The Mask of Atreus [Paperback]

A. J. Hartley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 4, 2006

An obscure museum's dead proprietor lies in a secret room surrounded by one of the world's most astonishing collections of Greek antiquities. Only a priceless Mycenaean death mask has been taken, along with the bones of a legendary hero thought to exist only in ancient myth. Looted by the Nazis, the treasures are still being sought by those whose dreams of glory remain undefeated.

The mask is an unparalleled discovery that will be a force for devastating retribution in the wrong hands. But by the time museum curator Deborah Miller learns the truth, it may be too late not only to save herself--but to reveal to the world the awesome secret she's uncovered.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

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. At the heart of the story is Atlanta museum curator Deborah Miller, who's returning home after a successful exhibit when she receives a cryptic call telling her she needs to go back to the museum. Deborah does so only to find her friend, museum owner Richard Dixon, lying dead amid a cache of possibly priceless artifacts. Why was Richard hiding them? And, most importantly, what item from the stash was worth killing for? At first, Deborah believes the missing item to be a Mycenean death mask, but after exploratory trips to Greece and Russia and multiple attempts on her life, Deborah begins to suspect that the object in question is more powerful than a mere mask. 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. (Apr.)
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Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Berkley; First Edition edition (April 4, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 042520913X
• ISBN-13: 978-0425209134
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (53 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #834,692 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

As you will have gathered, I write a number of different kinds of book, because I love to read in a variety of genres. I have a number of projects in the pipeline, so keep your eyes open for new material.

I'm a Shakespeare Professor at UNC Charlotte, and though my Ph.D. was in literature I specialize in performance history and theory. You can reach me through my website, facebook and twitter. I'm always delighted to hear what people think of my work. Enjoy!

AJH

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good thriller with a great main character, May 14, 2006

By 

Genevieve M. Ellerbee (Alexandria, Virginia, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Mask of Atreus (Paperback)

I enjoy archeological/historical thrillers very much, but unfortunatly many of the ones out there are plagued with shoddy characterization, and really poor plotting. I was very glad to pick up this book, and discover not only a fast-moving story, but a female lead who is genuinely tough-minded in a very realistic way. She doesn't spend the book as a sidekick, a damsel in distress, or a mere decoration while an Indiana-Jones type does all the heavy lifting, and that's something I really cherish.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Intrigue and Suspense, April 6, 2006

By 

A. Net. (England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Mask of Atreus (Paperback)

'The mask of Atreus' is one of those rare mystery novels that combines an exciting story line, rich in history and archaelogical detail with a quality of writing which is a joy to read. The book is an extremely accessible read without being patronising and the chapters move in a sharply paced style.
Gradually the reader is drawn into this intriguing novel and kept guessing.
The characters are well delineated and believable, whilst the plot has many twists and turns building up tension and suspense and the compulsion to keep turning the pages.
To say more would spoil the mystery. Read and enjoy!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pretty good first attempt, February 1, 2007

By 

Lance Ortiz (Colorado) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Mask of Atreus (Paperback)

The Mask of Atreus was a slightly above average suspense thriller. It was an easy, fast read that was well written despite a few things that should have been found by the editor. The plotting was done well and the story moved along at a good pace. The historical and archeological parts of the story were very interesting going back from ancient Greece to WWII.

Some of the characters seemed kind of under used like Marcus who was an interesting character, but never really did much to add to the story. Also characters did some things that one would not expect to be natural in a given situation. Like one minute one character is holding the other at gunpoint and the next they are having lunch and going shopping. The main character was a little hard to relate to and like, since she did a lot of things that were kind of boneheaded and off the books. She also really felt sorry for her self and kept reminding us. "A guy like that would never be interested in a girl like me..." and so forth and so on.

All in all this was a fun read and a good effort for a first book, but it was nothing special. But I do look forward to Hartley's next book.