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. Zheng€™s mission is to chart the globe, trading for riches and bringing glory to China€™s emperor. Among the crew is the talented cartographer and navigator Ma Zhi, whose work will lead to the first true map of the world€“but 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 Portugal€™s 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 Portugal€™s most secret treasure: a map that already shows the way.New York, present day: Mara Coyne€™s new client has left her uneasy. Republican kingmaker Richard Tobias has hired her, he says, because of her skill