Yazoo City author Gerard Helferich has written an engrossing adventure about a little-known subject: jade in the Americas. Once the most prized stone of Olmec and Mayan rulers in Central and South America, the stone fell out of favor in this hemisphere when European invaders had no use for it. The Spaniards favored gold (which the Mayans called "excrement of the gods") instead. Jade, Helferich writes, never appealed to Europeans, although in Asia the finest jade is more valuable than gold or even diamonds.

The search for jade's source in the Americas took on the air of mystery when evidence of forgotten, ancient and highly sophisticated civilizations emerged from the equatorial jungles. Where did it come from?

"Stone of Kings: In Search of the Lost Jade of the Maya" (Lyons Press, 2012, $24.95) deftly combines history, archaeology, mineralogy, mythology and superb writing into a gem of a book that you'll find difficult to put down.

Meet Gerard Helferich Jan. 4 at noon at the William F. Winter Archives and History Building (200 North St.) when he reads from and speaks about his book during History Is Lunch. Bring your lunch; water and coffee provided. Call 601-576-6998 for more information.