Death Climbs a Tree: A Joan Spencer Mystery [Large Print] [Hardcover]

Sara Hoskinson Frommer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 14, 2005

Joan Spencer, manager of the local Civic Symphony, is up a tree herself when one of her top violinists deserts the orchestra right before a concert - to sit in a tree. Sylvia is looking for publicity in protest of local environmentally-unfriendly construction. But before she can be talked down peacefully, Sylvia crashes to the ground, right at the feet of Joan's son Andrew, and it's clearly no accident.

Available only in Mystery 5.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"I can't play the concert," violinist Sylvia Purcell informs Joan Spencer, the Oliver Civic Symphony manager, at the start of Frommer's sixth Joan Spencer mystery (after 2002's Witness in Bishop Hill). "I have to sit in a tree." Sylvia's protest against the development of a wooded area for low-income housing turns deadly when she falls out of the tree in front of Joan and her son, Andrew. Evidence Joan finds points quickly to murder, with Andrew a prime suspect. Joan's husband, police detective Fred Lundquist, doggedly pursues the case, which is complicated by mysterious nocturnal lights in the woods. Meanwhile, amateur sleuth Joan's nosing around leads her to a dangerous confrontation with the killer. Low-key suspense and likable characters make this an enjoyable, if not compelling, read for cozy fans.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Sara Hoskinson Frommer is the author of five previous Joan Spencer mysteries: The Vanishing Violinist, Murder & Sullivan, Buried in Quilts, Murder in C Major, and Witness in Bishop Hill. She lives in Bloomington, Indiana.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 407 pages
• Publisher: Thorndike Press; 1 edition (November 14, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786280093
• ISBN-13: 978-0786280094
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,001,888 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Pickle Gets Tighter and Tighter in this Fun Mystery, December 26, 2005

By 

Ruthie Ramirez (San Diego) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Death Climbs a Tree (Joan Spencer Mysteries) (Hardcover)

Joan Spencer, manager of the Oliver Civic Symphony is in a pickle, because Sylvia Purcell, one of her violinists is staging a sit-in in a tree to protest the Walcher Construction Project. And the pickle starts closing when she falls out of the tree and is dies at Joan's son's feet. Unknown to Joan, Andrew had been giving food to the protesters, however now that Sylvia has met her maker, Andrew decides to take her spot in the tree.

Police Lieutenant Fred Lundquist is investigating the murder. He also happens to be Joan's husband and Andrew's step-father and this makes the pickle even worse, because it looks like Andrew is the prime suspect. So now Joan is turned into an unofficial investigator as she has to clear Andrew of the crime and she is desperate to find the killer, just in case Andrew is next on the list, as it appears that somebody is not happy with the demonstrators and their sit-in.

This is a fun mystery that you'll just love to read as you worry along with as Joan works to clear Andrew, but only seems to find evidence that makes him look more and more guilty. Although this is the sixth book in the series, it's the first one I've read and I had no problem understanding the characters and their relationships with each other. I really liked this book and I think you will too.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fun great cozy mystery to read, September 11, 2006

By 

Dawn Dowdle "Mystery Lovers Corner reviewer" (Lynchburg, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Death Climbs a Tree (Joan Spencer Mysteries) (Hardcover)

Joan Spencer is the manager of the local civic symphony. Right before the big children's concert, Sylvia, who plays first violin in the symphony, tells Joan that she can't perform in the big concert because she'll be up a tree to protest a construction project that will remove a lot of trees.

Joan's son Andrew assists in taking food and other items to Sylvia on a regular basis. Joan ends up helping him now and then. One day when they are delivering food to her, Sylvia comes crashing out of the tree. After her seventy-foot fall, she is unconscious and later dies.

Andrew takes her place in the tree. Joan and her new husband Fred, a detective lieutenant in the local police force, can't talk him out of it. They aren't happy but hope he'll come to his senses soon.

After Joan discovers evidence that Sylvia was murdered, she fears for Andrew's life. Plus she's still searching for a replacement first violinist for the concert and dealing with other issues in the symphony as well as at the senior center where she works.

Can the killer be found and caught without Andrew being harmed? And can Joan stay unharmed as well?

I had never read anything by this author before. I really enjoyed this book and hope to read others by her. Joan is such a great character. Her husband Fred, while he's a cop and gone a lot, he is also a great guy and portrayed well. I liked all the symphony members as well. Some of them were obnoxious, but they were supposed to be that way. The small town setting was wonderfully done. I highly recommend this book!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Dearth Climbs a Tree-a great 1 or 2-evening read., October 9, 2005

By 

Joseph N. Hingtgen (Indianapolis, IN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Death Climbs a Tree (Joan Spencer Mysteries) (Hardcover)

An excellent small town mystery story, with believable characters and a plot that keeps you guessing throughout the narrative. Details of the small town setting ring true and add to the charm of the story.