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Rating: 
Summary: A Failure on all counts
Review: As someone of Irish descent and one who has traveled extensively throughout Ireland, I thought this would be a fun read. Sadly, it wasn't. The plot is ridiculously convoluted with no logic whatever to the "clues" and no good explanation as to how they are interpreted. The dialogue is absurd with one character even reduced to speaking backwards for several chapters (and does that ever get annoying)! As to the Irish accents, one can only shake one's head as characters seem to develop it then drop it all in the same sentence. This book, which I honestly had hoped to like, is a real stinker. If you're looking for a good mystery, this isn't it, and if you're looking for a good book with Irish locales and plot, this isn't it either. Don't waste a penny on this one.
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Summary: The Celtic Riddle: An Archeological Mystery
Review: Being of Irish descent and having travelled throughout Ireland, I thought this would be a fun book to read. It wasn't. If there was an award for cliche filled tripe, this would win first prize. The writing is awful, the plot unbelievable (if there's any logic whatsoever to the treasure hunt clues I missed it, and defy any other reader to explain it) and the dialogue as bad as I've ever read. One of the characters even speaks backwards for several chapters! The attempts at Irish speech turn on and off, even within sentences. One has to wonder what the editor was thinking to have let such poor writing pass as a story. I really did want to like this book but I just can't recommend it or any others by Ms. Hamilton. There are numerous other books out with an Irish theme or locale and one should look for those before ever wasting money on this effort.
Rating:
Summary: Very disappointing
Review: I don't know how long the author spent in Ireland, but if she went at all it couldn't have been for very long. Having spent much time there myself, I found the characters so weakly and stereotypically developed as to be unconvincing, even irritating, and I never finished the book. Too contrived.
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Summary: Confusing archaeological mystery
Review: I've read Ms. Hamilton's mysteries once before. The last one I enjoyed, and though I do enjoy the time and effort put into the background for the story based in Ireland, the book ended up being extremely confusing. I finished it, but didn't find it as well written as the book I had read of hers before. The reason for the presence of the major character being in Ireland was a bit contrived, and the 'clues' were very strained and never seem to come together in any way. It's fine to want to teach more about another country, but this genre is not the way to do it, unless you are will to put a great deal of effort into the background and explanations. I am not sure I will be reading any other books from this particular author in the future because my time is limited for 'fun' books when I have educational/medical books I have to read for my work. When I read something different to get my mind off of my daily work, I still want it to be well-done. This book wasn't. Karen Sadler, Science Education, University of Pittsburgh
Rating: 
Summary: Mystery in the Myths of Ireland
Review: Lara Mc Clintoch, who ones an antiquary in Toronto, accompanies his friend Alex to a testament lecture in southwest Ireland. Much of a surprise for everybody Alex receives Rose Cottage. More than this Eamon Byrne left one clue to everybody before dieing. His hope was to see the whole family to work again together for a great treasure hunt in the ancient story of Ireland, with all the myths related to. But something goes wrong and somebody gets killed. Will anybody find the great treasury? Will somebody get killed again ?Lyn Hamilton wrote a brilliant story, which you would never stop reading. The suspense killes you as you discover slowly, piece at piece, the mistery behind. And you discover as well, as you were travelling with here throughout Ireland, the legends and the myths of the Celts. Perhaps with the best book of her with THE XIBALBA MURDER, her first novel published.
Rating:
Summary: This mystery authort is a storytelling genius
Review: Lara McClintoch owns Greenhalgh and McClintoch, an antiques and design store in Toronto. She loves traveling the globe seeking unique items to sell in her shop. When Lara is on the road, her friend Alex Stewart runs the store. In turn, Lana accompanies Alex to Ireland for the reading of the will of the recently deceased Eamon Byrne, a wealthy businessman. Alex and the rest of the Byrne family learn that Eamon wants them to take part in a treasure hunt that the he hoped would finally bring his fractured relatives together. Each person receives a different clue in which teamwork will lead to the treasure. Eamon's dream fails because some of his relatives refuse to work with other recipients of the clues. Someone takes matters into their own hands by killing clue-holders. Lara decides that finding the treasure is the only way to stop the murders. She puts together a team of locals to help her, but now the culprit is aware of a new threat. Superb storyteller, Lyn Hamilton imbues her fascinating plot with myths and legends of Eire that explains the call of Erin. THE CELTIC RIDDLE is a wonderful tale starring a brave heroine who remains loyal to her friends even when danger appears. The sharp mystery has many suspects that makes it nearly impossible to identify the villain. With this excellent archeological mystery and her previous tales (see THE XIBALBA MURDERS, THE MALTESE GODDESS, and THE MOCHE WARRIOR) Lyn Hamilton has dug her own niche within the genre. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: The Celtic Riddle
Review: Lara McClintock is Ms Hamilton's on-going series character and she is extremely likeable and believable. In this story, she accompanies her friend to Ireland to attend the funeral of a man he knew some years ago. The dead man has left an unusual will. His family will not receive their inheritance until they have solved a complicated riddle. He has done this apparently, in the hope that they will be forced to work together and reconcile the differences among them. In the course of the "hunt" some people come to bad ends. However,Lara, working from an ancient Celtic poem is able to figure out the clues herself and unmask the murderer. I was glad to have this book with me when I was on holiday as it meant I didn't have to put it down. The complexity of the riddle and the twists and turns of the plot were most intriguing. I particularly liked the Irish setting which was beautifully depicted. Lara and her friends are people I would like to meet. Recommended.
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Summary: You Just Never Know
Review: THE CELTIC RIDDLE is the fourth installment in Hamilton's Lara McClintoch series. The first one was passable, but nothing to get excited about. I found the second one disappointing and decided, at that point, to give up on Hamilton. Relenting after a couple of years, I gave the third one a shot. Lo and behold, I liked it. Not great, you understand, but pretty good. I began thinking that Hamilton had found her muse.
Now we have THE CELTIC RIDDLE (and several more, actually, but I'm taking them in order). For me, this is something of a letdown. Not horrid, but not up to the standard of THE MOCHE WARRIOR. The premise is shaky (a wealthy man leaves a treasure hunt behind in his will, hoping that his squabbling heirs will cooperate to find an unspecified treasure. Now really, what could be more divisive?). The background mythology is interesting and Hamilton has done her homework, but the meanings hidden within the mythical poem are obscure and the connections drawn are often either solved outside the thread of the narrative or involve improbable leaps of intuition. And what's up with the silly device of speaking backwards? It is more annoying than cute.
I don't quite know what to make of Hamilton. Thus far, her stories have been inconsistent. THE CELTIC RIDDLE is a mediocrity, and it could have been a good deal better. If you're into the series, you'll want to read it. If not, you might want to try the next one. I haven't read it yet, but the more recent books in this series are getting better reviews. I'm hoping that the best is yet to come.
Rating:
Summary: Very disappointing
Review: This work is badly in need of a good editor. The story is convoluted, the dialogue terrible and the mystery itself, confusing and unbelievable. Ms Hamilton writes in cliches and gives her characters only one dimension and some very aggravating traits. Having someone speak backwards may be her idea of "cute" but it's just plain annoying and not a little silly. As the protagonists find and dicipher the clues one is left shaking one's head as to how to make any sense of them. There are many excellent works written with the Irish and Irish locales. This is definitely not one of them. Very, very highly NOT recommended.
Rating:
Summary: A very bad book, indeed
Review: This work is badly in need of a good editor. The story is convoluted, the dialogue terrible and the mystery itself, confusing and unbelievable. Ms Hamilton writes in cliches and gives her characters only one dimension and some very aggravating traits. Having someone speak backwards may be her idea of "cute" but it's just plain annoying and not a little silly. As the protagonists find and dicipher the clues one is left shaking one's head as to how to make any sense of them. There are many excellent works written with the Irish and Irish locales. This is definitely not one of them. Very, very highly NOT recommended.
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