Thomas F. (hardtack) -
Helpful Score: 1
This was another fun Elizabeth MacPherson mystery by Sharon McCrumb. It takes place in Scotland, mostly on a small deserted island. Several people, including her heroine Elizabeth MacPherson, are there participating in an archaeological dig. Unfortunately, accidents happen and they start to die.
I admit to being proud of myself, in that I figured out who the killer was before McCrumb started laying out the clues. I even figured out how the killer killed. But this was only because McCrumb borrowed a plot twist from the very first Agatha Christie book (and mystery) that I ever read as a young boy. I won't tell you the title of the Christie book, but I did give you a clue above.
I admit to being proud of myself, in that I figured out who the killer was before McCrumb started laying out the clues. I even figured out how the killer killed. But this was only because McCrumb borrowed a plot twist from the very first Agatha Christie book (and mystery) that I ever read as a young boy. I won't tell you the title of the Christie book, but I did give you a clue above.
I recently re-read this book and enjoyed it thoroughly. I really like the Elizabeth McPherson stories. She's an anthropologist, not a detective, but she can add two and two.
This time she joins an archeological group on a remote Scottish island, and her companions are quite diverse. You never know quite where anyone stands, and when people start dying of some unknown cause, it doesn't occur to anyone that it might be murder.
Ms. McCrumb has a wonderful sense of humor and uses it appropriately in her stories.
This time she joins an archeological group on a remote Scottish island, and her companions are quite diverse. You never know quite where anyone stands, and when people start dying of some unknown cause, it doesn't occur to anyone that it might be murder.
Ms. McCrumb has a wonderful sense of humor and uses it appropriately in her stories.
Merisa A. (nvangel) reviewed Paying the Piper (Elizabeth MacPherson, Bk 4) on + 162 more book reviews
I liked this one the best out of all the books in this series, so far
Jamie R. (mysterymagic) reviewed Paying the Piper (Elizabeth MacPherson, Bk 4) on + 16 more book reviews
Fourth book in the Elizabeth MacPherson series but no prior knowledge needed. Smart, funny, mystery read.
Elaine (Fulltimer) reviewed Paying the Piper (Elizabeth MacPherson, Bk 4) on + 179 more book reviews
This is one of my favorites of this series.
Anthropologist Elizabeth MacPherson joins a crew in Scotland, but finds the living conditions rough and wet. Then an American is found dead in his tent, and death seems to follow them to their archeological search.
Allison W. (sealady) reviewed Paying the Piper (Elizabeth MacPherson, Bk 4) on + 657 more book reviews
From the Publisher: "It's hard to say which is my favorite of McCrumb's Elizabeth MacPherson murder mysteries. She's a funny lady and every one of her very well-plotted MacPherson novels is full of all manner of zany characters. In some ways, though, this early one -- 1988 -- is one I'd recommend first to a reader new to Sharyn McCrumb. It's set on a small Scottish island, full of ominous atmosphere, naturally, where Elizabeth, a forensic anthropologist, and a crew of archaeologists are looking into prehistoric burial rites. And then, of course, a crew member dies. McCrumb used one of the most ingenious murder methods I've ever come across in a lifetime of reading mysteries." --Margaret Sanborn, Senior Publicity Copywriter
Book four in Sharyn McCrumb's Elizabeth MacPherson murder mystery series. A motley crew of American and British professionals and amateurs gathers for an archaeological dig into prehistoric burial rites on a small Scottish island. Things already aren't going so well, when one of the strongest in the crew dies suddenly. Afraid for her life, fellow digger and forensic anthropologist Elizabeth MacPherson probes the rocky topsoil for a reason behind the evil aura of death that seems to hover over them. Is the excavation cursed by the ancient dead...or is there a more modern explanation behind the group's strangely rising mortality rate...?"
Book four in Sharyn McCrumb's Elizabeth MacPherson murder mystery series. A motley crew of American and British professionals and amateurs gathers for an archaeological dig into prehistoric burial rites on a small Scottish island. Things already aren't going so well, when one of the strongest in the crew dies suddenly. Afraid for her life, fellow digger and forensic anthropologist Elizabeth MacPherson probes the rocky topsoil for a reason behind the evil aura of death that seems to hover over them. Is the excavation cursed by the ancient dead...or is there a more modern explanation behind the group's strangely rising mortality rate...?"
