Valley of Thracians A Novel of Bulgaria Ellis Shuman Books
Download As PDF : Valley of Thracians A Novel of Bulgaria Ellis Shuman Books
A Peace Corps volunteer has gone missing in Bulgaria and everyone assumes he is dead, everyone except his grandfather, who refuses to give up hope. Retired literature professor Simon Matthews launches a desperate search only to be lured into a bizarre quest to retrieve a stolen Thracian artifact—a unique object of immense value others will stop at nothing to recover. Matthews travels through a Balkan landscape dotted with ancient tombs and fortresses, unaware that his grandson has been confined to an isolated mountain cabin, slowly recovering from a severe head injury. Nothing can be taken at face value, as the woman assisting Matthews in his quest and the nurse caring for his injured grandson may have ulterior motives in helping the two reunite. Even when Matthews succeeds in joining up with his grandson, departure from Bulgaria is only possible if the missing relic can be found.
Valley of Thracians A Novel of Bulgaria Ellis Shuman Books
Mysterious disappearances, betrayals, loyalty. Crooks, cops, an enigmatic archaeologist, helpful strangers. All these come together against a backdrop of beautiful Bulgarian vistas, crowded cities and down-to-earth rural villages. Then for good measure we have a Peace Corps Volunteer in the mix.Ellis' book can be described as a "travel fiction" since the story hinges as much on the setting as on the main characters. Both are developed expertly and the interplay is seamless as the story unfolds. As we follow the twists and turns of the plot we are treated to fascinating lessons in Bulgarian culture, geography, customs and folkways, mores and ways of thinking. The writer's observations about the country are always relevant to the action, as well as being informative and fascinating.
The story itself is a thriller with all the classic elements of the genre. We have a missing person presumed dead; clues that don't fit the official reports; a doting grandpa pushing against all odds to find his beloved grandson; contradictions, suspicions, surprises and reversals. We have bad guys and good guys swirling around a mysterious lost treasure, hide-and-seek chases all over the country, crowded festivals and lonely mountaintops, drugs and guns. There are enough plot twists to engage the diehard mystery reader, and enough human interest angles to warm anyone's heart.
If it seems clear from the author's detailed and colorful Bulgaria knowledge that he has "been there," there's good reason for that authenticity. His Bulgarian credibility comes from living and working in Sofia, and obviously being a serious observer of the place, its history and people while he was there.
For anyone who loves Bulgaria, and even more for anyone who has never thought about Bulgaria, this book is a delightful read.
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Valley of Thracians A Novel of Bulgaria Ellis Shuman Books Reviews
Historical novel, Valley of Thracians is set in post-communist Bulgaria. Retired English professor Simon Matthews sets out to find his missing adventurous grandson, who is presumed dead. The trail is three years cold and the case is closed. But Simon won't give up. Scott's body was never found. He has a gut feeling Scott is alive. Besides, someone recently logged onto Scott's Skype account, and the laptop was never recovered. Simon Matthews and Thracian scholar Sophia Ivanova team up to hunt for his missing grandson, which leads to uncovering an antiquities smuggling ring run by the Bulgarian Mafia, and murder. Scott's Peace Corps host family offers few clues as to his disappearance. But that's where the trail, though ice-cold, begins.
Simon's story is narrated in traditional third person novel format. But the backstory of Scott Matthews is introduced via emails, and the story of Scott and Katya during the missing three years, is told in the first person perspective, creating an immediacy set within time present. Which serves to heightens the drama is Scott alive or not? The gripping conclusion, when all the threads are woven together, is a real page turner.
Unfortunately there are a few silly author errors "unbridled horses" do on wander across roads. Unfettered, halterless, or loose horses, maybe. But not unbridled. Wrong word. "She begins the slow process of unthawing." Unthawing? I think the author means "thawing." Unless she's refreezing? Again, wrong word. Other small typos don't interfere with the story. The historical component of the story could serve as a modern travel guide. Ellis Shuman, who lived in Bulgaria in 2009-2010, does an extraordinary job in both telling the tale and setting the scene.
This book just draws you in. Quick and smart characterization makes you know and genuinely like the people you meet in this novel right off the bat. While this book is indeed an engaging mystery, it is just as much a pleasant journey and exploration of a world you probably have never seen. I've myself had just a day in Bulgaria, but I immediately both recognized the setting of the novel and saw in my mind's eye the scenes flooding back upon me.
The style of the writing is tight, unpretentious, and vivid.
I'm not going to spoil anything about the march of the mystery Shuman spins, except to say that I was surprised how invested I was emotionally in the central characters and I just kept reading because I had to know where this unfolding story would lead.
Mysterious disappearances, betrayals, loyalty. Crooks, cops, an enigmatic archaeologist, helpful strangers. All these come together against a backdrop of beautiful Bulgarian vistas, crowded cities and down-to-earth rural villages. Then for good measure we have a Peace Corps Volunteer in the mix.
Ellis' book can be described as a "travel fiction" since the story hinges as much on the setting as on the main characters. Both are developed expertly and the interplay is seamless as the story unfolds. As we follow the twists and turns of the plot we are treated to fascinating lessons in Bulgarian culture, geography, customs and folkways, mores and ways of thinking. The writer's observations about the country are always relevant to the action, as well as being informative and fascinating.
The story itself is a thriller with all the classic elements of the genre. We have a missing person presumed dead; clues that don't fit the official reports; a doting grandpa pushing against all odds to find his beloved grandson; contradictions, suspicions, surprises and reversals. We have bad guys and good guys swirling around a mysterious lost treasure, hide-and-seek chases all over the country, crowded festivals and lonely mountaintops, drugs and guns. There are enough plot twists to engage the diehard mystery reader, and enough human interest angles to warm anyone's heart.
If it seems clear from the author's detailed and colorful Bulgaria knowledge that he has "been there," there's good reason for that authenticity. His Bulgarian credibility comes from living and working in Sofia, and obviously being a serious observer of the place, its history and people while he was there.
For anyone who loves Bulgaria, and even more for anyone who has never thought about Bulgaria, this book is a delightful read.
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