The Crystal Skull, by Manda Scott

“Tiny in person, Manda Scott deserves some sort of authorial heavyweight-championship belt. Scarcely a year after the final volume of her massive Boudica quartet of historical novels, she bounces back into the ring with her challenge for the Cryptic Treasure Cup of 2008. Will she successfully slug it out with the numerous contenders who have followed in the footsteps of Dan Brown? The Crystal Skull is a pretty convincing performance. Keen speleologist Dr Stella Cody and her new husband, Kit, discover a blue crystal skull hidden deep below ancient rocks in the Yorkshire Dales. This beautiful, powerful object must be retrieved and re-united with others to save the world from ultimate disaster.’ Read the review at the Independent.