Book Review: The Mayan Glyph

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

The Mayan Glyph     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Larry Baxter
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Fiction   Medical
Amber Quill, 2003

Near Uxmal, Mexico, a University of Texas archeological research team finds a Mayan ruin, but when they return home, every member is ailing and soon begins dying. The disease spreads to the hospital staff. CDC enters the fray seeking a panacea while more people die.

The airborne virus that eradicated most of the populace of the Mayan Empire in the latter half of the ninth century has returned. However, what was a relatively localized pandemic is much more dangerous to humanity, as modern transportation provides this virus with easy access way beyond Austin. The United States government leadership discus how to contain the pathogen, but unless a cure is quickly found, the only response is to draw a line above Texas and isolate everyone to the south with full military at the containment front. Millions will be condemned to a horrible death.

Dr. Spender of CDC discusses the disease on a video conference with Boston based Dr. Robert Asher. Soon Asher learns that the starting point of the spreading epidemic was a research team in the Mexican jungle. Asher, accompanied by Mayan scholar Teresa Welles, visits the epicenter hoping to learn how some Mayans survived. Concurrently, the virus has spread to Mexico.

This exciting thriller provides an intriguing spin to the end days of the Mayan Empire that alone hook readers to learn more about what happened. Coupled with the twenty-first century epidemic, fans will take immense delight with both subplots that interconnect through the virus. The final “twist” involving the Lincoln Room is a terrific low key closing to a powerful action-packed tale that is a one sitting read.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner