The Descendant — M.G. Harris

A standalone, sci-fi techno-thriller novel and prequel to the five-part series The Joshua Files, written by "sci-fi author M.G. Harris, creator of the best-selling Joshua Files." Radio Times Magazine, 5th September 2013 

Jackson Bennett was just a regular graduate student, a molecular biologist working like crazy to finish his PhD. The last thing he expected when he landed at Mexico City airport, was to be dragged into a centuries-old conspiracy - a plot to plunge the world into a disaster that would drag technology back to the 19th century.

But when the Mexican scientist he was meeting at the airport disappears after passing him a secret, coded message, Jackson is left with only one choice. His survival is crucial, and not just because he values his own life. 

With the help of Mexican archaeologist, Dr. Marie Carmen Valencia, Jackson Bennett sets out on the only path that makes sense of all the chaos: 
Crack the code. Find the key. Save the world.

Praise for The Descendant: 

"This is real good hard SF with a molecular biology theme. The characters are interesting, the writing is good and the plot is one I wish I had written. We all know that the codons of DNA spell out a language of proteins. What if they were also an ancient written language? Can't tell you more or I'll spoil the plot." Kenn Brody 

"A fabulous story; fast moving; technically credible; the science is authentic but not too much for the non-technical reader; one really gets on side with the hero; a wonderful blend of modern science and ancient history mixed with the alien creation idea that has intrigued people for years. I couldn't put it down - and I'm a molecular biologist." Alan Kingsman

"I enjoyed this book and breezed through it. It was a little mind candy, and everything you'd expect from a book about an Indiana Jones like professor who discovers a massive conspiracy to hide an ancient, possibly alien, civilization and a DNA sequence that gives their descendants mind-control powers. It was cheesy, far-fetched, and had all the classic conspiracy theories woven throughout. What can I say, I loved it." Isaac Morehouse 

Written while author M.G. Harris was recuperating from a ski injury, the fictional world of The Descendant became the foundation of teen action-adventure series, The Joshua Files, which has been translated into 17 languages.

First published after The Joshua Files concluded in 2012, The Descendant can be read as a standalone, before or after the five-part series. The story mainly takes places chronologically between the events of Invisible City (book 1) and Ice Shock (book 2), and includes characters who appear in the latter books of the series.

"Explosive and compelling . . . This series just gets better and better" Lovereading4kids, 2011"A very well crafted saga . . . these files are well worth diving into." John Lloyd, April 2012, The Bookbag