2-3-4 Challenge Book Discussions #1 discussion

For untold years, the perfectly preserved mummy had lain forgotten in the dusty basement of Boston’s Crispin Museum. Now its sudden rediscovery by museum staff is both a major coup and an attention-grabbing mystery. Dubbed “Madam X,” the mummy–to all appearances, an ancient Egyptian artifact– seems a ghoulish godsend for the financially struggling institution. But medical examiner Maura Isles soon discovers a macabre message hidden within the corpse–horrifying proof that this “centuries-old” relic is instead a modern-day murder victim.

To Maura and Boston homicide detective Jane Rizzoli, the forensic evidence is unmistakable, its implications terrifying. And when the grisly remains of yet another woman are found in the hidden recesses of the museum, it becomes chillingly clear that a maniac is at large–and is now taunting them.
Archaeologist Josephine Pulcillo’s blood runs cold when the killer’s cryptic missives are discovered, and her darkest dread becomes real when the carefully preserved corpse of yet a third victim is left in her car like a gruesome offering–or perhaps a ghastly promise of what’s to come.

The twisted killer’s familiarity with post-mortem rituals suggests to Maura and Jane that he may have scientific expertise in common with Josephine. Only Josephine knows that her stalker shares a knowledge even more personally terrifying: details of a dark secret she had thought forever buried.

Now Maura must summon her own dusty knowledge of ancient death traditions to unravel his twisted endgame. And when Josephine vanishes, Maura and Jane have precious little time to derail the Archaeology Killer before he adds another chilling piece to his monstrous collection.

Settings
San Diego, California
Boston, Massachusetts
Waverly, New York
Indio, California
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Cape Elizabeth, Maine
Portland, Maine
Saponac, Maine

38 Chapters

Character List
(view spoiler)[
Jane Rizzoli: Homicide detective with the Boston Police Department (BPD). She’s the only female and is partnered with Barry Frost. She’s 34-years old, married to Gabriel Dean and mother of their daughter, Regina.
Maura Isles: Medical examiner who Tierney recruited a year ago. Nicknamed Queen of the Dead by the Homicide Unit. She has shoulder length black hair with blunt bangs.
Gabriel Dean: FBI agent and Jane’s husband, father of their daughter, Regina.
Angela Rizzoli: Jane’s mother. She’s now separated from Frank.
Frank Rizzoli, Sr.: Jane’s father.
Father Daniel Brophy: Priest from Our Lady of Divine Light. He and Maura are having a secret affair.
Barry Frost: Homicide detective with the BPD and Jane’s partner.
Alice Frost: Barry’s wife.
Darren Crowe: Boston Police Department homicide detective.
Tripp: Boston Police Department homicide detective.
Marquette: Lieutenant over the homicide unit.
Vince Korsak: Retired homicide detective. He’s dating Angela.
Anthony Sansone: Leader of the Mephisto Foundation.
Lawrence Zucker: Forensic psychologist.
Dr. Brien: Radiologist.
Daljeet Singh: Maine medical examiner.
Simon Crispin: Archaeologist and descendant of the founder of the Crispin Museum, Stanley Crispin, and current owner.
Nicholas Robinson: Curator at the Crispin Museum.
Josephine Pulcillo: Egyptologist at the Crispin Museum.
Medea Sommer: Archaeology student who was on the dig in New Mexico.
Nefertari (Tari) Sommer: Medea’s daughter.
Mr. Goodwin: Josephine’s nosy neighbor.
Mrs. Willebrandt: Long-time docent at the Crispin Museum.
Debbie Duke: Volunteer at the Crispin Museum.
William Scott-Kerr: Former curator before Robinson.
Gemma Hammerton: Close friend of Josephine’s and her mother. She’s an archaeologist who taught at the local college.
Bradley Rose: One of the undergraduate students on the New Mexico excavation 25 years ago.
Kimball Rose: Bradley’s wealthy father. Married to Cynthia.
Cynthia Rose: Bradley’s mother who has cancer. Married to Kimball.
Jimmy Otto: Bradley’s friend. He was a psychopath.
Carrie Otto: Jimmy’s sister.
Dr. Vandenbrink: Netherlands archaeologist from the Drents Museum.
Alan Quigley: Professor emeritus in New Mexico who led the excavation when Lorraine went missing.
Gavin Hilzbrich: Doctor who ran the Hilzbrich Institute in Cape Elizabeth, located in the suburbs of Portland, Maine.
Lorraine Edgerton: Young woman last seen 25 years ago from Gallup, New Mexico. She was a graduate student on an excavation led by Dr. Quigley.
Kelsey Thacker: Murder victim who was mummified. She was last seen 26 years ago in Indio, California.
(hide spoiler)]

Spoiler Info
(view spoiler)[
Lorraine was Madam X.

Josephine was Nefertari Sommer. Medea got pregnant by Bradley during the excavation but realized how unbalanced he was and fled. Kimball is Josephine’s grandfather.

Debbie Duke was really Carrie Otto.

Bradley was killed in San Diego when Josephine shot him. Carrie Otto identified his body as Jimmy in order to protect him and Kimball’s father didn’t want Cynthia to know he was dead. Kimball replaced his wife’s DNA swab with Carrie’s. Jimmy was alive and still killing.

Kimball committed suicide after attempting to kill Medea.

Simon hired Josephine because Kimball Rose told him to do so. (hide spoiler)]