Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Hidden Oasis | 2008 | Paul Sussman | Buy |
| 2 | The Final Testimony of Raphael Ignatius Phoenix | 2014 | Paul Sussman | Buy |
Paul Sussman’s two standalone novels show different sides of his writing. The Hidden Oasis (2008) is an adventure thriller set in the Egyptian desert, sharing the archaeological flavor of his Khalifa series. The Final Testimony of Raphael Ignatius Phoenix (2014), published after Sussman’s death, was actually the first novel he wrote and has a more literary, introspective quality.
The contrast between the two books illustrates Sussman’s range. The Hidden Oasis delivers the kind of research-driven thriller his readers expected, while the posthumous novel reveals the more personal writing that predated his commercial success.