Monday, July 31, 2006

The Mask of Atreus by A.J. Hartley

The story starts with the 761st Tank Battalion patrolling a road just south of World War II Berlin. A powerful German tank column is heading their way. After the battle, the American victors inspect what the tanks had been protecting: a truck with one crate. Andrew Mulligrew, a tank commander, takes a look at the contents. Astounded, he orders his driner to call the MP's. In modern day Atlanta, Deborah Miller is at a museum fundraiser. She is there because she is the curator. After a long night, Deborah begins to drive home. Following a disturbing phone call, she returns to the Druid Hills museum and finds her mentor and museum owner, Richard Dixon dead from several strange wounds. When the mysterious caller asks if they took the body, Deborah hides under Richard's bed and watches him come and then leaves. When she returns to her apartment after being questioned by the police, Deborah senses an intruder after the police don't believe her and Keene voices his concerns about Cerniga, Deborah flees to Greece. There she makes some stunning conclusions about Richard and a dark secret. Soon she fights for her life and tries to piece together a mysterious conspiracy.

I found this book to be exciting and gripping at times. However, some parts can be a little a slow and boring. The good outweighs the bad, though, and this book can be hard to put down once you get into the plot. Mystery and suspence fans will especially enjoy this novel. In my opinion, A.J. Hartley is an excellent novelist.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Chambersburg, Pennsylvania The United States of America