Louisa and the Country Bachelor: A Louisa May Alcott Mystery [Paperback]

Anna Maclean (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 5, 2005

In desperate need of some wholesome air and sunshine, Louisa and her family visit their relatives in Walpole, New Hampshire. But when their peace is shattered by the death of a young Dutchman who purportedly fell into a ravine while hiking, Louisa investigates the suspicious circumstances to bring a murderer to justice.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Cozy mystery lovers, this is your cup of tea! (New York Times bestselling author Karen Harper)

About the Author

Anna MacLean is the pseudonym of an award-winning journalist and the author of several historical novels.

--This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Signet; PF edition (April 5, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451214714
• ISBN-13: 978-0451214713
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,970,897 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a very enjoyable and entertaining read, May 4, 2005

By 

tregatt (Portland, Oregon) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Louisa and the Country Bachelor: A Louisa May Alcott Mystery (Paperback)

The second installment in the Louisa May Alcott mystery series, "Louisa and the Country Bachelor" proved to be a very engaging and intriguing read, and should, if nothing else, inspire many readers to read Louisa May Alcott's biography, and perhaps even (re)read a few of her novels.

Still feeling the aftereffects of having been involved in the murder investigation of her close friend, Dorothy Wortham, the previous winter, ("Louisa and the Missing Heiress"), Louisa May Alcott is pleased when her uncle, Benjamin Willis, invites the entire Alcott family to summer with him at his home in Walpole, New Hampshire. Of course, Louisa's best friend, Sylvia Shattuck, on the run from her mother's matchmaking schemes, tags along too. Succumbing to the beautiful weather and the green and golden countryside, everyone is soon pleasurably occupied with gardening, reading, writing and exploring the little town. But the pleasure is all to soon marred with tragedy when one of the townsmen, Ernest Noooteboom, is found dead in a ravine. Everyone believes that Ernest fell whilst hiking; but Ernest's sister, Lilli, believes that Ernset's death was no accident and firmly believes that someone murdered him. And having looked at the evidence, Louisa shares Lilli's suspicions. Realising that the sheriff is unlikely to listen to a mere girl, Louisa is determined, much to her concerned family's dismay, to discover how Ernest met with his death and why he was murdered...

"Louisa and the Country Bachelor" proved to be a very engaging and wholly engrossing read. I thought that Anna Maclean had done a truly wonderful job of capturing Louisa May Alcott's voice and persona. Louisa May Aloctt comes across as an intelligent, warm, charming and very fascinating character, definitely inspired in me the desire to read Alcott's biography. Similarly, I also enjoyed the loving manner in which portrayed the entire Alcott family and Sylvia Shattuck. I particualrly liked the vividly colourful manner in which the author captured the countryside surrounding Walpole -- she definitely made the place seem very beautiful and vital. Also nicely done was the manner in which she allowed for the suspense to mount gradually and smoothly, so that the pace was not uneven or jarringly awkward. So that all in all, I'd say that "Louisa and the Country Bachelor" was a very well crafted, smoothly paced mystery novel, that was intriguing and engrossing, and that also possessed an easy and completely accessible prose style. In other words: a truly good and worthwhile read.