The Cartographers - MXHDR BookWyrm

Hardcover, 400 pages

English language

Published by William Morrow & Company, William Morrow.

ISBN:: 978-0-06-291069-1

(2 reviews)

What is the purpose of a map?

Nell Young’s whole life and greatest passion is cartography. Her father, Dr. Daniel Young, is a legend in the field and Nell’s personal hero. But she hasn’t seen or spoken to him ever since he cruelly fired her and destroyed her reputation after an argument over an old, cheap gas station highway map.

But when Dr. Young is found dead in his office at the New York Public Library, with the very same seemingly worthless map hidden in his desk, Nell can’t resist investigating. To her surprise, she soon discovers that the map is incredibly valuable and exceedingly rare. In fact, she may now have the only copy left in existence... because a mysterious collector has been hunting down and destroying every last one—along with anyone who gets in the way.

But why?

To answer that question, Nell embarks on a dangerous journey …

What is the purpose of a map?

Nell Young’s whole life and greatest passion is cartography. Her father, Dr. Daniel Young, is a legend in the field and Nell’s personal hero. But she hasn’t seen or spoken to him ever since he cruelly fired her and destroyed her reputation after an argument over an old, cheap gas station highway map.

But when Dr. Young is found dead in his office at the New York Public Library, with the very same seemingly worthless map hidden in his desk, Nell can’t resist investigating. To her surprise, she soon discovers that the map is incredibly valuable and exceedingly rare. In fact, she may now have the only copy left in existence... because a mysterious collector has been hunting down and destroying every last one—along with anyone who gets in the way.

But why?

To answer that question, Nell embarks on a dangerous journey to reveal a dark family secret and discovers the true power that lies in maps...

From the critically acclaimed author of The Book of M, a highly imaginative thriller about a young woman who discovers that a strange map in her deceased father’s belongings holds an incredible, deadly secret—one that will lead her on an extraordinary adventure and to the truth about her family’s dark history.

5 editions

Elise reviewed The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd

The twist makes it.

3 stars

The characters are a bit thin, there's a romantic subplot that doesn't really go anywhere or do anything, and the first half of the book is thankfully a quick read for how little is going on. The back half, after the twist is revealed, is much more compelling and is probably best enjoyed in a single sitting. Some characters are much more fleshed out, and the developing intrigue mixed with the dramatic irony (you can totally tell who the villain is before they ever reveal themselves) makes every page gripping and a little heart-wrenching. I was filled with thoughts like "is the antagonist going to show their hand now" and the twist was so out of left field given the otherwise rather mundane nature of the setting it genuinely took me by surprise. Glad I read it, and though I won't be reading it again, I'm excited to talk about …

The characters are a bit thin, there's a romantic subplot that doesn't really go anywhere or do anything, and the first half of the book is thankfully a quick read for how little is going on. The back half, after the twist is revealed, is much more compelling and is probably best enjoyed in a single sitting. Some characters are much more fleshed out, and the developing intrigue mixed with the dramatic irony (you can totally tell who the villain is before they ever reveal themselves) makes every page gripping and a little heart-wrenching. I was filled with thoughts like "is the antagonist going to show their hand now" and the twist was so out of left field given the otherwise rather mundane nature of the setting it genuinely took me by surprise. Glad I read it, and though I won't be reading it again, I'm excited to talk about it at book club.

Flauschbuch reviewed The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd

Hit and miss

3 stars

The description of some of the things in this novel, e.g. academic life, large corporations and search algorithms seem a little off, as if the author didn't actually know how they work. Unfortunately, some play a bigger role in the story. If you can suspend your disbelief about those the hunt for the mystery is exciting once the pace takes up. I did guess the main villain halfway through, though. While there are some ponderings about the purpose of maps the project one of the characters is working on - a map of everything - only gets a cursory treatment. It could have merited a book of its own.