Dead Men's Hearts

Gideon Oliver Mysteries Series, Book 8

By: Aaron Elkins

Narrated by: Joel Richards

An ancient skeleton tossed in a garbage dump is the first conundrum to rattle Gideon Oliver when he arrives in Egypt. There to appear in a documentary film, he expects an undemanding week of movie star treatment and a luxurious cruise up the Nile with his wife, Julie. But when Gideon discovers a tantalizing secret in the discarded bones - and violence claims a famous Egyptologist's life - he is thrust into a spotlight of a different kind. Plying his calipers as the world's foremost forensic anthropologist, Gideon's investigation of the goings-on leads him through the back alleys and bazaars of Cairo and deep into the millennia-old tombs of the Valley of the Kings.

As the puzzle is painstakingly pieced together, Gideon will find that the identifying traits of a cunning killer are the same now as they were in the time of the pyramids: greed without guilt, lies without conscience...and murder without remorse.

©1994 Aaron J. Elkins (P)2019 Tantor

Love the Imagery

I loved the imagery of the scenery. I have listened to many stories of the Mediterranean and so I can "see" the story as it unfolds. I loved the characters. I think we all know people that match this group's characteristics. However, the story fell a little flat on the motivation. I know these mysteries are supposed to stump us, but I found it difficult to believe in this particular "bad guy."
Not that I am able or want to diminish the genius of master mystery story-tellers. I couldn't have written something with this vision. I just think the story would have worked better with more information.

realistic story

clean story. well woven. enjoyed it thoroughly all the way down to the end and didn't figure it out until then.

Another Wonderful Story

This story is educational, entertaining, suspenseful and has wonderful characters. Professor Gideon Oliver, the Skeleton Detective, investigates murder among the ruins of ancient Egypt. I found out a lot of the mummies and history in this story.

So far least favorite

I think this is an example of what happens when writers start having far-fetched ideas. The information was interesting, the archaeological information was spot on, but it was too degrading for Egypt, and too stupid for Gideon and his antics. I hope the next one’s better.

Great Story and Narration

This is the first work by Elkins I’ve listened to (or read) and I greatly enjoyed it. I already have more books in this series cued up for listening!