Gold In the Shadow [Paperback]

Michael Marcotte (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 30, 2000

It was outright lunacy, Rachel realized. A Peruvian expedition, based on a Moroccan map, to find a fabled city that almost certainly did not exist. A destination smack in the middle of some of the most inhospitable territory that Mother Nature had to offer. Poison darts, bushmaster serpents, vampire bats, unknown creatures straight from a nightmare...and Rachels missing twin. Despite the drawbacks, she had to get to her twin as soon as possible. Only ancient myths and native legends hint at the fantastic secret Rachel is about to unlock.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Michael Marcotte is a globetrotting amateur anthropologist with abackground in computer systems management, interpreting and crim-inalinvestigation. He holds a second degree black belt in Taekwondo,and is an avid Scuba diver. He has authored several magazine articlesand is at work on a second novel. He lives in Norman, Oklahoma withhis wife and two children.

Product Details

• Paperback: 376 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse (April 30, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595094147
• ISBN-13: 978-0595094141
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,845,047 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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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 A Hair-Raising Tale, September 20, 2000

By 

Bonnie Toews "Heart Tugs ... at the crossroad... (Newcastle, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Gold In the Shadow (Paperback)

The setting of "Gold in the Shadow" is exotic, fraught with the natural dangers of dense South American jungles. Plus lost treasures and historical puzzles. Author Michael Marcotte uses his knowledge of anthropology to create an adventure that is so thrilling you can't put the book down. Instead of pitting man against nature, however, he introduces Rachel, a short, slim anthropologist with mismatching eyes. She's a heroine whom readers, whether men or women, feel comfortable with because of her flaws rather than her virtue. She's courageous and honest, yet refreshingly vulnerable. Her only reason for flying to Peru is to find her lost twin brother, a cargo pilot whose plane has crashed near the border of Bolivia. Once she arrives in Cuzco, an unscrupulous treasure seeker dupes her into believing that he will help her find her brother's downed plane if she will join his expedition as his interpreter. In the perilous journey to follow, this man's greed endangers everyone, and only Rachel's knowledge of ancient myths and native legends helps her unlock the secret to their survival. In his debut novel, Michael Marcotte proves he is a master storyteller far more credible than Clive Cussler. His authentic details bring his adventurous tale to life, and like an ancient fable, the reader comes away with a far greater gift than the gold treasure sought in the story. It is the wisdom found in "Gold in the Shadow."

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good read, September 10, 2000

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Gold In the Shadow (Paperback)

Oklahoma anthropologist Rachel Carson Aguila worries about her twin brother Kenny, a pilot, whose plane allegedly went down somewhere in the Peruvian side of the Amazon Jungle. Having spent some time there amidst the local populations, Rachel knows first hand how dangerous the beautiful terrain and its people can be to an outsider. Unable to patiently sit back when her only living relative is in danger, Rachel flies to Peru to encourage local search missions.

In Peru, American Egyptologist Dr. Harold Gallagher recognizes Rachel from her university days. He informs his expedition leader Max Arnold that she may be the only white person in the world who speaks Yaminhua, a local Indian dialect. Max realizes that she is the answer to a prayer, as the expedition party desperately needs someone to talk with the dangerous Yaminhua when they enter the territory. He uses the downed plane to persuade Rachel to join his team seeking a treasure from a three-thousand-year-old map of stone found in Morocco by the jungle guide Tristan Sloan. If she wants to save her brother, the conniving Max seems her only chance, but he knows her sibling is safe in a remote area of Bolivia.

GOLD IN THE SHADOWS is an exciting anthropologic-archeological thriller that works because of the powerfully but divergent cast. The thrilling story line entertains the audience with its non-stop action. However, the tale clearly belongs to the characters including the jungle. All the key players are fully developed so readers understand their motives including the cruel mad Max. Michael Marcotte shows he is a talented author who provides fans with a gratifying novel worth reading.

Harriet Klausner

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Join the Expedition, January 11, 2002

By 

Carla V. Mathews (Chester, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gold In the Shadow (Paperback)

Michael Marcotte draws you into this adventure, and you find yourself a member of an expedition through the Madre de Dios jungle. The clever riddles and intricate puzzles tied to ancient myths and legends capture the imagination and challenge you to keep up with the group, trying to discover the secret passages that will lead you to safety. As you encounter one factastic obstacle after another, the authentic language and magnificent descriptions help blur the line between fact and fiction. I found myself wondering, "What if?" and hoping that the lost city really does exist.

Gold in the Shadow is a very rewarding read. You'll have a difficult time putting it down once you have joined the incursion to find the lost brother and the lost city.