Book Review: Michelangelo’s Ghost by Gigi Pandian (Jaya Jones Treasure Hunt Mysteries #4)

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Great story and interesting characters

Cons: My hunt for cons came up empty

The Bottom Line:

Renaissance artist

With India connection

Pages keep turning

Jaya’s on the Trail of an Obscure Italian Painter

Being one to be distracted by the next shiny thing, or in this case a new release, it’s been five years since I read book three in Gigi Pandian’s Jaya Jones Treasure Hunt Mysteries. During that time, I was enjoying her newest series, the Secret Staircase Mysteries. But I decided it was time to catch up on Jaya’s adventures, so I picked up Michelangelo’s Ghost, the fourth in this earlier series. 

If you aren’t familiar with the series, (or, like me, it’s been a while) Jaya Jones is a history professor in San Francisco. Her research and interest in India have led her to make some incredible discoveries of previously unknown art and treasure. While there are some references to her previous adventures, this can be read as a standalone, which is a good thing since I’d forgotten much of the earlier books. 

As this book opens, Jaya’s gotten a tantalizing email from an old mentor. Dr. Lilith Vine has found an obscure Renaissance artist she thinks was not only a protege of Michelangelo, but someone who traveled to India, incorporating that culture into his work. His name and work have been lost to history, but Jaya can’t help but be intrigued at the possibility. After a death under suspicious – at least to Jaya – circumstances, she travels to Italy in hopes of finding the man’s long-lost work. But can she find a centuries old trail?

I quickly got caught up in this story. Obviously, this isn’t a traditional murder mystery, and if you pick it up looking for that, you’ll be disappointed. But if you start this book expecting a well plotted story, you’ll be well rewarded. I was pulled further into the book as I went along and was impressed about how important information was layered into the story when I reached the end. 

I enjoyed getting to know the characters again. Jaya is given some time to reflect, which I enjoyed. The rest of the supporting players weave in and out of the book. And I’m quite interested to see what come next for them. Yes, I’m planning to read more of this series this year so I can find out. 

Of interest to fans of the Secret Stairway series, Jaya’s best friend, Sanjay, is a supporting player in that newer series. There are a couple of references to characters I’m familiar with from those books as well. Considering this book came out in 2016, and that series started in 2020, I found that quite cool. 

I also found the note at the end fascinating as Gigi separates the fact from the fiction. 

I’m glad I returned to Jaya’s world. Those searching for a fun adventure-based mystery will also be glad they picked up Michelangelo’s Ghost. 

Hunt up the rest of the Jaya Jones Treasure Hunt Mysteries.