Lyn Hamilton, The Orkney Scroll

The Orkney Scroll

Toronto antique dealer Lara McClintoch owns McClintoch & Swain in partnership with her husband Clive. She has a terrific reputation one that she proudly wants to keep because multibillionaires like Blair Baldwin buy from her as much for her honesty as her expertise. Blair is purchasing an expensive writing desk from dealer Trevor Wylie if Lara authenticates it as an original.

Although she does not have enough time to examine the desk in minute detail, Lara believes it is genuine; Blair buys it and invites high society to attend a gala showcasing it. However, Lara realizes from the design of the lock that the desk is a fake. Blair goes berserk chopping the desk up with an axe, and soon afterward Trevor is dead and the wealthy patron is arrested as the person with motive and the weapon an axe. Lara checks Trevor's records along with the police and notices two objects that look like the desks came from the Orkney Islands off Scotland. Wanting to repair her damaged name, Lara travels to the Orkney Islands not realizing the danger that awaits her there with a second murder occurring.

Armchair travellers love the Lara McClintoch mysteries as she always visits an exotic locale that is vividly drawn so that readers will believe they accompany the heroine as she conducts a fantastic whodunit investigation. Filled with plenty of historical information cleverly interwoven into a fabulous whodunit, THE ORKNEY SCROLL is one of the best entries in a powerful amateur sleuth series as Lara knows what is at stake for her and for her client. Lyn Hamilton has produced another exemplary winner.

Lyn Hamilton

Berkley, Apr 2006, $22.95, 272 pp.

ISBN: 0425208001

Harriet Klausner