San Diego Homicide Detective Seamus Moynihan thinks he's seen it all when it comes to human violence, but a naked man killed in a snakebite ritual might be his most gruesome case yet... Moynihan's search for the killer will propel him on a journey through the underground world of ancient eroticism, black-market reptiles, and religious cults, ultimately leading him to a Biblical scholar whose theories about the dawn of time provide a surprising link to the current investigation. But can Moynihan preserve his own sanity while delving into a secret as old as Cain? To solve this brutal case, Moynihan will have to reckon with one of the great mysteries of the ages: Who was The Second Woman? "Pulls you guts-first right through to the back cover. I loved this book."--#1 New York Times Bestselling Author Nelson DeMille "A dazzling and intelligent thriller."--Internationally Bestselling Author Lynn Hightower