Keeper's Gold — Judith Cook

The third title in the John Latymer mystery series Recovering from a bad bout of flu and the humiliating failure of his second marriage, former policeman John Latymer is feeling distinctly low. When a regular customer of the bookshop in which he is now a partner suggests that Latymer make use of his holiday cottage in Cornwall, John takes little persuading. He could do with the break. But the cottage fails to live up to expectations, and Latymer's mood is not improved by the news that a TV crew will be filming nearby. Apparently Keeper's Tump, a legendary prehistoric barrow said to be guarded by the mysterious Keeper, is to be the subject of a televised archaeological dig. Latymer's professional curiosity is aroused, however, when a dead body is found at the entrance of the burrow, and the local museum curator goes missing . . .