The Celtic Riddle (Archaeological Mysteries, No. 4)

Having read the previous books in this series, I was moderately excited for this one. I was more than pleasantly surprised. The writing has improved quite a bit. The whodoneit not that surprising, but that was ok. I loved the addition, here, of some more light hearted humor. I laughed out loud on a number of occasions. Ms. Hamilton is on the right track...I can't wait to read the next book.

Lara McClintock is Ms Hamilton's on-going series character and she is extremely likeable and believable. In this story, she accompanies her friend to Ireland to attend the funeral of a man he knew some years ago. The dead man has left an unusual will. His family will not receive their inheritance until they have solved a complicated riddle. He has done this apparently, in the hope that they will be forced to work together and reconcile the differences among them. In the course of the "hunt" some people come to bad ends. However,Lara, working from an ancient Celtic poem is able to figure out the clues herself and unmask the murderer. I was glad to have this book with me when I was on holiday as it meant I didn't have to put it down. The complexity of the riddle and the twists and turns of the plot were most intriguing. I particularly liked the Irish setting which was beautifully depicted. Lara and her friends are people I would like to meet. Recommended.

Lara Mc Clintoch, who ones an antiquary in Toronto, accompanies his friend Alex to a testament lecture in southwest Ireland. Much of a surprise for everybody Alex receives Rose Cottage. More than this Eamon Byrne left one clue to everybody before dieing. His hope was to see the whole family to work again together for a great treasure hunt in the ancient story of Ireland, with all the myths related to. But something goes wrong and somebody gets killed. Will anybody find the great treasury? Will somebody get killed again ?Lyn Hamilton wrote a brilliant story, which you would never stop reading. The suspense killes you as you discover slowly, piece at piece, the mistery behind. And you discover as well, as you were travelling with here throughout Ireland, the legends and the myths of the Celts. Perhaps with the best book of her with THE XIBALBA MURDER, her first novel published.

Lara McClintoch owns Greenhalgh and McClintoch, an antiques and design store in Toronto. She loves traveling the globe seeking unique items to sell in her shop. When Lara is on the road, her friend Alex Stewart runs the store.In turn, Lana accompanies Alex to Ireland for the reading of the will of the recently deceased Eamon Byrne, a wealthy businessman. Alex and the rest of the Byrne family learn that Eamon wants them to take part in a treasure hunt that the he hoped would finally bring his fractured relatives together. Each person receives a different clue in which teamwork will lead to the treasure. Eamon's dream fails because some of his relatives refuse to work with other recipients of the clues. Someone takes matters into their own hands by killing clue-holders. Lara decides that finding the treasure is the only way to stop the murders. She puts together a team of locals to help her, but now the culprit is aware of a new threat.Superb storyteller, Lyn Hamilton imbues her fascinating plot with myths and legends of Eire that explains the call of Erin. THE CELTIC RIDDLE is a wonderful tale starring a brave heroine who remains loyal to her friends even when danger appears. The sharp mystery has many suspects that makes it nearly impossible to identify the villain. With this excellent archeological mystery and her previous tales (see THE XIBALBA MURDERS, THE MALTESE GODDESS, and THE MOCHE WARRIOR) Lyn Hamilton has dug her own niche within the genre.Harriet Klausner