Title: Valley of the Queen: A Treacherous Pursuit of a Mythical Queen’s Treasure
Author: William Diebold
Publisher: LitPrime Solutions
ISBN: 979888703205
Pages: 382
Genre: Mystery Action/Adventure
Reviewed by: Anita Lock
Pacific Book Review
An exceptionally brilliant Asian learns more than expected about her regal past in William Diebold’s mystery, Valley of the Queen.
Mai (Maisong) Sambhat is an exceedingly talented computer gal. Despite her Vietnamese refugee and orphan background, her eventual ties to a wonderful foster family provided excellent-quality education, enabling her opportunities to hone her skills. Unfortunately, the year is 1985 when she looks for work, and women in CEO positions are nearly nonexistent. Nevertheless, Mai pushes through job interviews that go belly up until she meets Catherine Marsh, the highly-popular Chicago TV investigative reporter who hires her on the spot. Mai meets Jack, an advertising photographer, and the two become an item in a matter of months.
A few years later, Catherine gets Mai started on an investigative project about a “shadow” mission under the command of Colonel Minh tied to a possible Champa treasure in Vietnam. Jack pulls out boxes of his 1970 Vietnam pictures when he recognizes that Mai’s project photos are from the same area. Upon closer inspection, Jack believes one of his pics captured possible evidence.
The Champa project eventually morphs into a book because of Minh’s nefarious network, but it turns dangerous once Mai learns she’s the long-sought-after queen of the Champas. Although unconvinced about her heritage, Mai wonders if it’s true, especially after thwarted a kidnapping, and initially chooses not to disclose the information about her past to Jack and Catherine for fear of endangering them. The trio makes a trip to Vietnam, but once Mai uncovers the lost treasure and she’s identified as Queen Dau Te Po, things turn downright scary when Mai disappears.
Author William Diebold pulls from his vast photography experiences to create an adventurous mystery set within the heart of old Asian royalty. Diebold opens with an ancient backstory before fast-forwarding into 1980s Chicago to introduce Mai, his main character. His unique storytelling heavily highlights dynamic female figures like Mai and Catherine Marsh, whose outstanding skills outshine CEOs in their professions. Diebold doesn’t stop there when he incorporates Kelly, Jack’s highly efficient assistant, who is in love with Catherine. Although lesbianism is not an acceptable lifestyle during that period, that doesn’t stop them from building their relationship and Catherine from bearing a son (with Jack’s help) through the insemination process.
Diebold uses many of his characters as foils to shape Mai’s decision-making while constantly struggling with her identity and life’s purpose. His third-person narrative seamlessly flows from chapter to chapter, slowly building to fast-paced suspense and tension with Mai’s past while weaving in Mai and Jack’s burgeoning romance and mixing mysticism with ancient Phan Rang history. Dialogue naturally fits within scenes detailing Chicago’s corporate landscape and South Vietnam’s rugged terrain. Twists and turns are light and somewhat predictable until Mai’s disappearance in Vietnam.
Valley of the Queen is a page-turner from beginning to end.
