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lgpiper's review against another edition
4.0
My spouse gave me this book to read so as to prepare me for our trip to Chichén Itzá. I had read it before. It's an engaging book and has some interesting background on the Maya and the Chichén Itzá site, which for the most part, seems to be relatively accurate.
readerofdafuk's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
It's always nice to see old friends. I'm really glad Julie and Abe have a bigger role in this. The murder being part of Gideons backstory was interesting, tho I wish there was more skeleton analysis in this one. The mystery wasn't centered around a body, so there wasn't more "skeleton detectiving" until the very end. Still, it was an enjoyable read
nini_f's review against another edition
3.0
I found this to be an easy read. The Mayan mythology was nicely incorporated into this murder mystery. I am a fan of the skeleton detective although there wasnt as mush focus on his skeleton skills in this book as others it was still enjoyable.
mystereity's review against another edition
5.0
Gideon, struggling with writing a boring manuscript and with the cold, gray, rainy Washington weather, gets an offer he can’t refuse: a return to a disastrous Mayan dig that was scrapped years before after a scandal left an important priceless artifact missing. Invited by old friend and mentor Abe to investigate a skeleton found at the now re-opened dig, Gideon and Julie pack up and head for the Yucatán. Upon arrival, Gideon finds many of the same people from the first dig, as well as a host of new problems; an unauthorized excavation occurring surreptitiously at night where the artifact had gone missing years before, a recently translated curse that a New Age couple are convinced will come true, strange happenings, attacks and then a murder. Can Gideon unravel all the secrets before the curse comes true?
I enjoyed this one, what’s not to love about mayan ruins, archaeology, the lush rain forest, and an ancient curse? Made for an exciting read, with lots of twists and turns that kept me guessing. I would’ve loved to have seen the the sound and light show at Chichen Itza (as a gen X’er, I remember the Choose Your Own Adventure book I read 30 years ago and it brought back sooooo many memories) and you know, now that I think about it, the amazing descriptions of the locale is what helps bring these stories alive. As for the plot - dizzying. The pace never lagged, with something new popping up with every page and it really kept me guessing. In the end, the impossible to guess ending made for a satisfying read. I think this series is really hitting its stride and I look forward to the next Gideon adventure.
I enjoyed this one, what’s not to love about mayan ruins, archaeology, the lush rain forest, and an ancient curse? Made for an exciting read, with lots of twists and turns that kept me guessing. I would’ve loved to have seen the the sound and light show at Chichen Itza (as a gen X’er, I remember the Choose Your Own Adventure book I read 30 years ago and it brought back sooooo many memories) and you know, now that I think about it, the amazing descriptions of the locale is what helps bring these stories alive. As for the plot - dizzying. The pace never lagged, with something new popping up with every page and it really kept me guessing. In the end, the impossible to guess ending made for a satisfying read. I think this series is really hitting its stride and I look forward to the next Gideon adventure.
psalmcat's review against another edition
3.0
Back to the Skeleton Doctor we go. This one follows Gideon and his wife to the Yucatan area where Gideon's mentor is running a dig. This site was originally worked five years earlier but closed down because a valuable artifact was stolen by one of the archaeologists.
Soon after Gideon arrives, an ancient curse is deciphered which threatens anyone working in the area, and things begin to happen that seem to fulfill the curse. It's not until someone is murdered that the pieces of the puzzle begin to coalesce into a coherent whole.
Unfortunately, one of the big pieces of the puzzle, one that is uncovered (literally) late in the story, is telegraphed very early and I spent much of the book muttering about how stupid the characters were for not guessing the right answer.
Not one of the best of the series, although I really liked the Mexican police officer.
Soon after Gideon arrives, an ancient curse is deciphered which threatens anyone working in the area, and things begin to happen that seem to fulfill the curse. It's not until someone is murdered that the pieces of the puzzle begin to coalesce into a coherent whole.
Unfortunately, one of the big pieces of the puzzle, one that is uncovered (literally) late in the story, is telegraphed very early and I spent much of the book muttering about how stupid the characters were for not guessing the right answer.
Not one of the best of the series, although I really liked the Mexican police officer.
canada_matt's review against another edition
3.0
Elkins takes the readers on yet another international adventure with Dr. Gideon, this time down to Mexico. When invited to work on a dig by his long-time mentor, Gideon and his wife rush down to Mexico to work on excavating the ruins of a temple and its inhabitants. Mystery surrounds the site, as one of the previous workers is said to have stolen an important codex and simply disappeared years before. When Gideon is attacked and a letter warning him to leave does not do the trick, the 'gods' begin wreaking havoc on him and harming those at the site. With a murder and the discovery of a set of bones at the dig site, Gideon must determine who is behind all this before he becomes the ultimate victim and the gods get their final revenge. An interesting read for the series fan, but perhaps not one best used to coax new admirers.
I found the book dragged in its opening half, so much so that I put it down on my holiday and tried to refocus myself. When I returned, I dove right in and sped through to the end, more to find out what happened than due to the excellent prose. The story is tepid, but the 'teachable moments' are surely well done. Nothing as exciting as a Jefferson Bass or Simon Beckett novel (or Reichs for that matter), all of the same genre, but a good read. Taking in its chronological context, Elkins does a good job of keeping the reader entertained.
Good job Dr. Elkins. Not your best work, but a decent approach to keep the series moving.
I found the book dragged in its opening half, so much so that I put it down on my holiday and tried to refocus myself. When I returned, I dove right in and sped through to the end, more to find out what happened than due to the excellent prose. The story is tepid, but the 'teachable moments' are surely well done. Nothing as exciting as a Jefferson Bass or Simon Beckett novel (or Reichs for that matter), all of the same genre, but a good read. Taking in its chronological context, Elkins does a good job of keeping the reader entertained.
Good job Dr. Elkins. Not your best work, but a decent approach to keep the series moving.
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