The Mask of Atreus
ISBN:
978-0425209134
Deborah Miller's worst days tend to involve little more than
negotiating the petty politics surrounding the small Atlanta museum
she runs, until she discovers the body of her friend and mentor
and--almost as shocking--a secret room stocked with priceless
artifacts from ancient Greece.
One of those artifacts--a five thousand year old gold death mask--is
missing. Convinced that finding it will unravel the mystery of her
mentor's death, and equally convinced that the investigating
authorities cannot be trusted, Deborah flies to Greece, pursuing a
trail which intertwines some of the most famous excavations of the
ancient world with the fall of Berlin in 1945.
Forging cautious alliances, and relying on her wit and sense of
history, Deborah moves from one lethal predicament to another
pursuing clues, increasingly convinced that the secret behind the
mask is far darker and more dangerous than she had ever suspected.
The Mask of Atreus, which will be published by Berkley (Penguin) in
the USA and by numerous other publishers worldwide in April 2006, is
both a thoughtful mystery and a fast moving thriller full of
adventure and deception.
Extract from The Mask of Atreus, from the Prologue:
Mulligrew swung himself up, climbing over the
young German who had held them off with a machine pistol until they
had riddled the truck with .30 caliber rounds.
Inside was a single large crate, stenciled with a German eagle and
swastika. He took the pick from the side of his tank, worked it
under the top of the box, and leant his weight on it until the pine
splintered and tore. Mulligrew heaved it aside and then stood quite
still, staring in silence.
What the Hell?
“What is it, Andrew?” said Morris. “What do you see?”
“I don’t know,” said Mulligrew, his voice hoarse with puzzlement,
even fear. “I don’t know. Pretty wild stuff.”
The story proper begins half a century
later in Atlanta, Georgia...
"Rich with historical and archeological detail, this
well-constructed debut from Hartley celebrates the power of legend
while delivering an engrossing mystery that skips nimbly between
continents and cultures... Hartley has created an enduring heroine
in Deborah, who’s courageous, loyal and smart enough to learn from
her mistakes. Although it’s unclear whether there are more
adventures in Deborah’s future, this intricate and absorbing
thriller augurs well for Hartley’s career."
- Publishers Weekly