THE MAP THIEF
Heather Terrell
Ballantine Books
Thriller
ISBN: 9780345494689

• Read an Excerpt

THE CHRYSALIS was one of 2007's great surprises, a debut novel by an author whose tone and setting was pitch perfect. Heather Terrell's sophomore effort, THE MAP THIEF, continues its predecessor's level of quality while heralding the welcome return of Mara Coyne.

Coyne is a unique figure in thriller fiction, an attorney-cum-antiquities hunter who retrieves stolen artifacts with research, intellect and negotiation rather than with a bullwhip. As she did in THE CHRYSALIS, Coyne figures prominently in THE MAP THIEF. Her firm is retained by Richard Tobias, an influential political powerbroker who is sponsoring an archaeological dig in China. A centuries-old map uncovered during the dig has been stolen, and Tobias wants Coyne to retrieve it. She is intrigued by the challenge but is unable to shake the feeling that Tobias has not told her everything about what is going on.

Coyne soon discovers that the map is much more valuable than she imagined, and not only in monetary terms. If publicized, it may well change recorded history, and Tobias is planning to use it for his own ends. Coyne's pursuit takes her from New York to the dusty and desolate dig site in China to Lisbon, Portugal, and back to New York again, where she not only resolves the mystery of the missing map but also indirectly solves a historical mystery surrounding the discovery of the Americas, the answer to which had previously been lost in the sands of time.

What I have detailed only covers about half of THE MAP THIEF. There are two other stories, one that peeks behind the creation of the map that Coyne is pursuing and the other that describes a very similar map used by the Portuguese. The former takes place in China in 1421, at the height of the Ming Dynasty, wherein Admiral Zheng He is undertaking a mission unprecedented up to that time: charting the globe. The narrative focuses on Ma Zhi, a uniquely talented cartographer and navigator. Zhi's story is bittersweet; he is one of the Dynasty's eunuchs, a position considered honorable, yet is treated with repulsion.

The descriptions of Zhi's experiences constitute some of Terrell's best work in THE MAP THIEF, covering his apprenticeship, promotion, triumph and, ultimately, tragedy, which will have repercussions for centuries. Even his victories are bittersweet, given what he gave up --- physically and emotionally --- to attain his position, only to have time and circumstance sweep everything away.

The third story is set in Portugal in the late 15th century during what we now call the Age of Discovery. The narrative primarily concerns a navigator named Antonio Coehlo, who joins legendary explorer Vasco da Gama on his voyage to discover a sea route to India. Coehlo's skill and loyalty earns da Gama's trust, resulting in Coehlo being given the task of guarding a precious map in da Gama's possession --- one that, unbelievably, already shows the route. While Coehlo seems to be a bit player in the story, his contribution demonstrates that even a momentary flash of temper can have repercussions across the centuries.

Terrell utilizes short chapters that alternate among her stories to effective purpose, keeping the narrative flowing quickly while rendering a complex, though nonetheless interesting story readily understandable. Readers of THE MAP THIEF will be left clamoring for more of Terrell and her memorable protagonist.

    --- Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub

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