Kind Words for EFFIGIES

"We mystery lovers who've enjoyed Artifacts and then decided that Relics was even better may not believe this, but Ms. Evans has done it again, and Effigies is the best one yet.  Again, she makes a lesson in our past a fascinating read."--Tony Hillerman, recipient of the Mystery Writers of America's Grand Master Award, and the Navajo Tribe's Special Friend Award, among many other honors.

"In all three of Faye Longchamp's adventures Mary Anna Evans has given us insights into little known aspects of America ’s past. As an archeological tour alone the book would be worth reading, but it’s the fascinating and complex characters that give the story life and vibrancy."--Rhys Bowen, winner of the Anthony, Agatha, Herodotus, and Bruce Alexander Memorial Awards, among many other honors.

Book Sense, the national association for independent booksellers, has recommended Effigies to their readers as a Book Sense Notable Book.

Publishers Weekly--"Intriguing...Though Evans has been compared to Tony Hillerman, her sympathetic characters and fascinating archeological lore add up to a style all her own."

Kirkus--"A captivating combination of archeology, Native-American tales, romance and detection. A must-read."

Library Journal--""a thought-provoking tale about people trying to live together."

Booklist--"Evans adds an extra layer of substance to her series  by drawing readers into the fascinating history of ancient American civilizations."—Barbara Bibel

Affaire de Coeur--"This was a really entertaining novel with an interesting concept, strong storyline and well developed characters. This was the third in the series of Faye Longchamp mysteries, and Evans made this novel a stand along without any type of confusion for the new reader.  Evans has a winner with this novel."--Inez Daylong

Reader Views--"Effigies" has it all.  Mary Anna Evans manages to incorporate romance, archeological information, Native American history, and issues with racial prejudice in to her mystery...At the end of the book, the author has a section that discusses aspects of her story that are actually true.  This made "Effigies" much more enjoyable because as she slips the well-researched information into her story, she also slips this knowledge into our minds... "Effigies" is a story that should not be missed.  I really enjoyed how well the characters are developed.  It is really easy to visualize them.  The descriptions of the surrounding area are vivid.  I also enjoyed the Indian folklore stories that area put in between some of the chapters.  It enriched my experience as a reader.  I felt more in touch with the Choctaw tribe.  The twists and turns of the plot kept me on the edge of my seat guessing.  This story is third in the Faye Longchamp archaeological series."

 "The archeology combined with Native-American lore enhances a fun romantic amateur sleuth thriller...The story line is action-packed even before the corpse is found as the audience will feel the enthusiasm of the team as they uncover their findings. The whodunit is delightfully disguised so that like the sheriff and the archeologist, readers will struggle to solve it. This is a superb murder mystery as the sum of the parts make for a fantastic whole."--Harriet Klausner

Quotes from Reviews of A MERRY BAND OF MURDERERS

Mysterious Reviews--...A Merry Band of Murderers is a winner....Three [stories] are particularly noteworthy: Mary Anna Evans' Land of the Flowers, Jeffrey Deaver's The Fan, and Val McDermid's Long Black Veil.... A Merry Band of Murderers is an admirable anthology of short stories by a skilled company of mystery authors.

Quotes from Reviews of RELICS

Booklist--Evans combines a fascinating plot and an appealing investigator.  As in Artifacts (2003), the first in the series, the remote setting engenders an eerie sense of isolation and otherness that gives the story an extra dimension.  Recommend this steadily improving series to female-sleuth fans or those who enjoy archaeology-based thrillers like Beverly Connor's Lindsay Chamberlain novels. -Barbara Bibel

Publishers Weekly--Evans' second archeological mystery is every bit as good as her debut, Artifacts (2003)....Faye makes a compelling heroine, and she's supported by an interesting array of suspects....Transcripts of Dr. Martinez's interviews scattered throughout the narrative provide important clues for the discerning reader.

School Library Journal--Reminiscent of Tony Hillerman's Jim Chee mysteries, Relics will engage the imagination of readers.

Dallas Morning News--Faye Longchamp, girl archaeologist, is given an opportunity that many fledgling diggers would give their trowels for. She is put in charge of finding the origins of an ethnic group of people in the Alabama hills. But she's puzzled by the lack of work that has been done on site when she arrives with her assistant, Joe. As she looks into the scholarly aspects of the dig, she is distracted by the death of Carmen, the oral historian of the dig. Before she gets very far in investigating Carmen's demise, there's another unexplained death, this of a teenager from the Sujosa community. And soon, Faye is fighting for her own life against someone who doesn't want the secrets of the Sujosa revealed. A fascinating look at contemporary archaeology but also a twisted story of greed and its effects.--Laurie Trimble

Mystery News--Evans has taken Faye out of her familiar setting in Florida and that has helped develop new characteristics and new challenges for her. The sense of place is quite good and Faye feels a little intimidated by the differences between this area and her home. The story is told very well, keeping the reader's interest until the very end, where there is a great deal of suspense as the various strands of the story begin to come together. And finally Evans draws everything together in a very satisfying denouement. Evans first book was good. This one is even better. I look forward to what comes next.--Sally Fellows

My Shelf--Warning, I'm about to gush. Mary Anna Evans writes jewels - books you consider sampling just a bit of, then look up hours later, having completely lost yourself in her world. I loved her debut, Artifacts. The follow-up is just as good and maybe better, although I'm not sure that's possible - um, I did warn you about the gushing, didn't I? This is actually the sort of book for which an overview of the plot doesn't do it justice. Oh it has a genuinely complex and enjoyable story, with a number of varied subplots to keep things interesting. And the author does a fine job of pacing and tying it all together at the end. But what really captures you is the richness of the storytelling and the excellence of the writing in presenting the people and setting that make up the author's world. It makes me sorry for people who'll never read it because they think of it as "just a mystery" and they don't read genre fiction. This isn't "just" anything. It's a thoroughly enjoyable story about people and places and consequences in a world you inhabit as much as read, experiencing the events with everyone else. --Kim Malo

Mary Anna Evans mixes mystery and archeology in a book that's hard to resist.  Entertaining and educational, Relics is a great read.
---James O. Born, author off Shock Wave, Escape Clause, and Walking Money

An intriguing, multi-layered tale. Not only was I completely stumped by the mystery, I was enchanted by the characters Evans created with such respect.

--Claire Matturro, author of Skinny-Dipping, Wildcat Wine, and Bone Valley

Mississippi Valley Archaeology Center at the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse--In my review of Mary Anna Evans' first novel, I noted that one of life's true pleasures was the discovery of a new and talented writer and his/her first novel. I can now add a codicil to that observation and that is that's another great pleasure when that new author has a second novel that is a worthy successor to the first. That is the way I feel about Mary Anna Evan's second Faye Longchamp mystery, Relics.

Faye continues to be a heroine/protagonist wrapped in mystery. Her struggle to keep her ancestral swamp mansion (described in Artifacts), her biracial identity, her status as a non-traditional student of archaeology, and her ambiguous relationship to her friend Joe Wolf Mantooth - all of these elements are artfully combined to portray a young woman at times very confident of her abilities and at other times torn by self-doubt; at times suspicious of authority and at other times desperately needing the structure that authority can bring to her life....Author Evans' plot is sophisticated and complex-bringing together threads of ethnic history, art history, forensic science and archaeology-that require all of Faye's intellectual talents to solve, and thereby helping Faye gain confidence in herself as a scientist and a student of human nature.

In addition to the mystery and its ultimate solution, Mary Anna Evans continues what I hope will be pattern in future Faye Longchamp novels: the posing of ethical questions that are often overlooked in books, whether fiction or non-fiction, on archaeology. In Artifacts, we discovered that Faye was a pothunter, a practice that is anathema to the archaeological profession. But Evans dispassionately helps the reader to understand why Faye has found it necessary to commit this "crime" against the discipline she loves. As readers we can agree or disagree with Faye, but we are forced to consider the question. In much the same way, Evans forces us to see archaeological investigation (as well as other forms of research on human history and behavior) from the standpoint of those people perhaps unfortunate to live on or near archaeological sites or are members of a group "worth" studying. Is it so difficult to understand the hostility of the Sujosa toward people who come to "dig up their privies" or people who write down their old stories or who is related to whom and "who is sleeping with who"? These are questions worthy of asking and worthy of reflection. Mary Anna Evans weaves a good mystery and asks some questions that need to be asked.

Book Review--The sequel to Artifacts, Relics is a terrific mystery that provides the audience with a wonderful look at Alabama through an archeological lens that glimpses back at the state’s history from a modern viewpoint. The story line is exciting from the moment Faye survives the deadly arson until the climax that will surprise the audience. Readers will enjoy this fine regional who-done-it while anticipating more appearances from Faye working in the field. --Harriet Klausner

Huntress Reviews--This novel is rich in historical details and written in a way that the plot is easily understood. Readers will have no trouble following along as this tale of mystery and intrigue guides them into a web of deceit. Author Mary Anna Evans has found her writing niche in the genre of Mysteries. BRAVA! I want more!

Roundtable Reviews--RELICS is a roller-coaster ride of mystery, action, adventure, and deception.  From the first page to the last, the reader will be on the edge of his seat!  The ending is unexpected, but rewarding.  The action is, frankly, non-stop and the writing is top-notch.  Faye is Nancy Drew all grown up--the perfect heroine for a dynamic whodunit with a historical twist.  Ms. Evans does a great job blending historical fact with fiction to create a clever plot and an intriguing mystery.  RELICS is a great follow-up to ARTIFACTS.  For fans of Vijaya Schwartz and Robin Cook, this book is a must-have.  RELICS is the perfect combination of science fiction, history, mystery, and adventure.  Good work, Ms. Evans--keep them coming!-Beverly Forehand

Fresh Fiction-- RELICS is a story about human nature and how people react to change and intrusion from the outside. It also shows what lengths people will go to keep their secrets. Evans does a wonderful job of pulling you into the story and not revealing any of the secrets until the end. -Jory Reedy

Bookloons--This is an intriguing story told well by an author who knows her subject. The tracing of a clan's ancestry, by using shards of pottery and words to old songs, is utterly fascinating. When woven into a murder mystery, this fan couldn't ask for anything more. Set in rural Alabama, this story introduces me to one of the many parts of the United States with which I am not familiar. Now I feel I am. I liked Faye very much....She is dedicated but full of compassion – always aware of her feelings for others. This does not stop her, however, from doing the right thing.....Relics is a really good book with lots of excitement and suspense to while away soft summer evenings.--Mary Ann Smyth

New Mystery Reader--Artifacts, Evan's first novel featuring archeologist Faye Longchamp, won the Benjamin Franklin Award for excellence in mystery and suspense and, after reading her sequel, it's abundantly clear that Evans has kept to her course of distinction...This highly engaging tale of archeology and mystery makes for an all too swift read that fans of either will relish.  Faye, a feisty and appealing heroine, adds great depth to this already entertaining tale, and helps move this fascinating plot along with an even greater speed.  And though the Sujosa is a fictional group, Evans provides plenty of realistic archeological detail to make it all seem more than convincing, while simultaneously intellectually gripping.  Definitely recommended, we eagerly are left waiting for the next.--Stephanie Padilla

Quotes from Reviews of ARTIFACTS

Publishers Weekly—“Few corners of Florida remain unmined for crime fiction and now, happily, there’s one less.  The shifting little isles along the Florida Panhandle—hurricane-wracked bits of land filled with plenty of human history—serve as the effective backdrop for Evans’s debut, a tale of greed, archaeology, romance and murder….Readers should welcome this strong new sleuth.” 

Booklist—“First-novelist Evans introduces a strong female sleuth in this extremely promising debut, and she makes excellent use of her archaeological subject matter, weaving past and present together in a multilayered, compelling plot.” Barbara Bibel

Florida Journal—“Richly atmospheric…steeped in the local landscape and history of the Gulf Coast region, Artifacts makes a gripping read with a surprising plot twist.” Simone Behr

The Islander—“an adventurous blend of mystery, history and social commentary…” Paul Berman and Paul Roat

South Florida Sun-Sentinel—“…an affecting atmospheric mystery filled with unusual and engaging characters.” Oline Cogdill

Midwest Book Review—“…a compelling read…” Christy Tillery French

The Post and Courier, Charleston, SC—“Mary Anna Evans’ first novel, a nifty mystery, skillfully combines a number of elements….The multilayered puzzles make for interesting reading.”  Janice Shumake

Crescent Blues—“Artifacts is an extremely charming novel, and its central character—the mixed-ancestry Faye pluckily striving to survive despite the leviathan of the state and the scheming of a murder—proves enormously appealing….Read this book.  You’ll enjoy it.”  John Grant

Tampa Tribune—“It’s always fun to discover a new Florida voice, especially one who can bring to life the rich texture—the sand, the sea, the moss-draped live oaks, the seedy fishing shacks, the salted boat culture—of the state’s coast…the menace and the history are resolved in a hurricane of a finale.”  Maryhelen Clague

Cozies, Capers, and Crimes—“…an excellent read.  I couldn’t put it down.”  Lonnie Cruse, author of Murder in Metropolis

Curled Up with a Good Book—“The distinctly Southern flavor of this book is amplified by an eclectic cast of characters, all quirky and memorable long after the last page has been turned…You will read this novel for its gripping plot and interesting cast, but you’ll savor it for its rich tutorial in slavery, coastal history and heritage.  In fact this book is well worth reading a second time.” Karen P. Fowler

Aglaia—“…a tantalizing mystery.”

Murder on the Beach Bookstore Newsletter—“Finding a new author who is able to capture your attention, teach about the history of your home state, and help you follow the twists and turns of a murder is a great joy.  In her debut novel, Mary Anna Evans does those things, and more.” Margaret Hamilton

I Love A Mystery—“Mary Anna Evans tells a good story.”

Reviewing the Evidence—“Author Evans infuses vibrant life to the history of the region and the nation through the circumstances of one family. Her illumination of the region and its special characteristics is excellent. The story lines move with vitality and good pace.”  Carl Brookins

Kirkus Review—“A capably written debut…”

The Oak Ridger (Oak Ridge, Tennessee)—“…an intriguing mystery debut…”

Kate’s Mystery Books Newsletter—“…one of those first books you don’t want to miss…Artifacts is a refreshingly different Florida mystery, full of a sense of place nad history that is compelling.”

Heartland Reviews—“Artifacts is a fast-paced mystery, full of fascinating details…Ms. Evans has created a book full of unique characters.  We give it five hearts.”