Review: Recommended!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 29, 2014
The author clearly states this is a work of fiction and not based on factual events surrounding the history of the Early Medieval Bridge found submerged under the River Shannon at Clonmacnoise, Ireland. However, the romantic in me would love to let my imagination think otherwise as this story really is a ‘what’s the story behind the photo?’ tale.This is a wonderful story of a 9th century monk fulfilling his childhood dream and the modern day excavation of the bridge he built. Overseen by the watchful eye of Griffin Clonmac, an archaeologist from America with a passion for his science and a need to solve the mystery of ‘why?’.Griffin faces all the usual problems of the modern day archaeologist; funding, opposition, jealous colleagues and, in Griffin’s case, the wrath of the Catholic Church. With every step being thwarted before he has even started excavating he is coerced by his colleagues to take on Mari Quispe, a Peruvian archaeologist, as his assistant.  She is meant to make his life even more difficult after reports of her bad reputation proceeding her…and the small matter of an accident involving a dig she was in charge of which proved fatal to her own assistant.  Instead she becomes his greatest asset and eventually they fall in love.  Together they determinedly fight to get the project off the ground, forging ahead despite interference from Mari’s powerful Peruvian father but who are really their allies?This book really is an excellent and engrossing historical tale. Seamlessly told through the eyes of those in the 9th century and modern day, it was a real pleasure to read. The style of writing really grabbed me from the first few pages to the end.  This is a long novel but my personal view is that not a word is wasted. Really, really good.