Mark Grenside

For readers who know Malta, The Bastion offers the pleasure of encountering familiar surroundings inside a fictional conspiracy. Valletta's underground tunnels play an important role, while the story also travels beyond the islands.

Mark drew on local knowledge while researching the book, including help from Marc Zimmerman and Daniel Cilia on underground Valletta. The result brings his interest in Malta's history together with the film industry setting that runs through the series.

Malta has long attracted filmmakers from Gladiator and Troy to Game of Thrones and that cinematic history gives The Bastion an authentic backdrop for a thriller built around the movie business. The islands' layered past, from the Knights of St John to the Second World War, provides the kind of hidden history that conspiracy fiction thrives on.

For visitors inspired to explore, the capital's fortified walls, secret passages and harbour views are all within walking distance. MaltaGuide's Valletta guide covers the key sights, from St John's Co Cathedral to the Upper Barrakka Gardens.

Explore Valletta with MaltaGuide

Malta research details supplied in the author's press release.