Thursday 14 November 2013

The Ravenhoe Cauldron (Mick Chandra Mysteries) - Rebecca Yount

Ancient Celtic antiquities isn't Detective Inspector Mick Chandra's area of expertise. As the Force's go-to man to solve the unsolvable cases, he's thinking twice when a naked body is found dead at the bottom of an excavation hole. What is its link to a golden cauldron recently stolen from Colchester Museum?

With trusted colleague, Elizabeth Chung in tow, Chandra calls in the help of Detective Todd Bertram - an expert in the field of stolen and forgery antiquities. Together they begin to unravel the mystery of the cauldron. Their investigation leads to Celtic rituals, murders and international intrigue as well as a sinister plot that puts Chandra's life, and those around him, in danger.

What is the legend behind the golden artifact? Is the dead man found really dead? And what secrets lie within the close knit circle of people who pay homage to Celtic relics?

The third mystery begins with a happy domestic scene and then very quickly fades into another engaging and thrilling journey for the likable Detective Inspector. The handsome, intelligent police officer quickly makes connections but when the answers to his questions/investigation leads to Interpol, things slow down and then become dangerous. He's getting close to infiltrating and breaking down the circle of enthusiasts who are not above killing for their passion.

Another great outing in this series. Yount's portrayal of the British officer is believable and engaging. The author pays attention to the details such as the food eaten and clothes worn so there's little effort needed to imagine the scene just as she wants the reader to see it. The mystery/plot has lots of twists and turns along the way and the international aspect of the case adds a great edge. I particularly liked that I found out more about Elizabeth who I was never wholly taken with, but certainly grew on me this time around. Overall, it's an eloquent, well thought out story. A highly recommended read.

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.

2 comments:

  1. Thanks for your message Cierra. Yes, I think it's a great read - especially if you like descriptive crime novels.

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