Reviewed by: BigAl
Genre: Mystery
Approximate word count: 110-115,000 words
Availability
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Author:
“Mr.
Parkinson is a former Air Force avionics
technician, a decorated veteran of the Persian Gulf War and several United
Nations peacekeeping missions. He has lived overseas in numerous countries and travels
extensively. He has written a newspaper column on computers and been published
in several magazines.”
For more,
visit Parkinson’s website.
Description:
“The golden
burial mask of Tutankhamun was the most famous archaeological discovery of the
20th century. When it is stolen from the guarded hold of a cargo ship in the
middle of the Atlantic Ocean, the impact of the crime threatens to destroy
everything in one man’s life.
Stephen
Anderson is living a lie. A former Sergeant in the French Foreign Legion, he
deserted after witnessing the murder of a fellow legionnaire at the hands of
senior officers. After faking his death in the Algerian desert, Anderson
believes he is safe but must maintain a low profile to avoid detection. He
began a new life as an investigator for a large US insurance company, letting
others take credit for the items he retrieves.
Anderson is
assigned as lead investigator by his insurance company to locate Tutankhamun’s
burial mask. The theft results in intense international press coverage,
threatening to expose his hidden past. An attempt was made on his life
immediately before the theft. Were the thieves trying to improve their odds of
success, or is someone from his earlier life seeking revenge?”
Appraisal:
Mask of the Pharaoh is a clever mystery based on one of
the timeless tropes of the genre, a variation on the locked room mystery. The
lead character, Stephen Anderson, combines the deductive skills of Sherlock
Holmes with the style of TV’s Remington Steele, and an air of mystery, made
necessary by a secret past. The story is fast-paced; the mystery, complex (I
had no idea how the crime was accomplished, and just a glimmer of who did it,
before the solution was revealed). The story rang true, at least partially due
to the author’s extensive research, made evident in the notes at the end.
Lovers of a good mystery should find Mask
of the Pharaoh an excellent choice.
This is the
first of a series, with at least two other books planned. Events near the end
of this book appear to set up the next in the series. I can easily see the
Stephen Anderson character along with his sidekicks as the basis for a long
series. I’m eager for more.
Format/Typo Issues:
No
significant issues.
Rating: **** Four
stars
1 comment:
WTG Mr. Parkinson. I knew this would get a rave review. Can't wait to read the next one. I enjoyed this one very much.
jlynn
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