Suspense/Intrigue
Ancient Walls
By Kris Jones
Aug 21, 2008 - 11:31:59 AM

ANCIENT WALLS is a very enjoyable romantic suspense. Ms. Mueller gives us likeable characters and treasure—a topic sure to pique readers’ interest.

Maya and her son, Zach, are trying to have a restful vacation in Portugal. She’s battling a double-front battle at home in the States: a job that runs her ragged, and which continually interrupts her weeks away, and an ex-husband who has crossed the line between annoying and frightening, and who disregards her restraining order. Maya hesitates to throw the book at him because of her son. Zach, a young history buff, is thrilled to be staying at a real castle steeped in rumor that somewhere in its walls rests the treasure of the Knights of St. John, smuggled out of Malta under the sharp watch of Napoleon’s Navy.

Among the guests at the castle is Carson d‘Allmeida, a American who stays close to Maya’s side. He confides that he’s seeking a buffer between himself and Nicole, a Frenchwoman who is romantically pursuing him. Nicole does express a desire to have Carson to herself, but what woman in the castle doesn’t? He’s a hunk and a half, and quite nice, too.

Zach is a source of historical fact and an enthusiastic treasure hunter. In this, he’s helped and encouraged by various other guests at the castle. Then several things happen that complicate everything. Heavy rain washes out the only bridge from the castle to the nearby town, stranding the guests, and Zach is kidnapped, purportedly because of his expanding knowledge of where the treasure—if it exists—might be found. Does he really know where the gold and artwork can be found—or will the whole notion of a treasure turn out to be nothing more than rumor after all? And finally, will the developing relationship between Maya and Carson survive vacation?

I enjoyed ANCIENT WALLS. I liked the characters, especially Carson. I also liked Zach, who seemed childlike without being obnoxious.

But to me, the main source of suspense and enjoyment was the characters—the number and diversity of them. Ms. Mueller gives us plenty of red herrings, which kept me guessing and made ANCIENT WALLS as good a mystery as romance. The historical references were integrated well without being intrusive.

Treasure, budding love and a cast of interesting characters. ANCIENT WALLS is a fine, light summer read.