Publisher's Weekly
Aging movie actress Charlotte Graham has two reasons for accepting her stepdaughter Marsha Lundstrom's invitation to join her on a study tour to Dunhuang, an isolated oasis in northwestern China: first, she possesses a lively sense of adventure; second, she has learned that a friend's stolen Chinese statue may resurface in Dunhuang, the probably site of its origin. While in Dunhuang, Marsha hopes to translate ancient poetry manuscripts; the place also attracts scholars in other areas. Once arrived, American paleontologist Larry Fiske announces that he has made ''the greatest dinosaur fossil find of the century.'' Before the nature of his find can be revealed, Larry is found dead of stab wounds and Charlotte puts her sleuthing skills to work. But with so much text devoted to tidbits on paleontology and Chinese history and culture (though intriguing and well integrated), it sometimes seems like the occasional corpse is just another fillip. Matteson's ( Murder on the Cliff ) adventure will charm readers who enjoy the mingling of several flavors but may try the patience of those who want their murder straight up.