Doha, 2040. The Summer Olympics are meant to celebrate unity. Instead, the Games erupt into chaos when twelve Israeli and Lebanese athletes vanish without a trace.
A chilling message from a terrorist group called The Obsidian Hand and a $500 billion ransom throw the world into panic. Nova Mendelsohn, a seasoned journalist, is thrust into the heart of the unfolding mystery. Guided by a cryptic Arabic note and a local merchant with hidden ties, she races against time—pursuing answers through shimmering stadiums, ancient backstreets, and desert bloodlands.
What begins as a story assignment spirals into a high-stakes hunt for truth, vengeance, and survival—where the ghosts of history threaten to rewrite the final chapter of the Games.
Genre
Political Thriller / Sports Suspense / Espionage
Themes
Terrorism, Olympic Politics, Journalism, Ancient Vendettas, International Intrigue
Perfect For Fans Of
Tom Clancy, Vince Flynn, Homeland, Body of Lies
Beneath the Rings delivers high-octane suspense, global stakes, and haunting historical resonance—all set against the backdrop of the world’s most celebrated sporting event.
Olympics Meets Espionage
Blends sports culture and international diplomacy with global terror.
Legacy of Conflict
Explores the enduring scars of war and vengeance across generations.
Media Under Pressure
Follows a journalist racing to reveal the truth as the world watches.
Timebomb Suspense
Every chapter moves with the urgency of a countdown.
Pulse-Pounding Plot
A ripped-from-the-headlines thriller with cinematic pacing.
Strong Female Lead
Nova Mendelsohn is relentless, resourceful, and real.
Gripping Atmosphere
From luxury venues to desert shadows, the setting becomes a character.
Written by a Sports Journalism Legend
Joe Battaglia brings 30 years of sports storytelling mastery to every scene.
Joe Battaglia is a masterful journalist and producer whose three-decade career has chronicled the raw emotion and resilience of athletes around the world. With two Sports Emmys and honors from the International Sports Press Association and the Track & Field Writers of America, his work has illuminated the human spirit behind sport’s greatest moments.
Known for transforming high-stakes competition into electric narrative, Joe now brings that same passion to fiction. Beneath the Rings is his debut novel—a razor-sharp thriller set at the crossroads of sport, geopolitics, and ancient vendetta.
Beneath the Rings is available now in Kindle and paperback editions. The Games have begun. The countdown has started. What lies beneath the rings?
