Dan Eaton grew up among the ruins and deserts of North Africa, born across a dusty square from a Roman amphitheatre in Carthage. He studied classics and history at university before a career spanning journalism, defence, intelligence, and law enforcement. He now lives in New Zealand.
His debut, The Secret Gospel, was shortlisted for the Rethink Press New Novels competition and reached the quarterfinals of the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award. No White Lies, his second book, was a finalist in the National Indie Excellence Awards.
His new novel, The Gospel of Echoes, continues the story of Alex Fisher—the globe-trotting journalist turned theology professor and expert in ancient religion—blending history, mystery, and thriller into a gripping series.
Dan Eaton grew up among the ruins and deserts of North Africa, born across a dusty square from a Roman amphitheatre in Carthage. He studied classics and history at university before a career spanning journalism, defence, intelligence, and law enforcement. He now lives in New Zealand.
His debut, The Secret Gospel, was shortlisted for the Rethink Press New Novels competition and reached the quarterfinals of the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award. No White Lies, his second book, was a finalist in the National Indie Excellence Awards.
His new novel, The Gospel of Echoes, continues the story of Alex Fisher—the globe-trotting journalist turned theology professor and expert in ancient religion—blending history, mystery, and thriller into a gripping series.
What if the greatest story ever told was in fact the greatest lie?
THE GOSPEL OF ECHOES
A Biblical conspiracy thriller
1945. As the Allies sweep into Germany, six young British soldiers uncover a hidden train loaded with stolen religious artefacts, ancient texts, and Nazi war booty. But instead of reporting the discovery, they vanish into history—taking their secret with them.
What if the greatest story ever told was in fact the greatest lie?
THE GOSPEL OF ECHOES
A Biblical conspiracy thriller
1945. As the Allies sweep into Germany, six young British soldiers uncover a hidden train loaded with stolen religious artefacts, ancient texts, and Nazi war booty. But instead of reporting the discovery, they vanish into history—taking their secret with them.
The Secret Gospel
“A dangerous and thrilling adventure… This multi-faceted work of history, conspiracy and religion will gain favour among fans of Dan Brown and Steve Berry.”
—Publishers Weekly
“A well-written and engaging plot keeps readers going…”
“Thoroughly researched, this novel is steeped in history…”
—Publishers Weekly
No White Lies
“Eaton heavily ties his fictional story to real-world events, most notably 9/11. He manages this shrewdly and respectfully: Will is essentially an outsider, feeling sympathy for the victims of the 9/11 tragedy and witnessing firsthand America’s aggressive response.”
“The story is swift and taut even as it details vibrant surroundings, such as Paris’ charcoal-coloured, red- and gold-streaked sky. By the final act, Will has a revelation or two that some readers will predict, but the coda is one that reverberates.”
“An absorbing kidnapping tale inspired by true life and steeped in bleakness.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“Eaton’s prose is excellent, effective, and clear. His writing is strong, direct, and protagonist William McCormick’s voice is deeply believable as a journalist with something to hide.
No White Lies includes all of the elements of a classic spy thriller. The novel is elevated by excellent writing and by grounding the mystery in real world events.”
—The BookLife Prize
An absorbing kidnapping tale inspired by true life and steeped in bleakness.“
“Newsrooms are full of writers who think they could do better, aim higher, become real authors with books to their name. Former Christchurch journalist Dan Eaton is one of the few who pulled it off.”
“Journalist, thriller writer, intelligence bigwig.”
—An interview with the author – Radio New Zealand, NZ
“Think Kathy Reichs and her Tempe Brennan, Jonathan Kellerman and his Alex Delaware, or Dervla McTiernan’s Cormac Reilly… A story to keep your interest until the finale.”
—The Otago Daily Times, NZ
Reviews and Press
The Secret Gospel
“A dangerous and thrilling adventure… This multi-faceted work of history, conspiracy and religion will gain favour among fans of Dan Brown and Steve Berry.”
—Publishers Weekly
“A well-written and engaging plot keeps readers going…”
“Thoroughly researched, this novel is steeped in history…”
—Publishers Weekly
No White Lies
“Eaton heavily ties his fictional story to real-world events, most notably 9/11. He manages this shrewdly and respectfully: Will is essentially an outsider, feeling sympathy for the victims of the 9/11 tragedy and witnessing firsthand America’s aggressive response.”
“The story is swift and taut even as it details vibrant surroundings, such as Paris’ charcoal-coloured, red- and gold-streaked sky. By the final act, Will has a revelation or two that some readers will predict, but the coda is one that reverberates.”
“An absorbing kidnapping tale inspired by true life and steeped in bleakness.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“Eaton’s prose is excellent, effective, and clear. His writing is strong, direct, and protagonist William McCormick’s voice is deeply believable as a journalist with something to hide.
No White Lies includes all of the elements of a classic spy thriller. The novel is elevated by excellent writing and by grounding the mystery in real world events.”
—The BookLife Prize
“An absorbing kidnapping tale inspired by true life and steeped in bleakness.”
“Newsrooms are full of writers who think they could do better, aim higher, become real authors with books to their name.
Former Christchurch journalist Dan Eaton is one of the few who pulled it off.”
“Journalist, thriller writer, intelligence bigwig.”
—An interview with the author – Radio New Zealand, NZ
“Think Kathy Reichs and her Tempe Brennan, Jonathan Kellerman and his Alex Delaware, or Dervla McTiernan’s Cormac Reilly… A story to keep your interest until the finale.”
—Otago Daily Times, NZ
READER PRAISE FOR
NO WHITE LIES
“A visceral psychological thriller that is as utterly terrifying as it is personal and heartbreaking. It pushed all the right buttons”
“It’s terribly real. The articulation of the weird tension between being a journalist wanting something dramatic to occur and a human concerned about the consequences of events beyond one’s control is brilliant.”
“Flings you through Baghdad war zones to underground Paris, from a far flung remote New Zealand lakeside resort to a Manhattan landfill … so easy to visually grasp as you read, you sometimes will be sickened to your core.”
“No White Lies kidnapped me for 24 hours. The tension is so quietly built, the language so elegantly economic, and the New Zealand landscape so beautifully drawn, that I experienced a kind of Stockholm syndrome when it was finally time to return to the real world.”
“Another thought provoking reminder in this day and age of the line between the media reporting the story and creating it.”
READER PRAISE FOR
NO WHITE LIES
“A visceral psychological thriller that is as utterly terrifying as it is personal and heartbreaking. It pushed all the right buttons”
“It’s terribly real. The articulation of the weird tension between being a journalist wanting something dramatic to occur and a human concerned about the consequences of events beyond one’s control is brilliant.”
“Flings you through Baghdad war zones to underground Paris, from a far flung remote New Zealand lakeside resort to a Manhattan landfill … so easy to visually grasp as you read, you sometimes will be sickened to your core.”
“No White Lies kidnapped me for 24 hours. The tension is so quietly built, the language so elegantly economic, and the New Zealand landscape so beautifully drawn, that I experienced a kind of Stockholm syndrome when it was finally time to return to the real world.”
“Another thought provoking reminder in this day and age of the line between the media reporting the story and creating it.”
OTHER BOOKS BY
DAN EATON
OTHER BOOKS BY DAN EATON
“A dangerous and thrilling adventure … This multi-faceted work of history, conspiracy and religion will gain favour among fans of Dan Brown and Steve Berry.”
—Publishers Weekly
THE SECRET GOSPEL
In 1958, a young Bible scholar stumbles upon a version of the Gospel of Mark far older than that recorded in the New Testament. Unfortunately, his discovery brings him nothing but vilification and accusations of forgery. Eventually, the Secret Gospel simply disappears.
“A dangerous and thrilling adventure … This multi-faceted work of history, conspiracy and religion will gain favour among fans of Dan Brown and Steve Berry.”
—Publishers Weekly
THE SECRET GOSPEL
In 1958, a young Bible scholar stumbles upon a version of the Gospel of Mark far older than that recorded in the New Testament. Unfortunately, his discovery brings him nothing but vilification and accusations of forgery. Eventually, the Secret Gospel simply disappears.
What would you do for success? Would you lie? Would you cheat? Would you kill?
NO WHITE LIES
Award-winning journalist Will McCormick has it all. Money, a beautiful family, and a house in the picture-perfect resort of Queenstown in New Zealand.
Will also has a dark secret. The story that made him famous years ago didn’t quite happen the way he told it, and now someone from his past seems determined to make him pay.
What would you do for success? Would you lie? Would you cheat? Would you kill?
NO WHITE LIES
Award-winning journalist Will McCormick has it all. Money, a beautiful family, and a house in the picture-perfect resort of Queenstown in New Zealand.
Will also has a dark secret. The story that made him famous years ago didn’t quite happen the way he told it, and now someone from his past seems determined to make him pay.