Gold of the Gods

When Professor Allan Norton bursts into scientific detective Craig Kennedy's laboratory with news that a mysterious Peruvian dagger has been stolen from the University Museum, the case takes a deadly turn. Soon after, Don Luis de Mendoza, a prominent Peruvian scholar known for his obsession with an ancient curse tied to hidden Inca treasure, is found murdered. Kennedy must race against time to recover the dagger and unmask the killer, all while navigating a web of greed, superstition, and historical secrets that span centuries. Assisting him is his loyal colleague Walter Jameson, and guiding the investigation is Inez de Mendoza, the murdered scholar's daughter, who holds crucial clues about her father's final days. Arthur B. Reeve pioneered the scientific detective genre, and this early twentieth-century mystery showcases his winning formula: rational inquiry pitted against ancient evil. Kennedy applies laboratory methods and forensic science to unravel crimes that others dismiss as supernatural. The result is a thrilling chase through the shadows of Inca mythology, where modern investigation collides with the blood-soaked secrets of a lost civilization.