Bone Idle [Hardcover]

Suzette A. Hill (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2009

Praise for Suzette A. Hill:

“This dry, funny British gem, with its eccentric cast of characters, will leave readers laughing and eagerly awaiting the next episode.”—Publishers Weekly

Reverend Oughterard has managed to elude arrest (for now), but when another murder occurs, Oughterard panics. Embarrassing complications ensue, and, once again, world-weary cat Maurice and intrepid mongrel Bouncer must help the reverend escape trouble.

Suzette A. Hill is a graduate of the universities of Nottingham and Newcastle/Tyne. She taught English literature for many years at Reading College before retiring to Herefordshire. She is the author of three mysteries featuring Francis Oughterard.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

At the start of Hill's highly amusing third clerical mystery (after 2008's Bones in the Belfry), the Rev. Francis Oughterard, canon of St. Botolph's in Molehill, Surrey, is dismayed when Det. Sgt. Sidney Samson appears at his door and announces the reopening of the inquiry into the murder of one of his parishioners, Elizabeth Fotherington. Almost 18 months earlier (in 2007's A Load of Old Bones), Francis dispatched Mrs. Fotherington and got away with it. Now he must turn again to Nicholas Ingaza, who provided him an alibi in the initial investigation. Unfortunately, this means getting involved in one of Nicholas's dubious schemes. Matters really get complicated after the victim's daughter returns to Molehill to make certain claims. When another murder occurs, neither Francis's adopted cat, Maurice, nor dog, Bouncer, can do much to help their master. The outrageous plot will keep readers guessing until the end. (Aug.)
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About the Author

A graduate of the universities of Nottingham and Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Suzette A. Hill taught English literature for many years at Reading College before retiring to Herefordshire, where - despite the novel's narrative - she lives convivially with neither cat, dog nor clergyman. Suzette is currently engrossed in her fourth novel. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Soho Constable (August 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1569475911
• ISBN-13: 978-1569475911
• Product Dimensions: 5.7 x 1.1 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,596,503 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Able continuation of series, September 19, 2009

By 

Linda S. Myers (TN) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Bone Idle (Hardcover)

Suzette A. Hill's Bone Idle is the third in the series featuring the cat Maurice, Bouncer the dog, and the Reverend Francis Oughterad, all of whom were introduced in A Load of Old Bones. If you have not read A Load of Old Bones and second in the series, Bones in the Belfry, please do so before reading Bone Idle. While not absolutely essential, you will enjoy the books more if you read in sequence. The events in the first and second books definitely establish the problems for the plot in Bone Idle. As before, the Reverend Francis, now appointed Canon through vast convolutions of Church politics, stumbles from one disaster to another, seemingly doomed to be found out, not only as murderer in A Load of Old Bones but as unwilling accomplice to art theft/fraud in Bones in the Belfry. When the daughter of Elizabeth Fotherington, the original murder victim, is also killed (though not by him), his exposure appears inevitable. As before, Maurice and Bouncer are more aware and more proactive than F.O. in dealing with the situation.

Ms. Hill continues to switch narrative voices between F.O., Maurice, and Bouncer. Without reading chapter headings, it is clear which of the three is the narrator because each is distinct. One strength is her ability to move the plot along without needless repetition or long segments of exposition while shifting between the narrators. The plot develops in the "anything that can go wrong, will" tradition, with F.O. repeatedly falling out of the frying pan into the fire, just when he thinks he might be safe. Much of the suspense comes from how the animals will cope this time. The humor is dry. The ending for Bone Idle leaves it clear that the adventures will continue. Long may they flourish.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars worth the wait, September 29, 2009

By 

zinnia (UT) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bone Idle (Hardcover)

I've been looking forward to this third installment for some time. I loved the previous books and the third did not disappoint. If you are considering dabbling in these, you should start at the first book, then the second, then this one.

The the vicar and his adopted pets have mutual toleration... The other characters are equally entertaining - - and the reader is forever amazed that things can actually get worse for old Francis Oughterand.

I highly recommend this book to readers who like British style humor/mystery/culture, - - - not to mention readers who ignore advice from their pets.

5.0 out of 5 stars So far, so good. Getting away with murder., June 12, 2010

By 

bookreader - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Bone Idle (Hardcover)

This the third book in this series. A cat and a loveable mongrel help keep their human parent Rev. Francis Oughterard, vicar of St. Botolph's beat another close call with the law.