Visiting Petroglyph National Monument, Jewel of the #Southwest (part 5)

The Dead Man’s Treasure has a scene set at Petroglyph National Monument. Rebecca and Sam track down one of the clues there. 

About the book:

Rebecca Westin is shocked to learn the grandfather she never knew has left her a bona fide buried treasure – but only if she can decipher a complex series of clues leading to it. The hunt would be challenging enough without interference from her half-siblings, who are determined to find the treasure first and keep it for themselves. Good thing Rebecca has recruited some help.

Sam is determined to show Rebecca that a desert adventure can be sexy and fun. But there’s a treacherous wildcard in the mix, a man willing to do anything to get that treasure – and revenge. 

Action and romance combine in this lively Southwestern adventure, complete with riddles the reader is invited to solve to identify historical and cultural sites around New Mexico. See the “Books” page of my website for a printable list of the clues and recipes from the book.

About Petroglyph National Monument

Petroglyphs are rock carvings, which are made by scratching or carving the rock surface with a stone chisel and a hammer stone. (Rock paintings are called pictographs.) This chips away the desert varnish coating the rock, exposing the lighter service underneath. 

The rock art shown here is from the Piedras Marcadas Canyon trail. The trail has a couple of loops and a final spur, which you won't want to miss. Maps are available from the Visitors Center, or online.

This selection is of hand carvings we saw. The petroglyphs have spiritual significance for the Pueblo people, so they are not interpreted for outsiders.

Most of the rock art at Petroglyph National Monument was carved by the ancestors of today's Pueblo people. They were most active here from about 1300 through the late 1680s. A few images may date back as far as 2000 BCE. Others may have been carved by the early Spanish settlers, starting in the 1700s. 

Learn more about petroglyphs from the National Park Service.

Check out my earlier posts on petroglyphs as well.

“The Dead Man's Treasure is fast-paced and a perfect read for the weekend. I highly recommend this one.”

“I can't say enough how much I loved this book! It has mystery, adventure, danger, romance, and above it all family remains a huge theme.”

Kris Bock writes novels of suspense and romance with outdoor adventures and Southwestern landscapes. The Mad Monk’s Treasure follows the hunt for a long-lost treasure in the New Mexico desert. In The Dead Man’s Treasure, estranged relatives compete to reach a buried treasure by following a series of complex clues. In The Skeleton Canyon Treasure, sparks fly when reader favorites Camie and Tiger help a mysterious man track down his missing uncle. 

Whispers in the Dark features archaeology and intrigue among ancient Southwest ruins. What We Found is a mystery with strong romantic elements about a young woman who finds a murder victim in the woods. In Counterfeits, stolen Rembrandt paintings bring danger to a small New Mexico town.

Fans of Mary Stewart, Barbara Michaels, and Terry Odell will want to check out Kris Bock’s romantic adventures. “Counterfeits is the kind of romantic suspense novel I have enjoyed since I first read Mary Stewart’s Moonspinners.” 5 Stars – Roberta at Sensuous Reviews blog

Read excerpts at www.krisbock.com or visit her Amazon page. Sign up for the Kris Bock newsletter for announcements of new books, sales, and more.