The Mask of Atreus
by
A.J. Hartley
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