Curator Jason Connor has a passion for antiquities, so the proposed acquisition of a mysterious ancient statue of Athena raises disturbing questions. What is its origin? Was it really in the family of an English lord, or is there a more sinister history behind it? As a former CIA officer, Jason is no stranger to the craft of intelligence. The leads he develops take him from Los Angeles to Sicily, then into an Italian prison and the private quarters of a London dealer. Soon he uncovers a deep conspiracy that extends closer to home than he could have imagined. Armed with his new knowledge and with colleague Kate Emerson at his side, Jason returns to his own museum, unaware that a heart-pounding pursuit and a deadly trap await him. Arthur Houghton draws on his background as curator of antiquities at the J. Paul Getty Museum and his experience in the US foreign service to create an intricate, informed narrative. A thrilling novel with surprises at every turn, Dark Athena explores the meaning of authenticity, the similarities between art and human behavior, and the profound question of who should own mankind's cultural heritage.