In a spellbinding blend of history, myth, and science, bestselling novelist Manda Scott unleashes a thriller that sweeps from the secrets of the Mayans to the court of a sixteenth-century queen to a shattering end-times prophecy. “It’s a lump of rock, Stella; nothing more. No stone is worth dying for.” Except it’s not just a lump of rock. It’s a blue crystal skull made by the Maya to save the world from ruin; a sapphire so perfect, so powerful that for centuries men have killed to own or destroy it. Ancient prophecies say that if the thirteen skulls already in existence are not reunited, the world will end on December 21, 2012. Cedric Owen, the skull’s last Keeper, died so that it might keep its secret for the next four centuries. Now Stella Cody has found it, and someone has already tried to kill her. Like Owen, she’s being hunted—but by whom? Desperate to unravel the mystery of the crystal skull, Stella must decode Cedric Owen’s coded writings, sketches and ciphers no scholar has been able to unravel. What she discovers is astounding: a shocking secret prophecy…and the staggering puzzle of four terrifying creatures, thirteen precious stones, and what will happen if Cedric Owen’s crystal skull falls into the wrong hands. But time is against Stella. She has only days—hours—left to uncover the only secret that may yet save the world. 12.21.12 The date is set. Time is running out. The end of the world starts now.
Download and start listening now!
"I chose this book as a random pick to read on my way to Honolulu... which didn't happen. I got drawn into this book however when I started to read it... it is two stories in one from 2 different centuries, discussing the history of the myth. the two stories merge in the end... it was very good "
— Matt (5 out of 5 stars)
" "Davinci Code" style of story,but for fans of this type of genre,the mystery is too easy to figure out. The who done-it aspect is so un-beliveably obvious, that you can pretty much figure it out before half-way through the book! You have only 2 choices of bad guy,and a very lame reason for him to try to get the title skull. The flash backs to Elizabethan England were more interesting than the modern story line,although the author does lean quite heavily on the idea that every person reading this book is well versed in the spys of Queen Elizabeth I's court and what was going on at that time in history. The main thread is based on a prediction of a Mayan calander that says the world will end on 12/21/12. The ending does not satisfy the reader as we are left to wonder whether or not anything the characters have done will do any good. "
— Kim, 2/12/2014" Grabbed me from the start with the cave description, adrenalin, and lore. Great read! "
— Leah, 2/9/2014" Interesting book about 8 skulls which ahve to come together in order to ward off the destruction of the world. Timeline moves between 2007 and 1556. Based upon the Mayan prediction that a cataclysmic event awaits humanity in 2012. Historical facts are correctly conveyed and a lot of research has gone into the novel. Action is fast paced with a surprising conclusion. Enjoyed it immensely, however can't help feeling that the characters were not as fully developed as they could have been. "
— Vanessa, 2/2/2014" Its OK. Really liked the fast pace and the book keeps you interested to keep reading on but. Its no cliff hanger. Felt that the end was a bit dissapointing , but nontheless an entertaining read. "
— Charlie, 2/1/2014" A great Da Vinci Code type adventure! "
— Terra, 1/23/2014" Ok...I got my lazy but to try to read it...and it was acutally ok...I didn't really pay too much attention to it...bbut ok. "
— Midori, 1/14/2014" This is a great read. Full of action, adventure, and mysteries. "
— April, 1/13/2014" I chose this book as a random pick to read on my way to Honolulu... which didn't happen. I got drawn into this book however when I started to read it... it is two stories in one from 2 different centuries, discussing the history of the myth. the two stories merge in the end... it was very good "
— Matt, 12/29/2013" This actaull worked pretty well. It moved well and didn't go overboard in the woo-woo area. Not a great work of literature but entertaioning "
— Deb, 12/19/2013" Couldn't get into it so stopped reading. "
— Emma, 11/22/2013" A good story of two parallel stories. Cedric Owen's part is superb but the modern day story iss very boring and lacks details. Overall okay. "
— Kaustubh, 11/17/2013" I enjoyed it - the characters and the story was interesting, especially the history of it with Cedric Owen. The plot was a bit predictable though, and it didn't go far enough into the detail of it. An awesome book would be about all the skulls. "
— Sara, 6/2/2013" Well I do not know whether I am credited yo write this because I gave up. The blue stone and the history story were interesting but the swapping of the 'years' became annoying and neither story was really enough, I was consistently annoyed when the era changed - but maybe I should have persisted? "
— Tim, 11/23/2012" If you liked Labyrinth, you'll love the crystal skull. "
— D, 11/14/2012" Loved the crystal skull creative history. The research must have been fun! "
— Amber, 9/19/2012" This is book was well written but somehow the intensity that I was looking for was lacking. "
— Karlene, 6/26/2012" As far as "the world is going to end on Dec. 21st, 2012" books go-this one was fun to read. How it starts may seem confusing, but it all comes together at the end of the story. I do like the message at the end too...you'll have to read the book to find out if you like it as well. "
— Lisa, 4/22/2012" So very much potential...and such a let down. There is such a build up of leading to the apocalypse, and then...nothing. Nothing happens! "
— Phil, 1/16/2012" Deep--well written with a lot of possible facts re futuristic happenings? "
— John, 9/9/2011" Nada de especial, não deixa grande memória!( A Caveira de Cristal ) "
— Babete, 2/22/2011" Great book! I needed to polish my french and bought this book at a "used book" store. Loved the story, the characters, the plot and the ending. "
— Josee, 11/13/2010" It was different,,,,could have been shorter. "
— Susan, 3/31/2010" I was expecting something that would give information on legends about the crystal skulls, but definitely this was not the right book to pick. The crystal skull is only a tool to build a confusing thriller where Elizabethian England, Nostradamus' France, and a lot of New Age mix together. Nah...... "
— Elena, 2/11/2010" As with Boudica this book is equally stunning. <br/>A good slant on the Mayan prophecy! "
— Mick, 12/25/2009" This is a great read. Full of action, adventure, and mysteries. "
— April, 11/26/2009" An interesting read about the Mayan 2012 doomsday. I enjoyed the book but it was not a real seat gripper or page turner. I would still recommend it to those who love the writing style of Dan Brown and James Rollins. "
— Lisa, 11/12/2009" Fun and interesting read with lots of action and adventure. "
— Nimave, 8/13/2009" No alieans appear in this book :) <br/> <br/>My mom is into New Age stuff so I've been hearing about 2012. Compared to the Shakespeare-related thriller I just read, this book does a better job of jumping back and forth between time. Good beach/mountain retreat read. "
— Peggy, 6/16/2009" Ok...I got my lazy but to try to read it...and it was acutally ok...I didn't really pay too much attention to it...bbut ok. "
— Midori, 4/28/2009" This is a tale based on Mayan prophecies and the legends surrounding crystal skulls. "
— Michelle, 4/15/2009Manda Scott, born and educated in Scotland, is the author of mysteries, thrillers, crime fiction, and historical fiction. Hen’s Teeth was shortlisted for the Orange Prize, and A Treachery of Spies won the McIlvanney Prize for Best Scottish Crime Fiction and named a Financial Times Best Crime Fiction of the Year.
Susan Duerden is an actress and an Earphones Award–winning audiobook narrator. Her reading of The Tiger’s Wife by Téa Obreht earned her an AudioFile Best Voice Award and a Booklist Editors’ Choice Award. She has won ten AudioFile Earphones Awards. Here career spans film, television, theater, voice-overs, and animation. She has played critically acclaimed and award-winning theatrical roles on London’s West End and Off Broadway; acted in the features Lovewrecked and Flushed Away; and held a recurring role on ABC’s Lost.