Murder By Suicide [Paperback]

Veronica Heley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 18, 2009

The second in a series of Ellie Quicke Mysteries, Ellie is shocked to hear allegations that the vicar is having an affair with Nora, the church organist. When Nora commits suicide, Ellie begins to decipher clues and strange confrontations, but then realizes that her own life is in danger.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Cozy fans who enjoyed Ellie Quicke's debut, Murder at the Altar (2000), will welcome the appealing middle-aged sleuth's second, even stronger outing from British author Heley. Widowed Ellie is just starting to recover from the recent death of her beloved if domineering husband, Frank. Returning to her village after a three-week stay at her daughter's in London, she learns that poison-pen letters pointing to scandal at St. Thomas's Rectory have led to the reassignment of her dear friend and vicar, the Reverend Gilbert Adams, and the emotional breakdown of the fey Nora, the church organist. Ellie agrees to help try to find out who's behind the letters. One evening, Ellie investigates a light in the church, a view nicely depicted on the novel's atmospheric dust jacket, and witnesses a "suicide" that she alone considers to be murder. Dismissed by the local police, Ellie puts her own life at risk to seek the truth. Our smart and determined heroine must also deal with her late husband's imperious aunt Drusilla; her spoiled, self-centered daughter, Diana; and a new man in her life, the suspiciously smooth Roy Bartrick ("There's something too devil-may-care about him," asserts a neighbor). Minor characters introduced in the first book, like the inimitable Mrs. Dawes, take on new depth. Readers will cheer as Ellie takes charge after a lifetime of deferring to the wishes and wants of others. Anglophiles will relish the loving descriptions of those parts of London that make the great metropolis seem like a quaint village.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Library Journal

Fiftyish, recently widowed, and comfortably well-off, Ellie Quicke lives in a small English village and has just made a charming friend, a widower new to the area. Then she begins receiving poison-pen letters just like the ones that precipitated the transfer of the vicar and his wife and the apparent suicide of the church organist, who was accused of being the other woman. As Ellie disposes of the organist's belongings, several suspicious matters arise, not the least of which is the credibility of her new friend. This second volume in the Ellie Quicke mysteries (after Murder at the Altar) features fluid, chatty prose, recognizable characters, and a quaint setting. For fans of British cozies.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 206 pages
• Publisher: Ostara Publishing (June 18, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1906288143
• ISBN-13: 978-1906288143
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,361,235 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Veronica Heley (www.veronicaheley.com) has published more than fifty books, including crime fiction, historical, and children's titles. She is currently involved in the Ellie Quicke series of crime stories and a variety of other projects. A full-time writer, she has been married to a London probation officer since 1964, and has one musician daughter.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars an engrossing read, August 24, 2002

By 

tregatt (Portland, Oregon) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Murder by Suicide (Ellie Quicke Mystery Series #2) (Hardcover)

Ellie Quicke (the recently widowed detecting heroine from "Murder By the Altar") returns to her pleasant suburban neighbourhood (after having spent a stressful few weeks taking care of her demanding daughter, Diana, and her grandson) to find that everyone is still reeling from the 'sex' scandal that caused their beloved vicar (the Rev. Gilbert Adams) to be transferred out of the parish. Apparently someone has been sending poison pen letters to parishioners accusing the vicar of having an affair with the church's mousy organist, Nora. Now everyone is angry with Nora, the letters are still pouring in furiously, and Nora is beginning to fall apart at the seams.

And then Nora commits suicide, leaving Ellie feeling both guilty for not having done enough to help help her, and angry at the letter writer for all the misery (s)he has caused. Imagine Ellie's shock then when she becomes the poison pen writer's latest target! But while Ellie is appalled at this turn of events, she's decided that she's not going to take things lying down. And in spite of certain familial complications (both Diana and her aunt-in-law, Drusilla, seem to think that Ellie will jump and do their bidding whenever they open their mouths), and suddenly being courted by not one but two suitors, Elllie is determined to discover who is behind these letters and to put a stop to this campaign of poison before someone else is hurt.

This second installment in the Ellie Quicke mystery series takes place about 4 months after the first one, "Murder at the Altar." As such, a lot of old ground -- Ellie's tendency to cave in the face of a stronger personality (esp where her daughter's, Diana, needs are concerned), and her grief at her husband's recent and sudden death -- still figures prominently into the plot. However, since Ellie is still learning to become her own person, this is something that can be easily overlooked. Though I do hope that this will no longer be an issue in future Ellie Quicke books. Mystery-wise, while a lot of side issues did get in the way of Ellie's investigation into the identity of the poison pen writer, because this series hinges so strongly on the character of Ellie, these issues became an integral part of the novel and did not leave me feeling frustrated at all that investigative bit took a while to unfold. "Murder by Suicide" was a wonderfully riveting read that boasts of possessing a likable heroine that everyone will find easy to identify with. The plot may not be an incredibly complex one but it was an engrossing and entertaining one nevertheless, and is one that is worth recommending as an enjoyable read.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Charming English cozy, August 23, 2002

By 

booksforabuck "BooksForABuck" (Long Beach, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Murder by Suicide (Ellie Quicke Mystery Series #2) (Hardcover)

When the organist in Ellie Quicke's church starts getting threatening notes, Ellie wants to do something. Before she can get to the bottom of the problem, however, the organist commits suicide. Then the notes start to target Ellie. Someone knows her secrets, her fears, and seems to hate her with an aversion that goes beyond sanity. Ellie needs to find the answers before she, and her new cat, become the next victim.

Ellie's investigations are hampered by a daughter who thinks that the world owes her something, multiple beaux who want to take the place of Ellie's recently departed husband, and an aging aunt who expects Ellie to drop everything and take care of her problems. Still, with the help of friends and a handyman who doesn't know much about gardening but wants to work, Ellie begins to chip away at the evidence.

Author Veronica Heley writes a convincing cozy. Ellie Quicke is an engaging character with her size 18 frame and fear of cars and computers, but with honest good will toward others. Heley's England is a mostly charming place with its pots of tea and hard working waitresses, but it has its threatening side as well.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars For the most part, a very good English cozy, March 8, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Murder by Suicide (Ellie Quicke Mystery Series #2) (Paperback)

A small village, interesting characters, interesting murder... Every bit as good as the first one, Murder at the Altar. The only drawback is that the main character, Ellie, allows other people to talk all over her and her daughter is bossy, self-centered, and interfering, with no manners. The book has compared her to her father, in which case you wonder why Ellie misses him so much. Her daughter really is a downpoint for the book and detracted from it. Having her as one of the characters is unfortunate and affects the enjoyment of it. I hope that she is seen far less in future Ellie Quick books, or she grows up a little bit. And that Ellie develops more of a backbone.