A Matter of Roses (Faith Abbey Mystery Series, Book 1) [Mass Market Paperback]

David Manuel (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2001

When the prominent and much loved scientist Maurice Tomlinson dies of bee stings at a time of year when bees are dormant, many suspect foul play. Soon, Police Chief Dan Burke is on the case with the help of his childhood friend Brother Bartholomew.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The first fiction title published by Paraclete kicks off the Faith Abbey Mystery series. Set in the sleepy Cape Cod town of Eastport, the book juxtaposes the way two very different men go about the process of discovering the truth. Andrew Doane and Dan Burke were childhood friends. Andrew has joined the ecumenical religious community of Faith Abbey and taken the name of Brother Bartholomew, and Dan has become the police chief. Together, they try to track down a killer. Mac Curtis, the man behind a generally unwelcome upscale development, tries to ingratiate himself and his project by establishing a prize for the best new rose. The finalists gather at a reception hosted by Mac and his wife. Among the chosen are Maurice and Sarah, Bartholomew, his mother, his former fianc?e, a local eccentric environmentalist and others. The next day, Mac is found face down in the water at the edge of his pond. It turns out that many locals had a reason to want him dead. Stretched to the limit, Chief Burke calls upon Brother Bartholomew, who has a personal crisis of his own to overcome. Manuel proceeds in a leisurely fashion to introduce both the religious and lay communities, conveying the atmosphere of a place where life may be slower paced, but no less complex than in the big city. As a result, the mystery unfolds in a languid fashion, but there should be much more to learn about the chief, the brother and their neighbors in future trips to Eastport. (Nov.) FYI: PW contributing editor Phyllis Tickle is the editor of the Faith Abbey Mystery series.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Mac Curtis, a Vietnam veteran skilled at killing, becomes a ruthless real estate developer on Cape Cod. His latest venture teeters into failure and ruins his partners, but Mac obsesses about a woman who rejected him in Vietnam and later married a rose specialist. Mac gathers at a rose competition with other major players: a beautiful librarian, her ex-lover (now a monk at Faith Abbey), a lunatic "commodore," an environmentalist web-pager, and the chief of police. Attempted murder-by-bees and murder-in-a-storm result in investigation by the police and sleuthing by Brother Bartholomew. Chock-full of action and character subplots, this debut mystery (and series) is totally captivating. [This is Paraclete Press's first fiction title.AEd.]
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing; Reprint edition (July 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446609889
• ISBN-13: 978-0446609883
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 1 x 6.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,506,766 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A "Must Buy" for mystery lovers!, December 13, 1999

By 

Blair Tingley - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Matter of Roses (Faith Abbey Mystery Series, Book 1) (Hardcover)

As an avid reader of WELL-written mystery stories, this book fulfilled all my expectations. The characters were developed with such depth and perception, that I felt I knew them. The mystery was intriguing, and kept me guessing right until the end. For those who love Elizabeth George, Martha Grimes, Patricia Cornwell, John Lescroart and others, you will not be disappointed. The mystery takes place in the fictional town of Eastport on Cape Cod, at an abbey named "Faith Abbey". Although I've heard it compared to the Ellis Peters series, this book is every bit as delightful, yet refreshingly different. I highly reccomend it!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Book You Will Not Want to Put Down!, January 13, 2000

By 

Janet Tinney (Plymouth, Massachusetts) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Matter of Roses (Faith Abbey Mystery Series, Book 1) (Hardcover)

A truly good read with plenty of surprises! The plot is captivating -- emotionally charged. The characters are well-developed, drawing the reader in. You feel as though you are a part of their lives -- so much so that you can personally identify with one or more, and find traits of friends, and even enemies, in the others!

The setting is the fictitious town of Eastport on glorious Cape Cod -- delightfully familiar to the many who have visitied her quaint towns, and inviting to those who have always longed to!

I am eagerly anticipating the sequel that I might catch up on the people and events of Eastport!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful gripping suspense novel, October 31, 2001

By 

Moe811 (New York USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Matter of Roses (Faith Abbey Mystery Series, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

The town of Eastport has just had its' first murder in 47 years. The most hated man on the island, a developer naturally, Mac Curtis is found dead by Teal Pond. The murder weapon, a custom made knife he used in Vietnam, is missing, and the trouble has only just begun. There are innumerable suspects, from his wife and partners to a local enviromentalist. The Chief of Police needs help he can't get from his own department, his second in command is a raving egomaniac without the intelligence to match his ego. So, the Chief turns to his childhood friend, the monk, Brother Bartholomew, to help him. Brother Bartholomew has problems of his own, from the past and present, but he agrees to help his old friend.

This was a very suspenseful mystery. You never knew the killer's indentity until the author wanted you to know. There was plenty of action in between. A very fast and enjoyable read.