Book Review: The Celtic Riddle

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

The Celtic Riddle     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Lyn Hamilton
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Woman Main Character   Amateur Sleuth   Archaeology
Series: Lara McClintoch # 4
Berkley, Feb 2000, $21.95, 296 pp.

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

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner