One Clear Dot

Mystery is hot right now. Or, rather, mystery is a hot genre in literature right now. When I browse the new releases at the bookstore or the library, I have been noticing that more and more of the popular books are mystery novels, most in a series format. A lot of them employ elements of the supernatural, ancient cultures, religious traditions, or multicultural jet setting.

Now, I am a voracious reader I generally have three books going at once and I go through an average of 5 books a week, sometimes more. Actually, often more. So, I am constantly on the lookout for authors I have not yet read, especially in the science fiction or mystery genres. Tim Madden is an author who actually used to write science fiction and has now moved over to the mystery arena. I like that mix.

Madden has a new book called The Bruja’s Tale. The homepage for the book describes it as being chock full of “Mayan witchcraft, sex, and murder.”  Are you intrigued yet?

When I was reading about the author and the book, I was particularly taken by his comments about modern, daily life in Guatemala. He basically says that it resembles the wild west of the United States in the last century, complete with the overall cowboys and Indians way of life.

A young man named Tomas is asked by his uncle, who is the chief of police in a small town, to help investigate two mysterious deaths. Them the uncle is also killed and Tomas find himself swept up into the ministrations of a Mayan bruja (witch). Characters struggle with whether what they are experiencing are dreams, or genuine spiritual experiences where they travel to the underworld. There is intrigue and even a surprise ending.

You can buy the book through the author’s website: thebrujastale.com. Trust me, this sounds like a perfect summer beach read.

Posted on May 28th, 2008 by onecleardot
Filed under: Entertain Me