lifetime to get his revenge.
Jotham finds himself embroiled in a conspiracy that is two thousand years old and is pursued by the Italian police and a secret Catholic Brotherhood. He must rise to the challenge and become an action hero. He is kidnapped, tortured and on the run, he races from Italy to England to Sweden, but the body count continues to rise.
BBB: What do you think readers will find most appealing about your book?
TP: Most reviewers have found it an enjoyable story, fast-paced and filled with twists and turns. It’s an ideal choice for lying on the beach, relaxing over the weekend or taking on your next vacation. I’m sure that people who are fans of writers like Dan Brown or James Rollins would find it interesting.
BBB: How can readers discover more about you and your work?
TP: I’d be delighted for you to drop in and say hello on my website www.tonipike.com
or visit my author page on Goodreads.
The Magus Covenant is available at the following bookstores:
Amazon:
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