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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Hair-Raising Tale, September 20, 2000
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."
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A good read, September 10, 2000
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
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Join the Expedition, January 11, 2002
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.
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