Celtic Riddle [Mass Market Paperback]

Lara McClintock is Ms Hamilton's on-going series character and she is extremely likeable and believable. In this story, she accompanies her friend to Ireland to attend the funeral of a man he knew some years ago. The dead man has left an unusual will. His family will not receive their inheritance until they have solved a complicated riddle. He has done this apparently, in the hope that they will be forced to work together and reconcile the differences among them. In the course of the "hunt" some people come to bad ends. However,Lara, working from an ancient Celtic poem is able to figure out the clues herself and unmask the murderer. I was glad to have this book with me when I was on holiday as it meant I didn't have to put it down. The complexity of the riddle and the twists and turns of the plot were most intriguing. I particularly liked the Irish setting which was beautifully depicted. Lara and her friends are people I would like to meet. Recommended.

I adore the late Lyn Hamilton. I discovered "The Celtic Riddle" at a sale my fiancé & I attend biannually. Last year, we were leaving when the Celtic theme caught my eye. Lukewarm Amazon comments had deterred me from this series before. However I have Irish heritage and noting the author is Canadian, I was sold. I've never found public feedback more off-base than about this body of work. Lyn's style or extravagant locations get nitpicked but also garner five-star enthusiasm. Each novel highlights a culture of the world; fascinating, real information fused with well-paced adventure.

Aside from minor development of the core cast: Lara McClintoch, best friend Moira, endearing neighbour Alex, RCMP friend Rob, and his teenager Jennifer; the stories are individual. However I collected the prior three and at last have the pleasure of this one. Peculiarly, it appears to be least liked but I enjoyed it best. I'm glad to bring balance to broad input! Lara and company make a vacation of a will reading Alex attends. Beneficiaries each receive a line of the ancient "Song Of Amairgen" poem, leading to secondary clues that locate a valuable artifact.

This is what I call a real mystery: riddles and a quest! Nowadays the genre hinges on murders. They are present but a profusion of other secrets make this a treat I gobbled up with gusto. Lyn is noticeably more descriptive and I can't guess how tricky it was to draft such complicated details and back stories. I just read a different mystery set in Dingle, Ireland. My interest is peaked. Secondary characters always grace these novels and the author is gifted at making us fond of them. The hilarious elderly trio are my favourites hands down and were indispensably knowledgeable about the Milesians: ancient predecessors to the Celts.

This was a cleverly plotted story with lots of "local colour" of Ireland and interesting historical information mythic and other, woven in. A good read!