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The Spirit and the Skull Audiobook
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Murder is unthinkable to the People—a Paleolithic tribe migrating across Alaska and becoming some of the first undocumented immigrants to enter the Americas. For them, murder isn't merely tragic, it's forbidden. Murder poisons the entire tribe and puts it at odds with nature, the Spirits, and the mighty Earth Mother. A murderer must be found and removed in order to put the world back in balance.
Raven is the aging Spirit Man to a band in which a member has been strangled with a garrote. Worse, evidence of witchcraft is linked to the killing—another terrible violation of the People's covenant with the Earth Mother and the Spirits. Raven isn't a Spirit Man because of sacredly held beliefs. He holds the position because his band needed someone to do so, and because he needed to secure his place among them. Now the agnostic Spirit Man begins having dreams in which a stranger holds Raven's skull in his hands, and a woman claiming to be the Earth Mother—accepted by many followers—declares that only Raven can solve the crimes and restore the People to harmony. How will a man who doubts the authenticity of this goddess satisfy her demands? What if she and the dreams are real and successfully solving the crimes will result in Raven's imminent death? An impossible situation becomes even harder as Raven finds it increasingly likely the young woman he's falling in love with must be the guilty party.
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“Hayes takes a break from his Mad Dog and Englishmem series to bring readers a unique twist on the historical mystery: a Paleolithic detective story…Dealing with themes of primitive religion, social relationships, and even women’s rights, this fascinating tale, which adroitly straddles both mystery and fantasy genres, will attract readers from both camps.”
— Booklist (starred review)
Quotes
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“Original, thought-provoking, and riveting, The Spirit and the Skull is much more than a whodunnit by one of my favorite mystery writers. I loved it!”
— J. Carson Black, New York Times bestselling author of The Laura Cardinal Novels -
“The Spirit and the Skull hits a home run with an interesting cast of would-be villains and a setting that tweaks the imagination. Prehistory was never more interesting, or sexier!”
— Anne Hillerman, New York Times bestselling author of The Spiderwoman’s Daughter -
“Thought provoking.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“Hayes, best known for his Mad Dog & Englishman series, draws on his expertise in archaeology and anthropology in this stand-alone…The portrait of tribal life and the lyrical descriptions of an untouched land are worth the read.”
— Kirkus Reviews
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About J. M. Hayes
J. M. Hayes was born and raised on the flat earth of central Kansas where his Mad Dog & Englishman series takes place. He graduated from Wichita State University and did postgraduate work at the University of Arizona. He shares a home in Tucson with his wife, two computers, four thousand or so books, two German Shepherds, and a Scottish “Terror.”
About Barry Press
Barry Press has been an active professional actor, director, and teacher for over thirty-five years. He has performed off Broadway and at numerous regional theaters from Alaska to Florida. He is founder and artistic director of Living Literature, a Rhode Island–based literacy program.