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The Agency of the Ancient Lost & Found #2
The Crown That Lost Its Head
She was a painting by Titian; she was queen of the Holy Roman Empire, and 500 years ago an audacious sisterhood buried a secret in her name.
Lisbon 2020: a pair of forensic archaeologists discover a strange skull buried with the original occupant inside a fifteenth-century tomb. That same night, one archaeologist is murdered and the skull stolen, leaving the surviving archaeologist to dispatch a plea for help. Enter Phoebe McCabe and the Agency of the Ancient Lost and Found, now assigned to help a headless client become reunited with his skull. Yet, why would anyone steal a centuries-old cranium in the first place?
But the unfolding truth is more baffling than anyone could have imagined. The missing skull may hold the key to centuries of European intrigue, religious fanaticism, and political upheaval. As Phoebe digs, layers of royal plots emerge, along with tales of persecution and an underground resurgence of a brotherhood so virulent that it threatens the world to this very day. Yet, even in the fifteenth century, the sect had its enemies, and Phoebe needs to find the clues those long-dead allies left behind. For that, she must look in surprising places.
As she races to locate the skull she calls on instinct, intuition, art, and the help of an ancient sisterhood. Somewhere in the past lies the key to save the future and it will take every resource Phoebe possesses to pull the pieces together in time.
From the misty forests of Portugal to the castle promontories of Spain, Phoebe is pitched against a breed of fanatic it will take all her skill to beat.
Lisbon 2020: a pair of forensic archaeologists discover a strange skull buried with the original occupant inside a fifteenth-century tomb. That same night, one archaeologist is murdered and the skull stolen, leaving the surviving archaeologist to dispatch a plea for help. Enter Phoebe McCabe and the Agency of the Ancient Lost and Found, now assigned to help a headless client become reunited with his skull. Yet, why would anyone steal a centuries-old cranium in the first place?
But the unfolding truth is more baffling than anyone could have imagined. The missing skull may hold the key to centuries of European intrigue, religious fanaticism, and political upheaval. As Phoebe digs, layers of royal plots emerge, along with tales of persecution and an underground resurgence of a brotherhood so virulent that it threatens the world to this very day. Yet, even in the fifteenth century, the sect had its enemies, and Phoebe needs to find the clues those long-dead allies left behind. For that, she must look in surprising places.
As she races to locate the skull she calls on instinct, intuition, art, and the help of an ancient sisterhood. Somewhere in the past lies the key to save the future and it will take every resource Phoebe possesses to pull the pieces together in time.
From the misty forests of Portugal to the castle promontories of Spain, Phoebe is pitched against a breed of fanatic it will take all her skill to beat.
264 pages, Paperback
Published January 19, 2021
496 people are currently reading
180 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
August 2, 2021
Great mix of fact and fiction
I'm enjoying this book series and look forward to the third entry ... but I hope that more care will be taken in its final reviews to prevent--or at least minimize--the kinds of spelling and grammatical errors that were evident in this one. (Whether due to poor writing, bad transcription and/or lousy proofreading/editing, the wrong homophones, wrong tenses, misuse, and other errors were so glaring as to be distracting.)
That said, this was another well researched and generally well crafted adventure in the same genre (if not yet the same calibre) as the Clive Cussler, Dan Brown and Steve Berry series.
I'm enjoying this book series and look forward to the third entry ... but I hope that more care will be taken in its final reviews to prevent--or at least minimize--the kinds of spelling and grammatical errors that were evident in this one. (Whether due to poor writing, bad transcription and/or lousy proofreading/editing, the wrong homophones, wrong tenses, misuse, and other errors were so glaring as to be distracting.)
That said, this was another well researched and generally well crafted adventure in the same genre (if not yet the same calibre) as the Clive Cussler, Dan Brown and Steve Berry series.
Read
March 29, 2021This is a good tale. But, who is proofreading these publish books???? There are so many typographical errors and nonsensical connections, that I'm not going to pursue any more novels by this author. Someone needs to understand that this is unacceptable quality.
March 2, 2021
Another great book..art historian, bad guys but the part that was interesting was incorporating the Covid 19:without it being the story!
September 14, 2024
My 2nd book by Jane Thornley. Same cast of characters but this time we were in Portugal and Spain. Phoebe McCabe was in pursuit of a skull and crown that belonged to a Prince of Portugal in the 1500s. The skull and crown had been stolen by a zealot religious group touting the Divine Right of Kings. Our heroine's clues were contained in a couple of old paintings in a Portuguese castle, one of the paintings by Titian. As in the first book I read, there is a ton of history, a ton of art, a ton of medieval architecture, a ton of culture. A budding romance, conspiracies, betrayals and fast pace action are woven around our characters, all of whom are likeable. The Indiana Jones motif I find very appealing.
February 14, 2022
As a “should-have-been” art historian and adorer of the mystery genre, I really enjoyed the second in this series (a spin off of another series I have yet to read).
Read
February 9, 2021Another exciting novel
This time the team goes to Portugal to search for the head of possibly an ancient prince. They were also to search for his crown. A secret cult of priests was out to kidnap Phoebe to either use her or stop her . Very exciting .
Oh so very many typos . The copy editor should have read the book out loud and would have found them . I could have made this a 4 star review but the story is good .
This time the team goes to Portugal to search for the head of possibly an ancient prince. They were also to search for his crown. A secret cult of priests was out to kidnap Phoebe to either use her or stop her . Very exciting .
Oh so very many typos . The copy editor should have read the book out loud and would have found them . I could have made this a 4 star review but the story is good .
May 1, 2021
I just can't decide... It's a decent read and it has a lot of potential. Phoebe was enjoyable as were her supporting cast. There were a few things that jarred for me including the ocean between Spain and Portugal. I went back and looked at reviews for other books by the author and saw that there is a previous series starring Phoebe. I'm putting them on my TBR and I'll update this review as my reading progresses.
December 31, 2022
The Plot was weak.
I had high hopes for this book after the first one, but was disappointed. The plot, a sect who kills people to reunite a dead princes head with a crown, then they will usher in a new world order is ridiculous. The author never tells how they intend to take over the world. The author expects you to believe a whole world of Catholics will rally behind a skull and topple every other religion. The history and the weaving details are nice but the plot is terrible.
I had high hopes for this book after the first one, but was disappointed. The plot, a sect who kills people to reunite a dead princes head with a crown, then they will usher in a new world order is ridiculous. The author never tells how they intend to take over the world. The author expects you to believe a whole world of Catholics will rally behind a skull and topple every other religion. The history and the weaving details are nice but the plot is terrible.
August 27, 2021
Interesting plot doesn't make up for paper thin characters. The narrator is ,at best, annoying and totally unbelievable as a human Being .The
author creates a character by telling us he is physically very attractive, has the skills of M and is in love with the heroine and really fails to develops him any further.
Good plot, poorly developed characters and uneven writing. It's worth skipping
author creates a character by telling us he is physically very attractive, has the skills of M and is in love with the heroine and really fails to develops him any further.
Good plot, poorly developed characters and uneven writing. It's worth skipping
April 6, 2021
Second in the series and an entertaining read as was the first. Unfortunately the third book doesn't come out until September! The author is able to build on historical facts and create an action packed, sometimes romantic story with characters I feel I know. Each novel is able to stand alone, but I always enjoy reading a complete series( always hoping for more).
May 3, 2021
An exciting read
I could hardly put this book down. An exciting story, rich historical detail, great descriptions of actual places. I did have to stop reading to investigate Sinatra, Alcazar de Los Reyes Christians, and Sofonisba Anguissola. Now I have some new places to go on my bucket list and a new artist to investigate.
I could hardly put this book down. An exciting story, rich historical detail, great descriptions of actual places. I did have to stop reading to investigate Sinatra, Alcazar de Los Reyes Christians, and Sofonisba Anguissola. Now I have some new places to go on my bucket list and a new artist to investigate.
August 24, 2021
Good story
The plot and characters are wonderful. However, some details are not accurate - nobody would wear a turtleneck or corduroy pants in Lisbon in September - way too hot! Also, there are a few typos and incorrect words, but they don’t really matter much. I will read the next books.
The plot and characters are wonderful. However, some details are not accurate - nobody would wear a turtleneck or corduroy pants in Lisbon in September - way too hot! Also, there are a few typos and incorrect words, but they don’t really matter much. I will read the next books.
February 7, 2021
Stunning, gripping mystery is so enthralling
Once again Jane Thornley has created an incredible historical mystery thriller to entertain, enthrall and keep you guessing until the very end. I stayed up late to finish reading this amazing book.
Once again Jane Thornley has created an incredible historical mystery thriller to entertain, enthrall and keep you guessing until the very end. I stayed up late to finish reading this amazing book.
November 17, 2021
I really am enjoying this series. Mystery, history, art, romance and action. Who could ask for more. This book is set in Spain and Portugal and the search for a lost crown which is also be hunted by a group of fanatics that have existed as long as the crown. I look forward to the rest of the series.
December 23, 2021
Could not even get past page 12. The first few pages were promising but the “present day” story was boring and distracting. The author bores us with her Covid phobias with which we are all exhausted. Then the story becomes even more and more tiresome. So sorry to say that I can’t read any more.
February 18, 2022
I love the premise of this series and the story moves along well. But this went off the rails when our hero’s behave as if the fanatics crazy theories have merit. They know better. This something that leads them to doing the unthinkable. I tried, but I just couldn’t buy it. Darn.
October 3, 2022
Dreadful virtue signalling gumf
Wish the author had stuck to the story... Rather than concentrating on Pandemic weaving and other virtue signalling agendas. People read 'fiction' for a reason!!
Wish the author had stuck to the story... Rather than concentrating on Pandemic weaving and other virtue signalling agendas. People read 'fiction' for a reason!!
November 1, 2022
great story
I enjoyed the story very much although I could have done without all the Covid references, masks etc. the author is a master at telling stories involving the present and the past. I highly recommend her books.
I enjoyed the story very much although I could have done without all the Covid references, masks etc. the author is a master at telling stories involving the present and the past. I highly recommend her books.
November 15, 2022
Took me days to read.
The series is interesting and well written. I just got bored with the constant yammering on by the protagonist about the power of women having been subsumed by men, and I’m a woman myself. Enough already.
The series is interesting and well written. I just got bored with the constant yammering on by the protagonist about the power of women having been subsumed by men, and I’m a woman myself. Enough already.
February 12, 2023
I didn't love this one as much as the others I've read by Thornley. I was appalled that Phoebe would throw the medieval crown in the ocean!!!!!! In what world is it ok to destroy art? Throw away diamonds and emeralds??? But the story was ok. I sure hope Phoebe will get with Evan soon.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 17, 2024
Crowned Skull
To be honest, I don't recall this background story, nevertheless it made for a great mystery and adventure. Phoebe still gets on my nerves, but we're not perfect.
Great atoryline, nicely developed. Congrats to author for another good one.
To be honest, I don't recall this background story, nevertheless it made for a great mystery and adventure. Phoebe still gets on my nerves, but we're not perfect.
Great atoryline, nicely developed. Congrats to author for another good one.
March 3, 2021
Wonderful
Being both a history lover as well as a mysteries - add a sisterhood of of centuries of strong, intelligent characters - makes for a great read!
Being both a history lover as well as a mysteries - add a sisterhood of of centuries of strong, intelligent characters - makes for a great read!
March 30, 2021
The crown that lost its head
Great read, the history in the book was very informing loved the historical plot. The characters were entertaining ,waiting for the next book.
Great read, the history in the book was very informing loved the historical plot. The characters were entertaining ,waiting for the next book.
April 23, 2021
There is no ocean between Spain and Portugal!
Too improbable, especially the resolution. I will not read the sequel. Sad because there is potential in the author's writing.
Too improbable, especially the resolution. I will not read the sequel. Sad because there is potential in the author's writing.
September 20, 2021
Great readi
Learned about history, art, with a bit of intrigue thrown in. Loved the book and getting to know the characterz
Learned about history, art, with a bit of intrigue thrown in. Loved the book and getting to know the characterz
October 3, 2021
Interesting story
Based on a time period I knew little about, this story is interesting. The clues keep you thinking about the story
Based on a time period I knew little about, this story is interesting. The clues keep you thinking about the story
November 10, 2021
great series
Just finished the 2 book, can’t wait for book 3
Great characters, great story looking forward to seeing what happens next
Just finished the 2 book, can’t wait for book 3
Great characters, great story looking forward to seeing what happens next
November 20, 2021
As was the first book this was a great read! Full of adventure and gung ho exploits ! Highly recommended!
January 25, 2022
Another Fantastic Story
Author Jane Thomley has written another exciting story for us to enjoy. Our little group had another exciting adventure. Loved it.
Author Jane Thomley has written another exciting story for us to enjoy. Our little group had another exciting adventure. Loved it.
March 31, 2022
3.5. I enjoyed this caper and the continuing characters along with the history lesson.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews