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Maya Earth Trilogy #1
The Sixth World
"It was the kind of morning in Monterey, California, where the sea stretches out to meet the sky in a serene and endless grasp . . ." When two California archaeologists discover Maya hieroglyphics during a routine expedition in the Central Valley hills,
396 pages, Paperback
First published February 12, 2007
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15 people want to read
About the author
Margaret Evans
29 books10 followersA native of the Washington, D.C., area, Margaret Evans is a graduate of Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business. Her numerous short stories and humorous philosophical essays have appeared in literary magazines and journals, including Fullosia Press, Prose Toad, ken*again, Underground Window, Palabras Press, and Ascent Aspirations.
She is the author of 11 full-length mystery and action/adventure novels, including The Sixth World, Trial in Jade: The Mayan Return , and Kingdom Come: The Mayan Answer (the Maya Earth Trilogy); and a standalone thriller entitled The Lethal Limit ; Seven Cozy Mysteries: Twice Sold Murder; Priced to Kill; Hanging By a Thread; A Dress to Die For; Deadly Cost of Goods; and All Sales Final (The Second Treasures Mysteries Series); and The Harmony of Revenge (Book #1 of Shady Elm Inn Cozy Mysteries).
With the upcoming Laura Keene Cozy Mysteries series (spinoff from The Second Treasures Mysteries), Evans has created three "bridge" novellas: Empress Isabella and the Halloween Caper; Empress Isabella's Disastrous Thanksgiving; and Empress Isabella and a Cracklin' Christmas.
Evans also penned six mystery/thriller/crime novellas: A Canvas of Deceit; Code of Treachery; Hostages to Murder; The Curse of the Mandreill Dagger; The Secret of Kenning Hall; and The Tao of Murder.
Evans also has two treatises due out in 2021: Worse Than the Princess and the Pea: Sensitive People in an Insensitive World; and Wants, Needs, and Genes: Cultural and Ethical Thoughts, with more coming, as well as a short story/flash fiction/ and poetry collection coming out in early 2022.
She is the author of 11 full-length mystery and action/adventure novels, including The Sixth World, Trial in Jade: The Mayan Return , and Kingdom Come: The Mayan Answer (the Maya Earth Trilogy); and a standalone thriller entitled The Lethal Limit ; Seven Cozy Mysteries: Twice Sold Murder; Priced to Kill; Hanging By a Thread; A Dress to Die For; Deadly Cost of Goods; and All Sales Final (The Second Treasures Mysteries Series); and The Harmony of Revenge (Book #1 of Shady Elm Inn Cozy Mysteries).
With the upcoming Laura Keene Cozy Mysteries series (spinoff from The Second Treasures Mysteries), Evans has created three "bridge" novellas: Empress Isabella and the Halloween Caper; Empress Isabella's Disastrous Thanksgiving; and Empress Isabella and a Cracklin' Christmas.
Evans also penned six mystery/thriller/crime novellas: A Canvas of Deceit; Code of Treachery; Hostages to Murder; The Curse of the Mandreill Dagger; The Secret of Kenning Hall; and The Tao of Murder.
Evans also has two treatises due out in 2021: Worse Than the Princess and the Pea: Sensitive People in an Insensitive World; and Wants, Needs, and Genes: Cultural and Ethical Thoughts, with more coming, as well as a short story/flash fiction/ and poetry collection coming out in early 2022.
Visit Margaret's Web Site for links to her fiction and non-fiction stories plus the pipeline of stories to come!
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 4, 2008
Set in present-day California, Joe Magee is a world-renowned anthropologist and expert on Mayan culture, working for a local museum. He is set to lead an expedition into California’s Central Valley to explore the bizarre possibility that Mayan culture may have made it that far north, before they disappeared many centuries ago. Magee is told to include Amy Parrish, another world-renowned Mayan expert, in the expedition. The museum Board is less than convinced that is is a good idea.
She moves into Magee’s isolated house in the hills, and the two immerse themselves in Mayan culture. One night, a strange computer virus is found on Joe’s laptop, where he keeps his scientific data. The computer seems to turn on by itself, and sends Joe’s files to an unknown location. Sean Gables is another museum employee, who is not what he seems. Sometimes, he is legitimately helpful to Joe and Amy, and other times, he acts, well, the word "slimy" comes to mind. Strange things are going on, but neither Joe or Amy can put their finger on it.
Later, a dead body is found in the nearby hills, a Hispanic male with his heart cut out. For most people, this is just a particularly gruesome murder, but for Joe and Amy, it means a lot more. According to Mayan prophecy, the Fifth World is ending, and the Sixth World will be coming in a few years. It is to be preceeded by three human sacrifices. Days later, two more bodies are found with their hearts removed, right on time. Someone is putting up a very large Keep Out sign. Joe has an anonymous benefactor paying him a lot of money to find Mayan culture in those hills. The Sixth World is characterized by a shift in the earth’s magnetic pole, causing worldwide catastrophe. At that time, Mayan culture will rise again, and rule the world. During a mini-expedition in the hills with some college students, Joe and Amy make some huge discoveries which prove that the rumors of Mayan culture making it as far north as central California are not just rumors.
This is a really good thriller story. My only criticism is that the first half of the book could have moved a little faster. Stick with the book, and this is a story that will give the reader plenty to think about. Also, keep an eye on the month of December, 2012. According to Mayan prophecy, at that time, big things are supposed to happen.
She moves into Magee’s isolated house in the hills, and the two immerse themselves in Mayan culture. One night, a strange computer virus is found on Joe’s laptop, where he keeps his scientific data. The computer seems to turn on by itself, and sends Joe’s files to an unknown location. Sean Gables is another museum employee, who is not what he seems. Sometimes, he is legitimately helpful to Joe and Amy, and other times, he acts, well, the word "slimy" comes to mind. Strange things are going on, but neither Joe or Amy can put their finger on it.
Later, a dead body is found in the nearby hills, a Hispanic male with his heart cut out. For most people, this is just a particularly gruesome murder, but for Joe and Amy, it means a lot more. According to Mayan prophecy, the Fifth World is ending, and the Sixth World will be coming in a few years. It is to be preceeded by three human sacrifices. Days later, two more bodies are found with their hearts removed, right on time. Someone is putting up a very large Keep Out sign. Joe has an anonymous benefactor paying him a lot of money to find Mayan culture in those hills. The Sixth World is characterized by a shift in the earth’s magnetic pole, causing worldwide catastrophe. At that time, Mayan culture will rise again, and rule the world. During a mini-expedition in the hills with some college students, Joe and Amy make some huge discoveries which prove that the rumors of Mayan culture making it as far north as central California are not just rumors.
This is a really good thriller story. My only criticism is that the first half of the book could have moved a little faster. Stick with the book, and this is a story that will give the reader plenty to think about. Also, keep an eye on the month of December, 2012. According to Mayan prophecy, at that time, big things are supposed to happen.
December 7, 2014
Written in 2003, published in 2007. This book presumes the end of the world happens on December 2012. Or maybe six years later. (Or maybe not at all??)
Dr. Amy Parish is recruited by Dr. Joe(seph) McGee to a dig on his Central Valley home in California. She is an expert on the ancient Maya, and he is an expert on the Olmec. There is an attraction between them, nicely described in p 23, but they don't kiss until p 288, after he's distracted about 27 times. I got tired waiting. Joe's best friend was sent off to Europe, I'm not sure why, and what about Sean Gables, who ends up being around for security???? Against what???? And a lot of government officials who are acting all mysterious, for no reason I could see. ANYWAY. There is A LOT of information about Maya glyphs and some about their rituals -- either the writer has done extensive research or has previous knowledge. But since the premise of the book was wrong, I was really not interested. Good writing, well formed, not so many characters that I lost track, and a satisfying conclusion.
Dr. Amy Parish is recruited by Dr. Joe(seph) McGee to a dig on his Central Valley home in California. She is an expert on the ancient Maya, and he is an expert on the Olmec. There is an attraction between them, nicely described in p 23, but they don't kiss until p 288, after he's distracted about 27 times. I got tired waiting. Joe's best friend was sent off to Europe, I'm not sure why, and what about Sean Gables, who ends up being around for security???? Against what???? And a lot of government officials who are acting all mysterious, for no reason I could see. ANYWAY. There is A LOT of information about Maya glyphs and some about their rituals -- either the writer has done extensive research or has previous knowledge. But since the premise of the book was wrong, I was really not interested. Good writing, well formed, not so many characters that I lost track, and a satisfying conclusion.
November 10, 2008
Book 1 of a trilogy. A wonderful book. I couldn't put it down. Two archeologists find Mayan Hieroglyphs in California.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews