Synopsis : When his archaeologist father goes missing after an air crash in Mexico, Josh suspects alien abduction. But after he discovers that his dad was murdered, Josh is caught up in a race to find the legendary “Ix codex” – a lost book of the ancient Maya containing a prophecy about the end of the world…

Review: Whew! After being caught up and swept along by this intensely gripping novel I am left shattered, satisfied and completely content. Thirteen year old Joshua is, in his own words ‘just another guy at school’; and this binds the reader to him. From the start he could be any of us. After his fathers death he is catapulted into a world of ancient prophecies and manuscripts, of long lost civilisations and dangerous strangers. The book explores the themes of trust and self reliance and of loss and grief. The landscape is electrified and the geography of Mexico is extensively described. We also learn a huge amount about the incredibly advanced Mayan civilisation.

The narrative is rich in sensory detail. I could almost feel the heat from the Mexican sun. I was there with the cicadas, the banana palms and the oppressive humidity as Josh struggled to make sense of the snippets of clues he had amassed. If this novel is to be read aloud I would recommend a prior skim through to familiarise the Mayan names and practice their pronunciation. The writing is superb and I found myself easily engrossed in the speed of the plot, which unbelievably increases as the story reaches its climax.

 I highly recommend this book for any competent reader but especially for those reluctant boys - they will be captivated by the exhilarating journey of a James Bond/Indiana Jones type storyline. Josh faces death, kidnap, thrills and spills and a touch of teen angst and I believe even the most hesitant readers will find his journey thrilling. This is a complex puzzle and the pace is unrelenting; I defy anyone to find a static page. I raced towards the denouement, the clues fell into place and I was left contented and yet hungry for more. The door has been left open for further Joshua Files and I, for one, will be first in the queue.

2008-01-01