Toby Cypher has it pretty good. He's on the cusp of success with his mimics (programmable morphing robots indistinguishable from humans), he has a side gig volunteering at the Air Force Museum, and he's tutoring the prettiest, coolest girl in school. Toby's world falls apart when he learns that his father-Dr. Erasmus Cypher, a scientist who does classified work for the government-has gone down in a plane crash over Iraq. But Toby's sister Katie soon uncovers a secret message on their dad's smart phone-a message sent after the plane crashed. Toby and Katie are drawn into the dizzying world of their father's secret work, a world of untold danger and pro­found mysteries, where the two siblings will need all their wits just to survive. Science meets magic in award-winning author Bill Riley's debut fiction novel, Ashur's Tears, the fast-paced, intricately plotted first installment in the Cypher series.