MYSTERY

My Lady of the Bog: An Archeo-Forensic Mystery

by Peter Hayes
Permanent. Apr. 2014. 280p. ISBN 9781579623548. $28. M
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Alexander (Xander) Donne is an aspiring American anthropologist who lives in England's Dorset countryside. One night a mummified corpse, dating back to the 13th century, is found buried in the peat. An ancient book, found on site and written in Indic runes, holds the key to the corpse's identity; Xander impetuously sends it off to Jai, his mentor and a noted Indic scholar, for translation. Xander learns that the victim was probably a witch, and he comes to believe her spirit is affecting present-day events. Then Jai is murdered; Jai's new bride, Vidya, is the prime suspect; and Xander is passionately attracted to her. Murders continue, and he must stop the witch's power. More realistically, he must apprehend a cold-blooded killer.
VERDICT While Hayes (The Feathered Serpent) is to be commended for his scholarly historical research and a valiant stab at a dual narrative, ultimately his two stories become unnecessarily murky and difficult to follow. Consider for those who relish an unusual gothic imbued with legend.
Reviewed by Teresa L. Jacobsen , Apr 01, 2014
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