Clonmac's Bridge: an archeological mystery

by Jeffrey Perren

A maritime archaeologist raises a medieval monastery span from the mud of the River Shannon, sunken for 1,200 years... and finds it perfectly preserved.

What could account for this astounding longevity? Why are his colleagues and the Church so desperate to prevent him learning the secret? And why is his consummate lover his greatest enemy?

Griffin Clonmac will go through hell to find out.

He won’t go alone. Inspired by a real discovery, Clonmac’s Bridge shifts between contemporary times and 9th century Ireland. It tells the story of two men who struggle against envy and mediocrity — a millennium apart — aided only by a loyal helpmate and an unconquerable will.

An archaeological thriller, a love story, and a pensée on society then and now, Jeffrey Perren fans are sure to find this latest novel his best yet.

Genres: Historical

410 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 19, 2014

About the author

Jeffrey Perren is the author of Tellen Song, a novel about the Wilhelm Tell legend and the founding of Switzerland.

[http://www.amazon.com/Tellen-Song-edu...]

He wrote his first short story at age 12 and went on to win the Bank of America Fine Arts award at 17. Since then, he has published Cossacks In Paris, Clonmac's Bridge, and other fine novels from ClioStory Publishing.

Educated in philosophy at UCLA, he lives in Fort Worth, Texas.

Reviews

[Jrunner34gmail.Com · Rating 1 out of 5]

Review of terrible book.

One of most poorly written books I have ever read. Minimal understanding of how archaeologists do research and significance of their findings. I would not recommend this book to anyone.

[Bonnie Ramthun · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love archeological mysteries so when I saw "Clonmac's Bridge" I had to pick it up and read it. This is not a swashbuckling Indiana Jones tale but a very compelling and complicated tale of two men -- one, Griffin Clonmac, a dedicated archeologist, and the other Riordan, a Catholic Monk and architect who builds the Clonmacnoise Bridge in the year 804 AD.

There are plenty of edge-of-your-seat moments in this story and the love interest, Mari, is no wilting damsel in distress. She's as fierce and dedicated as Griffin and their romantic involvement feels very real and engaging. The modern mystery of Griffin's attempts to find and raise the mysteriously preserved Clonmacnoise Bridge is juxtaposed with the story of Riordan, the Monk who built it in 804 AD. The descriptions of ancient Ireland and the lives and politics of Riordan's monastary are beautifully described. The author paints a picture of this long-ago Ireland that is so immediate that the reader feels transported there.

This is a complicated novel that really needs some dedicated time, but the result is a wonderful book of intrigue and history that I enjoyed very much. I highly recommend this novel.

[Pat Stanford · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too much cloak and dagger, not enough archeological mystery.

This book suffered from an identity crisis. It started out as one I was hoping for - a good mystery of a dig. The elements are there, but some were overstated, especially where funding is given, then taken away. A guy is for you and now he is not. Oops, now he is again. More funding given, then taken away. Zzz.

Then there's the back and forth of the architect with the archeologist. Could have just had more of that and less of the cloak and dagger at the hands of a fellow scientist.

I did finish it, but I am a little disappointed. Three stars simply means it was well thought out and well written, but could have been so much more in my humble opinion.