While fulfilling her dream of becoming an archaeologist, Faye Longchamp has been asked by Dr. Raleigh to run a project in a remote area of Alabama. Her assignment and responsibilities include uncovering the origins of a mysterious group of people known as the Sujosa. This ethnic group possesses Caucasian features along with dark brown skin. However, it's not the physical features that's a mystery, but the fact that the Sujosa have shown immunity to many diseases, including AIDS.

Faye, along with her assistant, Joe Wolf Mantooth, arrive at the site and are appalled at what awaits them. It's not just the accident that nearly throws their car off the road, but when they first see the dig site, the sloppy, unprofessional approach that Dr. Raleigh has taken leaves them both stunned. They know they have their work cut out for them when it becomes apparent that there will be little cooperation from the project leader, her assistants hired from the community and a select few Sujosa. But Faye is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery.

At her first meeting with the project team, Faye meets Carmen, who's conducting the oral histories, Laurel, the education specialist, and dermatologist Dr. Brent Harbison. Brent grew up in Alcaskaki where the Sujosa community is located. He practices part of the week in Birmingham and the rest of the time runs a clinic in Alcaskaki. His features are very unusual with his tanned skin and his dark hair streaked blonde. Faye and Brent strike up a friendship that struggles to go further when Faye discovers he's hiding behind his nationality and ethnic background.

Late one night, after a full day of interviews and an evening out with Brent, Faye awakens to heat and smoke. Faye and Laurel escape the women's bunkhouse, but Carmen is not so lucky. The morning light reveals not only Carmen's remains, but the absence of her metal briefcase containing all of her interviews. The missing interviews cast a shadow of suspicion over the community. Fortunately, Faye had received copies from Carmen and begins reading them. She soon discovers many interesting bits of information pertaining to family quarrels, land feuds, personal resentments and a feeling of distrust towards the project and its people. When a teenager's body is found at the base of a cell phone tower and other strange incidents occur, it becomes apparent that someone doesn't want Faye to discover any of the mysteries hidden in the dirt.

Although the project is not going as planned, instead of becoming discouraged, Faye starts delving into the lives of the Sujosa by studying the interviews and surveying the properties. Are the answers in the ground or in the interviews? Faye struggles to find the truth hoping it won't destroy more lives or the community as a whole.

RELICS is a story about human nature and how people react to change and intrusion from the outside. It also shows what lengths people will go to keep their secrets. Evans does a wonderful job of pulling you into the story and not revealing any of the secrets until the end.