Review of Xanadu's Cavern
Posted: 19 Nov 2021, 16:45
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Xanadu's Cavern" by Mallory M. O'Connor.]
Imagine a wonderful natural area with turquoise springs and incredible caves that hide ancient secrets. You are now in Sofke Springs Park, located in Watoolahatchee, Florida. Epiphany Mayall lives here, together with her mother, son, and precocious 9-year-old granddaughter. Epiphany is an art historian with a special gift: she sees visions and has inexplicable impressions about some situations. Her latest dreams might provide clues for finding Pierce Waldon, a famous environmentalist who disappeared in the area. She teams up with Maro Gaido, an art crime investigator; they also share a complicated relationship.
Derrick Rarian is a powerful man, the CEO of an energy company specialized in exploration, so he is not keen on protecting the environment. Actually, Rarian loves to pollute and destroy nature. His empire is in Montenegro, but he works with wicked people all around the world. It seems that Rarian, Epiphany, and Maro crossed paths in the past during an investigation regarding a stolen artifact, the Gilgamesh tablet. What secrets does Sofke Springs Park hide, and who is pulling the strings?
Xanadu's Cavern is the third part of the Epiphany Mayall, Psychic Detective series, but it works fine as a standalone book. Each volume focuses on a different case, and the writer did a splendid job explaining the connecting events from the previous novel. I am curious to read the entire series because it might help me discover more details about Epiphany.
I loved how Mallory M. O'Connor painted vivid images of nature and created authentic scenes by describing the cooked food or the cozy atmosphere. The dessert plays a significant part, and it might give you ideas for your next lunch. The story unfolds smoothly, and the reader will have no problem following the various subplots of the novel. The book is a short read of 208 pages; you might enjoy it in one sitting.
However, the author revealed the villains and their evil plans too soon, leaving little room for surprise. I was disappointed since I prefer books that offer clues and have a big reveal in the end. Also, the plot twists are scarce, but they are not missing entirely. Finally, the character development was not brilliant, at least judging from this book. However, reading the entire series might improve this aspect. It is clear that the previous novel provided more information about Epiphany and Maro; still, at the end of this book, I was hungry for more.
Xanadu's Cavern by Mallory M. O'Connor gets 3 out of 4 stars due to the slight dislikes regarding the plot and the presentation of the characters. I found some errors in the text, but they were negligible. It was an engaging thriller, and the author introduced fundamental themes like the constant battle between environmental protection and urban development. The greedy and corrupt people will always put money first at the expense of nature, art, or history.
I recommend the novel to readers attracted by the occult and unconventional methods of finding answers, such as psychic readings or visions. Environmentalists and people that enjoy learning about valuable artifacts will discover fascinating facts. If you love mystery books that mention Native American culture, do not miss this one. Romance fans will be charmed by the chemistry between Epiphany and Maro.
******
Xanadu's Cavern
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Imagine a wonderful natural area with turquoise springs and incredible caves that hide ancient secrets. You are now in Sofke Springs Park, located in Watoolahatchee, Florida. Epiphany Mayall lives here, together with her mother, son, and precocious 9-year-old granddaughter. Epiphany is an art historian with a special gift: she sees visions and has inexplicable impressions about some situations. Her latest dreams might provide clues for finding Pierce Waldon, a famous environmentalist who disappeared in the area. She teams up with Maro Gaido, an art crime investigator; they also share a complicated relationship.
Derrick Rarian is a powerful man, the CEO of an energy company specialized in exploration, so he is not keen on protecting the environment. Actually, Rarian loves to pollute and destroy nature. His empire is in Montenegro, but he works with wicked people all around the world. It seems that Rarian, Epiphany, and Maro crossed paths in the past during an investigation regarding a stolen artifact, the Gilgamesh tablet. What secrets does Sofke Springs Park hide, and who is pulling the strings?
Xanadu's Cavern is the third part of the Epiphany Mayall, Psychic Detective series, but it works fine as a standalone book. Each volume focuses on a different case, and the writer did a splendid job explaining the connecting events from the previous novel. I am curious to read the entire series because it might help me discover more details about Epiphany.
I loved how Mallory M. O'Connor painted vivid images of nature and created authentic scenes by describing the cooked food or the cozy atmosphere. The dessert plays a significant part, and it might give you ideas for your next lunch. The story unfolds smoothly, and the reader will have no problem following the various subplots of the novel. The book is a short read of 208 pages; you might enjoy it in one sitting.
However, the author revealed the villains and their evil plans too soon, leaving little room for surprise. I was disappointed since I prefer books that offer clues and have a big reveal in the end. Also, the plot twists are scarce, but they are not missing entirely. Finally, the character development was not brilliant, at least judging from this book. However, reading the entire series might improve this aspect. It is clear that the previous novel provided more information about Epiphany and Maro; still, at the end of this book, I was hungry for more.
Xanadu's Cavern by Mallory M. O'Connor gets 3 out of 4 stars due to the slight dislikes regarding the plot and the presentation of the characters. I found some errors in the text, but they were negligible. It was an engaging thriller, and the author introduced fundamental themes like the constant battle between environmental protection and urban development. The greedy and corrupt people will always put money first at the expense of nature, art, or history.
I recommend the novel to readers attracted by the occult and unconventional methods of finding answers, such as psychic readings or visions. Environmentalists and people that enjoy learning about valuable artifacts will discover fascinating facts. If you love mystery books that mention Native American culture, do not miss this one. Romance fans will be charmed by the chemistry between Epiphany and Maro.
******
Xanadu's Cavern
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
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