Put Atlantis in a book title and I’m in faster than you can say “lost civilisation.” Honestly, who can resist a story about the most famous place no one can actually find? It’s probably a guilty pleasure, but I’ve been hooked on these mystery thrillers ever since The Da Vinci Code rewired my brain into permanently asking, “But what if…?”
Alright, so they’re not exactly the kind of books your English teacher would frame and hang on the wall. But they’re brilliant fun. They let you wander through a version of our world where history has a few… creative gaps. You come away thinking maybe humanity wasn’t just poking rocks together until recently. Maybe we were doing something far more interesting and just forgot to write it down properly.
I stumbled across this one on Twitter, where the author casually announced it was available for the dangerously tempting price of £2.99 on Kindle. Reader, I lasted about three seconds before hitting “buy now.” The book appeared instantly, like literary teleportation. I do love physical books, but Kindle has the unfair advantage of being there, immediately, with zero effort. It’s basically the fast food of reading, but without the regret.
The cover is exactly what you’d expect, all mystery and intrigue, but the author was a complete unknown to me. Turns out, this is his debut, which always adds a bit of extra curiosity. You’re either about to discover a hidden gem or a brave first attempt. Thankfully, it leans toward the former.
The story kicks off strong with a flashback, the kind that practically winks at you and says, “Remember this, it’ll matter later.” Not long after, we’re thrown into the action. Our hero, because of course there is one, is Dr John Hunter, an archaeology professor at Cambridge with a slightly rebellious academic streak. He’s dabbled in alternative archaeology, which in his world is basically code for “professionally side-eyed by colleagues.” The early scenes do a great job of showing the ridicule he faces, which makes it all the more satisfying when things start going his way.
Enter a wealthy German businessman with a suspiciously generous offer, and just to keep things interesting, Hunter has to work with his ex-girlfriend. Because uncovering ancient secrets clearly isn’t stressful enough on its own. From there, the plot moves quickly, darting around like it’s late for an appointment, but in a good way.
I genuinely enjoyed this one. I read it over two slightly sleep-deprived nights, which is always a good sign. Having dipped into a fair few Atlantis novels, I tend to play a quiet game of “go on then, surprise me,” and this one actually does. It offers one of the more original takes on the whole Atlantis mystery, and no, I’m not spoiling it. Not even a tiny hint. You’ll have to earn that revelation yourself.
The writing style is strong and very readable. There were a few moments where it felt like a paragraph had wandered off and not come back, giving parts of the story a slightly jumpy, off-road feel. But oddly, it didn’t ruin the experience. If anything, it added a bit of chaotic charm, like a dirt track ride where you’re not entirely sure what’s coming next but you’re enjoying it anyway.
All in all, I’m keen to see more from Dr John Hunter. There’s clearly a lot more out there for him to uncover, preferably with fewer awkward reunions and more ancient mysteries. This is a great addition to the alternative archaeology pile and a very promising start for a new author.
