|
MORE BITTER THAN DEATH
By: Dana Cameron
Avon Books: New York
2005 (hc)
In this, her fifth entry in the Emma Fielding
mysteries, author Dana Cameron continues a pattern that tends to distinguish
her novels from other archaeological series. Whereas most archaeology
fiction focuses on field work adventures or the occasional museum mystery,
Cameron’s series follows heroine Emma Fielding through a broader array of
the discipline’s activities; the previous entry, for instance, A Fugitive
Truth, found Emma undertaking bibliographic research in a research
library. The present volume, More Bitter Than Death, finds Emma
participating in a professional academic conference.
The Association for the Study of American Archaeology (ASAA)
is convening at the picturesque, bucolic and historic General Bartlett Hotel
near Green Bank, New Hampshire. The setting is ideal for the annual
conclave of historic archaeologists—close enough to excavation like Emma’s
Fort Providence site at Penitence Point, Maine, yet far enough from the
distractions of urban areas so the congregated academicians can concentrate
on archaeology—as well as partying and poker. The hazards of a January
conference in New Hampshire also come into play as a howling blizzard sets
in, and in something of an homage to Agatha Christie’s The
Mousetrap, strange things begin to happen at the General Bartlett
Hotel—an establishment that, by the way, does boast its own ghost. Along
with gunshots in the night and pilfered artifacts from displays, the
conference guest of honor, the irascible and not very well liked Julius
Garrison, the grand old man of Northeast historic archaeology, is found dead
almost literally in a snow bank. He had been honored earlier in the evening
for his many years of outstanding research, teaching and contributions to
the field, and in his few brief comments following, managed to alienate
almost everyone in the audience.
Accidental death or murder? Emma is convinced it’s the
latter, although even the police seem willing to accept the possibility that
a stubborn old man simply insisted on taking his usual evening
constitutional, despite the blizzard, and suffered the sad consequences of
that decision. The twists and turns in the plot eventually prove Emma’s
suspicions, but not before the reader is exposed to some of the seamy
underside of the archaeological profession and Emma’s very life is
threatened by more than one dangerous adversary.
The murder mystery is enriched with a great deal of
detail concerning the academic conference that provides the plot’s
backdrop. Some of the scenarios are funny, many are poignant, and some are
quite sad; through it all, one has the feeling that Dana Cameron is drawing
on personal experiences in similar settings. From the description of the
traditional late-night poker games among old friends and colleagues to the
heart to heart discussions Emma has with her graduate students as they face
their futures full of both excitement and trepidation—all have a ring of
truth to them.
This is a good novel, well worth reading for both the
mystery and the insider view of the profession of archaeology—plus it has a
chilling foreshadowing of the next Emma Fielding mystery.
Back to Review Page
|
