Great Archaeological Mysteries Books

If you like archaeological mysteries, here I have a few great ones for you reviewed. These types of novels are in fact some of my favorites ever. They usually includes riddles to decipher, mysteries to solve, great descriptions of archaeological sites and a glimpse into a world unknown for the most of us.

If I were young again, I would go to a college where I could learn archaeology, however as there were no courses related to this subject in the college when I graduated, I am left with simply reading about it and dreaming...

Dreaming about exotic places, past times long gone by, following the steps of ancient leaders who were buried surrounded by their treasures, about a light slant on the mystical and esoteric, about strong female archaeologists who

The Last Secret Of The Temple by Paul Sussman

Come along on a ride with me to reach some of these worlds through the books I've read (or are on my wishlist to 'buy soon'). If you have read archaeological books that are not on this list, feel free to let me know the titles in the Guestbook below (open to anyone, not only to members of this site).

I've just finished reading the first book ever written by Paul Sussman, The Lost Army Of Cambysses, and I have to say I was very impressed. I've reviewed further below the second book written by this author - and my first book ever read from him called The Last Secret Of The Temple, and while I enjoyed it, it didn't leave me with such an impact as The Lost Army Of Cambyses.

The book starts with a punch, it engages you right from the beginning, and while the book is quite big at about 600 pages, it doesn't even one boring page. It really kept me on my toes throughout.

I love archaeological mysteries, and Paul Sussman managed to bring the past and the present very well together in this suspense novel. For example what does a badly mutilated body have together with a antiquity store owner who was also murdered and a British archaeologist who apparently died of a suicide? And was it a suicide in the first place? And what does all this have to do with a long lost Greek army hundreds of years ago?

I really enjoy the character of detective Khalifa, a kind person who has to juggle his job at the police station with his family life. He loves dearly his wife and kid, but more often than not he has to choose his job first and family second.

Tara Mullray, the daughter of the British archaeologist comes to Egypt to meet her father and discovers him deal in his home at the archaeological dig where he was currently working. She then stumbles unto some clues that lead her and her ex-boyfriend, another archaeologist, to find an object that is so coveted that many would - and do - kill for mercilessly.

I don't want to spoil the plot, but let's just say that if you do like books about archaeology, history and a good crime thriller, you will really enjoy reading The Last Cambyses by Paul Sussman.

If you like history, after reading this book you might be interested to learn whether there really was an army of Cambyses or it's just all fiction. Well, it seems that there really was one, and here I have found for you a few relevant links where you can read more about it. Quite interesting read.

The Last Secret Of The Temple is a great novel that I've recently finished reading. It was also my first book by the (sadly now departed) author Paul Sussman. I was not sure what to expect, however reading some online reviews, I've learned that it is, indeed, an archeological mystery, one of my favorite genres! Once the book came through the post, I couldn't wait to start reading it.

Fast forward about a week. Having read it, here is my review of the book. First of all, it is a mystery with an archeological slant. It is also a novel about hidden and buried treasures, about something so terrible that it could change the world the way we see it now (Dan Brown anyone?)

The book is huge, and I mean really big - it has around 700 tightly written pages. Until up to about page 100, I was not impressed. The Prologue was awesome, but starting from the first chapter, the steam was just not there. I almost gave up on the book, but something pushed me forward to continue reading.

And glad I did. The pace picked up, and it then went on right until the shocking last page when the mystery was revealed. I don't want to give away the plot, but basically the novel touches on the far past of Jerusalem when the Romans destroyed Holy Temple during the times of the Cathars, where an important religious relic was saved and hidden away for centuries. Then we go forward to the Nazi times when the treasure is found and hidden again by the Germans. Fast forward to the modern times of today.

Here we get slightly involved in the Palestine/Israeli conflict, and we get to see the world through the eyes of an Egyptian police detective, Yusuf Khalifa (who is also the main character in other novels by the same author), and through the eyes of a Palestinian journalist Layla, who is trying to do right by her father, who has been slained many years ago right in front of her. And through the eyes of an Israeli policeman, Arieh Ben-Roi, a slight overweight man who has suffered greatly as well when his fiancé was killed just a few years ago by the Palestinians.

The book is truly amazing, and I'm glad I have read it. Once you get past the first 100 or so pages, the pace is really fast and furious, the plot keeps thickening and the twists and turns keep coming faster than you can anticipate them. It is more than just a mystery, it is a real thriller.

It reads like the popular Dan Brown books, especially the Da Vinci Code, but I think this one is even better. I also got a hint of James Rollins (another favorite author of mine), and I even get a flash of Indiana Jones along the times.

All in all, I have to heartily recommend this book. It's great, it reads well, it has relatively short chapters which keep the attention going, and it gives you a glimpse of a few worlds that we are usually not privy to.

First the bad news. Paul Sussman passed away in 2012 suffering from a ruptured aneurysm. He was born in 1968 and during his lifetime he wrote 4 archaeological mystery novels:

* The Lost Army of Cambyses in 2002 (the book I am currently reading)

* The Last Secret Of The Temple in 2005 (the book reviewed above)

* The Hidden Oasis in 2009

* The Labyrinth of Osiris in 2012, published just after to his death.

He was also an archaeologist and The Independent wrote about his novels as being "the intelligent reader's answer to the Da Vinci Code".

with the Amelia Peabody mysteries

When it comes to archaeological mysteries, the first name that usually pops into our minds is Elizabeth Peters, with her famous Amelia Peabody series. I have read them all and they are great if you like books with archaeological stories and cozy mysteries. They are not hardcore thrillers like the book I reviewed above. You won't find descriptions of gruesome killings that are rated PG 15. You'll find an enchanting character, great mysteries that will delight your heart and senses.

There are currently 19 Amelia Peabody novels , with the latest one published in 2010. I have read the first 10 (the rest are on my 'to be read' list) and while cozy mysteries are not exactly my genre, the fact that they are archaeological books, I really enjoyed them. You can check them out below if you haven't got hold of them yet.

I love the books written by James Rollins. They are archaeological mysteries, but more thrillers really. Much more hardcore than the Amelia Peabody series, being closer in genre to the novels by Paul Sussman in style. The James Rollins Sigma series also breaks into another genre, closer to Dan Brown's style, which deals with historical treasures, scientific findings and macabre secrets.

James Rollins has written so far 9 Sigma Force Books, two Order of the Sanguins books and 2 Jake Ransom books. Having read them all, I strongly recommend them. They are truly some of my most favorite archaeological thriller novels to date.

Here you will find more archaeological mysteries and thrillers that you might find interesting if you like this genre. I have read these books and I can recommend them without hesitation.