2012: The Secret of the Crystal Skull [Paperback]

Chris Morton (Author), Ceri Louise Thomas (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 28, 2009

Archaeologist Laura Shepherd is working late one night when she finds her colleague Ron Smith dead clutching a mysterious crystal skull. With police unable to answer key questions about his death, Laura's boss orders her to investigate the mystery. The skull leads Laura to its eccentric previous owner, an old woman whose shock revelation blows Laura's orderly world apart. When a laser test on the skull etches out the cryptic code 1221201212212012 Laura's scientist husband thinks he has stumbled upon the next generation of computer technology. Wanting to know more, he visits the old woman only to find chilling evidence she was involved in Ron's death and now has designs on Laura. Yet when Laura narrowly avoids a fatal accident she is convinced it was the old lady's words that saved her - but returns only to find the old woman dead. With no other leads to go on, Laura sets out on a dangerous mission - to an ancient Mayan temple surrounded by armed guards - determined to unlock the skull's secret, whatever the cost.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

AN ANCIENT PROPHECY, A DEADLY SECRET, AND ONLY ONE WOMAN WHO CAN SAVE THE WORLD.

When archaeologist Dr Laura Shepherd discovers her colleague dead clutching a mysterious crystal skull, she is catapulted into a shadowy world of strange omens, psychic phenomena and cryptic codes.

Her quest for the truth leads her to risk her career, her marriage, and even her life.

Whe she learns of a terrifying prophecy for the year 2012, she sets off on a dangerous mission, to an ancient Mayan temple buried deep in the rainforest, surrounded by armed guards - determined to unlock the skull's secret, whatever the cost.

What the critics said about the authors' last book: 'Excellent...Fascinating' - The Mail on Sunday (UK) 'This book reads like an Indiana Jones adventure tale. Seldom has a recounting of archaeological research resulted in such a fascinating, fun, but ultimately terrifying read.' Janet Brennan for Fate Magazine (USA)

Chris Morton and Ceri Louise Thomas are independent film-makers and environmental campaigners as well as writers. Their last book has sold over 100,000 copies and been translated into 15 languages.

About the Author

Chris Morton and Ceri Louise Thomas are independent film-makers and environmental campaigners as well as writers. Their last book has sold over 100,000 copies and been translated into 15 languages.

Product Details

• Paperback: 431 pages
• Publisher: Axis Mundi Books (October 28, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1846943469
• ISBN-13: 978-1846943461
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,100,773 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #65 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Religious & Inspirational > Visionary Fiction

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Better than Dan Brown!, July 27, 2010

By 

The Literary Critic - See all my reviews

This review is from: 2012: The Secret of the Crystal Skull (Paperback)

I loved this book. I thought it was even better than Dan Brown - a gripping thrilling read, exceptional. Actually it was a bit like 'Indiana Jones meets the Da Vinci Code' but far more thoughtful sensitive and intelligent than either. An archaeological detective story and a dark supernatural thriller about what might happen in only a couple of years time, if the ancient Mayan prophecies turn out to be true.

I also understand, from an interview with the authors which I just read in an exclusive magazine [...] that this novel actually began life as a screenplay a number of years ago and effectively prompted both the Indiana Jones movie about crystal skulls and the recent Roland Emmerich blockbuster '2012'. It seems that each originally got their inspiration from this great story but the book is far better than either of them - so read on and enjoy!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An exciting thriller that's worth the read, February 15, 2010

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 2012: The Secret of the Crystal Skull (Paperback)

The most skeptical will remain skeptical until it's too late. "2012: The Secret of the Crystal Skull" tells the tale of Laura Shepherd, doctor of archeology who finds a peer dead holding a crystal skull. 2012's prophecies begin to become all the more real for Laura but her knowledge may sentence her to a death long before the date even arrives. "2012" is an exciting thriller that's worth the read.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dr. Shepherd could be a film rival for the great Dr. Indiana Jones, February 9, 2010

By 

Charles Ashbacher (Marion, Iowa United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: 2012: The Secret of the Crystal Skull (Paperback)

There is nothing better than a dire prediction by a society that was essentially wiped out centuries ago to generate interest, angst and serve as the basis of a good story. Translations, especially of languages that dramatically vanished rather than evolved out of existence, tend to be subject to interpretive license. If you doubt this, go to a library, pick out two copies of "The Iliad" by separate translators and start reading for comparison. The current dire prediction of interest is by the ancient Mayans, where they give the date and time of the end of the Earth as December 21, 2012.

Many years earlier, a young woman climbed a Mayan pyramid and entered a chamber that contained a crystal in the form of a skull. The crystal is a portal to the dimension of the dead where the designated person(s) can have their consciousness enter the crystal and communicate with the dead. Time has no meaning there so the dead, happy in their new existence, can see the future.

The crystal skull ends up in the possession of archeologist Ron Smith and unfortunately, it leads to his mysterious death. Fellow archeologist Laura Shepherd discovers the body and the crystal clutched in his hand. This is the starting point of an adventure that takes her to the ancient Mayan lands of Central America and then on an even greater journey into the deeper reality of existence.

In her search for understanding, Laura is forced to battle corporate greed, mercenaries, the harsh jungle environment and her own doubts as she races against time to learn the secrets of the crystal skull so that she can avert global catastrophe. The action is often fast, furious and Laura proves extremely resourceful as she relentlessly pursues the secrets of the crystal skull.

This is a very entertaining story of ancient mysteries with applications to the modern world. I personally do not know how accurately the authors follow the ancient Mayan predictions but don't really care as they turned it into an enjoyable tale of adventure.