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30th out of 55 books
—
34 voters
The Xibalba Murders (An Archaeological Mystery #1)
by
Lyn Hamilton
Lara flies to Malta to personally furnish the home of Toronto's Martin Galea, whose reputation as an architect is rivaled only by his reputation as a womanizer.
But when he turns up dead, Lara soon finds out that her client and his new home share a troubled past -- a past that stretches back to the ancient world, and reaches out with the insidious hand of modern intrigue...
Paperback, 290 pages
Published
April 1st 1997
by Berkley
(first published 1997)
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Wow! I can’t believe how swiftly this novelist swept me away. The motion chugs along so well on every page, I wonder if Lyn Hamilton paired her manuscript down to these parts or if it was action-packed from the start. She had room to pause now and again for details. A few scenes were glossed over, I’d like to have savoured. Notwithstanding it’s a resounding A+ and for a début novel! I’m also pleased and proud to discover this gifted writer is Canadian. Lyn’s style truly stands out.
A technique I’...more
A technique I’...more
Well, the Xibalba Murders is indigenous in the sense that the narrative is laced with the old maya legends and their ball games, especially those of the Hero twins and the Lord Darkness with the story in a detached yet impressive sort of way. At intervals, the old legend is unfolded as to how the twins outwitted the Lords of Darkness. Each chapter starts with the days according to the maya count of days, the Tzolkin and the explanation to it is given, so that we don’t get lost (but the explanati...more
I must admit that although the blurb seemed intriguing enough I only picked up this book because I need an X title for my A to Z Challenge. I thought that it would be a fun challenge but now it seems wrong somehow to spend my time reading books just because I need to strike out a letter. Having said that, it doesn't mean I wasted my time by reading this, there were good things and bad things.
The good things first, it was refreshing to read a book set in Mexico and about Mexican history. Since M...more
The good things first, it was refreshing to read a book set in Mexico and about Mexican history. Since M...more
Lara is obsessed with the Mayan culture. She loves finding rare and beautiful artifacts. She has just sold her Toronto antiquities store and is unsure of the direction her life will take. Then she receives a cryptic phone call from Dr. Hernan Castillo, an expert in Mayan history, to help him with a mysterious project. But when she arrives in Mérida the good doctor is nowhere to be found --until his lifeless body is found in his office.
Lara knows she must retrace the doctor's steps to find out wh...more
Lara knows she must retrace the doctor's steps to find out wh...more
A good start to the series. I learned a few things about Maya mythology. The archeological background of the writer and the way she integrated the information in the plot makes the reader receptive to the information. It is still not perfectly blended into the plot but it's far from the pages and pages of information dumping style I've sometimes come across. The culprits I guessed early on but the lead character, Lara, is endearing and worth following up on. Recently divorced and having lost the...more
Antiques dealer Lara McClintoch goes to Mexico at the calling of her local expert, Dr. Hernan Castillo Rivera, because he tells her there is an important archaeological dig going on that may result in some new finds for her shop.
Almost immediately after Lara's arrival, Castillo Rivera disappears and Lara finds herself drawn into intrigue not only surrounding the archaeological site but also the museum for which Castillo Rivera was once the director.
I began to suspect the "whodunnit" at about the...more
Almost immediately after Lara's arrival, Castillo Rivera disappears and Lara finds herself drawn into intrigue not only surrounding the archaeological site but also the museum for which Castillo Rivera was once the director.
I began to suspect the "whodunnit" at about the...more
This is mystery is heavy into the Mayan history and the current struggles of the people trying to retain their culture. It was a little too detailed for my taste, but I did appreciate learning more about a culture I know little about. The mystery was very good. Although I suspected who might be behind the murders I did not know for sure and there were enough suspects to keep me guessing.
Lara was an interesting main character and this is the first in a series of archaeological mysteries that take...more
Lara was an interesting main character and this is the first in a series of archaeological mysteries that take...more
I am so excited to have discovered this series of archaeological mysteries by Lyn Hamilton.
In THE XIBALBA MURDERS, Lara McClintoch has just gotten divorced from Clive Swain who forced her to sell her beloved antique/design shop so he could make a grab for all she has. She decides to enroll in college to study the ancient Maya.
As her university break begins, Lara receives a mysterious call from an old friend who is an archaeologist in Mexico. He wants her to come help him find "what the rabbit w...more
In THE XIBALBA MURDERS, Lara McClintoch has just gotten divorced from Clive Swain who forced her to sell her beloved antique/design shop so he could make a grab for all she has. She decides to enroll in college to study the ancient Maya.
As her university break begins, Lara receives a mysterious call from an old friend who is an archaeologist in Mexico. He wants her to come help him find "what the rabbit w...more
Fascinating mystery set in Mexico in the town of Merida and the area surrounding it.
There is a lot of history tied up in this one. Some I was able to follow, some lost me completely. I'm not up on Mayan calendars, gods and beliefs. It was a good read but not an easy one.
I did figure out part of the "who dunnit" part, missed the other part. There is a good mystery here but it takes some effort to work through it in and amongst all the historical information given.
I'm going to have to think about...more
There is a lot of history tied up in this one. Some I was able to follow, some lost me completely. I'm not up on Mayan calendars, gods and beliefs. It was a good read but not an easy one.
I did figure out part of the "who dunnit" part, missed the other part. There is a good mystery here but it takes some effort to work through it in and amongst all the historical information given.
I'm going to have to think about...more
A Canadian importer is called by a family friend to Mexico. Sadly, he is killed before he can explain what he wanted her to do. The behavior of the main character stumbling around Mexico and breaking into buildings where she was just as likely to be let in by the staff really didn't make that much sense. She was very slow to pick up on the likely suspects, instead suspecting one of the locals whose relations were the most helpful in helping her solve the riddle. The series is well-regarded, so p...more
I love Mayan history so I did enjoy this. I have done lots of research and the like when I was an undergrad. I am fascinated by their culture. I only gave this book 3/5 stars because I am not crazy about how Hamilton writes. Things happened so quickly and I had to go back a little just to see how that happened. I did love how she named the chapters by one of the Mayan calenders and how she explained or compared the day and what it meant. I guess the ending maybe because I was somewhat expecting...more
First in the Lara McClintoch archealogical thriller/mystery series. Lara is just out of a divorce, has lost her antique dealer business to her dead beat husband, and has been court ordered to not be able to start up another business for another year unless her husband retracts or remarries. So on an extended stay-cation Lara gets a call from a friend in South America, and from the mysteriousness of it flies down to meet with him. Thus ensues her very first mystery murder to solve involving fanta...more
I picked up this book in hopes of getting a good murder mystery in an archaeological setting. Instead I get a book about woman, Lara McClintock, who studies art history for her business of buying and selling art objects and visits an archeological site. The murder? Doesn't happen until at least half way through the book, after we've heard all about Lara's troubles with her divorce and lack of love life. I should have known I'd be in trouble when the book starts off in the first person. I've real...more
Jan 14, 2010
Lyn M (readinghearts)
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Lynne, Donna, Cam, mystery lovers
Recommended to Lyn M (readinghearts) by:
Shari
The premise of this book (and I presume the whole series) is mysteries that occur during archeological digs. The main protagonist is the owner of an antiquities store who travels the globe and gets involved in solving the mysteries that occur.
At first I wasn't sure what I was going to think of this book, partly because I had just read a book that I literally could not put down, partly because it took a bit to get used to the writing style in this book. For example, the author begins a lot of se...more
At first I wasn't sure what I was going to think of this book, partly because I had just read a book that I literally could not put down, partly because it took a bit to get used to the writing style in this book. For example, the author begins a lot of se...more
Hm. Well, not terrific. This series has come highly recommended by several folk whose opinions more often than not coincide with mine. I will therefore have a look at the next in this series, but this first one is not impressive. The identity of the Bad Guy was obvious from the very first meeting; there is considerable foolish, ham-handed exposition (e.g.: our heroine, a grad student in MesoAmerican studies, has also lived in Merida in the past, yet we have a scene with an archaeologist explaini...more
I liked this mystery, but as late as halfway through I was still unclear about the date until it specifically says that it's set in the 1990s. I think that was because of the prevalent "Had I But Known" vibe that was almost overpowering the book. For those who don't know, that was a technique common to mysteries in the 1930s by authors like Mary Roberts Rinehart and then the 1980s in Gothic mysteries by Phyllis A. Whitney and E. X. Ferrars. It features lots of foreshadowing, a heroine in trouble...more
I read this book because I needed a book that started with X for an A-Z title challenge that I'm working on for this year.
The premiss of the series is mysteries that take place around archeological sites.
It's a bit dry and the author tried to squeeze in too many facts that slowed down the flow of the story. I really didn't care about the characters or what happened to them. I did learn something about Mayan history so I'm giving this two stars.
The premiss of the series is mysteries that take place around archeological sites.
It's a bit dry and the author tried to squeeze in too many facts that slowed down the flow of the story. I really didn't care about the characters or what happened to them. I did learn something about Mayan history so I'm giving this two stars.
The word that keeps crawling through my mind is "lame." It does describe the plot, the writing style, the depth of characters, and so forth. I did enjoy the expositions of the ancient Mayan culture, though the awkwardly placement did stand out.
I have the second in the series already checked out from the library, so I'm not completely writing her off. (Oh, my, a pun?)
I have the second in the series already checked out from the library, so I'm not completely writing her off. (Oh, my, a pun?)
Lara receives a cryptic phone call from Dr. Hernan Castillo. Dr. Castillo is an expert in Mayan history. He requests Lara come visit to help him with something. So Lara heads to Merida, Mexico. When she arrives he doesn't show up for their meeting. Not unusual for the Dr. Castillo to disappear for a few days, but when no one hears from him, his friends become worried. What was he looking for? When the good doctor shows up dead, Lara is on the hunt for what he was searching for and for who killed...more
For my A-Z challenge. If it hadn't been for needing this one for the challenge, I wouldn't have finished it. I give it 1.5 stars only because the mystery was ok despite the fact that it took half the book to get going. The main character relied too heavily on her dreams which seemed to be presented as valid as actual Mayan history. I had high hopes for it because I love archealogy, but not sure I'll read another at this point.
The beginning of this novel was a little slow, but I soon warmed up to the characters and got involved in the mystery. I guessed the murderer a little before the end, but that didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book.
An interesting, well-written mystery threaded throughout with Mayan mythology and archaelogical tidbits. Look forward to reading some of Lyn Hamilton's other archaelogical mysteries.
One more series to follow and enjoy in the process! I found the history and information on the culture of the Mayans very interesting and I enjoyed the characters I met and the plot twists along the way.
I just found Lyn Hamilton; read the first one; now want to read all of her books in order so I can follow the characters. Good read.
This book revived my interest in the Maya as I was drawn into the story. It also made me so homesick for the time I lived in Merida.
This was a solid three stars for me. There's nothing really wrong with it, but nothing terribly exciting about it either. The setting and information about the Maya culture was well done, but only mildly interesting. I was never drawn into the story, and the characters all seemed just a bit flat. On the plus side, I can now cross "X" off my Title A-Z challenge.
A fun summer read for lovers of the mystery genre. Reminds me of Clive Cussler's Dirk Pitt novels.
it's not really 4 stars, more like 3.5, the .5 is for the effort of the research.
wish she hadn't slept with him and I still hate the mayan culture
A great series of mysteries, history and archaeology
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Lyn Elizabeth Hamilton was a Canadian author of archaeological mystery novels.
She worked in communications in the public service and private companies before publishing her first novel at the age of 50. She had been director of Cultural Programs Branch for the province of Ontario and director of public affairs for the Canadian Opera Company. Later, Hamilton taught mystery writing for the School fo...more
More about Lyn Hamilton...
She worked in communications in the public service and private companies before publishing her first novel at the age of 50. She had been director of Cultural Programs Branch for the province of Ontario and director of public affairs for the Canadian Opera Company. Later, Hamilton taught mystery writing for the School fo...more
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Aug 29, 2009 03:44pm