Antiques dealer Lara McClintoch is targeted by ruthless criminals while tying to recover an eighth-century Tang Dynasty silver box-with an alchemical formula for the elixir of immortality etched on the inside of the lid. The rare item holds the key not only to the mysterious death of a museum curator, but to Lara's own survival.
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From Publishers Weekly
In Hamilton's diverting 11th cozy featuring Lara McClintoch (after 2006's The Orkney Scroll), the Canadian globe-trotting antiques expert first faces peril from an Asian organized crime gang, the Golden Lotus, angered by the efforts of Mounty Sgt. Rob Luckza, her significant other, to end its terrorizing of the Chinatown of an unnamed Canadian city that resembles Toronto. Lara keeps a low profile until an old friend, Chinese art historian Dory Matthews, asks her to go to New York to bid on a rare Chinese silver box, but the desired item is brazenly stolen from the auction house. After Dory's sudden death, Lara learns that her friend's will requested that she pursue the box. Lara travels to Beijing, where a series of narrow escapes leaves a trail of bodies in her wake. Despite the often-clunky exposition (both of Chinese history and of the motive behind the crimes), longtime series fans will enjoy seeing McClintoch in action in China. (Apr.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
About the Author
Lyn Hamilton is the author of five previous novels: The Xibalba Murders, nominated by the Crime Writers of Canada Association for the Arthur Ellis Award for Best First Novel, The Maltese Goddess, The Moche Warrior, The Celtic Riddle, and The African Quest. The Etruscan Chimera is her sixth novel featuring antique store owner Lara McClintoch. Ms. Hamilton lives in Toronto.
--This text refers to the
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Amazon.com:
4.2 out of 5 stars
6 reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Chinese connection is fascinating
April 26 2007
By Armchair Interviews
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
Lara McClintoch is an antiques dealer who faces down an Asian gang called the Golden Lotus that is terrorizing a Canadian city's Chinatown. It seems Lara's significant other, Rob Luczka, a sergeant in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, has angered the gang and they may be targeting Lara because of her relationship with Rob.
Lara travels to New York and attempts, on behalf of her friend, Dory Matthews, to bid on a rare Tang Dynasty silver box--a box that has added value because the lid is etched with a formula for immortality. It is also a box very similar to one Dory already has.
The box is mysteriously withdrawn from the New York auction and ten days later, Dory is dead. It is learned that the box will be auctioned in Beijing and Lara travels to China (per a request in Dory's will) to bid on the box. Her rival, Burton Haldimand, turns up dead and the race is on. Lara must find the box or she might join Haldimand in death.
The Chinese Alchemist by Lyn Hamilton is the first of her novels that I've read. It's a fun, fast and easy read. Lara McClintoch is interesting, the plot takes some wonderful twists and turns and the Chinese connection is fascinating.
Armchair Interviews says: The Chinese Alchemist is recommended. You might want to check out Lyn Hamilton's other titles.
Lara travels to New York and attempts, on behalf of her friend, Dory Matthews, to bid on a rare Tang Dynasty silver box--a box that has added value because the lid is etched with a formula for immortality. It is also a box very similar to one Dory already has.
The box is mysteriously withdrawn from the New York auction and ten days later, Dory is dead. It is learned that the box will be auctioned in Beijing and Lara travels to China (per a request in Dory's will) to bid on the box. Her rival, Burton Haldimand, turns up dead and the race is on. Lara must find the box or she might join Haldimand in death.
The Chinese Alchemist by Lyn Hamilton is the first of her novels that I've read. It's a fun, fast and easy read. Lara McClintoch is interesting, the plot takes some wonderful twists and turns and the Chinese connection is fascinating.
Armchair Interviews says: The Chinese Alchemist is recommended. You might want to check out Lyn Hamilton's other titles.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Armchair travelers can journey to famous Chinese historic site
May 14 2007
By Former world traveler
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This mystery series takes readers on trips to famous ancient sites while the protagonist tries to fulfill purchase orders for her upmarket antique store in Toronto. The latest one involves spending time with protagonist in ancient Chinese sites. The sense of place is wonderful but I could have used even more description of the sites as I have never been to China.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Mystery Nestled In Chinese Boxes
Aug 28 2007
By J. Anderson
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Hamilton just gets better and better at bringing together an ancient mystery with a current day missing artifact.
There is also fascinating information on how art auctions work and how the Chinese are trying to prevent their heritage from being sold to foreign collectors.
However, this is not Hamilton's best book as it reads as if it was a longer and denser book and then was edited down, leaving some character development missing and some of the action confusing.
And, add in one too many coincidence.
There is also fascinating information on how art auctions work and how the Chinese are trying to prevent their heritage from being sold to foreign collectors.
However, this is not Hamilton's best book as it reads as if it was a longer and denser book and then was edited down, leaving some character development missing and some of the action confusing.
And, add in one too many coincidence.
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 6 reviews
4.2 out of 5 stars
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