Author: Killian McRae
Publisher: Omnific Publishing
Published: December 21, 2010
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Pages: 238
Source: Tour/Once Upon a Twilight
Archaeologist Sheppard Smyth has staked his career and the honorable memory of his deceased wife and partner on proving his widely-panned theory: Cleopatra VII, last ruler of Ancient Egypt, was murdered. When a statue of the doomed Queen is discovered in an Olmec excavation site in Mexico, Shep rushes to investigate and, hopefully, find the proof that has evaded him for so long.
Soon, he finds himself in the middle of the rivalry between the sexy, enigmatic international thief, Victoria Kent, and infamous rumored Russian mobster, Dmitri Kronastia. Both hold pieces to the puzzle that will finally shed light on Cleopatras death, as they vie for Shep's trust and assistance. As he is drawn further into their world of ancient gods, supernatural powers, and alternative history, little does Shep know that the fate of all humanity may hinge on his ability to discover the truth in between Victoria and Dmitris' fragmented claims and hidden identities.
Shep has enough problems as it is. He's an archaeologist with a drinking problem since his wife's death, and now he's finally got the chance to prove something to both himself and everyone around him that he's not a kook, he's still got game and he's actually right in his theories about Cleopatra. Unluckily for Shep though, he's going to have to contend between two hustling characters to do so, and he inevitably falls down a path that's darker and scarier than he imagined...but not just that...there's a chance he might just figure out more than he anticipated, and it's not good.
First off, if the world is really going to end in 2012, I'm glad I read 12.21.12, so I'm just going to throw that out there. Killian McRae did something in 12.21.12 that not too many authors can do. She mastered throwing multiple subgenres into one cohesive storyline with dynamic characters and a topsy-turvy plot that never failed to surprise me. While it's leaning towards an older YA audience, I couldn't resist the apocalyptic connotations in the title, and I can definitely say that the dark undertones of 12.21.12 don't disappoint.
One of the biggest strengths of 12.21.12 was the superb cast of characters. Shep, though an older MC than I'm used to, was engaging and heroic. He's got a strong voice that also hints at his loss and vulnerability because of it. As a perfect counterpart, Dimitri was this seemingly stereotypical mobster with his hot features and dirty, dirty ways, and yet, he had this sort of saccharin undertone that made you realize the guy wasn't all that bad if you could look past the whole gangster shebang. Victoria was every bit as snaky as I'd anticipated, but knowing there was more to her than surface beauty made her strong and captivating. I would have to say that some of the interactions between the characters seemed a bit forced though, and I liked them better all in their separate scenes. I also think that the scenery within 12.21.12 fell a bit flat compared to the detailed characters.
Overall, 12.21.12 is a great read if you're looking for a slim book with a fast-paced plot and endless action. I give it a strong 4 out of 5, and I'd recommend it to more of an adult audience due to language and some adult situations. It's especially great for those who enjoy a good mystery and thriller, as well as anyone who wants a taste of the apocalypse.
I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.
