Delicious Fromage!

When I pulled it out of the box of newly delivered DVDs, I had never heard of the 2008 BBC series Bonekickers. From the writers of Life on Mars, Bonekickers, set at the fictional Wessex University, is a little bit Kathy Reichs, a little bit Indiana Jones, and a little bit Dan Brown.

Dr. Gillian Magwilde is the spitfire team leader who is afraid of nothing: risking poisonous gases, deep wells, and dark tunnels, she breaks the rules to get her answers. Her cockiness is balanced by the down-to-earth Ben Ergha, who challenges Gillian's quests for stupendous results and attempts to keep her focused and out of danger. Gregory Parton is a loquacious walking encyclopedia with a taste for women and spirits. Their team has newly added Vivian, a young intern who is the target for Gregory's attentions and Gillian's wrath, who has a quest of her own.

The episodes deal with disparate periods of history and characters: the Knights Templar, U.S. slaves, the Roman occupation of Britain, ancient Iraq, Joan of Arc and King Arthur, yet all the stories feature a common thread, an artifact that Gillian's mother spent her life looking for, and which led to her mental demise. The acting is excellent, and the plot lines intriguing. Unfortunately, the script, along with the editing, are bordering on dreadful. Does this make for a bad show? I will argue that it is quite the contrary.

While there are aspects of the show I didn't like (the shaky camera and unusual filming angles, the egotistical attitudes of some of the characters in their introductory scenes, the inconsistencies in Gillian's point of view from the importance non-traditional thinking in one episode to rejecting the same sentiment in Ben's theories in another, some totally cheesy lines and outlandish, convoluted storylines), curiously, as a whole, I liked it. While I prefer a slower character development, once I got over the initial shock of being thrown right into the series, I enjoyed the historic backgrounds of the show, the 'flashbacks,' and the settings. I was interested in the personal dynamics between the characters, and I even laughed at some of those cheesy lines, such as Gregory yelling at a gang of murderous thugs "Don't mess with me; I'm an archaeologist!"

Due to low ratings, the show only lasted the one season, about which I feel rather disappointed. While I felt Bonekickers took itself a bit too seriously sometimes, it was a good ride. I would have delighted in seeing them tackle and solve more long-standing archaeological mysteries, take on more baddies, and deliver, with a straight face, lines like "Right, bras off" (you'll just have to watch to find out).

Remarkable Russell

After an agonising four years, mystery author Laurie R. King brings Mary Russell and her husband, the great Sherlock Holmes, back in The Language of Bees. King's dynamic duo not only returns in print, but after seven harrowing months abroad, home to Sussex. Immediately, Holmes is immersed in a domestic mystery of the 'death' of one of his beehives. What the two don't realise is that soon, a bigger mystery will overtake their lives, tracking down Holmes' son Damian Adler. Adler is accused in a number of murders and disappearances, including that of his own wife and daughter. The violent episodes appear to centre around celestial events and ancient monuments such as Stonehenge.

The characteristic I enjoy most about King's Mary Russell series is its old-fashioned quality. In this day and age of fax machines, emails, digital cameras, television and mobile phones, it would be relatively easy to inform the public about the roaming of a dangerous predator. Not so for poor Russell; in order to try to apprehend her suspect, she hires the (supposedly) quickest form of transportation, a single engine airplane, which still takes her a matter of days and a great deal of frustration to travel eleven hundred kilometres. I also enjoy Holmes' classic keen sense of observation, and deduction of an item's appearance at a crime scene. Clever language and fine detail are key components; these are not fast paced books, but they offer suspense and intrigue, all the while encouraging readers to take their time and relish it all.

An untimely passing

A while ago, I listed a number of my favourite mysteries. Included on the list was the Lara McClintoch Archeaological Series by Lyn Hamilton. It was with regret that I read about Hamilton's death from cancer over the weekend.

Lara, a Toronto based antiques dealer, came to being late in Hamilton's life. After working in communications, and being responsible for archeological and heritage conservation projects as director of Ontario's Cultural Programs Branch, the author published The Xibalba Murders in 1997. The title earned her a nomination for the Arthur Ellis Award for best first crime novel in Canada. Her 2003 book, The Celtic Riddle, served as the basis for a Murder She Wrote television movie, with Jessica Fletcher taking over from Lara as sleuth. With eleven adventures under Lara's belt, Hamilton wrapped up the series in 2007 with The Chinese Alchemist, in order to focus on helping new writers, and with a vague promise that she may return to writing. A private person, she was likely already fighting her cancer.



The elements I enjoy about the Lara McClintoch series, in addition to Lara's unenviable talent to stumble upon a murder virtually everywhere she went, are Hamilton's interests in the archaeology and history of different geographical regions and cultures. I always felt like I was taking a mini-vacation, albeit a bloody and violent one, while learning bits and pieces of said regions and cultures. And Lara is a likable, feisty, and intelligent heroine. And a pretty good sport, considering her outings inevitably end up far from relaxing.

For anyone who has not indulged themselves in one of Lyn Hamilton's mystery, I think it would be a wonderful homage to the author to pick one up and feel some regret that her talent was lost too soon.


For a complete list of Hamilton's Lara McClintoch series and more information, visit her website at www.lynhamilton.com.

My Favourite Mystery Series

Gunshots and blood spots
And mayhem abounded.
Who dunnit, I dunno, I am confounded.
Killers and victims, their sordid hist’ries…
These are a few of my fav’rite myst’ries.

Erin Hart Haunted Ground, Lake of Sorrows
Death and destiny, myth and mystery,forensics, history, archaeology, suspense, in Ireland past and present.


Laurie King Mary Russell series: The Beekeeper's Apprentice; A Monstrous Regiment of Women; A Letter of Mary; The Moor; O Jerusalem; Justice Hall; The Game; Locked Rooms
Young Mary Russell lost her family in a tragedy, but fate lends a hand when she meets and matches the brilliant Sherlock Holmes, who becomes a major player in her life.


Iain Pears Art History Mysteries: The Raphael Affair; The Titian Committee; The Bernini Bust; Giotto's Hand; Death and Restoration; The Immaculate Deception
The adventures of British art historian Jonathan Argyll and two members of the (fictitious) Art Squad of the Italian police: researcher Flavia di Stefano and the head of the squad, General Bottando.


Peter Tremayne Sister Fidelma Mysteries: Absolution by Murder; The Monk who Vanished; Badger's Moon; Act of Mercy; Suffer Little Children; Shroud for the Archbishop; The Subtle Serpent; Valley of the Shadow; The Spider's Web; The Haunted Abbot; Master of Souls; A Prayer for the Damned.
Sister Fidelma is not simply a 7th century Irish religieuse, a former member of the community of St Brigid of Kildare. She is also a qualified dalaigh, or advocate of the ancient law courts. With her companion, Brother Eadulf, Fidelma travels through Ireland, the British Isles, and as far as Rome using her knowledge to find the guilty party.


Sharyn McCrumb The Ballad Novels: If I Ever Return, My Pretty Peggy-O; The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter; She Walks These Hills; The Rosewood Casket; The Ballad of Frankie Silver; The Songcatcher; Ghost Riders.
In the mountains of Appalachia, seer Nora Bonesteel could tell Sheriff Spencer Arrowood and his small staff a thing or two in advance while they try to maintain their town's law and order.


Margaret Coel Wind River series: Eagle Catcher; Dream Stalker; Story Teller; Lost Bird; Spirit Woman; Thunder Keeper; Shadow Dancer; Killing Raven; Wife of Moon; Eye of the Wolf; Drowning Man
Father John O'Malley and attorney Vicki Holden work together to help the people of the Arapaho Wind River Reservation.


Lyn Hamilton Lara McClintoch Archeaological Series: Moche Warrior; Celtic Riddle; African Quest; Magyar Venus; Orkney Scroll.
Antique dealer Lara McClintoch just can't seem to avoid trouble, or involvement in murders (solving them, at least)!


Hailey Lind Art Lover's Mysteries: Feint of Art; Brush with Death; Shooting Gallery
After being discovered working with her grandfather, a master art forger, Annie Kincaid is relegated to opening a faux finishing design company. Unfortunately, the dead bodies that Annie keeps stumbling across are far from faux.