Customer Reviews

Hen's Teeth

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is one of the most emotionally gripping novels I have read in years -- and I'm an English professor who rarely reads mysteries or crime fiction. The plot was page-turning and pulse-pounding, but what I loved was the characters and the emotional tone, and the excellent writing. I love the protagonist, Kellen, and found myself caring greatly about her and her relationships. This is one of the few novels I've read that, without making a big point of it, captures the intensity of lesbian *friendships* (and ex-lover relationships) in a way that evokes my own life and that of the women I know. It's also one of the only novels I can think of in which animals are fully present as characters -- it also captures the human-animal bonds that are such a central part of the lives of most my friends. After I galloped through Hen's Teeth in a day or two, I kept going back to it repeatedly -- and bought several more copies to send to friends. For quite a while I found it hanging around my psyche like a powerful dream.

Scott's next novel, Night Mares, is out now, and it's also excellent.

"Hen's Teeth" is a darned good novel. Scott is a fine craftsman of the written language: her evocative descriptions of animal life, of nature, of the world of science, and of human relationships is fresh and intriguing. The plot is complex and intellectual and involves the reader up and through the surprising ending. And the heroine, Kellen Stewart, is a delight. After I post this review, I'm going to order Manda Scott's next book!

Original and readable. So much mourning about the saintly brillant murder victims that it was depressing at the beginning. Excellent on dogs and horses. Characters tended to be either very good and talented or very very bad. I did not find the science plausible. We can already biosythesise insulin commercially. An orally active insulin would be an advantage - not something you'd want to change. The climactic action scenes are good. As a heterosexual male I'm probably not qualified to rate the sex. High quality writing - not a cliche in sight.

I'm a big fan of murder mysteries and would recommend this one. It delves into the scientific side without going so far as to lose readers who aren't DNA-minded. You still get the idea of what was being done and why it caused problems.

My only slight complaint would be that I needed an Scottish to American dictionary to understand some of the terms and slang, but I was able to figure out most of it by context. "Cairn," for instance, is an entirely new concept to me.

Overall, the book is well written and I'll be looking for more of Scott's stuff.

I realize that some readers might shy away from this book because it involves lesbians, but the relationships in this book are no different than what you would find in any other murder mystery. Though several of the characters have been (or are) lovers, their relationships are closer to friendships.

Although there were parts of the plot where I needed to suspend belief a bit and, liked the characters, although I couldn`t visualize them as much as I would have liked, what really got me was her discriptive writing. I could smell the woods and the river. Feel the horses and the dog. This is what, for me, made it such a good read. Her knowledge of animals and plants is extensive as is her science. I thought I might be a bit uncomfortable with the lesbian angle but wasn`t at all. Relationships are just relationships. All in all I really enjoyed the book and am about to order her others.

...had me searching for more. Her gift for pinning her audience to each page leaves you nothing to do but read until you turn that final leaf...and still want more.

I am her brother... so I am biassed <grin> But her next book is out in the UK and is called NightMares.

Good read .. Kellen and her friend Lee are the like the friends we all want to have,
if only to live vicariously through them. They are not twenty somethings either..
they are mature women.. and smart ones. Kellen trained to be a doctor, chose another path.
Once upon a time she lived on a lovely horse farm with her partner Bridget. Then bad decisions
on Kellen's part ended that. But the love never ended.

This is a murder mystery and most of the important parts are played by good, strong and loving
women. The inspector is a treat, I like him. I especially liked him when he showed up with Tir, another
strong smart female. Some might call her a b*tch, but she wouldn't mind that a bit.

How satisfying to be the one to look for the one who did harm to loved ones.
The ending came too quickly. A worthy read. A series of course. I look forward to
book #2. It is no Three Pines, but I sure wouldn't mind visiting...

In a panic, Caroline calls Glasgow psychiatrist Dr. Kellen Stewart in the middle of the night because her lover, Bridget Donnelly, apparently died from cardiac arrest. Stunned, Kellen goes to Bridget's rural farm because the deceased is her former lover and teacher. The police are already on the scene when Kellen arrives.

Though the evidence leaves no doubt as to the cause of death, something nags at Kellen, who begins to inquire into her former friend's recent past. She quickly learns that Bridget's brother died from a heart attack two weeks ago. For two fortyish siblings in near perfect health to have heart attacks is too unbelievable for Kellen to accept. She also finds out that some missing hens were brought to the farm just before Bridget's sibling died. As Kellen gets closer to the truth, she places herself in danger from a brilliant killer, who will not allow anyone to stand in the way of achieving his objective.

HEN'S TEETH is a fabulous medical thriller that provides the smashing debut of a newcomer, Manda Scott. The crisp story line moves forward at a fabulous pace. The support cast and the city of Glasgow add depth to the plot. However, it is amateur sleuth and gay lover Kellen, who makes this a winning tale because her motives and desires not only ring true, but propel the story to an exciting climax. A wonderful first novel that deserves much reader attention.

Harriet Klausner

Thoroughly enjoyed this book, very well written and fast paced with some fresh twists.

Anyone one know what her next book is and when it is due out? Thanks!