Tumult in Mecca

Tumult in Mecca: From Civil Servant to Global Business Adventurer transports readers to 1979, a year of upheaval and change.

Henrik Bertelsen, a Danish civil servant and baby boomer, is dedicated to his stable life in Copenhagen. Alongside his English wife, Sammy, they are building a co-housing community and navigating the complex adoption of a child from Indonesia. Henrik longs for peace and stability to secure his career.

But life takes an unexpected turn when he is offered the chance to renovate hospital kitchens in Saudi Arabia. His adventurer's spirit is awakened, and Henrik plunges into a world far removed from the predictable corridors of Danish bureaucracy.

As the project escalates, Henrik finds himself caught in the Mecca conflict—an armed religious uprising that places him in grave danger. Trapped between rebels and police in one of the holiest cities in the world, he must rely on his instincts to survive.

Escape brings him more than safety—it opens the door to a lucrative job offer from an American tech company, setting his life on an entirely new path. Tumult in Mecca masterfully weaves Henrik’s personal quest for fulfilment with the global turbulence of 1979, capturing the tension between career and adventure, ambition and family, security and risk.

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★★★★★
"It is an excellent book! I felt thoroughly entertained and sensed Henrik Bertelsen sitting next to me, telling me about his remarkable experiences."
- Rikke Sommer

★★★★★
"Tumult in Mecca” is both funny and exciting. Hard to put down.
- Per Steen Pedersen

★★★★★
"A splendid story about seizing opportunities when they present themselves. Daring to plunge into deep water far from shore and learning to swim. The storytelling jumps in time and provides insight into the main character's sometimes surprising and risky choices."
- Esben Stubager

★★★★★
"I thoroughly enjoyed 'Tumult in Mecca.' The author’s writing is engaging and accessible, making it an easy read. Interestingly, the book also provides valuable (and understandable) insights into project tendering, which could appeal to a business-oriented audience."
- Liz Twinch