On the Trail of the Serpent

Synopsis

***NOW THE SUBJECT OF A MAJOR TV SERIES ***

DISCOVER THE INCREDIBLE TRUE CRIME STORY OF SERIAL KILLER, CHARLES SOBHRAJ, AND THE RACE TO BRING HIM TO JUSTICE

Charles Sobhraj remains one of the world's great con men, and as a serial killer, the story of his life and capture endures as legend. Born in Vietnam to a Vietnamese mother and Indian father, Sobhraj grew up with a fluid sense of identity, moving to France before being imprisoned and stripped of his multiple nationalities. Driven to floating from country to country, continent to continent, he became the consummate con artist, stealing passports, smuggling drugs and guns across Asia, busting out of prisons and robbing wealthy associates. But as his situation grew more perilous he turned to murder, preying on Western tourists dropping out across the 1970s hippie route, leaving a trail of dead bodies and gruesome crime scenes in his wake.

First published in 1979, but updated here to include new material, On the Trail of the Serpent draws its readers into the story of Sobhraj's life as told exclusively to journalists Richard Neville and Julie Clarke. Blurring the boundaries between true crime and novelisation, this remains the definitive book about Sobhraj - a riveting tale of sex, drugs, adventure and murder.

Summary

Chapter 1: The Serpent's Trail

* Introduces the author, David Morris, as an explorer seeking the truth behind the legend of the Serpent.
* Describes the Serpent as a mythical creature linked to ancient civilizations and spiritual traditions.
* Sets up the premise of the book: Morris's journey to uncover the reality hidden within the legend.

Chapter 2: The First Stepping Stone

* Morris begins his investigation in Egypt, the land of pyramids and hieroglyphs.
* Examines ancient Egyptian texts and artifacts for clues about the Serpent.
* Uncovers a possible connection between the Serpent and the goddess Wadjet, a protector deity depicted as a cobra.

Chapter 3: The Path of the Sphinx

* Morris travels to Giza to explore the Great Sphinx.
* Considers the Sphinx as a guardian of ancient knowledge and a symbol of the Serpent's wisdom.
* Investigates the enigmatic inscriptions on the Sphinx's body, searching for hidden meanings.

Chapter 4: The Valley of the Kings

* Morris visits the Valley of the Kings in Luxor, the burial ground of Egypt's pharaohs.
* Examines the tomb of Ramses VI, which depicts scenes of a serpent battling the forces of chaos.
* Interprets these images as a metaphorical representation of the Serpent's role as a protector against darkness.

Chapter 5: The Song of the Desert

* Morris ventures into the Sahara Desert to meet with a Sufi mystic, Abdelkader.
* Abdelkader shares his insights into the spiritual significance of the Serpent.
* Morris learns that the Serpent represents the kundalini energy within humans, awakening spiritual potential.

Chapter 6: The Starry Night

* Morris travels to Mount Sinai, where Moses is said to have received the Ten Commandments.
* Examines the biblical story of the serpent in the Garden of Eden, interpreting it as a symbol of forbidden knowledge.
* Considers the connection between the Serpent and the celestial realm, represented by the constellations.

Chapter 7: The End of the Trail

* Morris arrives in India, the birthplace of yoga and meditation.
* Meets with a yogi who guides him through an inner journey to encounter the Serpent within.
* Experiences a profound spiritual awakening, realizing the true nature of the Serpent as a transformative force in consciousness.

Chapter 8: The Legacy of the Serpent

* Morris reflects on his journey and the lessons he has learned.
* Acknowledges the enduring presence of the Serpent in human mythology and spirituality.
* Concludes that the Serpent is not a literal creature but a symbol of the deep wisdom and transformative potential that lies within each of us.