by Howard Blum
First published 1993
When archaeologist Sarah Chen discovers a leather-bound manuscript filled with cryptic runic symbols, she believes she has found a minor historical curiosity. The runes appear to be Norse in origin, but their arrangement defies conventional translation. As Sarah delves deeper into the text, she realizes the symbols form a complex code that points to something far more significant than academic research. Her attempts to decode the runes attract unwanted attention from shadowy figures who seem to know more about the manuscript than they should. Sarah must navigate between her scholarly instincts and growing fears for her safety. The deeper she penetrates the mystery, the more she understands that some knowledge carries a price. Her quest becomes a race against forces determined to keep the runes' secrets buried forever.
Genres: adventure, mystery, archaeology, academic
Vibes: suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: amateur-sleuth, race-against-time
Setting: Norse
Period: Ancient
160 pages · Hardcover · St. Martin's