Synopses & Reviews
Back in school to pursue her dream of becoming an archaeologist, Faye Longchamp is asked to run a project for which she is barely qualified, under the direction of a man who doesn't seem to like her much. Her assignmentto uncover the origins of a mysterious ethnic group called the Sujosa who have lived in Alabama's most remote hills for centuriesis exciting and significant; the Sujosa have shown impressive immunity to many diseases...including AIDS. When this startling fact is made public, research money begins to flow, but Faye's obstacles grow more daunting. Her crew is rebellious. The Sujosa make no secret of the fact that they wish she and all the other outsiders would just go away. Then a house fire kills her friend Carmen and a young man jumps to his death from a cell phone tower. The Sujosa say that opening their lives to scientists and cell phones and satellite TV will be like letting a snake into Eden. Or is the snake already nesting there...
Review
Faye Longchamp is digging out of her depth....
Review
Evans'...portrayal of the archeological digs taking place on the islands is factual and interesting.... The locale is wonderfully described and beautifully etched for the reader. A compelling read that holds the reader's attention throughout.
Midwest Book Review
Review
Faye Longchamp, girl archaeologist, is given an opportunity that many fledgling diggers would give their trowels for. She is put in charge of
finding the origins of an ethnic group of people in the Alabama hills. But she's puzzled by the lack of work that has been done on site when she
arrives with her assistant, Joe. As she looks into the scholarly aspects of the dig, she is distracted by the death of Carmen, the oral historian of the
dig. Before she gets very far in investigating Carmen's demise, there's another unexplained death, this of a teenager from the Sujosa community. And
soon, Faye is fighting for her own life against someone who doesn't want the secrets of the Sujosa revealed. A fascinating look at contemporary
archaeology but also a twisted story of greed and its effects. -- Laurie Trimble, Dallas Morning News (9.11.2005)
Synopsis
Faye Longchamp investigates the origins of a mysterious ethnic group called the Sujosa who have lived in Alabama's remote hills for centuries. The Sujosa say opening their lives to scientists will be like letting a snake into Eden...but after several deaths, it seems the snake may already be nesting there.
Synopsis
Erstwhile artifacts blackmarketeer Faye Longchamp lands the job as chief archaeologist for a rural development project and heads to the hills of Alabama, her studly Cherokee assistant, Joe, in tow. She's looking forward to a legitimate dig, and hopes to uncover the mystery of the Sujosa, an ethnic group of mysterious origins known for their aquamarine eyes and unusual resistance to disease. But the murder of one of the project team leads to a different sort of investigation, and Faye finds herself using her professional and personal skills to discover the murderer, and the long-buried secret of the Sujosa as well.
Mary Anna Evans, winner of the 2004 Ben Franklin Award and the Patrick D. Smith Florida Fiction Award, started Faye's sleuthing career in Artifacts, a novel rich in the history, archaeology, and landscape of Faye's family and Florida's west coast.
About the Author
Mary Anna Evans has degrees in physics and chemical engineering. Her background includes stints in environmental consulting and university administration. Writing lets her spend weeks indulging her passion for history, archaeology, and architecture, and months making up stories. Mary Anna lives in Florida with her three children and a cat.