The King's Gold

One look at the centuries-old document she receives from a mysterious stranger is all it takes to plunge Lola Sanchez-a brilliant bibliophile and owner of the Red Lion bookshop-into the adventure of an already adventurous lifetime. The ancient writings tell of a stolen fortune in Montezuma's gold-and of the thief's transformation from conquistatore to alchemist . . . to werewolf. Riches beyond imagining possibly await the stalwart globe-trotter who can solve the intricate riddles hidden in the artifact's crumbling pages. But a deadly curse is buried there as well. On a dangerous quest through the dark shadows of history, Lola and her dashing companion, Eric, will have to unravel the twisted strands of her own family's fantastical past-and stay a step ahead of the villainous treasure hunters who would eagerly kill for the secrets she possesses and the Aztec gold she seeks.

Yxta Maya Murray is a professor at Loyola Law School.