Kayaweta

Short about the novel:The archaeologists Elise and Jim reveal a discovery at Lyse Abbey, which may cause the history books to be rewritten. This leads them to a hazardous discovery journey in the United States, where Elise begins to see visions. A voice from the past tries to guide her; the mysterious Kayaweta-a Native American woman. Or is it just her imagination that fools her. All of this becomes two stories woven together into one. From the Middle Ages and the present. With knights, monks and Native Americans. Love, power struggle and drama. The relationship between Elise and Jim is also put to the test. Career, friendship-everything is at stake.A lot of good reviews:"The story of the Kensington Rune Stone, whether true or false, is one of the most peculiar chapters in the history of the Norse explorers. It has been written so much on the subject that it could have filled up a whole library alone. But strangely enough, no one has ever written a suspense novel based on this fantastic story - until now. "Kayaweta," tells an exciting tale in the most breath-taking way, a good read from page one to the very last sentence - a page turner all the way!" Knut Rage, Executive Manager, Tysnes Public Library(Norway)"I was thrilled to discover that Tom Thowsen's novel Kayaweta is now available in English. This Norwegian's novel is a real page-turner. I finished it in a single night shift. It is two stories in one; twice the bang for your buck. The main characters for the modern part of the story are very likable college students, who are working on an excavation of a medieval Monastery in Norway. Their discovery of a map that should not exist sets them on a wild journey of intellectual discovery, academic cover-ups and even a high-speed chase ending in gunfire. Thowsen's sparse style uses sharp dialogue and a gradually feeding in of clues that make the reader feel like they are there. You get drawn in and really care what happens to these grad students, as they are sucked into a conspiracy that they are not ready for, concerning a runestone that really was discovered in the middle of America, dated 1362, that was discovered in 1898. It is the interplay of fiction, historical fact and investigatory speculation that makes "Kayaweta" unique. The title character lives in the mid-14th century and is married to Paul Knutson, a Norwegian explorer that was sent to America, then known only as Vinland, to compel the Viking settlers, who fled the Greenland colony to live with amongst the Native Americans, to return to Christianity, pay their tithes to the church and recognize the authority of the king of Norway and Sweden. When a second Norwegian expedition arrives to see why Knutsson did not return, a conflict develops with the Knights Templar. It was a stroke of genius to add a band of monks, including the renowned astronomer and map-maker Nicholas of Lynne to the expedition. Knutsson's daughter also shows up in America and she is not too happy to discover her fa...