THE ARIADNE CLUE

by Carol Clemeau ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 1, 1982

First winner of the Scribner Crime Novel Award for a mystery debut, this is a sturdy, if uninspired, diversion--with an attractive heroine, a solid academic ambience, and a serviceable plot. Antonia Nielson, classics prof at a southern university, is the only one to be much upset, it seems, by the disappearance of student-friend Ariadne Pappas. But Antonia starts sleuthing, turning up connections between Ariadne and the theft of some priceless Aegean gold objects from a university-museum exhibition. The missing link: Ariadne's unpleasant, seemingly mute brother Yanni--whom Antonia manages to get through to. So finally, then, Antonia (now with the police) locates Ariadne's burial place, fingers the unsurprising murderer (thanks to Antonia's Greek expertise), and winds up in a rather creaky-gothic, melodramatic confrontation. Special appeal for those interested in classical Greece (Clemeau lays on her erudition with a trowel); otherwise--pleasant mystery-in-academia, with a number of charming professorial sideshows.

Pub Date: Oct. 1, 1982

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Scribners

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 1982

Categories: FICTION