When communication halts from an expedition sent to explore an Inca settlement in Peru, top archaeologist Angus Kask and his team are hired by the Chicago Museum of Archaeology to journey south to investigate. His son CJ joins him on the voyage and soon forms a tight bond with the children of the other crew members. At the Inca temple strange things have been happening. The mummified body of an Inca boy has been found just inside the entrance and a malevolent wraith has been attacking the archaeologists, literally sucking the life out of them until all that is left is dust and bones. After discovering that the original expedition has been illegally ransacking the tombs, Kask senior attempts to put things right. But the wraith is on the war path and it takes the bravery and intelligence of CJ and his friends to save the day.

Opening with an exciting, and disturbing, prologue set in the 1500s with the Conquistadors’ barbaric invasion of the Inca Empire, ST Cameron’s INCA WRAITH (the first book in the “Young Explorers Adventure” series) is a thrilling old-school adventure yarn and it sets the scene well for future dramatic escapades. This short novel is perfectly paced and driven by an endearing gang of kids whose insight and intelligence proves more than a match for the nefarious adults and whose compassion unlocks the secret of how to calm the malevolent spirit. Though there are historical facts about the Incas alluded to within the text this is no history lesson. Like the Indiana Jones series of films of which the book is very reminiscent, author Cameron focuses on bringing the thrills rather than archaeological accuracy. The writing is straightforward and concise though Cameron doesn’t shy away from some vivid imagery, including the slaughter of the Incas by the invading hordes and the horrors of the wraith’s attacks.

Simple to follow, with frequent scenes of action and tension, ST Cameron’s INCA WRAITH is a perfect quick read for middle-graders enthralled by the past.

~Kent Lane for IndieReader