The Monkey Idol

Decker & Callie Adventures #1

by K.D. McNiven

An idol...A crude map...and a race to find the truth.

After the murder of their colleague, Leonard Romero, Decker and Callie Hayden are catapulted into a turbulent adventure through the Honduran jungle, seeking a lost city and justice for Leonard's widow. Relentlessly pursued by Bruno, a madman who will stop at nothing to claim what could be one of the greatest finds of the century.

Genres: Adventure

383 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 4, 2018

Reviews

[David Lucero · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exciting adventure that takes the reader on a perilous journey into the heart of the Honduran jungle in search of a forgotten, ancient city!

Decker and Callie are a one-of-a-kind couple. They are very much in love with each other and their profession of archaeology. Their work and success has provided them fame and fortune enough for them to live well in America and travel with all the latest equipment needed for a successful expedition into the unknown.

When Holly's husband, Leonard, is murdered in Honduras, she is heartbroken. After learning her husband's death is related to his find of a lost and forgotten city in the Honduran jungle. She reaches out to friend Callie and Decker. On the heels of Holly is a team of criminals hellbent on learning more about the late Leonard's discovery. If his find proves true there will be riches beyond belief. When Holly receives a package from her late husband, she makes attempts to take this to Decker and Callie for assistance in learning more about what happened to her husband. After she narrowly escapes capture from criminals working for a mafia-like thug, she reaches Decker and Callie who agree to take her on their trip to Honduras in search of Leonard's find.

They leave on their yacht, 'Jade,' a well-equipped boat with all needed for a team to venture into the unknown. After acquiring a team of locals to assist in leading them through the jungle with a map bequeathed to Holly, they come across many perils. The weather for one is filled with torrential rains, and the terrain is dangerous. Wild animals, deadly mosquitoes, anacondas, and jaguars lay in wait for anyone and anything incapable of defending themselves. Then there is the feeling that some of the hired locals on their expedition may have other ideas in mind for the persons paying for their services.

Decker and Callie, with the help of close friends on their team and loyal locals hired to guide them through the jungle, press through some of the world's most dangerous river waters and caves in search of what may be the find of the century....at a cost which may be higher than they ever believed possible.

This is the first book I've read by author K.D. McNiven and I am happy to say it will not be my last! This is the sort of story which reminds you of an 'Indiana Jones-style' adventure. The team faces many obstacles, and work together. There is romance, suspense, adventure, and thrills all rolled in one. The author has done her research and readers will appreciate her attention to details as they follow the team through their journey. I look forward to the next Decker and Callie adventure, and so will you. I highly recommend this book! It's one for all genres.

[Jena Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

"We aren't treasure hunters, we are archaeologists." When adventure rears its irresistible head Decker and Callie are ready to go. The adventure that calls to them in this book, the first in a series, finds them in Honduras. The two professional scientists have decided to investigate the murder of an archaeology colleague. They decide that the lost "White City" or "City of the Monkey Idol" holds the key to why their scientist friend was murdered.

When you being to read this book, you may be a bit puzzled by the occasional trite and awkward phrasing. But I guarantee you that within a few pages you will be swept up in this fast-paced adventure. I went from "ho hum" to "Wow!" and I never put the book down until I was done.

The book has several exciting story lines. First, is the expedition led by Decker and Callie deep into the Honduran rain forest to find the pre-Colombian city and rumored precious artifacts. "These were sacred places, and man should never tread here." The author gives us vivid descriptions of the jungle fauna, flora and topography and you will feel like you are right with Decker and Callie as they struggle through rapids, climb sheer cliffs, battle bugs, snakes and jaguars, and the relentless tropical heat.


The second story line is about the team of assassins hired by an evil operator to stop the expedition and find the treasures for themselves. The third story line involves a kidnapping and fight to save the victims. The author handles each story with spot-on pacing and tension and switches from adventure to adventure at just the right point in the story. You will feel like you are right there!

"Thankfully, their team was like a completed tapestry, and each of them was like a thick cord woven together in the fabric that formed a strong union."

"The jungle had inflicted war on then for daring to enter, but they had shown themselves strong." I highly recommend this book- perfect weekend read!

[Joe Congel · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you enjoy a great adventure story in the spirit of Indiana Jones, then you will certainly enjoy K.D. McNiven's The Monkey Idol. This is a jungle romp at its finest. The action begins immediately and tightens its grip on you with every turn of the page.

What originally drew me to The Monkey Idol was the promise of a good action-adventure story. K.D. McNiven delivers with a wallop. The sequence through the jungle, which is where the meat of the story takes place, was so realistic, that I couldn’t help think that the author must have spent time there herself.

I am not going to provide any spoilers or create a synopsis of the story, as I believe it is better to discover all of the fun for yourself. That being said, this book has everything you need if you’re looking for high-stakes adventure: archeological artifacts and treasure, murder, annoying jungle insects, dangerous snakes and jungle cats, tribal warriors, unbearable heat, a wicked river excursion, cave hiking, and a couple who truly believe in each other’s abilities to keep each other safe throughout all of it.

I’ve read all of the Decker & Callie Adventure books, and interestingly, I read this one last. Although I will almost always read a series in order, I actually read Shark Eater, book 2 in the series, first. As with any good book I’ve enjoyed that turns out to be in the middle of a series, I just had to go back and start at the beginning. The good news is that all of the books in this series can be read in order or as a stand-alone. The characters are well thought out and crafted with tons of personality, making it easy to want to invest time in getting to know them.

If you haven’t had the pleasure of reading an Action-Adventure book by K.D. McNiven, you are missing out on some amazing storytelling. And there is no better story to begin with than The Monkey Idol.

I look forward to riding along with Decker & Callie on wherever their next adventure takes them!

[K.D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Monkey Idol is my first novel and I have a deep affection for it. It has many elements I want to read in a book: action, adventure, romance, and tension. The Monkey Idol takes place in the Honduran jungle where Decker and Callie Haydens’ team go in search of a lost city and try to find justice for their colleague's murder.

One focus I tried to bring to the forefront is Decker's and Callie's relationship. They are deeply in love and they always have one another's back. I wove strong bonds between Decker and Callie and their crew throughout the book to emphasize the benefits of teamwork.

Their search for the lost city is fraught with danger. From white water rapids, to jaguars, kidnapping, to jungle natives- every turn brings them face to face with danger. If that's not enough, they come against a band of evil men who stalk the Haydens and their team hoping to gain a treasure. Who will get there first? And will they discover an ancient city stocked with treasure?

Since I love action and adventure, I try to keep a steady flow of it throughout the book. At the same time, not lose who the characters are. I hope readers will enjoy The Monkey Idol as much as I enjoyed writing it.

[Victoria Limbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

K. D. McNiven has written an adventure book that plays out like an Indiana Jones/Jewel of the Nile film (which, by the way, I absolutely love those films). The story throws us into the deep end with a man sending a priceless artifact to his wife just before suspiciously losing his life in the jungle where he believes he has made an ancient discovery. His poor wife, now widowed is being followed by his enemies and calls on two young, experienced archeologists Decker and Callie, for help.

From here it is non-stop action with gun fights, treacherous hikes through the Honduras jungle, run ins with tribes and an enemy that wants the Monkey Idol for themselves at any cost, even murdering the innocent. The twists and turns are fun, figuring out who is trustworthy and who is double dealing.

And through all of the action and adventure, Decker and Callie are a sweet couple. They show love for each other and work great as a team. Callie is brave and strong and Decker is charming and smart. At some points, they felt like the characters in the film The Mummy (the Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz one) a bit of humour, posh accents and fun supporting cast making up their travelling team. Especially Holly, the poor widow. She has the worst luck throughout this story, yet it was sweet to watch her and Garret interact, despite the trauma they were put through at times.

A fun, adventurous tale with great editing and a lovely writing style.

[P.J. Skinner · Rating 5 out of 5]

An adventure in the style of Clive Cussler with as many twists and turns as the Monaco Grand Prix. Decker and Callie Hayden go to search for a lost city in the Honduran Jungle after the murder of their colleague Leonard Romero. They are not alone. Their every move is shadowed by the ruthless Bruno, who will kill to get at the secrets of the Monkey Idol. A cast of colourful minor characters ensures that there is never a dull moment in this rollicking adventure.

[Mark Piper · Rating 5 out of 5]

K.D. McNiven’s The Monkey Idol is as exciting an adventure as you’ll ever meet. It’s also a thriller and, in many ways, a love story. But most of all it’s an edge-of-your-seat page-turner (sometimes cliches describe things exactly).

From the very first chapter, the novel moves quickly, sometimes at a break-neck pace, as in the rather spectacular car chase scene early on, before we even meet the central characters Decker and Callie Hayden. There’s more than one of those in this adventure. McNiven is very good at car chases.

Decker and Callie are not superheroes but they’re considerably more heroic and accomplished than us regular folk. They’re larger than life, which is one key reason we reach for this sort of novel in the first place. The Haydens are also richer than most of us can imagine. In fact, as I read along I could easily picture accomplished archeologists Decker and Callie in an Indiana Jones epic, and their relationship and lifestyle often recalled the early 80s TV series, “Hart to Hart.” (Apologies to another reviewer who also noticed the same thing). In short, the Hayden’s are bigger than life, and that makes them exactly the sort of couple with whom we’re anxious to share an adventure. It doesn’t hurt that they’re so likable.

The antagonists in the novel are pure evil and are constantly tracking the Haydens and their team on their expedition through the unforgiving Honduran jungle to find an ancient lost city. The bad guys are willing, even eager, to kill just about anyone who gets in the way of their plan to steal the possible bounty the Hayden team uncovers. This—and nature’s obstacles—lead to one close call after another, and you’re really never sure you can let out the breath you’ve been holding merely because there seems to be a respite from life-threatening danger. McNiven is also very good at cliffhangers.

There are many, diverse locations, and McNiven is a master at painting the scene so well you feel as if you’re right there with Decker and Callie as they dodge bullets, jaguars, snakes, monsoon-like rainstorms, floods, and everything else you’d expect from an uncompromising jungle.

It’s an exhausting adventure for our heroes and for the reader, but trust me, you won’t be able to put it down.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This adventure was packed full of action. Each page brought a new threat to the lives of everyone involved.

I only had a few small issues with the story, with the first being the dialogue. Many of the way conversations were worded seemed unrealistic. It felt more like the author wanted to ensure the reader understood the character’s traits through dialogue when either an inner monologue or demonstration would have gotten the point across in a smoother manner.

My second issue was towards the end when the crew of the Jade was on the lookout for a specific vehicle. The men are highly intelligent, thus vital members of the team. Their reaction to finding said vehicle was not in character with their supposed experience. The result appeared to be an unnecessary sequence of events. However, the ending may not have worked out the way the author had intended.

My final issue was reiterating clarifications. I think the story would have flowed a bit smoother without so much repetition.

Now that’s out of the way, I can say with genuine enthusiasm how much I loved the storyline. Discovering a lost city amidst an angry rainforest complete with dangerous creatures, hazardous terrain, and deadly drug-runners, while taking copious notes for others to follow is not for the faint-hearted.

[Mark Carnelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A magnificent adventure for the thrill seeker reader!

What an amazing introduction to my now favourite archeologists. Callie and Decker are more than worthy of replacing my adventure favourites of Dirk Pitt and all his NUMA associates. I’ve been a Clive Cussler fan for many, many years, having bought and hungrily devoured his books for my adrenaline fix. I now have new favourites in Decker and Callie Hayden, husband and wife archeological team. Cussler now remains in their dust! They may not have all the tech gadgets but they are not needed. They have there own team, and whilst they have many scrapes and accidents along the way, their guts and determination win out in the end. Wonderful setting for this adventure gives the reader the realism that brings this story to life, thanks to obviously fantastic research from marvellous author K.D McNiven.
A five ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read if ever there was one, and have already got Book 2 of the next Decker & Callie adventure series, Shark Eater.

[Richard Schwindt · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the things I’ve learned to appreciate about indie fiction is that over-the-top is often a good thing. People read genre fiction for an escape, some fun and perhaps suspense and chills. You are going to get all of that reading The Monkey Idol: Decker & Callie Adventure. The action starts right away and rarely relents until the end of the story. K.D. McNiven is one of those authors whose voice is strong enough to carry off a fun, excessive, and darker than you might think, if not always polished novel. The story, featuring a Hitchcock like McGuffin is arranged around a perilous jungle journey in search of a lost city, possibly filled with valuable stuff and maybe monkeys. The good guys, husband and wife Decker and Callie and friends, are very good and Bruno and the baddies are quite nasty. Can it be bad and happen in the jungle? If so, McNiven has included it in the story. Snakes, of course. Jaguar, you bet… heat, indigenous people with spears… you get the picture. I enjoyed this and you should too. Recommended with rain water and feral boar, cooked in banana leaves.

[Nancy Silk · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Biggest Treasure Hunt Known To Mankind"

When I was a young teenager I always wanted to be an archeologist. But ...it never happened. This story captivated me as a treasure is found in the jungle of Honduras. It's a great mystery thriller I could not put down. This is your chance to include yourself into the remarkable search. Highly recommend.

[Chris Pridmore · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
'The Monkey Idol' is a action adventure story, a short hop away from my usual genres, but still slightly off piste.
The story contained a number of characters, most of whom were well thought out and distinct. Perhaps it's the gamer in me coming out but I felt that the two main characters, Decker and Callie, is what would happen if Nathan Drake married Lara Croft. The characters are put into situations which allow for their personalities to be portrayed, although I did feel that there was a very defined 'good/bad' dichotomy which at times makes the characters feel like they lack a certain amount of depth. There is also a moment where a character who is not first language English seems to forget that throughout the rest of the book he has spoken perfect English and suddenly resorts to a rather cliched 'Si, Senior.' Sadly this isn't the only example of a slightly 'clunky' dialogue which did somewhat distract in critical moments.
On the whole I found the plot to be very engaging. The story progresses along, sometimes slightly slowly for my tastes, but never enough for me to get bored. There is a sizable amount of action interspersed, usually following a well-built bit of tension. The book is an adventure story, something which it does a good job sticking to. It is a rather linear progression through the book, although there are a number of times I was surprised by the direction the story went. Mostly this was due to some well-placed action scenes or a well-placed death, but sometimes there were moments when I felt as if McNiven had plans for a section which never came to fruition. The book comes to a satisfying ending, closing off almost all of the open plot elements, but leaving the characters open if a sequel were ever to be on the cards.
In my opinion, where McNiven comes into their own is in scene setting. A lot of thought has gone into immersing the reader in the world, with some well researched descriptions of life in the jungle and the constant struggle that entails. There is also a very clear undercurrent of the importance of preservation of the rainforest, both from a global perspective, but more importantly from the perspective of the local tribesmen.
The book kept my attention for the duration. If you're looking for a bit of light reading in a 'good vs evil' story this if for you. Overall, I have given the book 4.1 stars.

[Lene Blackthorn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be prepared. There is pure adventure coming your way.
Decker and Callie were enjoying their time when they received the news about their colleague Leonard Romero's murder, and his widow Holly asked them for help. Before her husband was killed, he managed to send back home a monkey idol wrapped in a crude map following his trip. On an expedition to discover lost city in Honduras, the trip to the jungle proved fatal for Leonard, but his object of interest attracted the interest of many, and Holly's plea for help kindled the adventurer's spark in both Decker and Callie. Determined to follow Leonard's footsteps, they head to the same jungle willing to uncover its secrets. But they are followed and hunted by Bruno and his brutes, motivated by greed and the vision of wealth.
This book reminded me of a cross between Indiana Jones movies and Clive Cussler's books. Beautiful and wild nature of the jungle combined with not only natural dangers but also human threats created a solid setup for suspenseful story. The fresh wind of adventure breathed through every page, pulling the reader deeper and deeper, until you got lost in the story and followed tensely the destinies of our archaeological heroes. Both Becker and Callie are amazing main characters, strong, witty, courageous, and funny. I loved their interactions and how they complemented each other. With the turbulent story and swift plot development, this book is a great pick for everyone in need for a good adventure.

[Kerry Reis · Rating 4 out of 5]

After her archaeologist husband was ambushed and murdered in the jungles of Honduras and her Los Angeles home was ransacked, Holly Romero reaches out to her husband’s close friends and fellow archaeologists, Decker and Callie Hayden, for help. After escaping another ambush from two armed men, Holly is able to seek refuge in the Hayden’s Malibu home, carrying a package she had just received from her dead husband. Besides a small monkey idol, Decker discovers a map to a lost ancient city in the Honduras rain forest, which leads the group to set out on a quest to uncover the city for the cultural value to Honduras and the world, while at the same time, finding justice for Holly’s husband. However, the master villain is out to stop them with whatever deadly means possible and get the map in order to strip the hidden city of all of its treasures. This is an Indiana Jones style thriller without the wilder motion picture antics. Instead, the journey is more wilderness slog direct, and the villainy is more gang tough direct. The pace is slower and more informative during the preparations of the quest, but the tension and suspense does amp up once the quest begins. Near the end, the author brings in a natural plot device that is overly presented in an unrealistic way and is not truly necessary. However, for the most part, action adventure readers will find plenty of thrills and suspense to enjoy the journey.

[Greta Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

I usually don’t find myself attracted to action/adventure genre books, but this story I could not put down. Decker and Callie, two archeologists, are called upon to investigate a lost city and find justice for their murdered friend Leonardo. They are pursued by Bruno and his men, who harass the group and who will stop at nothing to retrieve the rare artifact found by Leonardo before his untimely death. Their journey through the Honduras jungle isn’t easy, and is filled with opsticals that would make anyone want to turn back.
The pace of their adventure into the lost city moved at a perfect speed that didn’t rush the story, nor drag on and make the book become a tedious read. The dialogue between all of the characters, both good and bad, was pleasantly entertaining. I especially enjoyed Decker and Callie’s relationship from the beginning of the novel and throughout their journey. McNiven really portrayed the strong bond between the couple well. Their love shined through their protectiveness for each other in moments of crisis and peril.
Overall this was a very enjoyable read. The majority of the novel takes place in the Honduras jungle, with the characters making their way to the lost city. I thought the ending was a tad rushed. For example, I wish they had spent more time in the lost city and the pyramids considering it took them so long to get there. The story was concluded with no dangling plot or questions, so the ending was satisfying, but I wish there had been more chapters and detail tying all of the loose ends together. Besides the abrupt ending, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I gave it 4.0 out of 5.0 stars. I am looking forward to reading the next Decker and Callie adventure soon!

[Shawn Callon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an Indiana Jones type of thriller with two archaeologists along with their support group intent on discovering a hidden city and treasure while battling the Honduran jungle and a band of evildoers. The author's strength as a story-teller is her ability to make you feel that you are actually in the humid, dangerous jungle. I experienced a tame, touristy-type rain forest some years back in Australia (and didn't like it) but that was nothing compared to McNiven's novel. It's worth repeating some of her wonderful descriptions - " Sam and Javier spent time pulling off leeches. If that wasn’t bad enough, ticks were everywhere on their clothing" "There’s probably toothpick fish in this area, and unfortunately, if someone urinates, the fish will swim up their female or male parts and latch itself onto them. " Mud oozing into their shoes. It felt like a sauna, but there was no thermostat to turn down. Their feet were starting to peel and blister from the moisture ". However, the characters were fairly wooden and undeveloped- the good guys were really good and the bad guys were really evil (they all died). All the local guides hired by the two archaeologists died as well; all the explorers survived despite some nasty experiences such as kidnapping, beatings, wounds, illness etc. Unfortunately, much of the dialogue between the two central characters, Dexter and Callie, was banal and way too sugary. But these criticisms didn't detract from my enjoyment of reading this exciting novel with its unforgettable descriptions of life in the Honduran jungle.
This review was written by Shawn Callon, author of The Diplomatic Spy.

[Shannon Patterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was fun! Parts of it gave me Indiana Jones vibes with the insistence that treasure hunters and archaeologists are not the same thing. The original set up made me think of Romancing the Stone with something precious sent to a loved on right before they died. The widow reaches out to Decker and Callie for help since it's a colleague.

Decker and Callie have a very interesting dynamic with each other. They love what they do and they love their job so they work really well together. They want to solve the mystery and get justice for Leonard.

The imagery comes to life and the reader can see the jungle of Honduras and the Lost City. The author did an excellent job of setting the scene for this adventure. There are bad guys on the trail and the whole cast of characters comes to life.

As this is the first of a series I'm interested to see which adventure they tackle next. I received a free digital copy of this story through BookSirens and am leaving a voluntary honest review.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to say this is one action packed book. It was hard to put down once I sat down to read it. 

This is the story of Decker and Callie. They are Archiologist that like to find buried treasure, so when a friend comes to them asking for help after her husband was murdered they sat out to find out why someone would murder him. He leaves a map of the area that he has been in and a way to find where he discovered a hidden treasure. On this journey they are followed by goons from a man who wants what they are looking for. 

Overall I will give this book 4.5/5 stars

[Beverly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good book filled with lots of action and suspense. The characters were believable and very well described. The plot was well written and held my interest from beginning to end. The author described the landscape so well that you felt like you were right there. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Paul Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second K.D. McNiven Decker and Callie novel I've read, and the second I've loved. Yes I know I'm reading them out of order. McNiven has written another wonderful adventure fraught with danger and excitement. The descriptions of the jungle and its myriad of perils are so well written it felt like I was there with Decker and Callie. Can't wait to read the next one, Shark Eater.

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fast paced book that exploded on the very first page. It was a page turner and kept me turning the pages til the very end! I enjoyed it! Thanks to Book Sirens for the copy

[Dena Solyst · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has the thrills of an Indiana Jones read!!

[Jimmer Hardy · Rating 4 out of 5]

By the time the adventure, twists and secrets were revealed, I felt as beat up as the Hayden crew. This breathless romp through the jungles of Honduras was well researched and envisioned succinctly. And while the dialogue can be pretty stiff, McNiven’s imagination and zest for storytelling made this a worthy, fun and spirited read. Get a copy.

[Nick Westerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Decker and Callie Hayden are husband and wife archeologists. The Monkey Idol is the first of a series of books to feature these two well-resourced and highly capable adventurers.

The book begins with fellow archeologist and friend, Leonard Romero, being murdered by a gang of thugs. Leonardo has discovered a lost city deep in the Honduran jungle that will significantly add to the knowledge of ancient Central American civilisations. The gang however are interested only in looting the vast treasures of the lost city.

Prior to his death, Leonard has mailed proof of his discovery to his wife Holly - a small statuette of a Monkey God and an all important map to the discovered site. When the gang attack Holly in Los Angeles she turns to her friends Decker and Callie who immediately put together their established and fiercely loyal team to not only protect Holly, but to locate the lost city so as to secure its treasures for the rightful owners, the people of Honduras.

So begins a series of adventures that pits the team against a ruthless gang boss who is willing to kill anyone in order to get the treasure for himself. On top of this Decker and Callie must face the inherant hostilities of the Honduran jungle; ravenous insects, wild animals, formidable weather and potentially histile natives.

K. D. McNiven has written a great page-turner. She has a knack for immersing the reader into a distant and exotic location that they are unlikely to personally experience. You can almost feel the intensity of the humidity as the team ventures further and further up river into the uncharted jungle, not knowing what misfortune will befall them next. I would imagine that most readers will immediately seek out the next title in this evolving series, Shark Eater, to enjoy more of Decker and Callie's adventures.

Highly recommended!!!

[lostinabookbrb]

Setting

The novel opens with Holly getting a package and right away having to run from men who are after her. This is a really good way to get to the point of the story. With that scene we know how the rest of the book is going to go and that's a good thing for adventure books like this. I'm happy it didn't spend loads of time on explanation and setting at the tail beginning. The majority of this book takes place in the jungle and I don't know a lot factually about the jungle but there wasn't anything that seemed off. There was a scene that took me out of the book where one of the characters performs CPR. How it was described in the book ("...she placed hands under his ribs..."), it just seemed not accurate. Also, the character that had CPR done on him did not have his ribs broken which is VERY rare. I tried to keep in mind that people will have creative license especially with things like CPR but it took me out of that scene.

Characters

I had a hard time relating to any of the characters. The main characters Decker and Callie came off as too perfect for my taste. They never seemed to be in a bad mood towards one another and they always had the right intuition on things for no other real reason than because they have good intuition. They're also extremely well off. So, it's just these perfect people doing heroic stuff. I wanted flaws in them. Another example is there comes a time when Callie helps give children vaccinations in the jungle. It was a weird scene because I couldn't remember or find any instance where Callie says she has training in giving injections to people. So, I thought this was not very accurate for someone who does have training to allow her to help give injections.Then there were the "bad guys" who were stereo typically bad.  They didn't have a nice bone in their body. Good guys are good and bad guys are terrible. I wish there had been more depth to all the characters. I should note, however, that this may just be the genre. I've only read a few archaeological type adventure books and this seems to follow suit with a lot of others.

Plot

The plot is straight forward and singular. There isn't a lot of side plots except a sort of love side plot with Holly which I found to be a bit odd. The plot is also easy to follow and it is tied up at the end. I will say that the author does a good job of not letting things get boring as far as storyline goes. Event after event happens and keeps the reader turning the page with a "What is going to happen next" feeling.

Overall

This book is set in a series and there are books that come before it so maybe if I read those, my mind will change on Decker and Callie as characters. As it were, they just had the "too perfect" thing going on for me. I think this is a great book for those who tend to like Indiana Jones stories and where you know with absolute certainty who the good guys are and who the bad guys are.