08 December 2015

Today's Read & Giveaway: The Bone Hunters by Robert J. Mrazek

The Bone Hunters by Robert J. MrazekWhat if you had the chance to solve one of the biggest mysteries in the field of physical anthropology / paleoanthropology? Would you get involved? How about if you were putting your life in danger? For General (Retired) Steve Macaulay and archaeologist Lexy Vaughan, the answer is easy. They're on board, no matter the risk.

He came awake to the gaunt, beaming face of Carlos leaning over his hospital bed. Macaulay only wished it had been the face he had seen when he was regaining consciousness on the beach. Had Lexy been there or had it been delirium?

Macaulay's head was throbbing, but it wasn't from a hangover. He reached up with his left hand and felt the bandage on his forehead. He remembered slamming into the steering wheel when the Goose hit the water.
The Bone Hunters by Robert J. Mrazek (Signet, 2015, p. 82)

Quick Facts
  • Setting: various places around the world; mostly modern times, with a few flashbacks to the 1940s
  • Circumstances: In 1941, the original fossilized bones of the Homo erectus specimen known as Peking Man were boxed for transport to the United States for safe keeping. The bones presumably left China, but were never seen again. In modern times in China, a grass-roots cult forms around the lost fossil, prompting the Chinese government to up its efforts to find and destroy Peking Man. Meanwhile, Steve, Lexy, and U.S. officials team up, determined to locate the famous fossil before it is truly lost forever.
  • Characters: Steve Macaulay, retired air force general; Alexandra Vaughan, well-respected archaeologist; Barnaby Finchem, Lexy's mentor; various U.S. agents and officials; bad guys in China and Germany; other friends and enemies around the world
  • Genre & themes: action / adventure, mystery, international politics, China, paleoanthropology
  • Why I want to read this: I read the first Macaulay-Vaughan book, Valhalla, and loved the action, the mystery, and the archaeological aspects to the story. Plus it involved Vikings! Steve and Lexy have a good chemistry and their skills complement each other. I have a doctorate in physical anthropology, so reading The Bone Hunters is a given.
  • Things to know: The story of the missing Peking Man specimen is true. Indeed the bones were lost in 1941 while en route to New York. What happened to the fossil has remained a mystery ever since. Mrazek includes an Author's Note with a brief history of the discovery of Peking Man and its disappearance. The fictionalized adventure story promises to be pure fun. Think Indian Jones, but without the hat and whip.
Valhalla by Robert J. MrazekThe Giveaway

Thanks to the nice people at Penguin Random House, I'm happy to be able to offer one of my readers with a U.S. mailing address not only a copy of Robert J. Mrazek's The Bone Hunters (published on December 1) but also a copy of the first Steve Macualay-Alexandra Vaughan book, Valhalla. (These books are perfect for holiday escape reading!) All you have to do to be entered for a chance to win the two books is to fill out the following form. I'll pick a winner, via a random number generator, on December 18. Once the winner has been confirmed and I've passed the name and address along to the publisher, I'll erase all personal information from my computer. Good luck!

16 comments:

(Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea 12/8/15, 7:39 AM  

Probably not for me, but hope you enjoy it.

Sarah (Sarah's Book Shelves) 12/8/15, 8:30 AM  

I'm not sure this is up my alley, although I do like the fact that the bones going missing is actually true.

Unknown 12/8/15, 8:36 AM  

Would love to read this!!
Thanks for sharing, here is mine
http://www.girl-who-reads.com/2015/12/review-nerd-by-cambria-herbert.html?m=1

sherry fundin 12/8/15, 8:45 AM  

Sounds good to me. Thanks for the giveaway.
sherry @ fundinmental

bermudaonion 12/8/15, 9:08 AM  

Sounds complicated but good!

Monica's Bookish Life 12/8/15, 11:38 AM  

This is not something I'd normally read, but it sounds good. I like the opening, so I'd keep reading.

Laurel-Rain Snow 12/8/15, 11:52 AM  

This one does sound fascinating...thanks for sharing, and for visiting my blog.

I like the mysterious aspects of the book....

I am reminded of other books in which bones are studied.

Literary Feline 12/8/15, 12:03 PM  

This sounds really intriguing. The tie in to Peking Man has me especially curious. I think after I finish my Holiday-themed books this season,
I will be ready for something more tense and action packed.

Margot 12/8/15, 12:25 PM  

I don't know about this one. I like your set-up to the first paragraph, but then it didn't really grab me. Maybe, a few more pages?

Cathy 12/8/15, 12:30 PM  

Sounds an interesting mix of genres and themes.

Sandra Nachlinger 12/8/15, 12:48 PM  

I'm definitely interested in books that involve archaeology, so this one is going on my TBR list right now. Thank you for introducing me to this author and for stopping by my blog today.
Sandy @ TEXAS TWANG

rhonda 12/8/15, 5:33 PM  

These are new to me both sound very interesting.

Cleopatra Loves Books 12/9/15, 12:32 AM  

I do like that this book is based on a real lost artefact, it certainly sounds interesting - thanks for sharing.

karen 12/9/15, 2:46 AM  

I loved Valhalla so I'll definitely be getting this!

Nise' 12/9/15, 1:18 PM  

Not a book I would normally choose, but I find myself intrigued.

Daryl 12/11/15, 9:18 AM  

so, i think i read a review of this in the NYT BR .. its one i want to read for sure .. thanks!

Thanks for stopping by. I read all comments and may respond here, via e-mail, or on your blog. I visit everyone who comments, but not necessarily right away.

I cannot turn off word verification, but if you are logged into Blogger you can ignore the captcha. I have set posts older than 14 days to be on moderation. I can no longer accept anonymous comments. I'm so sorry if this means you have to register or if you have trouble commenting.

Copyright

All content and photos (except where noted) copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads 2008-2020. All rights reserved.

Quantcast

Thanks!

To The Blogger Guide, Blogger Buster, Tips Blogger, Our Blogger Templates, BlogU, and Exploding Boy for the code for customizing my blog. To Old Book Illustrations for my ID photo. To SEO for meta-tag analysis. To Blogger Widgets for the avatars in my comments and sidebar gadgets. To Review of the Web for more gadgets. To SuziQ from Whimpulsive for help with my comments section. To Cool Tricks N Tips for my Google +1 button.

Quick Linker

Services

SEO

  © Blogger template Coozie by Ourblogtemplates.com 2008

Back to TOP