Book Review: The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd

The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I wanted to love this book. I really did. After all, I have a soft spot for not-so-ancient artifacts, fantastical journeys, and cleverly intertwined plotlines; plus, Shepherd utilizes the New York Public Library as a primary setting for the novel. What's not to like?

While The Cartographers promises all of these multifaceted attributes, Peng Shepherd doesn't quite deliver the goods. In the hands of a more talented writer, the novel could have been a minor masterpiece of modern science fiction. Alas, the book wastes a clever conceit on poorly developed characters and amateurish story arcs.

The basic plot is as follows: a brilliant young cartographer receives word that her estranged father (also a cartographer) has died under mysterious circumstances, leaving behind an inexplicably valuable map that opens up a portal to a town that shouldn't exist. So far, so good. As the story moves along (oftentimes at a surprisingly glacial pace), characters reveal hidden secrets and convoluted histories. However, the big plot twists are too predictable, with Shepherd telegraphing the identities and fates of characters without enough subtlety or artistry. Agatha Christie, she is not.

Despite her shortcomings, Peng Shepherd shines in the interior monologue of the book's protagonist, Nell. Whereas the secondary characters feel inartistically envisioned, Nell's conflicted emotions and aspirations are thoughtfully rendered with sensitivity and insight. Revealed through bursts of third-person narration, Nell's character feels authentic and earnest: Shepherd has crafted a heartfelt depiction of a young woman dealing with the complexities of overwhelming grief, frustrating family dynamics, and unfulfilled career aspirations. In this area, Shepherd shines.

In sharp contrast, the murder mystery "whodunnit" portion of the book falls flat. Without giving away any spoilers, I'll just say that the killer's motivation(s) feel unwarranted and contrived, with the murderer coming across as more of a Scooby-Doo villain than a three-dimensional character. Zoinks.

While Shepherd has cultivated an impressive résumé and provides tantalizing glimpses of potential, she has not yet delivered the masterpiece that she is capable of writing. At its core, The Cartographers wants to be a modern Chronicles of Narnia for elder millennials, invoking magical portals and enchanted artifacts; unfortunately, this novel fails to reach its promise and potential, stumbling through the "wardrobe" of its own creation. Much like early Grady Hendrix novels, The Cartographers takes a potentially brilliant premise and botches the book with mediocre execution. Sadly, Shepherd self-sabotages her novel with forced plot points and contrived character arcs.

In a rare moment of brilliance, the author writes that “Maps are love letters written to times and places their makers had explored.” Books are very much the same way, and I can only hope that Shepherd's future "love letters" are more Jane Austen than Danielle Steel. Clearly, Shepherd has begun her journey through the blue highways and rambling interstates of the literary world - with a magical destination of admirable artistry just over the horizon. Unfortunately, it will take more than a gas station map to get there.

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