Mystery Writer Lyn Hamilton Dead of Cancer

Lyn Hamilton, the author of the Lara McClintcoch archaeological mysteries, has died of cancer. Hamilton started this series when she was 50. Lara McClintoch is a Toronto antiques dealer who solves murders while traveling the world. Hamilton was twice nominated for an Arthus Ellis Award, for her debut mystery The Xibalba Murders and for the eighth book in her series, The Magyar Venus. The fourth book in the series, The Celtic Riddle, was the basis for a 2003 Murder, She Wrote movie starring Angela Lansbury as Jessica Fletcher.
In 2008, Hamilton wrote on her website that The Chinese Alchemist would be the final book in her archaeological series. She added that "my plans are to retire from the mystery business, although I reserve the right to change my mind. Last fall, I had the pleasure of teaching mystery and suspense writing at the University of Toronto's School for Continuing Studies' Creative Writing Program. Lara, I believe, is renovating a casita in a little town north of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. So far not a single body has been uncovered."