Customer Reviews

A Load of Old Bones

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

 

 

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.

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.

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

The book was in very good condition, as described. It arrived promptly. It's a fun read, nothing serious, just silly fun. I'm looking forward to more books from this author.