Customer Reviews

The Xibalba Murders (Archaeological Mysteries, No. 1)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I grabbed this book because I'm fascinated with Mayan history.I was sorry I spent the time on it. Although the historical information was quite good, the mystery was awful: cardboard characters, an obvious villian, unbelievable dialog, overuse of the same adjectives over and over. The author even interrupts the climax to explain the theme to us poor, brain-dead readers.

This book only deserves two stars (rather than one) for its excellent historical research, which is well presented. As a mystery, it's horrid. I play to say far away from Lyn Hamilton in the future. However, if anyone would like to read a good Mayan-history based book, Pat Murphy's "The Falling Woman" (Tor) is a fantastic book. It's not a mystery, rather a fantasy or magical-realism book, but it's quite wonderful and has all the element that this book lacks.

I really wanted to like this book because I love mysteries and have always been fascinated with Mexico and its history (and the research of the book seems flawless, at least to this non-expert). And the writing is swift, clean, almost humorous sometimes. In fact, I'd call it 3/4 of a good (not great) book. But it nosedives into implausibility and oversimplification. A quick "readable" disappointment.

I was excited to read this book, I love both archaeology and mysteries, however, I was disappointed with the read. I never felt any connection with the main charactor. Just spewing forth about a charactors obstacles in her life does not connect a reader to her, nor does it round out her charactor. More is needed to prevent her (the charactor) from seeming distant.
The parts of the book that should have been exciting were not. I was actually bored with the action. The Mayan history was good. It could have been used better to bring the plot along...instead of presented in a lecture type manner.
Perhaps this is just a first novel and the author improves with future books. I will give another a try, simply because I love the possibilies of the themes.

The basic idea of the story was good. The execution was bad. The author discusses what the main character had for breakfast in the same tone as she discusses finding a dead body. "I had huevos rancheros and strong coffee. Then I found a body under the pile of rubble." Blah, blah, blah. There was NO tension, NO excitement in the writing. She skipped over the most potentially exciting scenes in the book with a few sentences and dwelled on the main character's dislike of her husband and obsession with food.

Having just finished the Xibalba Murders, I have to say I was impressed. Not so much by the authenticity of the locales and archaeology, but by the quality of the story. And despite some of the negative reviews, I found the Xibalba Murders a good and satisfying mystery, in the Tony Hillerman sort of way.

Without a doubt, Lyn Hamilton does a superb job with her descriptions and feel of Chichen Itza. Although it's been a quite a few years since I've been there, and I have long lost contact with my traveling companions, Cecilia and Irma, it's a place you can never forget. Reading this story made me feel like I had returned. Even Lyn's description of the kindly professor, Dr. Hernan Castillo, was suspiously like a certain professor we encountered at the ruins that just happened to be from Merida.

One thing's for sure...Lyn Hamilton knows her people and knows her places. And she also knows how to write!

This was truly one of the most satisfying reads I've had in a while, especially from a mystery. The integration of Mexican and Mayan history throughout the narrative was both informative and entertaining and supported the story, rather than detracting from it. I also loved the evolution of the heroine, Lara, from a self-pitying in the beginning to stronger and more confident in the end. While I was perturbed by the rather obvious choice of villain, I do think that the way the reveal was handled both supported the plot of the book and the personal development of its lead character.

Well done Ms. Hamilton! A great plot ! You must have done a lot of historical research ! Great idea to combine a murder, with all the suspense related to, with a real scenario and some history behind. I read this book just coming back from my holiday in Yucatan, and believe me you call just have the Maya-Yucatan feeling by reading this book !

Lara Mc Clintoch owner of an antiquary shop in Toronto receives a phone call from Mr. Castillo, betting to join him in Merida, Yucatan. He will explain here then, but when she arrives he disappears. Curious, she wants to discover why the professor called her so misteriously.

From now Lara gets deeper and deeper in a mistery that is connected with the Mayan history and she needs all here knowledge in that to understand what happens, and why enemies look like friends and friends look like enemies.

This book was a good enough read, but seemed lacking in excitement. It kept my interest, but it wasn't a book that you just couldn't put down.

The Spanish Conquistadors may have destroyed the Mayan Civilization, but not the pride Mexicans feel in having Mayan blood flow through their bodies. Former Toronto antiquities' shopkeeper Lara McClintock specializes in Mayan artifact. When her mentor octogenarian Dr. Herran Castillo asks for her help on a mysterious project, Lara immediately flies to Merida, Mexico. ......Merida is a dangerous place as a resurgence of guerrilla warfare occurs, led by twentieth century rebels wanting to return to the glory days of the Mayans. On Lara's first day in town, she finds Herran missing, observes the robbery of a Mayan artifact, and discovers a corpse. When Don Herran is murdered, Lara journeys into the jungle where the rebels and the sacred Mayan treasure lie waiting for her. Lara hopes to be successful in her quest to bring back the treasure that led to her mentor's death. ......Although there is more Mayan history than will interest many readers, the cultural heritage of Mexico actually adds to the overall appeal of THE XIBALBA MURDERS. The excitement, magic, and adventure that is felt while watching an Indiana Jones flick will be felt while reading Lyn Hamilton's wondrous debut novel. ......Harriet Klausner