The Mysteries of Frau Maria

Book excerpt: Well-known entrepreneur, businessman, politician and inventor wrote the novel based on the true story mixed with mystery and subtle world about the Dutch ship “Frau Maria” which sank in 1771 carrying antique valuables and paintings bought under order from Catherine the Great for the Hermitage collection. Anna Tomilina, the director of a successful information agency, is trying to use the discovery to organize an international PR campaign to attract sponsors to salvage the ship and recover the treasure. Mystical and spooky events are happening to Anna and her family from the very start. The events in the novel develop simultaneously in two different periods: in the 18th century and nowadays. Characters communicate and events interacting across the time and distance in the most fascinating way. The mysterious girl Anna Belle, who lived in the 18th century and the ghost of the Dutch Manor are both trying to help Anna Tomilina to rescue the sunken ship but the evil forces interfere and attempt to destroy all evidence and everyone involved. Only young Anna Belle is able to stand against these forces and save the love of her life, Count Shuvalov and her dear granddad, Gerrit Braamkamp, a famous art collector, from death, which seemed to have been planned by no one other than Baron Natas Reficul. The Baron's name, when read backwards, leaves no doubt to his intentions…