- Paperback: 272 pages
- Publisher: Prime Crime (MM); Reprint edition (Mar 1 2005)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0425201546
- ISBN-13: 978-0425201541
- Product Dimensions: 16.8 x 10.2 x 2 cm
- Shipping Weight: 181 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
#397,942 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #47 in Books > Teens > Literature & Fiction > Suspense
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
The ninth in Hamilton's appealing series (The Thai Amulet, etc.) takes chatty, always upbeat antiques dealer Lara McClintock to Hungary to research the provenance of the Venus, an ancient bust carved from mammoth ivory. Charlie Miller, aka Karoly Molnar, onetime lover of most of the "Dovercourt Divas" (six University of Toronto chums, including Lara, who lived in tiny apartments above a Chinese restaurant), unexpectedly turns up as curator of the Cottingham Museum and wastes no time in running up a huge expense account with the purchase of this mysterious objet d'art. This tale bristles with confusing coincidences, such as the simultaneous arrival of assorted members of Toronto's social set in Budapest on various missions. Yet Lara, unfazed by her friends' skepticism, is determined to prove this million-dollar artwork's authenticityâ€"and also the honesty (or lack thereof) of her ex-boyfriend from those heady university days. Interspersed with excerpts from a 100-year-old diary by the Venus's original finder, Lara's tireless quest gives an absorbing view of post-Communist Budapest and its surrounding prehistoric caves full of archeological treasures, like an old skeleton that she inexplicably decides to conceal under her hotel-room bed while making a side trip to London and Edinburgh. A drawn-out resolution comes as a bit of a letdown in this lively blend of romance, humor and occasional tragedy.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Booklist
Toronto provides an evocative home base for Lara McClintoch, a smart, funny antiques dealer who co-owns an antiques shop with her ex-husband, Clive. In this eighth in the series, the focus is on a group of college chums with whom Lara lived during her University of Toronto days. The six women reunite almost by chance and attend a museum opening together. Much to Lara's surprise, the museum's sexy Hungarian curator, Karoly Molnar, who is unveiling the 25,000-year-old Magyar Venus, is none other than her college sweetheart, Charlie Miller. She also discovers that most of her former roommates have had relationships with Karoly. When Anna, one of the roommates, commits suicide, Lara tries to find out if Karoly is somehow responsible--and if his renewed affection for her is real. Traveling to Hungary for further research, Lara learns that many of the roommates have secrets--some of them deadly. Lara's sharp wit and many foibles make her a highly appealing heroine. Hamilton once again combines an exciting mystery with fascinating historical and archaeological subject matter. Jenny McLarin
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most helpful customer reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Treat for the Armchair Traveller,
By
This review is from: Magyar Venus (Hardcover)
I always enjoy picking up the latest entry in Lyn Hamilton's archaeologicalmystery series because I know I'm off to exotic locations and that I'm going to have a whale of a good time with her witty and wise sleuth Lara McClintoch, antiques dealer. In The Magyar Venus, Lara parties with an old college crowd, many of whom have ties with a Toronto museum where an astonishing prehistoric Venus figure is being featured. Those of us "of a certain age" can identify with the generous dimensions of this ancient fertility image carved from mammoth ivory and discovered in a Hungarian cave. Problem is, though the ivory is 25,000 years old, is the figure much more recent? A Victorian fake? And what of the hapless classmate of Lara's who blurted out accusations at the professor who made the million-dollar find? Why did she commit suicide that night? To add to the fun, the professor is also a former love interest of Lara's...and most of the other women, it seems. Hamilton found a brilliant concept in her amateur sleuth series, beginning with The Xibalba Murders (just try to pronounce that), and continuing with The Maltese Goddess, The Celtic Riddle...and the list of faraway places like a box of Godiva chocolates. Book a flight with Lara and hold onto your hat. You'll have to start in Toronto, though. This series is a rare Canadian brand.
3.0 out of 5 stars
The Magyar Venus,
This review is from: Magyar Venus (Paperback)
I had a hard time reading this book. It seems not much happens during the story. The information Lyn provides about history is of course fascinating but I think its one of her less exciting books.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Magyar Venus mystery,
By
This review is from: Magyar Venus (Paperback)
The "Magyar Venus" was a fun ride first in Toronto, then in Budapest. The plot was clever and the details of Hungary were credible and lent colour to the story. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
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