The Orkney Scroll (Archaeological Mysteries, No. 10) [Hardcover]

Lyn Hamilton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 4, 2006

When one of her clients falls victim to a scam and is accused of murder,Lara's investigation leads her to the Orkney Islands off the northeast coast of Scotland. There, surrounded by surreal beauty and ancient ruins, she is pulled into a centuries-old Viking saga and a troubling quest that could end in danger-and may just rewrite history.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In Hamilton's entertaining 10th archeological mystery featuring Canadian antiques dealer Lara McClintoch (after 2005's The Moai Murders), one of Lara's colleagues, Trevor Wylie, sells a local collector a supposedly authentic Charles Rennie Mackintosh writing cabinet. After the cabinet is revealed to be a fake, Trevor turns up dead. Lara's determination to find out who knocked off Trevor—and who's getting rich knocking off forged antiques—leads her to Scotland's Orkney Islands. What begins as a simple case of furniture fraud gets endlessly more complicated. For starters, Lara keeps running into people she knows from back home, like Trevor's girlfriend, who is bereft not because of heartbreak but because Trevor died owing her money. In a plot that verges on being overly complex, Lara has to contend with ancient treasure maps, a Viking legend, drug-running, money laundering and another murder. Still, Hamilton is a funny writer. Lara's culture shock in super-friendly Orkney is especially humorous. (Apr.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

The tenth in Hamilton's witty Archeological Mystery series has Toronto antique-store owner Lara McClintoch chasing an art nouveau writing cabinet from Canada to Glasgow to the Orkney Islands. The day after one of Lara's clients discovers that the rare Charles Mackintosh cabinet he purchased is a copy, Lara discovers the body of an antiques dealer, the one who sold her client the fake cabinet, with an axe in his skull. Two things are at stake for McClintoch: her own reputation and that of her client, arrested for the dealer's murder. Believing that the dealer may have been the victim of a bait-and-switch, McClintoch traces the real writing cabinet's provenance and follows the paper trail that emerges. Although the plotting is a bit slapdash, the antiques background is satisfyingly detailed, and the descriptions of Glasgow and the Orkneys are enchanting. A great read for fans of Jonathan Gash's Lovejoy series. Connie Fletcher
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Berkley Hardcover; Later Printing edition (April 4, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425208001
• ISBN-13: 978-0425208007
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #845,503 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An interesting intrigue in Orkney, April 14, 2006

By 

Kathleen A. Schelberg "michelleberg" (Chappaqua, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Orkney Scroll (Archaeological Mysteries, No. 10) (Hardcover)

Lara McClintoch is an appealing sleuth/antique dealer with a shop in Toronto. When a Mackintosh writing cabinet she hurriedly authenticates for a client is found to be a replica she is taken aback and begins a quest to discover whether she was as mistaken as others would like her to believe. As Lara sleuths she discovers a body or two and explores Orkney with descriptive visits to archeolgocial sites from Viking times. This is an enjoyable mystery with an engaging heroine and an interesting locale. The end, where the mystery is revealed and all loose ends are tied up, seemed to come a bit abruptly for my taste. I would have enjoyed lingering over the solutions for a bit longer.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mystery and Travelogue, July 31, 2006

By 

Evelyn S. Hlabse "esh1965" (Richmond Heights, OH) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Orkney Scroll (Archaeological Mysteries, No. 10) (Hardcover)

This book is wonderful. I love murder mysteries set in unusual places but to find one set in Orkney was even better. As a native Orcadian now living in the U.S., it was unbelievable to find myself walking down the streets of my childhood passed St. Magnus Cathedral, Tankerness House and visiting the incredible archealogical sites of Orkney. The book is worth reading for the descriptions of Orkney and Orcadians. I was stunned how accurate it was and very happy about it. Even the restaurant (The Foveran) where the characters had dinner one evening was right on - I've eaten there on both of my recent trips to Orkney. The story in itself is spell binding and believable. I'd recommend this to everyone who loves a good murder mystery not to mention a wonderful place to visit. I've got to read more of Lyn Hamilton's books. I am sure that they will be as accurate as this one.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Are all Lyn Hamilton's books this good?, July 21, 2006

By 

R Schmidt (Honolulu, HI USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Orkney Scroll (Archaeological Mysteries, No. 10) (Hardcover)

Wow! This is my first Lyn Hamilton book. In it, antiques store owner Lara McClintoch uncovers a mystery, dogs it to Scotland, and... the adventures begin!

Hamilton has developed an intelligent and thoughtful character in one Lara McClintoch. Whether this shows my ignorance, gullibility, or quick wit, I felt like I was learning history, the antiques business, and the geography of this part of Scotland. And if a novel can make me feel that way... more power to it!

The story was engaging, the characters believable, and the interspersion of the legend/history of Bjarni the Wanderer with Lara's travels was well coordinated.

Recommended! And I hope I get another chance to read more of Hamilton's work.