Friday, January 19, 2018

Olmec Obituary - Review

Review





OLMEC OBITUARY by L.J.M. Owen
The First Dr. Pimms, Intermillennial Sleuth Mystery

The sudden death of Dr. Elizabeth Pimms' father forces her to give up her dream job, working on an archaeological dig with her boyfriend, and return home to Australia to work as a librarian in order to support her family. When a former classmate offers her a chance to join an archeology team in town Elizabeth can't resist, even if she has to volunteer her time on weekends while still performing her library duties. As her research unfolds, Elizabeth finds serious flaws with the original findings and the hypotheses surrounding the dig itself. Will Elizabeth discover the true story behind the skeletons? And will she come to terms with her family?

OLMEC OBITUARY is a fascinating start to a new series. This traditional mystery introduces readers to Dr. Elizabeth Pimms, an intelligent, capable, determined, yet ultimately flawed, woman. Elizabeth has a compelling backstory, hinted at and slowly revealed thought the book.

Two distinct stories comprise the first Dr. Pimms mystery. There is the modern day mystery of Dr. Pimms set in Australia and the story of Ix and her family in ancient Olmec, what is now central Mexico. The book weaves the modern day story of Dr. Pimms and her investigation with the ancient story of the people behind  the remains that she is called upon to investigate.

I admit to being a closet archeologist wannabe and am fascinated by the details revealed here. Those less academically inclined however, may find the minutia of true archaeological work and the historical details a bit daunting. Those who love history and dream of going on archaeological digs, if only via armchair, will find the information compelling.

Ultimately, OLMEC OBITUARY is a book of sacrifices, exploring family loyalty and the ties that bind. It looks at how our beliefs can skew our vision and how the past can shape our present and our future.

I enjoyed this first Dr. Pimms, Intermillennial Sleuth mystery, and appreciated not only the historical detail, but details about the various people living in Australia and how their cultures and traditions impact their life. I look forward to learning more as the series continues.

1 comment:

  1. I, too, liked this first-in-series very much. In addition to the powerful theme of sacrifice, I enjoyed seeing Elizabeth change and grow in the context of her family drama, as well as the professional setting.

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