A CLANDESTINE MYSTERY (Dr. Kaili Worthy Series)

A millennia-spanning mystery with all the thrills of a classic treasure hunt, Dr. Kaili Worthy series, A Clandestine Mystery by Kay Oliver is the third jaw-dropping installment of the Dr. Kaili Worthy Series. A Clandestine Mystery continues the journey as Dr. Kaili Worthy, under the guise of international relations, attempts to help the Sudanese government by bringing a mummy back home to his burial site, only to make a more remarkable find that shatters their own ethics.On a historic mummy hunt for the legendary Cleopatra, Dr. Kaili Worthy has no idea that she’s stepping into the path of a mysterious curse that stretches back nearly 4,000 years. Though the remains they find end up being from Cleopatra’s daughter, Selene, the doctor is soon back to her sleuthing ways when she discovers that she can converse with the trapped spirit of Cleopatra Selene – and Seti I – through ancient bones and a table of sand.Summoning images of alien communication techniques from “Arrival,” the intrepid investigator is pulled into an ancient cold case, the inexplicable disappearance of these royal figures, and their subsequent spiritual captivity, in this modern-day ancient mystery. Kaili isn’t the only one working a case either – her husband, the San Jose police chief, is buried in his own deadly mess, and while the connection between these two plot lines isn’t immediately apparent, Oliver does a wonderful job of weaving these two core characters into a compelling narrative nexus.Once Kaili enlists the help of Doris, another academic sleuth, the novel truly begins to spiral into thriller territory. Kaili’s mystery of the mummies is a more dynamic story than her husband’s murder investigation, but Derek’s procedural scenes provide variety, as well as necessary peaks and valleys in the flow of the story. The unusual nature of the plot – science mixing with spirituality – lends itself to plenty of interesting philosophical themes, such as the nature of the soul, ghosts, and life after death, but it never falls into the realm of proselytizing or religious messaging. Blending historical legend with present-day drama, this book ticks plenty of boxes for action-loving readers.As a whole, this is an unpredictable and adventurous thriller, in line with the other macabre and ancient mysteries that Dr. Kaili has faced down in this unique, diamond-in-the-rough series.

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