Intriguing mystery novel by Michelle Paver in “A Place in the Hills”
Antonia Hunt is an archeologist digging for ruins in France relating to the Roman era (40 B.C. to 53 B.C.). She is trying to find the mystery behind one Cassius and Tacita, they were lovers in that era.
But both belonged to the opposite camps and Tacita declines to marry Cassius for some reasons. Here Antonia is besotted by one Patrick who is the American friend of Myles who is equally interested in the ruins. Myles has sex with his step sister Nerissa also which i find to be quite perplexing.
He has another 8 year old sister Imogen or Modge who is scurrying about in the ruins. Unfortunate accident to Myles sets Antonia apart by more than 13 years as recriminations and accusations follow.
Antonia arrives back in the scene, 13 years hence and tries to find the missing pot which she and Patrick had discovered in the ruins and which probably carried the clues as to what happened between Cassius and Tacita, more than 2000 years ago.
The story moves between the Roman era and the present and though the connection between then and now is quite nebulous, the narration makes it interesting. Overall a good effort by Michelle Paver. Goodreads 3/5
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