The Secret of Immortality: The Tombmakers Village by CJ McKivvik

Humanity’s ultimate prize, everlasting life, is the narrative carrot dangling in The Secret of Immortality: The Tombmakers Village, a globe-spanning new thriller by author CJ McKivvik.

After the head of a nebulous research group mysteriously dies with his greatest secret left untold, he entrusts Tom Carrott to finish his work, launching this young protagonist on a quest that would make Indiana Jones proud. As Tom’s vision of his future spins out of control, he follows the footsteps of a dead man to Africa, spurred on by the artifacts hinting at immortality that ended up on his doorstep. A handful of artfully crafted plot lines converge in this tightly wound tale, which bubbles over with government conspiracies, subtle deception, power-hungry villains, unsanctioned operations, and a mystical aura that makes it difficult to put down.

Reminiscent of “National Treasure,” “The Mummy” franchise, and the adventure fiction of Clive Cussler, there is no denying that this is an invigorating and unpredictable read, but the quality of the writing does stumble in certain moments. The descriptions are patient and thorough, luring readers further into this tense tale, but the dialogue is frequently flat and functional, rather than organic. The author also slips into passive voice too readily, and could make some cuts to this lengthy tome to maintain a solid, driving pace.

Overall, the character relationships are engaging, the landscapes are painted beautifully, and the ancient air of mystery makes this first installment in The Secret of Immortality series a gleefully guilty pleasure.