The Magyar Venus
Archaeological mystery series, No. 8

By Lyn Hamilton

     The Magyar Venus, the eighth installment in Lyn Hamilton's archaeology mystery series, is a complex romp through the European antiquities trade. Lara McClintoch, antique dealer and main character of this series, gets embroiled in murder and betrayal while trying to prove the authenticity of an Hungarian stone carving of a woman, commonly called a prehistoric Venus or goddess among archaeologists. A chance reunion with old college chums and the rekindling of a long-ago romance with the curator of the newly displayed Magyar Venus provide the area for McClintoch's thorough search. Though McClintoch usually tries to trace the sales history and background of fine furniture and antique objects d'art, her methods are accurate in trying to discover the provenience of an archaeological object. (Ms. Hamilton, a Canadian, uses the French form of the term, provenance, meaning "origin.")

     Hamilton lays out a well-plotted, clue-ridden mystery that is a real page-turner. It has just enough romance and sizzle to keep the readers' interest and enough intrigue to keep them wanting to find out what happens next. Hamilton is able to bring everything to a satisfying and unexpected conclusion-what any mystery reader really wants to have.

     Though Hamilton deals with archaeological objects in all of her books, she does not deal with archaeological method per se, since McClintoch would not necessarily need that kind of information. McClintoch is an antique dealer and handles ancient objects that are found on the market. If readers are looking for get-dirty-in-the-dig mysteries, these aren't of that category, but they are fine mysteries, nonetheless.

     The only flaw in Hamilton's presentation is her speed to get the reader to the next bit of information or action. I missed the details of movement of characters sometimes. I wondered whether a character had moved from a room or sat down next to someone or picked up an object. Hamilton has written so many of these mysteries; it may just be that she has so many ideas in her head she is in a hurry to get the tales told. There doesn't have to be a lot of description, just a little more stage direction so that the reader can see what the characters are doing more clearly.

     I look forward to reading more of Lyn Hamilton's work and exploring another part of the world, something Hamilton is superb at providing her readers.