Heuvelt’s Oracle starts when two students biking their way to school one foggy morning make an incredible discovery. They find the wreck of a ship from the 1700s in the middle of a tulip field. One student- Emma- enters the ship and vanishes. Others follow, before the government steps in and seals the area off.
In a bid to solve the mystery of the ancient ship before the media gets hold of the story, they enlist the aid of Robert Grim, a man with some experience of the paranormal (see HEX). Authorities have sequestered those people (and their families) who have any knowledge of the ship to keep them ‘safe.’ However, Grim soon realises the ship is more than just a minor occult occurrence. It’s the opening salvo in a renewing battle between forces ancient beyond belief.
Oracle is a rich, atmospheric read. As with his other books, I absolutely adore Heuvelt’s practical Dutch sensibilities. In this story, at full force when Bekker is working to get off of the Mammoth III at the end. This book also has Grim, from HEX in it! He’s definitely a favourite character, and I hope he shows up in future books. He’s starting to remind me a wee bit of Preston & Child’s Agent Pendergast.
This archaeologist learned about a whole new area to research, too. Doggerland features prominently in the latter half of the book. It’s an area formerly of Northern Europe, now submerged, but that was often exposed and occupied during Pleistocene and early Holocene glacial periods. Ice Age animal remains and prehistoric tools have been dredged up from this sunken region.
Overall, Oracle is a delightful speculative horror tale with psychological and political thriller undertones. Highly recommended!
***Many thanks to Netgalley & Tor for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
