Blackmail? In a cozy little village like Taviscombe? It seems so, well, unseemly. But leave it to the intrepid Mrs. Sheila Malory to get to the bottom of the darkest deceptions in this wickedly clever new mystery from Hazel Holt. Graham Percy is a colossal bore. Fortunately, he only inflicts himself on Mrs. Malory once a year for a week, imposing on his friendship with her late husband. Still, she dreads the pompous solicitor's annual call, and she can't quite understand why her husband's three closest schoolboy chums also put up with him, let alone employ him in their business affairs. Her idle curiosity turns into something more, however, as Percy settles in for his visit. Percy's strained relations with the other three men reveal tremendous tension, and it isn't long before Mrs. Malory realizes that he is blackmailing each of them. What secrets could they have that could be so threatening? Snooping around isn't easy, especially with Percy ensconced in her own house. But Mrs. Malory is an old hand at subtle observation, so she is determined to try. What she doesn't realize is just how dangerous Percy actually is, or how far he is willing to go to protect secrets of his own.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Library Journal
The popular Mrs. Malory (Mrs. Malory: Death of a Dean, LJ 10/1/96) learns that her late husband's boorish lawyer friend has been blackmailing several of his clients. She risks discovery by sleuthing during the lawyer's annual visit to Taviscombe. Another most satisfying British village cozy.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Kirkus Reviews
An eighth adventure for Sheila Malory, a widow living in the English seaside town of Taviscombe (Mrs. Malory: Death of a Dean, 1996, etc.). Dull, mean-spirited lawyer Graham Percy, an old if less than dearly loved friend, has arrived for his annual two- to three-day visit and, as always, has gone for an early-morning walk on the beach. This time, though, he doesn't return. He's found on the beach, stabbed to death, his wallet missing, and Sheila's friend, Chief Inspector Roger Eliot, is on the case. When the wallet is found washed up on the sands--its contents undisturbed--Sheila realizes that the murderer may well be someone she knows. Clive Merivale, Percy's only living relative, looms large as a suspect. Merivale aside, only a tiny group of his onetime public-school and Oxford classmates remained a part of loner Percy's life: teacher Paul Heywood, Brian Shelley, famed actor Alec Patmore, now confined to a wheelchair, and rich, successful composer Josh Brenden. Sheila, with her usual well- bred, persistent questioning and inside information from Inspector Eliot, soon discovers that all of them have impregnable alibis. Where to now? A letter from Josh uncovering an adolescent scandal; a carefully planned social visit; and Sheila's acutely perceptive abilities bring the sad affair to a close--at least to Sheila's satisfaction. Holt is in good form here--exploring a few complex characters, along with the usual assortment of village bores, and indulging a penchant for theater lore that will strike a chord in many. Unriveting but solidly readable. -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Mrs. Malory and the Only Good Lawyer,
By A Customer
This review is from: Mrs Malory and the Only Good Lawyer (Paperback)
Fun, well written, easy to read. Mrs. Malory is thoroughly likable. It's a treat to be in her world for a few hours.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A fun and witty cozy,
By A Customer
This review is from: Mrs. Malory and the Only Good Lawyer (Hardcover)
The late Peter Malory first met fellow solicitor Graham Percy in law school. The compassionate Peter could never refuse his fussy old school mate when Graham would weasel an invitation out of him to come visit. Now that Peter is dead, his spouse Sheila has inherited Graham's annual visit to her home in Taviscombe. Several days into his four day stay, Graham is murdered and Sheila, feeling responsible for the well being of a guest, decides to investigate. She immediately learns that there was a bit more to Graham than a failed and boring attorney. It seems he had a very lucrative blackmailing scheme operating on the side. She also learns that the odd duck annually visited three other school chums. Sheila figures they are primes suspects. A second murder in town has Sheila picking up the pace in an effort to uncover the identity of the killer before someone else is hurt. MRS. MALORY AND THE ONLY GOOD LAWYER, the eighth novel in the Mrs. Sheila Malory series, is a well written English cozy, highlighted by the charming lead protagonist. However, though the story line quickly moves forward, the audince is going to find the ending a bit abrubt because no clues for motives occur until the final explanation. Still, Hazel Holt scribes a fabulous mystery that will please fans of the series. Harriet Klausner
2.0 out of 5 stars
good writing, bad mystery,
By mDesiree13 (CA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Mrs. Malory and the Only Good Lawyer (Mrs. Malory Mystery) (Mass Market Paperback)
I liked the nice English countryside locale and the characters are interesting and well-drawn, but I could literally tell from page 20 who the killer was. The clues are super clunky. I kept reading it because I think the writing is nice and the world was very cozy, as has been said, not hard boiled at all. But if you want a satisfying, stumping mystery, this is not the book for you.
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