Olmec Obituary (Dr Pimms, Intermillennial Sleuth, #1) in Aussie Readers

Dec 10, 2015 Brenda rated it it was amazing

Shelves: mystery, aussie-authors, first-in-a-series, 2015-release, crime, won, own-read

Having to rush home from the Mayan dig where she was currently working, Dr Elizabeth Pimms was shocked and heartbroken at what she was returning to in her home town of Canberra in Australia. And the fact that she was unable to return to her life as an archaeologist for the foreseeable future, saddened her deeply. But Elizabeth’s first thought was for her family, and she knew she needed to stay at home and work to support them, especially her younger brother Matty.

Taking a job as a librarian hadn Having to rush home from the Mayan dig where she was currently working, Dr Elizabeth Pimms was shocked and heartbroken at what she was returning to in her home town of Canberra in Australia. And the fact that she was unable to return to her life as an archaeologist for the foreseeable future, saddened her deeply. But Elizabeth’s first thought was for her family, and she knew she needed to stay at home and work to support them, especially her younger brother Matty.

Taking a job as a librarian hadn’t been in her career plan, but she was happy to have the work. And when she was approached in her capacity as archaeologist to work on some skeletons which had been recovered from an Olmec cemetery in the Mexican jungle, she was ecstatic. Knowing she would only be a volunteer and working her Saturday’s off didn’t perturb Elizabeth – suddenly her life felt lighter; it felt right again. She only needed her boyfriend Luke to return from his dig and she’d be content.

But Dr Pimms knew something wasn’t right – her deep knowledge of the work she did was insulted by the contradictions and hostility coming from the director of the excavation. He insinuated she didn’t know what she was talking about - Elizabeth’s anger and disappointment didn’t deter her for long though. She was determined to discover details about the three thousand two hundred year old skeletons – her career was on the line...

Olmec Obituary is the first in the Dr Pimms, Intermillennial Sleuth series by Aussie author L.J.M. Owen and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The combination of archaeology and mystery is intriguing; the playback to the time these skeletons were alive and how they were living, what they were doing, the dramatic differences in day-to-day living is fascinating. The author has perfectly created the past and current day to make the reader completely involved in the story. I read #2 in the series, Mayan Mendacity, late last year when it was published and now I’m really looking forward to book #3. Highly recommended.
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May 24, 2022 Catsalive rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: aww, 2022

2.5*
If this book wasn't obviously populated with adult characters, I'd think I had strayed into YA land. The writing felt that way & the emotional reactions of Elizabeth, in particular, & some of the other characters seem decidedly adolescent.

It is full of interesting information, but I found the occasional superior & pretentious delivery extremely irritating. Stray threads & a multitude of characters abound. It's hard to like a book when the main character leaves you cold, so I don't think I'l ...more

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Dec 26, 2018 Jyv rated it liked it

Shelves: australian-author, fiction

I'm with some other reviewers who found parts of the story implausible and the main character rather annoying. I also found the home situation rather nauseating - too cosy for my liking. I agree with another reviewer also that she need not have been "forced" into a job at a library and the improbability that on her income she could support herself and four others in a large house, as well as potential medical expenses. It's all rather ridiculous.
Not impressed, overall, and I was tempted to give ...more

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