Mrs. Malory and the Only Good Lawyer (Mrs. Malory Mystery) [Mass Market Paperback]

Hazel Holt (Author)

Book Description

Series: Mrs. Malory Mystery | Publication Date: October 1, 1998

The eighth installment of the Mrs. Malory mysteries finds the amateur detective entertaining an old friend of her late husband--a boring and inept lawyer who pays a yearly visit to his friend's widow. But if he is so incompetent, why do three of her late husband's friends employ his services? Mrs. Malory discovers that the lawyer is blackmailing his "old friends," and further finds out that these one-time associates of her husband are not what they seem!

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. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Signet; Reprint edition (October 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451192648
• ISBN-13: 978-0451192646
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #243,525 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

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, February 4, 1998

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, December 1, 1997

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, March 9, 2004

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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.