The Everything Theory: Combining Adventure with Ancient Mysteries

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everything theoryI’m always looking for novels that will make me look at the world in different ways. The Everything Theory does that while entertaining readers with a fast-paced plot and memorable characters.

Theories on everything from how the pyramids were constructed to Stonehenge to Atlantis abound through this novel as the characters search the far reaches of the Earth for answers.

The adventure starts in a small town in Australia when an amateur astrologist is found dead after an apparent suicide. Luke, his assistant and cohort, doesn’t believe his friend killed himself. Then someone tries to kill Luke and he wonders if they stumbled across information that others want to keep hidden. While on the run, he meets a group of researchers who know why he’s in danger.

The result is a chase full of twists and turns and learning along the way. The theories shown in this novel made me wonder about the truth behind the ancient knowledge that we dig up and try to explain. Are we seeing the truth when we look at history in this way or are we seeing what we want to see?

Stonehenge

Dianne Gray delivers descriptions that put you right in the middle of the action:

“Seira Kanahele scrambled from the tunnel and into the dying light where the colours of dusk and shadows of dark clouds moved like sharks through the mountains. As she looked behind for the others, her long, black plait flicked like a snake at her back. She covered her head with her gloved hands as the mouth in the mountain spewed dust and rocks and millions of years of history across the remote, uninviting slopes…Only humans could have created the beauty of the caves and only humans could have destroyed them.”

Character descriptions like this reminded me of Dickens:

“He pulled back his hood to reveal hair like black feathers styled by his pillow, a youthful complexion with rosy cheeks like fresh slap marks and a small mole between his bottom lip and strong, square jawline.”

“All his life he had thought of the Earth as nothing more than the ground beneath his feet. He never imagined ancient cities below, or the tons of rock and dirt that has been laid down through the ages like the pages of a book holding the records of a forgotten history.”

I didn’t want this novel to end. I wanted it to go on with all the theories of the world, making me wonder about what we like to call the truth. But the ending was absolutely perfect and the epilogue really made me smile. Recommended to anyone who loves to wonder about the world.

Click here to order The Everything Theory. You can connect with Dianne Gray, the author of The Everything Theory, through her blog or on Twitter.

What do you look for in a novel? Do you have any theories on ancient mysteries?

52 thoughts on “The Everything Theory: Combining Adventure with Ancient Mysteries”

  1. Dianne is a gifted writer. I’ve read a few of her books but not this one yet. Sounds wonderful. Thanks for the great review. Another one to add to my TBR list. (Which is very, very looooong…)

    • I loved this one so much that I’m going to have to read all of her books now. I think you’ll love this one too. There’s lots of science and archaeology all wrapped up in an adventure/thriller. It’s always fun to look at that long TBR list and dream about reading them all!

  2. Okay, you have piqued my interest and it is now on the list… Unfortunately, the list is long but some times things have a way of jumping the line… 🙂

    • I’m glad to hear that! I know you like Dickens too so I think you’ll enjoy this. She adds a touch of humor to her characters like he does. It kept me smiling while reading.

      • Actually, I’ve read very little Dickens (1) many years ago. However, that will soon be remedied as there are one or two in the stack and at least one on order. Last year was a summer fling with Hemingway and I believe this will be a winter of Dickens and not of discontent… 😉

      • Winter is the perfect time to read Dickens because it’s cozy reading. I’ve only read a few and might have to delve into another one myself. Enjoy!

      • The Old Curiosity Shop is on the way and perhaps a good place to begin! Perhaps you will join me in Dickensland…?

      • I started scanning his work and it just sort of stood out. The only one I read before was Hard Times and that was longer ago than we shall discuss here. ;0
        Stay warm and happy reading!

    • Thanks Letizia! Her fun personality really comes through in this. I loved all the astrology and archaeology and mysteries that were threaded throughout the story. It can be hard to educate and entertain and Dianne does a wonderful job of that with this book.

  5. This one’s a great one. I really liked it when I read it. Dianne’s an awesome writer with a gift for describing things in unique ways.

    • Yes she is! Her writing and the story kept me turning the pages. I’m looking forward to reading more of her books now. Hope you’re having fun with the pre-holiday craziness!

  6. Thank you so much, Sheila! I’m so glad you enjoyed the story because I absolutely loved writing (and researching) it! It’s wonderful when you put so much effort and love into your work and then read an awesome review like this. You’ve made my day/week/year! xxxxx

    • Thank you for writing such an entertaining, thought provoking book. I already want to read it again. I was amazed by the research while reading it and loved hearing about all the ancient mysteries. The characters were perfect too. Really, everything about it was perfect. xoxo

      • I’m so glad you liked it, Sheila! I’ve just put a thank you in my latest post for you. I’m truly flattered. We spend so much time working on our stories it’s the icing on the cake when I read reviews like this. I’ve been on cloud nine since reading this! 😀

  7. Sheila I imagine it will be brilliant as I have read one of Dianne’s books Wolf Pear (loved it) and have another in my ebook pile to read. So thanks for the review on this one I will check it out, Dianne is a talented Author.

    • I think you’ll like this one too. I really didn’t want it to end. I’ll have to check out Wolf Pear and the others now – thanks so much!

  8. Pingback: There’s a rhino in my shoe | Dianne Gray author

    • Thank you! It’s such a fun, thought provoking book and I get excited when I find books like that. I’ll have to check out her other books now too.

  11. Normally I give this type of a book a miss but you have interested me in it, there is something enticing about the mystery of the ancient days.

    • I’m glad to hear that – it’s a fun story with interesting theories on those mysteries. There’s a lot in there about them, but I still wanted to hear more.

  12. The Dickens comparison was spot on! Dianne is incredible. This was the first book I read of hers years ago, and I was totally impressed. Need to read more of her work…love that gal!

    • Thanks Britt! I’ve been thinking I’ll have to read more of her books now too. It’s crazy that it took me so long to get to this one!

  13. I really enjoyed this novel when I read it a while back. Dianne takes some fascinating ideas and really brings them to life, along with the characters. I’d definitely recommend it to fellow readers!

    • I thought of you while reading it because of the archaeology references. I love books that bring history or ideas like that into the story so I’m looking forward to reading yours too! Hope you’re having fun with the holiday craziness while writing like crazy.

  14. I think Dianne is a wonderful writer. I have a couple of her books on my TBR list, but did get to read Wolf Pear — a wonderful murder mystery. I love her characters. They’re not cliche, and they’re so unique that they’re realistic, if that makes sense. I believed what she wrote. Great review, Sheila!

    • Thanks Kate! The characters in this one are great too. I’m still thinking about them and I’m looking forward to reading her other books now. I’ll have to try Wolf Pear next!

    • Same here on all of those things – no wonder we’re good friends! If you haven’t seen it, Stargate is a fun movie that will make you wonder even more about the pyramids. Hope you have a fun Christmas and I’ll look forward to seeing you in the new year! xo

  17. It’s been too long since I read anything other than academia. At least an year has gone by without any substantial reading other than a few paras here another few words there….
    need to to find the drive in me to read a book from start to end.
    You make the book sound interesting – but the title is a bit strange to me. it doesn’t seem to call to me to read it 🙂

    Been so long since I wandered down here. Hope your new year started wonderfully.

    • Hi Amira! Thanks so much for stopping by – I’ve missed you. I hope academia has been treating you well. I haven’t been around here much either. I’d rather be out wandering around or reading books instead of sitting at the computer all the time. 🙂 Another great book is All the Light We Cannot See. I think you’d really like that one if you haven’t read it yet. Love and hugs and happy new year to you!

  18. Sounds likes a great read! Thanks for putting it on my radar. I love her blog posts. 🙂

  22. Oooh I love it when I find a book I don’t want to end!! It gets me excited just thinking about it 😉 I enjoyed reading this review, Sheila. Have a nice night!

    • Thanks Christy – it’s a fun one! Dianne is a blogging friend and a great writer, so I’m happy that we’ve been able to get to know each other in this crazy way.

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