The Lost City Explorers, Volume 1 by Zack Kaplan, Mike Marts (Editor), Álvaro Sarraseca (Contributor)

The Lost City Explorers, Volume 1 by Zack Kaplan,  Mike Marts (Editor), Álvaro Sarraseca (Contributor) - 120 pages

Lost cities aren't just the stuff of myths. They exist hidden right under our noses. But when a mysterious expedition is disrupted by supernatural activity, and an antiquities professor goes missing, his teenage daughter and her friends must become underground urban explorers, follow his tracks on a coming-of-age journey through subterranean tunnels, and ultimately find the holy grail of lost city: Atlantis buried right under New York City!

Explore science fiction and archeology in this new adventure series by Zack Kaplan (Eclipse, Port of Earth) and Alvaro Sarraseca (Magnus, Turok).

The Pharaoh: Life at Court and on Campaign by Garry J. Shaw

The Pharaoh by Garry J. Shaw -224 pages

This richly illustrated book is a wealth of information on the ancient Egyptians, not just their monarchs. It details the intricate ceremonies underlying mummification and the building of grand temples and tombs. The author also provides a realistic assessment of the military role of the pharaohs, and their role in preserving order in Egyptian society.

Under Another Sky: Journeys is Roman Britain by Charlotte Higgins

Under Another Sky by Charlotte Higgins -282 pages

Higgins is a classicist focused mainly on ancient Greece, but decided to take a road trip around her home of the U. K. to discover the remains and stories of Rome's northernmost frontier. She takes readers along for the journey from large towns, such as Bath, to remote mountain outposts now mostly forgotten. The Roman population of Britannia was quite diverse and sophisticated, and the author explores what they left behind with charm. Those with an interest in ancient history or archaeology will enjoy.

Digging for Richard III by Mike Pitts

Digging for Richard III: The Search for the Lost King by Mike Pitts --208 pages

This book follows the 2012-2013 archaeology project in Leicester, England that resulted in the stunning discovery of Richard III's nearly complete skeleton. The ruthless king was buried at the now lost Greyfriars church after being slain in battle in 1485. A exuberant member of the revisionist Richard III Society was convinced she had found the location of Richard's burial and managed to persuade a team of professional archaeologists to excavate Greyfriars--only for the objective of learning more about medieval Leicester. (No serious archaeologist would consider searching for a specific individual's remains.) The author, also an archaeologist, does a thorough job in showing how the discovery was made and the sometimes differing goals of the archaeological team and the Richard III Society. For more on Richard III's life read The Wars of the Roses by Dan Jones.

Finding Beth by Lisa Tapp

Finding Beth by Lisa Tapp 292 pages

Standing on the banks of the James River, Rosetta listens to an impossible story from an impossible source. Ghosts aren’t real. Everyone knows that. And she’s not some psychic weirdo. But the ethereal voice persists, and one by one she discovers historical proof to support his existence and his claims. All he wants, he says, is to find his wife. They were separated by death four hundred years ago. Buried apart. He cannot stand the thought that his wife would spend eternity believing he abandoned her.
Abandonment is a bitter and personal ache in Ro’s life. Four years ago her father walked out, never to be heard from again. Now she’s willing to do anything to erase that pain for someone else. But in Jamestown, Virginia, where archeologists have been unearthing mysteries for decades, how can a sixteen-year-old hope to find what trained professionals have not?
Without revealing her source, Ro seeks help from her crush, Cade. An up-and-coming archeologist, Cade’s assistance is invaluable. But as she learns more about her ghost and his past, Ro uncovers secrets that if revealed could tear the ancient lovers apart forever. Yet her silence will be seen by Cade as a betrayal.

The Nile: A Journey Downriver Through Egypt's Past & Present by Toby Wilkinson

The Nile: A Journey Downriver Through Egypt's Past & Present by Toby Wilkinson --261 pages

The author is an Egyptologist who takes the reader on a sailing voyage down the Nile (from south to north) and illuminates many ancient treasures along the way. Some of the locations are overwhelmed with tourists, while others are more remote temples still somewhat isolated from the crowds of modern Egypt's tourist industry. The author took this journey in 2012 and comments on the recent political turmoil of the Arab Spring and ties recent events in with the historic patterns of Egyptian culture and how the Nile has held Egypt together. Anyone with an interest in ancient or contemporary Egypt will enjoy this journey.

The Riddle of the Labyrinth: The Quest to Crack an Ancient Code by Margalit Fox

The Riddle of the Labyrinth by Margalit Fox --363 pages

How did two obsessed individuals translate an unknown script representing an unknown language? This fascinating book examines the unraveling of Linear B, an ancient script dating back over three thousand years to the Greek island of Crete.  The labyrinth in the title refers to the labyrinth of the mythological Minotaur near the city of Knossos.  The author examines the script’s discoverer, archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans, and its decipherer, Michael Ventris.  But she also expounds on the unknown classicist Alice Kober, who laid the groundwork for Linear B’s solution, and who may have solved the riddle if not for her early death.  This book will be enjoyed by anyone with an interest in ancient history, or the breaking of mysterious codes.

Book of Killowen by Erin Hart

Book of Killowen by Erin Hart - 352 pages

This is the fourth book featuring archaeologist Cormac Maguire and pathologist Nora Gavin.  It was a slow start but the overall mystery was compelling enough to keep me going.  The plot centers on an isolated cast of characters all sharing an artist's retreat in Ireland who are involved in a series of murders so it does have a bit of Clue whodunit vibe.  Not the best book in the series but a solid entry.  This historical information weaved into the story is pretty interesting as well.