This adventure tale set in 1925 takes
us from Seattle, Washington to Shanghai, and finally the jungles of
Cambodia. Irene Blum has always believed her future as the curator of
the Brooke Museum was assured when the present curator retired.
However, the trustees had different ideas and appointed a man with
academic credentials. Wild to prove her worth and establish her
reputation, Irene undertakes an expedition to Cambodia to find a lost
Khmer temple and bring back ten copper scrolls detailing the Khmer
history.
The expedition is financed by Henry
Simms, a wealthy collector who has been like a father to Irene. He
wants to find the scrolls before he dies of cancer. He gives her
introductions and arranges for her to meet the other members of the
expedition. At first it seems an ill assorted crew including Simone,
a drug addict, Louis, an expert on the Khmer temples, and Marc, a
nightclub owner from Shanghai. Together they head out to find the
scrolls and also end up facing their true desires.
This is a marvelous book. The author
describes Indochina so well you actually breathe in the heavily
scented air and feel the slippery sweat on your skin. The characters
are marvelous. Each of the four principles is well drawn, but Irene
is a standout as a courageous woman, capable of leading others and
finding her real strength even if it means giving up her desire for
prestige.
I highly recommend this book. The
tension will keep you reading. The plot is fascinating and not
unraveled until the very end, although the clues are provided
throughout. I didn't want it to end. In fact, the ending made me
wonder whether there will be a sequel.
I reviewed this book for the Amazon
Vine Program.
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