The Map Thief

Beijing, China, 1421: It is a momentous time for the Ming Dynasty. Honoring the completion of the Forbidden City, a fleet of unprecedented size sets sail under Admiral Zheng He. Zhengs mission is to chart the globe, trading for riches and bringing glory to Chinas emperor. Among the crew is the talented cartographer and navigator Ma Zhi, whose work will lead to the first true map of the worldbut whose accomplishment will vanish when the fleet returns to a very different China than the one it left.Lisbon, Portugal, 1496: At the height of Portugals maritime domination during the Age of Discovery, the legendary explorer Vasco da Gama embarks on a quest to find a sea route to India. On board is navigator Antonio Coehlo, who guards Portugals most secret treasure: a map that already shows the way.New York, present day: Mara Coynes new client has left her uneasy. Republican kingmaker Richard Tobias has hired her, he says, because of her skill