The Wheel of Darkness

How it reads

The Wheel of Darkness is thriller (archaeological adventure thriller, specifically), and its dominant mood is adventurous. It's driven by momentum, discovery and getting into trouble. It moves fast: plot-driven and hard to put down, the kind of book that carries you along even when you're tired.

It's set in the wilderness or at sea, in the historical past, told in the third person, staying close to one character. Its central concerns are secrets, power and politics and faith. In weight it's light and escapist — easy to fall into.

It's a later book in a series — you'll usually want to start earlier. The ending resolves happily. At 388 pages it's an ordinary novel's length. It's well known, the kind of book most keen readers have heard of.