Clonmac's Bridge - Jeffery Perren

Ireland, a country rich with history and with that hidden artifacts. So when a maritime archaeologist, Griffin Clonmac can confirm the location of a lost relic, he can't contain his excitement. What can it be? None other than Ireland's first major bridge undiscovered for 1,200 years in the Shannon River.

The bridge is near the Clonmacnoise Monastery. An important find even if his colleagues laugh at his want to find a bridge. But what's significant is not only because of the history - a span built at the beginning of the 9th century over two hundred years before the first bridge was built but that fact this construction is somehow fully preserved.

Dr. Daley Garvin was not wholly interested in Griffin's discovery. Well, only when he can claim the find and lap up the glory from the dig.

Mari Quispe, a tenacious headstrong archaeologist suffers a tragedy at a dig in Cusco, Peru. She's devastated and guilty - even though it wasn't her fault. But that's not the real problem. With this setback, her father Casimiro, a man she deeply dislikes, will see it as a good excuse to convince her to give up working and get married. Anbessa, her beloved brother is her only ally and thankfully doesn't agree.

Reluctantly thrown together Griffin and Mari work on exposing the sunken span. But with corporate funding wavering, bad press written by a sniveling journalist called Twissle and the Church secretly condemning the dig, can the renowned archaeologist uncover his dream without losing his integrity?

Perren's story, inspired by a real discovery, is rich with history and archaeological references. With hints of conspiracy and the intriguing question of why would priests want to stop the raising of 1200 year old bridge, the story is long and consuming.

I'm afraid I got a little lost as to who wanted what doing to whom. There are jumps from Ireland, to Peru and America and back again and there seemed to be a lot of subplots which I'm not certain added anything to the mystery. It is well written and characters have been given various facets which will leave you either liking or disliking them. Overall, the story is good if a little long. Recommended for fans of semi-historical fiction.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author to review. The opinions expressed are my own and I am not required to give a positive critique.