The Zambezi Code: A Phoebe McCabe Mystery Thriller

The Agency of the Ancient Lost & Found #7

by Jane Thornley

In 1856, two Victorian siblings follow in David Livingstone’s footsteps to the banks of the Zambezi in present day Zimbabwe, the brother seeking rare flora, his sister a lost African civilization. Only, Louise Hopkins will never return though her brother Terrence will bring home her a peculiar mask with hennaed dreadlocks plus two jeweled staves.
Over a century later, Phoebe McCabe is drawn into a case involving a cache of stolen African art sequestered in an oligarch’s London mansion. As the Agency of the Ancient Lost and Found pluck away at the repatriation issues, they unleash a fury of recrimination, family secrets, and clues that may lead to an ancient stash of treasure, providing they can decipher the codes while enduring a gauntlet of Russian fury and African terrors.  Louise Hopkins kept an illustrated journal in which she described strange events including a witchdoctor’s chilling prophecy, a mysterious tribe, and the story of three wise elders that protected a great trade route seven hundred years earlier. Armed with this account, Phoebe and her agency must decode the truth locked in local Shona stories and folklore before mercenaries plunder the rich African heritage and destroy everyone she loves.  Plunging into a world both beautiful and terrifying, Phoebe wrestles a powerful force that our modern sensibilities would consider surreal. But her insight can only unlock ancient secrets by stepping into the minds of those that came before, even if it means participating in terrifying rituals that deliver her to the brink of oblivion. Moonbows over Victoria Falls, a mysterious tribe still in hiding to this day, the mighty Zambezi river, and the spirit of the African people, these fantastic elements of the story are real. Welcome to the Agency of the Ancient Lost & Found book 7 where fact is fiction and fiction promises to keep you enthralled until the very last satisfying page.

Genres: Mystery

208 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 8, 2023

Reviews

[Bill Pentland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another adventure for Phoebe McCabe and her Agency for the Ancient Lost and Found. This time we went to Africa and the Victoria Falls. This particular adventure involved running gun battles with Russian gun runners and mercenaries; it involved lost African treasure; and the communing with spirits from the past. Again, page turning action. There were temporary allies that proved false; there were new friends that proved loyal. There were losses and there were gains. It's all here.
I learned a lot about parts of Africa with which I was not familiar. There were names mentioned like David Livingston, who has been the subject of many books. I learned about tribes in Africa I had no idea existed, like the Two Toed People. The repatriation of lost and stolen art objects is the driving force behind this Agency. While fictitious, the message is clear and is important.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great adventure by Jane Thornley! Characters and plot are great; editing errors make it difficult to read in places. The author has explained and corrected some of the errors but there’s one (in multiple places throughout the book) that’s still there. The word “southern” seems to have been substituted for the word “central.” For example, from chapter 11, page 84: “The people along the Zambezi River saw the river god Nyami Nyami as southern to their existence” and, earlier, a mention of the “southern fountain” in Rupert’s garden. “Southern” doesn’t really make sense here.

Looking forward to the next adventure!

[TRICIA POTTER · Rating 5 out of 5]

another Phoebe McCabe perilous adventure!

Life is never dull or boring for the Agency of the Ancient Lost and Found! Join Phoebe, Peaches, Evan, and Rupert and a new cast of characters as they search for the Lost Treasure in the wilds of Africa, risking their lives and sanity, not always certain who are friends or foes. Well written, exciting-edge of your-seat kind. Thoroughly enjoyed reading “The Zambezi Code”, and I look forward to their next mystery thriller venture!

[Maria Hill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love all the African history

I give this story a low rating because I really wish the author had used a decent editor, way too many grammatical errors. It ruins the flow of the story. But I did love all the African details, the mask, the places, the rituals and the history . However, once again our heroine is abducted - twice this time. She doesn't timewalk which was disappointing. But it's an okay read

[Gwenythe B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fastpaced, magic induced spirituality and the wondrous Peobe...

This series just keeps getting better and better! New introductions to the entertaining cast of characters enhanced this book. Oft times by replicating the eons of trust issues that always arise in relationships whether employees vs employers or a supposed friend with their own agendas.

[Linda Boyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another interesting Agency of the Ancient Lost and Found. I enjoyed reading about Africa because my knowledge of Africa is sorely lacking. The story moves quickly. Other readers have mentioned the poor proofreading and editing which is a problem. I have heard from another author that sometimes converting to Kindle causes this situation; I don't know if that's the case.

[Joan Husmann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the best

Sometimes a series becomes formulaic. I hope this book is a one-off, and the next in the series will be better.
We know Phoebe is in demand, but more kidnapping? Maybe the evil oligarchs should just break her brother out of prison, or “buy” him from a corrupt warden.

[Susan Bales · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read

I love this series but please, Jane Thornley, fire your copy editor! The numerous typos are a distraction from your excellent plots and intriguing art history lessons. This is one of the best time travel adventures, with that annoying caveat.

[Cheryl Thornburg · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have given this book a higher rating but it was riddled with so many typos and mistakes that I couldn't enjoy the story. Perhaps it was a rush to meet deadline or an unedited version was accidentally published but there really is no excuse for so many errors.

[Deborah Wall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Snakes and Walking Sticks

The Agency of the Ancient Lost and Found travel to Africa to find treasure while avoiding a Russian oligarch who is after the same treasure. An exciting story with some history to enrich it.

[Elinor · Rating 5 out of 5]

At last!

I hope this is not the last we hear from the agency! I have read each book and each one has enthralled me, taking me to a different Part of the World and another time, weaving in a modern day love story and a very modern girl, thank you Jane for these tales

[Terry Polston · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story is engaging, interesting. The editing is horrendous, double words, missing words, wrong words. Example page 155 ... "Perfect foe what?" "For you and me...". Foe? Really?
This was the easiest example to find, they were rife throughout the book.

[Annette Mordec · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good chapter

This is one of better books in the series. Location has a lot to do with it. Adventure in Africa is a nice change from Egyptian, South American or Roman storylines.

[Susan Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story, but spoiled by such bad editing

[Mary Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really interesting story with lots of the usual Phoebe McCabe intrigue. My only complaint about this book is that it was not well edited...lots of typos.

[Carolyn Dreyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have never read a book so BADLY proofread! Typos and mistakes every few pages....
Read on Kindle.

[Valerie A Roddy · Rating 3 out of 5]

There seemed to be some gaps in the storyline. At times, it felt like something was missing or skipped. Add to that the poor editing of the book and the result was an uneven read.

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always a very enjoyable easy read, you will have trouble putting this book down !

[karen blaszyk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well thought out plot

I throughly enjoy this series. Only thing that makes me crazy is the proofreading… lots of typos. Makes me want to be a proofreader!

[Cathy Smyth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love following Phoebe and her crew to Africa for another art-themed adventure!

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

great

Jane Thornley has written another absolutely brilliant book. I loved it the story was so real and I couldn’t put it down

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like all Jane Thornley books, this one keeps you engaged from start to finish! Chock-a-block full of information on African flora and fauna, as well. It’s full of the usual cast of characters and some carryover bad guys, all true to form. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

quasi spoilers! This series is still okay, but Phoebe being kidnapped almost (if not every) book is getting old. The writing is still good so I'll continue on but honestly, if they were not on Kindle Unlimited, I would not purchase them.