An ancient conspiracy links the secret alchemy of Isaac Newton to modern day New York. When Robert is sent what seems to be a simple copper puzzle box, he has no idea his life is about to undergo a violent transformation. That night an acquaintance commits suicide in curious circumstances; the following day an old friend reveals the existence of an arcane weapon that could destroy all of New York City. The responsibility of hunting down and destroying this weapon, this Malice Box, lies with Robert. The weapon is primed to explode in seven days and Robert must undergo a spiritual and physical quest--a series of trials around Manhattan--in order to track down the keys that will prevent detonation. In a desperate race against the clock, Robert scours the streets of New York while plagued by doubts of the motives of those closest to him. Robert has only Terri, a beautiful and mysterious psychic, to guide him. Intricately plotted and brilliantly imagined, "The Malice Box" is the debut novel by a new master of the thriller.