
When it comes to FBI/Police procedurals, Carolyn Arnold is the bomb. I enjoy her writing style and she knows how to hook her readers and keep them entertained. I never knew she wrote adventure stories until I came across The City of Gold. When I realised she was the author, I was excited and the blurb confirmed my decision to read this book.
The prologue, which set the pace for the rest of the story, was suspenseful, adrenaline pumping and nail biting. From that moment I knew this would be a page-turner, Ms. Arnold did not disappoint. The story took a few turns, which I never saw coming.
City of Gold tells the story of Matthew Conner, an archaeologist, and his treasure hunting team, which is made of his friend Robyn, and Cal. Robyn, is the curator of one of the largest museums in Canada and Cal is a travel photographer. They recently returned from India where they barely escaped with their lives when retrieving the priceless Pandu. However, someone else also has their eyes on the Pandu. This person was ruthless and desperate, which was demonstrated when they kidnapped Cal’s girlfriend. Providing the Pandu was out of the question, so to secure her release, the legendary City of Gold was used as leverage.
Their journey in search of the legendary city was filled with danger at every turn. Not only did they have to deal with the dangers from the jungle, they also had to contend with the human kind. What made this adventure nail-biting was a life depended on them finding this city. While reading I had so many questions. Would they find the city? Did it really exist and will they make it out of the jungle alive?
I enjoyed history about the Incan civilization. The history of the South American Indians have always fascinated me so the information provided in this story fed my fascination. A lot of research went into this aspect of the story, which is one of the things I expect from the author. Her attention to detail was impressive. Her descriptions were vivid, which made me feel as if I were a part of the adventure.
I loved the execution of the secondary story, which involved the kidnapping. Sophie, in spite of her fears, demonstrated bravery throughout the whole ordeal. I loved how both stories came together to create an exciting tale.
The characters came alive in this story of adventure. Some I found likable, some I tolerated, and some I disliked. The relationships portrayed were complicated, which added to the realism of the story. Matthew and his father had unresolved issues, which made their relationship complex. This complexity spilled over into his relationship with the women in his life. The secondary characters played their part in making the story exciting, riveting and adventurous.
Conclusion/Recommendation
Reasons you should read this book:
You are a fan of Indiana Jones.
You enjoy stories filled with adventure and suspense.
This was an enjoyable read and I am looking forward to Matthew Connor’s next adventure
Action-advenure books for the mystery lover. Does treasure hunting excite you? What about the thought of traveling the globe and exploring remote regions to uncover legends that the world has all but forgotten?
If so, strap yourself in for an adventure with modern-day archaeologist Matthew Connor and his two closest friends. Indiana Jones meets the twenty-first century.
This is the perfect book series for fans of Indiana Jones, Lara Croft, National Treasure, and The Relic Hunter.
Follow the book tour
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- Buried Dreams: Natasha Madison - March 16, 2025
- Freezing the Puck: T D Lua - March 11, 2025

This sounds really exciting! I like the fact that there is some Incan history worked into the story and the whole Indiana Jones vide is a big plus.
Wow, this sounds pretty good, and I do love a good mystery too. Great review. Thanks for sharing the excerpt too.
Thank you Jenea. It was an enjoyable read.
I love reading adventyre stories, especialy with architects in it! Adding this book to my to-read list 🙂
It was exciting. I hope you enjoy it.
For sure somewhere in the Caribbean. I am a huge thriller fan, so I would be looking for some action. 🙂 I am also reading a lot of Carolyn’s novels. Loving them. I came over from Caffeinated.
sherry
@
fundinmental
Thanks for stopping by.
Sounds like a great mystery book. I’m in the mood for this genre. Just finished a romantic suspense with mystery and thriller theme. I loved your review as always. Thank you for sharing! ?
Thanks Geybie. It was not a mystery. It was more of an adventure with danger lurking around every corner.
This sounds great! I love Indiana Jones type reads so this I could devour.
I love that this is something different and has some history in it as well!
I am a fan of Indy so 😀
Thank you for reading and reviewing CITY OF GOLD.
It was a pleasure.