Customer Reviews

The Cart Before The Corpse (The Merry Abbot Carriage-Driving Mystery)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"The Cart Before the Corpse" by Carolyn McSparren, is a murder mystery spin-off of the Mossy Creek Hometown Novels. Mossy Creek Hometown series are books of anthologies by different authors set in Mossy Creek, Georgia. It's a Southern rural hometown that claims "it ain't going nowhere, and don't want to." Populated by colorful local as well as retired out-of-town folk, the characters are all a bit flawed, and truly southern.

McSparren love horses, carriages and mystery, not necessarily in that order and combined all three in "The Cart Before the Corpse." Southern carriage-horse trainer Hiram Lackland, a handsome widower, dies mysteriously after retiring to a farm outside Mossy Creek. His estranged daughter, Merry Abbott, also a horse trainer, arrives to settle his estate. Peggy Caldwell, Hiram's landlord and friend, who happens to be a mystery-novel buff, claims he was murdered.

This fast paced, action-packed mystery is filled with odds and ends of the horse carriage world. If you don't know what that is, you will have a good understanding after reading this. The only thing missing was the fresh scent of horse `apples'. This was the first Mossy Creek story I've read and it covers all you need to know. Even though this is the first of the series, it is complete in itself. This was a good, enjoyable read.

"The Cart Before the Corpse" by Carolyn McSparren is a new spin-off book of the Mossy Creek Hometown series. Having not read those books I was a bit afraid I'd find myself out of my depth before I even have a chance to get started. I was happily mistaken - you don't need to know one single thing about the series this spins off from to pick up the reins and start in on this new series.

I love horses and reading about their handling and various competitions, equipage, grooming, and the like, but I'm not terribly knowledgeable about the proper terms...until now. This book doesn't assume that you come from the world of horse shows, driving and carriages but it also doesn't "talk down" to the reader to explain things. The explanations all fit in very well without breaking the flow of the story and I know a lot more now than I did about it all. For some reason I had a preconceived notion that the book would be in a bit more of a "primitive" setting. It wasn't that way at all - much to my delight - I like a good historical or "primitive" set book, but I generally prefer to not mix those with my mystery/investigative reading.

Merry is a strong female character, if you like your female characters to be simpering "let the guy take the lead and sweep her off her feet and solve her problems" types, this is probably not the book for you. She's not so strong that she doesn't have emotions, break down, cry or freak out, but she handles what must be done first, then falls apart if she feels she needs to. She just wants to do the best she can in the face of her fathers death, to do right by what he was trying to accomplish near the end of his life, to find out who killed him, why he was killed, and somehow figure out what to do now that she can't ever truly reconcile with her father now that she's finally reached the point in life when she's ready to allow him back into her life.

In addition to Merry, the other primary characters are well developed and at points during the novel get to tell things from their point of view. While primarily from Merry's viewpoint, you do occasionally get a glimpse of what others are doing - this can help advance the storyline while keeping Merry out of the loop of the ongoing police investigation and further "fleshing out" who these other characters are when they're away from Merry from their own standpoint. The sections are all clearly marked with who's point of view it's being told from, so there is little to no confusion about the sudden switches in locale and method of thinking about the investigation.

I am definitely looking forward to more books in this new spin-off series.

Horse show manager Ms. Merry Abbot may not be having the best of days. A runaway horse causes havoc to her well made plans and news of her estranged father's death follows closely afterwards, necessitating a trip to Mossy Creek. Although most people assume Hiram Lackland's death was accidental, Peggy Caldwell disagrees. From the position in which she discovered Hiram's body, Peggy Caldwell is all too certain that Hiram's death was a case of murder. Geoff Wheeler from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation tends to agree with her. As the only heir in her father's will, Merry realizes that suspicions might be too easily directed at her. As she tries to put her father's affairs in order, Merry Abbott also sets out to discover the motive and culprit behind her father's murder. Will she uncover the important clues in time before she becomes the next victim?

Carolyn McSparren's THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE is a cozy mystery with all the excitement of a clever whodunit puzzle with the added bonus of a rich emotional content to draw one into the delightful cast of characters, setting and the story itself. Told mostly through Merry's first person point of view, some clearly marked chapters are told through Peggy Caldwell and Geoff Wheeler's third person point of view. Rather than disrupting the flow of the narrative, Carolyn McSparren uses these moments well, allowing the reader to gain additional insight into the character's personalities and at other times creating a smoother narrative flow of events. Although Merry has been estranged from her father, his death becomes a catalyst for inner changes within her. As she prepares for his funeral, she comes to know other sides of the man and indeed, discovers more about herself in the process. Carolyn McSparren combines a delightful sense of humor with emotion as Merry Abbott sorts through the funeral preparations and the minute details involved in transfer of his assets. Southerners (and misplaced Southerners too!) will find a special delight in Carolyn McSparren's ability to capture those particular Southern customs, especially funeral customs, engraved in our hearts. THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE takes the reader right into the heart of the world of horse carriage-driving with all sorts of fascinating details from horse breeds to carriage types. Above all, each and every detail brings a depth to the story. Merry Abbot is a woman devoted to horses, not only in her profession but also in her heart. THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE is a mystery for all horse lovers, from those intimate with carriage-driving to readers who just have a soft spot in their heart for these magnificent creatures. Carolyn McSparren just knows how to bring out pertinent, moving details while also integrating them fully into her characters' personalities and the events of her story. THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE draws one into the Mossy Creek world of the book, making one want to return to the book each spare moment possible and revisit the characters. What a delightful ending! This reader is anxiously awaiting the next Merry Abbot mystery!

Carolyn McSparren's THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE is a spin off of the popular Mossy Creek Hometown novels. If you are new to this series, rest assured that THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE works as a stand alone and an easy entry into the world of Mossy Creek, all the more so since Merry Abbott is herself a visitor when she arrives. However, once one gets to know the characters and setting, one might very well find oneself eager to revisit this world, either the main Mossy Creek series itself or another Merry Abbot mystery.

COURTESY OF BOOK ILLUMINATIONS

This is not a bad read but neither is it a good read. I expected much more from a book that is the first in a new series. I found the writing amateur though it did improve a bit as the story progressed. There was the odd spot that made me laugh out loud and once I got past the first few chapters it kept me interested enough to finish it. But I always finish reading what I start whether I like the book or not. If you like light murder mysteries, horses and are looking for a quick read that isn't going to tax your brain, this book will suffice. If you want something deep and profound and that really makes you think, this book is not for you.

The Cart Before the Corpse is an enjoyable mystery - cozy but not too cozy. The main characters are realistic and likeable. Merry is just making her way back to her estranged father when he is murdered, so her complicated emotions add dimension to the plot. Peggy, Geoff, and Amos are believable and interesting, as are the various suspects. The plot is well done. There are enough suspects and motives to keep us guessing but not so many that we need a score card to keep them straight. The glimpse inside competitive carriage driving is a delightful bonus in this excellent mystery.

-Lisa Hall Deckert

I really enjoyed the unusual setting of the competitive carriage driving world for this murder mystery. The characters are pretty well drawn and the plot not too transparent. I deducted 1 star because I solved it about 1/2 through the book, but it didn't detract too much from my desire to keep reading. The characters are enjoyable in their own right. I will look forward to more in this series.

I don't read a lot of mystery but I'm so glad I got this one. I enjoyed the characters and the story line. The end was totally unexpected and awesome! This was a quick read, recommended for everyone.

In the middle of a horse show, a runaway horse frantically races to get a carriage hitched to him off. Soon afterward Merry Abbott receives a call informing her that her famous southern carriage-horse trainer Hiram Lackland is dead. After years of estrangement they were finally finding their way back to one another but his death ends any chance of full reconciliation. She drives to Mossy Creek where he lived in an apartment he rented from Peggy Caldwell, who takes Merry under her wing.

She knows her late dad had started a horse farm giving driving lessons to lonely females. The local sheriff calls Hiram's death an unfortunate accident, but Peggy insists he was murdered over the use of his land. Peggy persuades Merry and Police Chief Amos Reardon that a homicide occurred. The Chief claims jurisdiction and asks GBI investigator Geoff Madison to lead the inquiry. The case proves complex and convoluted as the victim's records are missing and evidence that someone is looking for them judging by the vreak0in at Hiram's house. Whoever this culprit is, he or she is dead serious as potentially harmful incidents occur to Peggy and Merry.

Although the two women knew each other before Hiram's death, they become friends afterward as Peggy helps Merry with the funeral arrangement, going through the deceased's apartment, and helping with the horse farm, In other words Peggy is a supporting buddy, a trademark theme of the charming Mossy Creek saga. Merry does not frighten easily, but instead turns angrily calm towards her unknown adversary. THE CART BEFORE THE CORPSE is a delightful cozy filled with humor, poignancy and danger as Carolyn McSparren spins Mossy Creek into a radically different direction.

Harriet Klausner