The Falling Woman

Plot summary

Elizabeth Butler, an archaeologist who has written popular books challenging established views on Maya civilization, possesses a gift from a suicide attempt in her youth: she can see spirits of ancient people at dusk and dawn. The story begins during an eight-week field study at Dzibilchaltún, where her team seeks dramatic artifacts to secure future funding. Midway through, her estranged adult daughter Diane arrives unexpectedly after their father's death, having abandoned her life in the United States.

Diane has seen Elizabeth only a few times since being left with her father as a young child, and neither understands what Diane wants. Elizabeth then encounters a Mayan priestess spirit, Zuhuy-kak, who can see and speak with her. Zuhuy-kak provides unprecedented knowledge about the Mayans' departure from Dzibilchaltún and leads Elizabeth to a major archaeological find, but demands a sacrifice to the goddess Ix Chebel Yax. As the dig progresses with bad luck and tragedy, Zuhuy-kak makes clear that Elizabeth must sacrifice her daughter.