The Crystal Skull

By: Manda Scott

Narrated by: Susan Duerden

In a spellbinding blend of history, myth, and science, bestselling novelist Manda Scott unleashes a thriller that sweeps from the secrets of the Mayans to the court of a sixteenth-century queen to a shattering end-times prophecy.

“It’s a lump of rock, Stella; nothing more. No stone is worth dying for.”

Except it’s not just a lump of rock. It’s a blue crystal skull made by the Maya to save the world from ruin; a sapphire so perfect, so powerful that for centuries men have killed to own or destroy it.

Ancient prophecies say that if the thirteen skulls already in existence are not reunited, the world will end on December 21, 2012. Cedric Owen, the skull’s last Keeper, died so that it might keep its secret for the next four centuries. Now Stella Cody has found it, and someone has already tried to kill her. Like Owen, she’s being hunted—but by whom?

Desperate to unravel the mystery of the crystal skull, Stella must decode Cedric Owen’s coded writings, sketches and ciphers no scholar has been able to unravel. What she discovers is astounding: a shocking secret prophecy…and the staggering puzzle of four terrifying creatures, thirteen precious stones, and what will happen if Cedric Owen’s crystal skull falls into the wrong hands. But time is against Stella. She has only days—hours—left to uncover the only secret that may yet save the world.

12.21.12
The date is set. Time is running out.
The end of the world starts now.

©2008 Manda Scott; (P)2008 Books on Tape

Critic reviews

Praise for Manda Scott’s Sunday Times bestseller Boudica novels:
“A powerful novel, alive with love, deceit, wisdom and the heroics of humanity.”–Jean Auel

“One of the boldest recent adventures in historical fiction.”–Independent

Great possibilities, but a great dissapointment

What would have made The Crystal Skull better?

An ending. This whole story just led to the end of a chapter and then quit.

Would you ever listen to anything by Manda Scott again?

Probably not. She spends far too much time explaining great things that have little to no bearing on the story.

What aspect of Susan Duerden’s performance would you have changed?

The narration was well done.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

It was an Indiana Jones style story. However it ends in a way that is just lazy. If you're leading up to something, then there should be a great ending. It's like she just got tired of writing and ended at the 2nd act.

Any additional comments?

I would suggest that you choose another book, I wish I had.

great book!

great narrator, the story is so good, with real history inter woven... just an absolute great listen!