THE Teifi Valley is the setting and inspiration for a ‘Dan Brown-esque thriller’ by the author Ifan Morgan Jones.

Ifan, who lives in Penrhiwllan near Llandysul, drew upon the area’s rich mythology when writing the novel, Dadeni – which is published this week by Y Lolfa.

The novel concerns an archaeologist, Bleddyn Cadwaladr, and his son Joni Teifi, who are called in by the Welsh Government to investigate after a theft goes awry.

Ifan, a university lecturer, said the novel was based on his research on Arthurian mythology and the Mabinogi.

“The south of Ceredigion has always been an inspiration for my work,” he said.

“But this is the first time I’ve set a novel in the Teifi Valley area.

“This area has a rich history in Welsh mythology and plays a prominent part in the Mabinogi as the entrance to the Welsh underworld of Annwn.

“I wanted to write a Dan Brown-esque page-turner, and the mythology and relics associated with this area were an obvious inspiration.”

Dadeni is Ifan’s third novel – he won the Daniel Owen Memorial Prize for his first, Igam Ogam, in 2008.

He published his second novel, Yr Argraff Gyntaf, in 2010.

Ifan added that Dadeni also draws upon his 10 years working as a journalist covering Welsh politics.

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