BOOK REVIEW
Book: Chewed Up by the Jungle
Genre: Romantic Adventure Thriller
Author: Ann Charles
Rating: 5/5
Reviewer: Stavyah Vatsarah
The third book in the Dig Site Mystery Series, Chewed Up by the Jungle, by Ann Charles, takes us back to the Maya jungle with archeologist Angélica García and photojournalist Quint Parker. Their work at an archeological site combines Charles’s love of Maya history with a story woven with danger, humor, romance, and the possibility of the supernatural. What makes the novel so fascinating is how well these different threads weave together. There’s enough mystery to keep us guessing with the story and enough warmth in the characters and their interactions to make the journey just as important as the destination.
Charles also provides the novel a visceral sense of place. Quint’s first description of the jungle as ‘angry’ suggests generations of human intrusion and scarring. Angélica immediately punctures the description when he compares humans to ‘chiggers’ and ‘leeches.’ This exchange establishes something important about the novel: even when Charles creates an atmosphere of threat, she allows her characters to respond with humor.
The Jungle as Context and Beyond
The jungle is slowly absorbed into the reading experience. Charles fills it with sounds, movement, heat, insects, and hidden spaces so that the characters are never entirely apart from their environment. Her use of auditory imagery, describing the jungle as ‘loud with chirps and chatters and whistles,’ makes the setting feel alive rather than static. There is an undercurrent of uncertainty pervading the archeological expedition, for the characters can never be quite sure of what may be lurking just beyond the edge of vision.
The archeological context is integrated into the narrative just as well. Through Angélica’s work, Charles is able to introduce the reader to Maya architecture, glyphs, mythology, and ancient traditions and archeological practices without the novel reading like a history lesson. The characters and their work also connect the technical details of LIDAR technology and the study of ancient structures. This adds a dimension to the adventure and also reflects Angélica’s real interest in the past.
Characters Give Heart
This interest in the past is for Angélica. She has a professional relationship with archaeology but also a personal one, particularly with her mother’s work and theories. ‘For Angélica, the thought that there were civilizations that prospered so long ago was a comfort,’ writes Charles thoughtfully. The concept goes beyond archeology’s excavation and discovery; for Angélica, learning how people lived in the past also becomes a way of reflecting on life in the present.
The added warmth of her relationship with Quint is also a source of comfort. They say they like to tease in casual conversation rather than let the excitement happening around them shut them off. Quint’s interest in Maya culture is important because it shows his desire to understand something that is important to Angelica. So their relationship is more than a romantic thread; it’s another way that Charles shows character.
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A Fine Mix of Suspense and Humor
One of the most attractive things about the novel is perhaps its humor, which arises naturally from the characters. Finally, when Quint and Daisy joke about Angélica’s obsession with archeology, Daisy gives the condition its wonderfully simple name: ‘It’s called archeology.’ It’s a clever exchange, but it also shows how the characters see Angélica and how comfortable they are with each other. Charles mines humor from character, not laying it in for laughs.
That humor is especially effective when the story veers into more unsettling territory. The supernatural element is unsettling, but Charles still makes room for skepticism and wit. Quint is less certain of what he has experienced but still considers rational explanations. This balance keeps the paranormal engaging without overwhelming the archeological and human aspects of the story.
A Story of the Past
A further one of the more subtle strengths of Chewed Up by the Jungle is its curiosity and respect for Maya civilization. Charles’s research appears in the specifics of the archeological sites, the language, the beliefs, and the relationship between the ancient Maya and their environment. The glossary also provides readers with an opportunity to learn about unfamiliar terms, such as ‘aguada,’ ‘cenote,’ and ‘Chakmo’ol,’ without interrupting the narrative.
But the past never loses its people. Angélica reflects on the lives of people from centuries ago, reminding us that history is, ultimately, a tapestry of shared human experience. That perspective gives the archeological material an emotional dimension and helps explain why the past matters so much to her.
A Fun Trip
Chewed Up by the Jungle succeeds because it knows what kind of story it wants to be. It’s an archeological mystery, but it’s also about the people who are chasing it. There’s a feeling of peril, but it doesn’t sacrifice humor. It brings in the supernatural but allows for some doubt. These work because Charles keeps character and setting at the center of the story.
The result is a novel that is easy to enter. Charles herself describes it as a mixture of ‘quick wit and mystery, sweat and adventure, wonder and Maya mythology’ with ‘laughter and romance,’ and this description does quite well encapsulate the book’s generous spirit.
Its most impressive aspect is how it makes the archeological work, the relationships, and the setting feel like natural parts of the same story. Chewed Up by the Jungle is surely a satisfying addition to the Dig Site Mystery Series for readers who like their mysteries with a strong sense of place and characters who are just as much fun to spend time with as the mystery itself.
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ENGAGE WITH LH | Click on the cover image of the book Chewed Up by the Jungle and buy yourself a copy right off the bat!