When young backpackers go missing on the trail through Nepal, no one bats an eyelid. After-all, high in the Himalayan mountains, Kathmandu's a haven for those who want to "get lost."

Back in England, Leo's down on his luck. He's jobless, crippled by anxiety and obsessed with an ex-girlfriend he hasn't seen in years. Asked to track down a wealthy politician's daughter in Kathmandu, Leo thinks his fortunes are on the turn.

Escaped from her family and travelling the world, all Allissa wants is to be left alone. Running a hostel for the victims of people traffickers, she hopes the surrounding mountains will keep the world away.

In a bid to prove himself, Leo sets off on a twisting train through Kathmandu's labyrinthine streets. But, when the investigation leads to a sinister backstreet restaurant and a storm makes escape impossible, he may have bitten off more than he can chew.

KATHMANDU is the first of Luke Richardson's international thriller series. If you like fast-paced mysteries, then you'll love this explosive debut.

What USA Today, New York Times and Amazon Bestselling authors think:

"Luke Richardson writes stories the way artists were meant to, by immersing themselves in scenes so that the reader feels like they are in the room with the characters."

ERNEST DEMPSEY

"Richardson redefines the genre, but in a VERY good way. Skip this one at your peril!"

NICK THACKER

"Luke Richardson has a unique way of transporting you to the locations in his books and dropping you right into the mess with his characters."