Thrillers & Suspense
![Peng Shepherd - [object Object] author](https://res.cloudinary.com/readsomnia/image/upload/authors/a_B0755NH654.jpg)
The Cartographers: A Novel
"A wildly entertaining, imaginative ride with a cinematic plot that keeps the pages turning." - Real Simple
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
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 . . .
Perfect for fans of Joe Hill and V. E. Schwab, The Cartographers is an ode to art and science, history and magic-a spectacularly imaginative, modern story about an ancient craft and places still undiscovered.
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
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 . . .
Perfect for fans of Joe Hill and V. E. Schwab, The Cartographers is an ode to art and science, history and magic-a spectacularly imaginative, modern story about an ancient craft and places still undiscovered.
Editorial Reviews
"Peng Shepherd's The Cartographers is… an enjoyable, fast-paced (and fantastical) thriller.… [Shepherd] nails the sense of deep-seated, profound connection and love between a small group of people drawn together by shared experience and interest, creating an intense familial bond….The tragedy of the book is what happens to that bond - and why. The Cartographers is both beautiful and intellectual, and Shepherd sticks the landing in a deeply satisfying fashion…. It's brilliant." -- Washington Post
The Cartographers is a memorable work of speculative fiction, filled with "phantom settlements," captivating flashbacks, alternate realities, ill-fated passion and enduring love. There are echoes of Borges and Bradbury, Pynchon and Finian's Rainbow, but Ms. Shepherd's exhilarating and enjoyable work casts a magical glow all its own. -- Wall Street Journal
"Peng Shepherd has done it again! The Cartographers is an exquisitely written, brilliantly plotted, absolutely fantastic novel. A story like this reminds us of why we all fell in love with reading to begin with. Be prepared to be swept away on an incredible journey that will stay with you long after you turn the final page." -- Brad Thor, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Black Ice
"The Cartographers is a story about magical maps that lead to your heart's desire, the sort of people who would do anything to find them, and the joy, regret, and possibility they bring. A vastly rich experience. I loved this book." -- Charles Soule, author of The Oracle Year
"Peng Shepherd flawlessly celebrates the ancient craft of cartography while taking readers on a thrilling journey of discovery." -- Veranda
"In this dark fable, a young woman finds a strange map among her estranged father's things after his untimely death. Deadly secrets and gothic-inflected speculative fiction ensue." -- New Scientist
"If you enjoyed John Green's Paper Towns, but always wanted to read a book about ghost maps written for adults . . . then The Cartographers is the book for you! . . . One of the cleverest mysteries of the year." -- CrimeReads
"In this dark fable . . . deadly secrets and gothic-inflected speculative fiction ensue."
-- Literary Hub
"Cleverly imagined.... With an elaborately realized plot, fanatic cartographers, maps with surreal powers generated by phantom settlements (intentional errors), and many-faceted suspense, Shepherd contrasts science and art, obsession and love in a beda...
The Cartographers is a memorable work of speculative fiction, filled with "phantom settlements," captivating flashbacks, alternate realities, ill-fated passion and enduring love. There are echoes of Borges and Bradbury, Pynchon and Finian's Rainbow, but Ms. Shepherd's exhilarating and enjoyable work casts a magical glow all its own. -- Wall Street Journal
"Peng Shepherd has done it again! The Cartographers is an exquisitely written, brilliantly plotted, absolutely fantastic novel. A story like this reminds us of why we all fell in love with reading to begin with. Be prepared to be swept away on an incredible journey that will stay with you long after you turn the final page." -- Brad Thor, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Black Ice
"The Cartographers is a story about magical maps that lead to your heart's desire, the sort of people who would do anything to find them, and the joy, regret, and possibility they bring. A vastly rich experience. I loved this book." -- Charles Soule, author of The Oracle Year
"Peng Shepherd flawlessly celebrates the ancient craft of cartography while taking readers on a thrilling journey of discovery." -- Veranda
"In this dark fable, a young woman finds a strange map among her estranged father's things after his untimely death. Deadly secrets and gothic-inflected speculative fiction ensue." -- New Scientist
"If you enjoyed John Green's Paper Towns, but always wanted to read a book about ghost maps written for adults . . . then The Cartographers is the book for you! . . . One of the cleverest mysteries of the year." -- CrimeReads
"In this dark fable . . . deadly secrets and gothic-inflected speculative fiction ensue."
-- Literary Hub
"Cleverly imagined.... With an elaborately realized plot, fanatic cartographers, maps with surreal powers generated by phantom settlements (intentional errors), and many-faceted suspense, Shepherd contrasts science and art, obsession and love in a beda...
Readers Top Reviews
Currant7Arlene A.
Helen "Nell" Young is a young, upcoming cartographer who hails from two very respected and honored cartographer parents. She fell out of favor from a successful career due to an incident involving a "junk box" from the Uncatalogued Archives that crushed her career and destroyed any relationship with her father. Felix Kimble is a computer genius working for Haberson Global's mapping division (different from cartography). He is personae non-gratae status in the cartography industry, especially museums, and has a troubled past/history with Nell after the infamous "Junk Box incident." POV: third person POV, omniscient, multi-character POV Location: New York City (specifically New York Public Library, "NYPL") The Carotographers follows Nell searching for answers to the connection between her father's passing, a robbery without anything stolen, an ordinary map hidden away in his most prized portfolio, and a few more stolen/destroyed maps in the mix. She enlists a few "trusted friends" who help her navigate the cartography world, discover clues and shed light on an even bigger conspiracy the world has ever known. The writing and tone are befitting of a suspenseful theme. The world-building of New York City, especially the NYPL, is as detailed as if I was there listening to a guide showcasing the library's splendor and history. Even with all the world-building exploration, the author did an excellent job focusing on the mystery of her father's demise with a peculiar map. However, readers will still get tidbits of Nell's childhood, family, and the Cartographer's backstories (hint hint). I want to highlight the ingenious plot twists! When I thought I had it all solved, just when one clue is "solved," another one pops up and shatters the theory and instead brings more questions and uncertainty into the situation. This book made me stop and ponder the whys and hows instead of speeding through to find out more about the Cartographers. I like books that make me feel "bothered" and puzzled. The characters' internal conflicts, distrust, deceit, and lies due to proximity and secrecy echo a "Lord of the Flies" feel. I enjoyed how the author unraveled layer-on-layer secrets from each of these "members" that heightened the story's tension and later ties it all together in one central purpose. Nell's character development was exceptional. Her personal development was realistic, raw, and explored in detail without giving too much until the end. Even if the book is from a third party, the author disclosed enough of Nell's thoughts and feelings to provide enough "hook" to keep readers glued and addicted enough to keep turning the pages. I was amazed at how persistent and determined Nell was. Even if she's been out of the cartography industry, she found the clues and "hidden meanings" to help solve the past and pres...
Kindle Currant7A
The real world and the unreal world collided in this book . The characters were impassioned and intense. Maps are a central element to our heritage.
L. CooneyL. Coone
Ensnared me from the very first chapter. Love the whole concept of a map with secrets. There's murder, a love story and a race to survive that literally comes down to the last second! The ending is amazing, but I won't spoil it for you!
Adam T BryantAdam
I pre-ordered it in both Kindle and hardcover format because I knew that once I began this book, I couldn't risk not having a copy with me at all times. And those instincts proved correct. Much like Peng Shepherd's debut novel, "The Book of M", this book has a clear and clever structure; unique and enthralling characters; and many surprising turns that eventually lead to a beautiful and satisfying conclusion. My only disappointment with the story is that I'll likely have to wait a couple of years for the television or movie version to be made. Other than that, it's perfect.
ElyseAdam T Bryan
I received an advance copy of the book from the publisher before I bought the hardcopy, and I could not put it down! I loved the Book of M -- that book stayed with me for years after reading it and I think the Cartographers will do the same. The story is suspenseful, touching and raw and the characters are so well developed. The world of map making is so interesting, but even without that this would have been such an engaging and and thoughtful book. Highly recommend if you're interested in mystery, suspense, character-driven stories and adventure.
