The Xibalba Murders (Lara McClintoch Archeological Mystery, #1) in Crazy Challenge Connection

Sep 24, 2013 Gina rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 5-00-rating, reviewed

Goodreads Description- Lara McClintoch, her marriage ended and her antiques business sold, eagerly embarks on a trip to Mexico to help an old friend solve a mystery. On arrival, her friend puts off their meeting and then disappears. After Lara witnesses a brazen robbery of a valuable statue of the ancient Mayan civilization and stumbles on a corpse in a museum of antiquities, she becomes a police suspect. Afraid of the police and unsure whom to trust, Lara follows clues pointing to black markete Goodreads Description- Lara McClintoch, her marriage ended and her antiques business sold, eagerly embarks on a trip to Mexico to help an old friend solve a mystery. On arrival, her friend puts off their meeting and then disappears. After Lara witnesses a brazen robbery of a valuable statue of the ancient Mayan civilization and stumbles on a corpse in a museum of antiquities, she becomes a police suspect. Afraid of the police and unsure whom to trust, Lara follows clues pointing to black marketeers and zealous revolutionaries. This dangerous trail takes her to remote archaeological ruins, lush jungles, and bustling streets filled with revelers. Lara engages in a thrilling battle of wits and courage to unmask a killer and stop a tomb-robber in the shadowy world of Xibalba, the Lords of Death.

I have to say that I just stumbled across this book by accident. I had never heard of the author nor this series. However, I was extremely surprised by the excellent writing and storytelling that this book has to offer. It is not only the adventure of Lara McClintoch who has traveled to the Yucatan Peninsula to help her friend find the "rabbit who writes" that was exciting. The research behind her book is simply amazing. Each chapter is named after a Maya day and the name is explained and the reader is given it's meaning. Then the author proceeds to relate each chapter to the name's meaning. She also writes many remarkable facts about the Maya culture: the Maya Calendar, the legends of the Maya Underworld, and the Maya's detailed history. The story is also set in the beautiful Mayan ruins of Chitzen Itza where the author beautifully describes the huge temple ruins, the ball courts, and other Maya landmarks that still exist for tourists to visit. I have actually been to these ruins myself and she has done a wonderful job describing the lush jungle surroundings, the ruins, and the delicious foods from that part of the world.

The book is very fast paced and had me on the edge of my seat. I read straight through the book in one day. It was all so interesting. The author did a fantastic job of weaving the murder mystery plotline with the actual facts of the setting that I was racing along with Lara through the twists and turns of the plotline and wondering what would turn up next. I am very happy that I discovered this series. It looks as if the other books in the series take place all over the world and I can't wait to join Lara wherever her next adventure takes her. 5 stars! Highly recommended! ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Jan 25, 2013 Connie N. rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: first-in-series, cozy-mystery, red, round-object-on-cover

This is a good cozy mystery, although I lost interest here and there, which is why I gave it 3 stars. Lara McClintoch is a student of the Mayan culture and travels to Mexico at the request of her friend to help him in a mysterious search. Unfortunately he is discovered dead soon after her arrival, so not only is she looking for his killer, but she's also trying to figure out what he had discovered and why he needed her help. I thought the story got bogged down in some of the ancient culture and ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Dec 31, 2018 Kathryn rated it liked it

Shelves: series, kindle-books-includes-arcs, under-300-pages, library, cozy-mystery, read-in-2018, overdrive-libby

Not the best, but not the worst either, I wish I could give this 2.5 stars. I liked parts of this book, but a few parts were a little boring and not all that much happened really. Not sure if I'd actually call this a cozy mystery or just a mystery. Overall, this book is just average. Nothing to rave about; most likely it will be rather forgettable. Might give the second book in the series a chnce, but no time soon. ...more

Like · see review