An Inca Treasure, A Nazi plot, and a Missing Diamond. Geologist Sam Harris has her work cut out in this trio of standalone full-length adventure novels. Follow the adventures of Sam Harris where her postings to remote and exotic countries lead to adventure, mystery and intrigue. Can she overcome corruption, cultural clashes and violence to come out on top?
PJ Skinner was born in Guildford, one of seven siblings. When she was six, the family moved to Ireland where she attended school. She went to Trinity College, Dublin University, graduating as a geologist. After graduation, PJ spent 35 years working in over thirty countries as an exploration geologist. PJ worked in many remote, strange, and often dangerous places, and loved every minute, despite encountering her fair share of misogyny and other perils. During this time, she collected the tall tales and real-life experiences which inspired her to write the Sam Harris Adventure Series. The series chronicles the adventures of a pioneering female geologist in an almost exclusively male world. After finishing the Sam Harris Adventure series, PJ's childhood in Ireland inspired her to write the Green Family Saga, which follows the fortunes of an English family who move to Ireland just before the start of the Troubles, under the name of Kate Foley. PJ moved to the south coast of England just before the Covid pandemic. There she wrote Mortal Mission, a sci-fi mystery set on Mars, inspired by her fascination with all things celestial. It is a science-based murder mystery; think The Martian with fewer potatoes and more bodies. The enjoyment of writing Mortal Mission encouraged her to try writing a mystery series. She has always been a massive fan of crime and mystery, so it was inevitable she would turn her hand to it eventually. She published Deadly Return, the first book in the Seacastle Mysteries in July 2023 to great success. The Seacastle Mystery Series is a contemporary cosy mystery series with an amateur female sleuth, her grumpy ex-husband, hacker stepson and ungrateful rescue cat. The ensemble cast adds banter and humour as the series follows their stories between the murder mysteries. Poison Politics, book 10, will be released on the 31st of December 2025.
A different story with unique features. Sam Harris, the main character, is a female geologist trying to break into a "man's world". She is intelligent, courageous and likeable. The other characters are well drawn and believable. Her jobs take her to remote parts of South America and Africa . The best part of the books are the settings and descriptions of the local culture. While written with insight and clarity, there is also a sensitivity to long standing traditions and beliefs. I almost felt like I was there with Sam. But I also felt that her seeming total inability to distinguish between love and lust was a little out of character. Although there were also numerous dropped words and incorrect punctuation marks requiring re-reading of sentences, this was a very enjoyable and even enlightening book.
This a great box set. The books are packed with adventure and the pace is fast and furious. Time just flew by as I turned the pages faster and faster. Sam Harris is a wonderful protagonist - feisty, determined and smart as she operates in a unwelcoming male environment but also with a hint of vulnerability that means that you're always cheering her on. Highly recommended.
I enjoyed the first three San Harris books, Indiana Jones and Nancy Drew combined with sassy sexy attitude towards life and opportunities. I like the strong female lead and her equally strong female counterparts. An enjoyable read and learning experience of other cultures and geology.
Totally outstanding and thoroughly enjoyabble. reading
Outstanding in every manner possible was totally enthralled with these 3 books. The writer has an expansive and very keen sense of the dramatic and kept readers totally mesmerised by t the totally different scenarios of each book8. I would highly recommend these and any others to come.
These three books are about geologist Sam Harris. Two of them take place in South America and one in Africa. Sam overcomes dangerous situations and relationship 'opportunities'. All three of these stories were exciting to read and I enjoyed them.
I'm loving the Sam Harris series. Sam's character is developing well and at the end of book 3, I can't wait to read what happens next for her. And the adventures she has are interesting and exciting and beyond anything I would see in my lifetime.....
This collection of novels was fascinating. Great combination of work challenges and interpersonal adventures. Detailed presentation of foreign countries are almost painfully realistic.
I really do like this series. Very interesting stories and location backgrounds. I did feel like the author was learning to write with each book and at first it seemed more like technical writing. But it did not take away from the enjoyment. I will search out the next books in the series.
Three book set, the first book presents Sam as a feisty, determined female. Her sister is her best friend and confident. She allows things to happen, rarely questioning anything...because she has too. Second book very disappointing, back with the cheating boyfriend because sex is good, she allows him to control and change her. She runs off to help friends from book one, thinks she pregnant, not sure she wants to be, tells boyfriend over phone he asks if it's his, and she heads back to him at end of book because sex is good. Her sister is no longer best friend, try to sabotage her and seduced the boyfriend. Oh and the dog that is killed for no reason, is wagging tail, doesn't count because his relationship with guy was only for food but so friendly with guy breaking in the house. Almost didn't read last book and it was even worse. She heads home to jerk who say" is it mine" because she wasn't pregnant anyway so what the heck, he's sleeping with sister when she calls to let him know she's back, he hops over to her house and jumps into bed with her. Later by a few days, at his house she's telling him about a new job, he's telling sister he's confused about which sister he wants, she finds her sister's dirty underwear, knows it's her sister's and runs back to parents. She's leaving in a couple days for new job anyway, was unsure if she wanted relationship before finding new cheating scenario, does no preparation for location or people she working with, just pops into danger with no question. Barely left cheating boyfriend and sister but is already lusting after almost any man she sees. She has to dress trashy because dad got wrong bag with sister's clothes. She gets into one situation after another, is constantly terrified while still loving every minute of the danger. Does nothing to prepare but everyone loves her and turns to her. No real experience, no understanding of field job just books but she comes out on top. New man loves her, loves her not, then runs. book three, heading home having solved everyone's problems but her own boyfriend issues deciding she will wait for new guy because he's worth it. Not my type of book, not sure how Sam can be considered tough and smart but giving three stars because interesting countries and customs. Like Sam I didn't try to find out if anything, scenery or customs or history was true or fiction. Not sure why the emphasis on how she like to eat and enjoyed food, wolfing meals down, etc mattered but mentioned in each book, maybe showing how she was not girly?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
A decent set of books that were overshadowed by Sam's gratuitous relationships and unnecessary quandary over the decision to get or not get an abortion. Total turnoff.
The following is my review of the third book in the series but they are all amazing books and a gem to have in one boxed set.
QUOTE This is the third book in the Sam Harris series and follows her life and adventures as a female geologist in a male dominated world. This book, in fact all 3 in the series, have a quality and intensity and an honesty that you rarely find in a book. To even describe it as a book seems insufficient. It is sharing an amazing adventure and experience with the main character, Sam. You are transported to the wild , dangerous but invigorating world of Africa. You share the journey without having to leave your comfortable chair. It is indeed an overwhelming rollercoaster ride full of excitement, love and dangers of a sometimes hostile environment and overcoming prejudice and suspicion from all walks of life. I was totally absorbed in this story and recommend wholeheartedly to anyone wanting to share in an adventure story ( based partly on fact) and a whole different level of excitement and intrigue. I could gush for ever. Loved this book and I know you will too. UNQUOTE