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

Mar 26, 2017 Karen rated it liked it · review of another edition

This was a decent mystery chock full of interesting Maya history and culture. Things fell into place a bit too easily for our heroine and I had most of it figured out by the end - something I can rarely do when reading mysteries - but the historical aspect of it made it worth the read, although the whole Maya calendar bit got old pretty quickly. It was interesting but just too coincidental that the day never failed to bring exactly what it was meant to and that she seemed to have the calendar me ...more

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Jul 10, 2017 Carol rated it it was amazing

Shelves: z2017craving-2017-for-cozies-chall, z-2017-alphabet-challenge2017, z2017-cruising-thru-the-cozies-2017, z2017-cloak-dagger-reading-challeng

A very interesting murder mystery involving the Maya
Culture.
Lara McClinton was forced to sell her antique design
shop due to a divorce. She enrolled in college to
study the ancient Maya. While on break a friend contacts
her to come to Mexico. He is an archaeologist and
wants to consult her on a discovery.
Disappearance, murder, archeological digs, Xibalba who is
the Lord of Death, lush jungles, writing rabbits, robbery
of a statue, revolutionary forces, black marketeers plus
suspense, drama, danger and ...more

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Jun 15, 2017 Olivermagnus rated it liked it

Shelves: 2017, 2018, mystery, 2019, mexico

Looking for an X book in one of my ongoing challenges, I recently picked up The Xibalba Murders. It's the first book in a series featuring Lara McClintoch, Toronto-based antiquities dealer. She has been contacted by her former mentor, Dr. Hernan Castillo, who begs her to come down and help him with a mysterious project. He disappears, but leaves behind a cryptic message “we seek what the rabbit writes”.

Lara begins an investigation but seems to be unaware of what a dangerous position she is putti ...more

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Feb 03, 2014 Chaitra rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: first-of-a-series, cozy-mystery, part-of-a-series, mystery, amateur-sleuth

Not bad for a cozy (I don't have a good history with them). I know several reviews call out Lara on her stupid moves, but honestly, she's less stupid compared to some other choice cozy heroines. I found the Mayan legends interesting, even though it was so much exposition. I did find some of the things questionable - the main character is written into the will of a Mayan Museum Director as someone whose interest in Maya culture equal to his own, but there's a lot of things I'm assuming are basic ...more

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Jul 18, 2021 Chrystal rated it liked it

Solid Mystery

A very solid mystery. Enjoyed the references to the ancient Mayan culture and to the days and calendar the Mayans used. The characters were also well developed and though i thought i knew who did it,it still had me guessing till the end.

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Jun 10, 2016 Susan rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2018, 2016, mystery, canadian-authors, set-in-north-america, adventure-thriller

For me, this one is between three and four stars. I rounded up because I genuinely enjoyed it and because first books of a new series often have some rough spots.

I did enjoy this book. The protagonist, Lara Mcclintock, had a solid introduction in this story as an intelligent woman who is able to act for herself. I also appreciated the Mayan history given in the book. Although I had a good idea of 'who dunnit' before the big reveal, the plot was still solid and moved at a good pace.

Overall, a sol ...more

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