Altar of Bones: A Novel by Philip Carter

               Sitting in the library chair one Saturday afternoon, nothing was really grabbing my attention as to something I wanted to read. Then for some reason the title Altar of Bones jumped out at me. Why that one of all the books on the shelf, I do not know. When I read the inside cover, I thought it could be a really interesting mystery/thriller book. That is exactly what it was. 

               There are a lot of different characters in this book that span generations. All of them are important to what is going on, even those who are in the story for a short time. Despite so many characters, it is clear the main two are Zoe and Ry. At the start of the book they do not know the other even exists. They are each awarded their own mission, but Zoe and Ry discover they need each other in order to succeed. 

                 Ry’s father is dead. His brother has been murdered. Someone is trying to kill him. Now Ry is on a mission to find the woman who holds a long lost film his father spoke about in a death bed confession. Ry does not know what is on the film, but he knows it has to do with his brother’s murder and the attempts on his own life. 

              Zoe is shocked to discover her grandmother has been murdered. It is not just the fact that her grandmother was murdered that is surprising, but that her grandmother was alive at all. Zoe thought she died decades ago, long before Zoe was even born. To make things even more confusing, Zoe discovers a recent letter from her grandmother filled with riddles and clues about something called the “Altar of Bones.” Determined to figure out what is going on, Zoe sets off on an extremely dangerous journey. 

               After nearly getting killed, Zoe meets and joins up with Ry. It turns out the woman he is looking for, the one with the film, is Zoe’s grandmother. This is the same grandmother who left Zoe the letter. Running for their lives, Zoe and Ry try to figure out what is so important about the film and how this mysterious Altar of Bones fits into everything. 

               Filled with history, both Russian and American, it is fascinating how everything comes together in the end. Every story they tell from the different generations is an essential part of the puzzle. Nothing should be overlooked or deemed unimportant. Well, nothing except for all the blood and car chases which were far too numerous for me. Once I got around those parts, I loved trying to figure out the clues and puzzles the grandmother left. It was thrilling to see how the history was intertwined with the actions of today. I always wanted to know what was going to happen next.