The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion

I'm a big fan of archaeological thrillers. Has anyone come across any great reads that would fall under this category lately?

Check out James Rollins, Andy McDermott, Clive Cussler.

Brian January

Michael Chrichton has Timeline, which is an archaeological thriller with a futuristic twist.

Have you tried Aaron J. Elkins' Gideon Oliver a forensic anthropologist whose nickname is "The Skeleton Detective"? Some of his are set at archeological digs, others in obscure places.

Or Elizabeth Peters's Amelia Peabody.

I am a big fan of Aaron Elkins. My sister and I also write archaeological mysteries. Our latest book is The Lost City of the Condor.

Vickie wrote: "I am a big fan of Aaron Elkins. My sister and I also write archaeological mysteries. Our latest book is The Lost City of the Condor. "

Have you on my TBR shelf. Now looks like a good time to read one!!!☺

I'm glad you are going to try one. I love archaeology--old ruins and stories about ancient treasure.


Almeta wrote: "Vickie wrote: "I am a big fan of Aaron Elkins. My sister and I also write archaeological mysteries. Our latest book is The Lost City of the Condor. "

Hav..."

Thanks for the suggestions. Read Timeline and many, many James Rollins. Haven't read Andy McDermott or Aaron Elkins. I'll add them to my list.

Vickie - thanks for suggesting your book - I'll give it a read too! Always great to meet another fellow author. Waiting for my 2nd book to come out in July.

-Theresa-

It's nice to find this list of readers who are enthusiastic about archaeological mysteries and who enjoy the same authors I do such as Aaron Elkin, Elizabeth Peters, etc. I also like Sharyn McCrumb. Anything to do with archaeology intrigues me.

Theresa--Nice to meet you. I'll check out your book and look for your new one in July.


Vickie

Hi Vickie!

Just checked out your books and see you're from my old stomping grounds - Wyoming. Who'd a thunk it? :-)

I lived in Laramie 15 years! Loved it there.

Vickie

Theresa wrote: "I'm a big fan of archaeological thrillers. Has anyone come across any great reads that would fall under this category lately?"

I'd recommend that classic of archaeological mystery books, possibly the origin of the species - Agatha Christie's Murder in Mesopotamia
First published 1936 but still a good read and based on Christie's visit to a dig where she met her second husband. Mesopotamia is now Iraq and has changed a lot.

I think that these would qualify:

The Cabinet of Curiosities

Thunderhead

Tyrannosaur Canyon

Theresa wrote: "I'm a big fan of archaeological thrillers. Has anyone come across any great reads that would fall under this category lately?"

Chris KuzneskiThe Lost Throne

The Amber Room

Lost Temple

I hope this helps.

One of the best writers of archeology mysteries is Kate Ellis and her Wesley Peterson series. Her books are two-for-one mysteries. A contemporary police procedural in northern England...and a corresponding archeology thriller. Start with the exciting THE MERCHANT's HOUSE.

And Ann Cleeves third Shetland Island mystery is RED BONES about a archeology dig on Whalsay...one of the smaller Shetlands. Cleeves tells us that RED BONES will be the first of her SI QUARTET to be filmed.

Jane

Dana Cameron writes a series in which her protagonist is an archaeology professor at a small Northeastern college.

You may want to try the Body Farm series by Jefferson Bass. Here is a link to my review of the latest in the series, The Inquisitor's Key http://e135-abookaweek.blogspot.com/2...

Lyn Hamilton writes archaeological mysteries. I've read The Orkney Scroll so far and enjoyed it. I'm currently reading A Long Way to Shiloh by Lionel Davidson, which is about the search for the original Menorah and is a reasonable adventure, thriller.

I definitely second Karlene's recommendation of Steve Berry's The Amber Room after reading about Catherine of Russia's Amber Room...theft in 1941 by the Germans and disappearance in 1944 from Konisberg. Berry's an interesting writer and his The Romanov Prophecy is a great take on the Anastasia story........except it's more about her brother Alexi. Not archeology....I know!

Jane

I'm zipping through The Inquisitor's Key right now. It's the first of the "Body Farm" series I've read and I understand it is quite a departure in setting but the history / archaeology of Avignon is very interesting.

Donna wrote: "I'm zipping through The Inquisitor's Key right now. It's the first of the "Body Farm" series I've read and I understand it is quite a departure in setting but the history / archaeology of Avignon i..."

It was my first in the series as well. I think the others in the series are more procedural thrillers, but this one is definitely worth the read.

Hi, everyone.

I am new to the group. I saw this post and had to chime in since I write (and read!) archaeological thrillers. :) I find Mary Anna Evans' books very thought-provoking and well written: Mary Anna Evans

Looking forward to the discussion!

D.J. Niko

Just *discovered* a new to me author writing archaeological thrillers and started my first book by him, which is apparently the second in a series.

The Ice Cap and the Rift

So far, an interesting setting (Iceland) and an unusually large cast of characters, with multiple governments involved, each with their own agenda.

There's an archaelogical bent in Martin Walker's The Crowded Grave which I recently enjoyed.

I just finished Lincoln Child's newest thriller, The Third Gate. It delves beneath the surface to ancient Egypt, complete with a new twist on an old curse. It's not his best, but I find all his books entertaining and enlightening. A quick read. I also recommend books by Douglas Preston, Child's sometimes writing partner. I've started James Rollins' newest, Bloodline.

Have you come across this one? The 13th Tablet -http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13...
by archaeologist Alex Mitchell, which has an archaeologist as its heroine!

You could check . It's not recent book, but was a good read..

you could try an English author Kate Ellis - she has a detective who happens to be black in a small seaside town in England. He is an archeology graduate and his best friend from uni is working locally as an archeologist. Needless to say their worlds often collide as modern day crime and historical crimes are discovered sided by side - great series - its the Wesley Petersen series.

Perhaps you may like Elly Griffiths. Her books are short and sweet. And she's a very comfortable read.
Here's what a top Amazon reviewer z hayes had to say about Elly's first archeology mystery, THE CROSSING PLACES:

The Crossing Places" has an unusual setting, that of a desolate saltmarsh in the east of England. The protagonist is an almost 40-year-old overweight,single, and loner archaeologist, Ruth Galloway, who lectures in forensic archaeology at the University of North Norfolk. Ruth seems content to be living in a cottage near the marshland, much to the chagrin of her parents. The story takes off when Det. Chief Insp. Harry Nelson calls upon Ruth's expertise in identifying remains found in the marsh, hoping that a decade old cold case, involving the disappearance of a child will be solved. The site of the remains is the same place Ruth had excavated one summer ten years earlier. When the remains are identified as being from the Iron Age, DCI Nelson is frustrated, especially since he has received strange hints in the form of letters about the missing child's whereabouts. When another child disappears, Ruth finds herself becoming deeply embroiled in the case, even as the people of that past summer resurface in her life.

The story is refreshing and engaging, and Ruth makes an interesting protagonist. The interaction between Ruth and DCI Nelson is also a highlight of the novel. There are some nice twists here, and I admit I was hooked. I look forward to reading more stories featuring Ruth Galloway...

Kari wrote: "I recently read Artifacts. It had a nice arch background both legal and illegal. "

I've read this and the 2nd in the series as well, enjoyed them both.

Janebbooks,thanks for the info on The Crossing Place.It sounds like a interesting read and I have never heard of the author.I always keep a pen and paper by my side so I can write down the books I want to read and their author, it helps me when I'm buying books.

I just finished that one, and it was good. I'm looking forward to reading more in the series.

Not really a mystery, but worth a mention I think as it is such a great book: Cold Earth and it is set during an archeological dig.

In the Woods, by Tana French, is set at an archaeological dig.

Here's one that's a new breed to me that falls under this: The Philo Thriller.

I recently had G.M. Lawrence on my blog with his debut philo-thriller Q: Awakening (on my TBR!). It's an international thriller about the lost Christian gospel called Q – for the German word “quelle,” the source – and the man whose destiny is intertwined with it. Crosses continents and delves into ancient artifacts.

I'm fascinated by the promise of it...so see if it's up your alley here:
http://blog.donnagalanti.com/wp/g-m-l...

Hi if you havent already read them Beverly Connor has written some excellent archeological books. I personally love the Diane Fallon series, but have been told the Lindsay Chamberlain series is also very good, hope this helps enjoy.

Clare wrote: "Hi if you havent already read them Beverly Connor has written some excellent archeological books. I personally love the Diane Fallon series, but have been told the Lindsay Chamberlain series is als..."

I also enjoy the Beverly Connor books, both series. In fact, I need to go look for a new book. Thanks for reminding me about her.

Theresa wrote: "I'm a big fan of archaeological thrillers. Has anyone come across any great reads that would fall under this category lately?"

Tony Hillerman's "Thieves of Time" and several others set in New Mexico's tribal reservations are must reads. . .

correction on that to "A Thief of Time."

I think the Matthew Reilly series featuring Jack West Jr would qualify, there are 3 in the series,





They're Indiana Jones like but with more action and a team of characters.

Janebbooks wrote: "Perhaps you may like Elly Griffiths. Her books are short and sweet. And she's a very comfortable read.


I've really enjoyed her books. I think she has a third one out now that I haven't read. Ruth Galloway is a strong protagonist--no cookie-cutter character there.

Carrie wrote: "I've really enjoyed her books. I think she has a third one out now that..."

I really enjoyed the first book. The relationship/triangle plus pregnancy situation in the second book seemed to take over too much of the mystery and so far I haven't been motivated enough to try the third book although I think my library has it.

Sharon wrote:
I really enjoyed the first book. The relationship/triangle plus pregnancy situation in the second book seemed to take over too much of the mystery"

That's true. It was a bit distracting from the main action.

Glenn Meade The Second Messiah

I am going to have to check out some of these books!!! I see already that there will be additions to my tbr list....which seems to have taken on a life of it's own! :)

Have you read Erin Hart's books?

Erin Hart's fictional Irish archeologist Cormac Maguire is a favorite of mine. Maguire works with American pathologist Nora Gavin exploring peat bog mysteries in Western Ireland..

Start with Haunted Ground.

Jane

I am on my 4th book A Dying Fallabout the forensic archeologist Ruth Galloway in a series written by Elly GriffithsElly Griffiths. I read the first 3 and have the audiobook of the 4th. I would highly recommend reading rather than listening to the series as I really dislike the narrator (at least on the latest).

Got to try Erin Hart and move away from forensics.