Thriller novels about lost relics and historical mysteries
Over the last year or so, as I finalized the manuscript for The Heir of Achilles, I looked for other action adventure / thriller / mystery novels with similar subject matter for inspiration and entertainment. Here are a few of my favorites.
THE HISTORIAN by Elizabeth Kostova
This was the one I was most excited to read. It got a lot of hype when it came out in 2005 due to the popularity of another modern thriller rooted in ancient historical mysteries - The Da Vinci Code. The Historian, however, is a very different kind of book. It’s definitely a slower build (which I prefer) and the writing is leagues above most offerings in this genre. The descriptions of various European cities are stunning, and the general gothic atmosphere of the book makes for a fun reading experience (I listened to the audiobook, which is excellent). My only complaint is that the payoff didn’t live up to the buildup. But fans of suspense, vampire stories and eastern European history and folklore will really enjoy this book.
THE GHOST MANUSCRIPT by Kris Frieswick
You can’t dive into ancient mysteries without encountering legends of perhaps the most famous mythological ruler of all: King Arthur. In The Ghost Manuscript, a rare book expert named Carys Jones sets out on a European investigation involving clues associated with Arthur, who may have been far more real than historians believed. I enjoyed the main character, Carys, and the writing (and audiobook production) are top notch. The resolution of the novel was a bit peculiar - and highly controversial based on internet commentary - but my time with The Ghost Manuscript was enjoyable and intriguing.
THE ANTIKYTHERA CODE by Andrew Clawson
Before diving into Andrew Clawson’s latest novel The Antikythera Code (#8 in the Harry Fox series), I started with the first Harry Fox story - The Arthurian Relic (a great audiobook by the way) - to get a sense of the character and series. Fox is a Pakistani-American with a specialty in finding valuable relics on behalf of the Italian mob. His profession sends him on the trail of some legendary mysteries involving history’s most famous figures (I was excited to find connections to Alexander the Great and Aristotle). The writing and storytelling in both Relic and Code is fast-paced and cinematic - tailor-made for fans of the Indiana Jones and National Treasure franchises. I also appreciated the extensive author’s note at the end of the books, where Clawson explains in detail which elements of the story are truly historical and where he took creative liberties. The Antikythera Code (and the Harry Fox series as a whole) is perfect for readers looking for edge-of-the-seat entertainment with imagination.
CONGO by Michael Crichton
My all-time favorite thriller writer, Michael Crichton, puts his own spin on the lost civilization genre (and specifically, King Solomon’s Mines, listed below). In Congo, a group of scientists and explorers set off into the most remote and unforgiving jungles of Africa, searching for diamonds and the (fictional) lost city of Zinj.
Congo is probably the most sci-fi of any books on this list, and incorporates various new and theoretical technologies into the story. Like many Crichton novels, it blends genres, mixing historical, political, and scientific intrigue into a fun story. It’s not as innovative or intellectually stimulating as Crichton’s Jurassic Park or Sphere, but Congo is still one of my favorite adventure books. It’s also far better than the film it inspired.
KING SOLOMON’S MINES by Sir H. Rider Haggard
By far the oldest novel of this list (1885), King Solomon’s Mines is a classic that helped birth the “lost world” genre of adventure stories. Inspired in part by Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island, the story centers around a group of explorers who set out into a largely unknown region of Africa, where they encounter a variety of life-threatening situations. The straightforward, documentary style of writing makes it all seem especially realistic. I listened to the audiobook at night and had to pause on multiple occasions because it was getting too scary. This is simply a must-read for anyone interested in lost civilizations and treasure hunts.
