Lyn Hamilton was a celebrated Canadian author, born in 1944, who specialized in writing mystery novels. She is best known for her "Archeological Mystery" series, which features the lead protagonist, Lara McClintock, an antique dealer and peripatetic sleuth. The series is unique in its inspiration from ancient history and mythology, with each novel set in exotic locations around the world.
Before becoming a novelist, Hamilton worked in communications for both public service and private companies in her hometown of Toronto, Ontario. She later taught mystery writing at the School for Continuing Studies of the University of Toronto. Hamilton had a lifelong interest in archaeology, although she never pursued it as a profession. Instead, she brought her knowledge and passion for the subject to her writing, creating a unique niche in the mystery genre.
Hamilton's first novel, "The Xibalba Murders," was published when she was 50 years old and went on to become a best first crime novel in the Arthur Ellis Awards. Her novels have been translated into several languages, including Russian, German, Turkish, Italian, Hebrew, and Spanish. When not writing, Hamilton traveled the world in search of beautiful and rare artifacts for her Toronto-based antiques store. She also visited most of the scenes featured in her series, drawing on her firsthand experiences to lend authenticity to her writing.