Death in the Garden [Hardcover]

Elizabeth Ironside (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 6, 1995

The death of George Pollexfen MP took place at a country house party weekend in the summer of 1925 where friends had gathered to celebrate his wife's 30th birthday. Six decades later, another 30th birthday is being marked by Helena.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Superbly handled ... a masterly example of classic crime fiction" --Birmingham Post [UK]

"One of those few mystery writers you unreservedly look forward to reading" --The Spectator [UK] --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

From the Publisher

Originally published in Britain in 1995, Death in the Garden was first published in the United States, by Felony & Mayhem Press, in 2005. It was named one of the Best 12 Books of 2005 by National Public Radio. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd (July 6, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0340640340
• ISBN-13: 978-0340640340
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,935,422 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

213 of 227 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I loved this book, January 25, 2006

By 

M. Frank "Picky Reader" (Chicago) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Death in the Garden (Paperback)

I enjoy British psychological fiction. Have for years. But I'd never heard of Eliz Ironside before this title. After reading Death in the Garden, I'm a huge fan of Ironside's.

This book takes place in the present and during the early adulthood of the main character's great aunt. The aunt travels among the beautiful people. At the same time she's an independent woman - something her husband and most of society at the time doesn't care for. She surrounds herself with artists and contemporary literati.

Our focal character is contemporary, hard working, interesting and unhappy.

Great combination. The current great niece explores the independent and fascinating great aunt's past, a past that includes - among the parties - murder.

I can't say much more because I want you to enjoy it as much as I did.

Read this book. I promise you'll have fun and feel like you've spent your hours among the most fascinating characters.

144 of 152 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars superb, February 26, 2006

By 

M. S. Butch (Katonah, New York USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Death in the Garden (Paperback)

I read about three mysteries each week, and this is one of the very, very best. It has history (the'20s, when the murder occurred) but also a contemporary perspective on that history (the main character (Helena) trying to reconstruct the murder). Portions of the book are written from each perspective. Perhaps the most satisfying aspect of the book is the way the lives of the characters from the '20s and the lives of Helena and the other contemporary characters illuminate each other -- not so much factually as emotionally. I could not put it down, and I wished that it were at least twice as long.

48 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Interesting Blend of Mystery and Character Study, April 19, 2006

By 

Jennifer Robinson "Editor of Jen Robinson's B... (San Jose, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Death in the Garden (Paperback)

Death in the Garden by Elizabeth Ironside is an unusual blending of historical mystery and modern-day novel. It begins with a brief Part I, in which Diana Pollexfen writes of her feelings on being found not guilty of the murder of her husband, George. Part II describes the 1925 weekend the culminates in Diana's husband's death, from the shifting perspective of various house party attendees. Part III moves forward sixty years to the perspective of Helena, Diana's thirty-year-old grand-niece and heir, upon Diana's death.

As she goes through her beloved aunt's possessions, Helena finds Diana's diaries, and learns for the first time about the murder of George Pollexfen. Before she can accept her inheritance, Helena feels compelled to learn the truth about whether or not Diana murdered George. The remainder of the book details Helena's investigation, and includes various extracts from letters and diaries and people's memories, as well as events in Helena's modern-day life. The book culminates with resolution of the mystery, and of some issues in Helena's own life.

I found this book to be a cross between a post WWI British country estate novel (like the work of D. E. Stevenson) and a spare, modern-day examination of people's ordinary lives (like the work of Anita Brookner), with the tiniest hint of the supernatural thrown in. The mystery was almost incidental, paling in comparison to the examination of individual characters and motives. Both the historical and modern portions of the book have a strong and authentic British flavor.

Elizabeth Ironside is the pseudonym of Lady Catherine Manning, wife of the British Ambassador to the U.S. Death in the Garden was shortlisted for Britain's CWA Silver Dagger for Best Mystery of 1995. The U.S. edition was published in 2005.

If you enjoyed Jacqueline Winspeare's Maisie Dobbs books you are likely to also enjoy Death in the Garden. I highly recommend this book to people who enjoy historical novels, especially to those interested in the post-World-War I era in England. I also recommend it to those who prefer their mysteries to be focused on character and human nature, rather than on fast-paced action.

This book review was originally published on my blog, Jen Robinson's Book Page, on April 19th, 2006.