Key to Eternity by Mallory M. O’Connor is an investigative crime thriller that leads us to the secrets engraved in the ancient history of humanity. Epiphany Mayall is a psychic investigator. One day, all of a sudden, she had a clear vision of a naked man sprawled on the ground surrounded by two snakes. She quickly realized that it was related to the Epic of Gilgamesh, the legendary king who left his home searching for the secret of immortality. Later in the day, she had visions of a robbery at the Baghdad museum.
Soon a previous acquaintance, art investigator Maro Gaido contacted her for assistance to retrieve the stolen tablets representing the scenes of Epic of Gilgamesh. Will they be able to recover the artifact that was buried deep in the black market? Crime thrillers have a special place in literature.
They send us to the realms of secrets and myths. The quest for the truth brings us exciting and thrilling experiences. Key to Eternity is undoubtedly an apt addition to this genre. It opens in a slow-paced family environment. The author then introduces central characters.
Along with that, the main pitch of the story, the vision of the epic of Gilgamesh, is presented. From this part onwards, the story picks up pace and momentum. It was amazing to see how quickly a pretty straightforward tale turns into a complex web of secrets and twists.
Crime thrillers usually lack emotional connections not only with the characters but also with the story. They are so engrossed in the quest for truth. But Key to Eternity is definitely a standout in this matter. The author has penned all the main characters with such passion and enthusiasm. She gave space to human emotions without losing hold of the main narrative. All these points out the extraordinary skill level of the author. She crafted a relevant story by weaving so many threads of history and human nature.
Overall, Key to Eternity is an intriguing story that will keep us guessing until the very end. The unpredictable storyline combined with the secrets of ancient history entangled in myth is a great recipe for a perfect reading experience!
– The Moving Words Review
Official Entry: The Most Moving Book Award, Jan. 2, 2023
About the Author
Mallory O’Connor is a writer, an art historian, and a musician. She holds degrees in art, art history, and American history from Ohio University. For twenty years she taught art history at the University of Florida and at Santa Fe College. During this time, she also wrote hundreds of magazie articles and critical essays, and curated numerous exhibitions for museums and galleries.
She is the author of two non-fiction books, Lost Cities of the Ancient Southeast and Florida’s American Heritage River, both published by the University Press of Florida.
American River: Tributaries is her first novel and book one of the American River Trilogy. Book two, American River: Currents was released in March 2017. Book three, American River: Confluence, was released in September 2018.
Mallory’s new series of paranormal/eco-thrillers begins with Epiphany’s Gift, published in April 2019. The series follows follows psychic-medium Epiphany Mayall as she explores paranormal phenomena, investigate art crimes and fights for environmental justice.
Born in Illinois and raised on a ranch on the American River in Northern California, Mallory now resides with her husband, artist John O’Connor, in Gainesville, Florida.