A Load of Old Bones [Hardcover]

Suzette A. Hill (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 26, 2007

A delightfully whimsical debut mystery that provokes nearly as much hilarity as whodunit.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Tremendous . . . flowing, amusing and professional." -- Beryl Bainbridge

About the Author

Suzette A. Hill taught English Literature at Reading College. She lives in Herefordshire, UK.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Carroll & Graf (June 26, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786719664
• ISBN-13: 978-0786719662
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,208,356 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful surprise - LOVED IT!, July 9, 2007

By 

L. J. Roberts (Oakland, CA, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Load of Old Bones (Hardcover)

First Sentence: It was Bouncer who found the leg.

Reverend Francis Oughterard is a quiet man who simply wants a quiet life. That's hard to achieve with an obnoxious neighbor, a jealous banker, a drunken bishop and an accidental murder. Now, it's up to Bouncer the dog and Maurice the cat to keep the Reverend out of prison and their comfortable, new home intact.

What a fun book and so well done. I feared a story where two of the protagonists, and points-of-view were a dog and cat, would be cloying sweet and cute. Not so. It is cleaver and funny and a thoroughly good read.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting pet protagonists, August 26, 2009

By 

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

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This review is from: Load of Old Bones (Francis Oughterard 1) (Hardcover)

Suzette A. Hill's A Load of Old Bones is not a traditional murder mystery, which usually gives a little background, the discovery of a body, and the attempt by the detective/police to identify the killer. It is in the Columbo format, in which we know who commits the murder, why and how, and the suspense is generated by whether the police can pin it on him. Reverend Francis Oughterard is so bumbling that discovery seems inevitable; in fact, it is astonishing that he manages to murder the unspeakable Mrs. Elizabeth Fotherington in the first place. However, he has help from two unlikely accomplices--Maurice, the deceased's cat, and Bouncer, the neighbor's dog who discovers the body. Both animals lose their owners, both need a new home, and Maurice decides that the vicar will be an acceptable substitute for them both. Because they do not want to be dislocated again, they protect him.

I steer clear of the pet detective genre because the books are usually too cutesy-poo and often not very well written. A Load of Old Bones is first person narration, moving between Maurice, Bouncer, and the vicar. Ms. Hill gives each a distinctive voice. Maurice and Bouncer in some ways are more interesting than Reverend Oughterard; both are dynamic characters, especially Bouncer. Ms. Hill handles exposition well. She gives the information we need without its becoming cloying. She uses humor and moves the plot briskly along despite the shifts in narrator. The ending makes it clear that there are sequel(s) in store. I look forward to them eagerly.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Load of Old Bones, September 29, 2009

By 

D. Edwards "reader extra-ordinataire!" (Colton, NY United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Load of Old Bones (Hardcover)

Wonderful series and a lot of fun! Can't wait to read more from this author!