Customer Reviews

Pithed: An Andy Farmer Mystery

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
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It is always a pleasure to find a new mystery writer. Kathryn Lively's plot was excellent, the mystery was well done and very realistic and her characters were really well written. Andy Farmer is a very nice guy stuck in an outlandish situation. It made for great reading. As a cradle Catholic I was particularly thrilled to find a writer who is writing accurately about our faith. It is not a book about Catholicism but the practicing Catholics in the book are real and very human.

If you enjoy a good mystery you really should buy this book!

Just by looking at the cover you know this is going to be a fun read. PITHED features a 50 year old biology teacher with a bad hip, a dog named Steely Dan, and a wry sense of humor. For a great who-done-it that will bring a smile to your lips, get PITHED.

Without preaching or pontification, Kathryn Lively shares her devotion to her faith through the individuality of Andy Farmer. Pithed marks the first in what is promised to be a series of mysteries featuring Andy Farmer. Mystery genre devotees will enjoy the book for Lively's fast paced plot, intelligent wit, and a mystery that keeps you guessing. I'm looking forward to reading Kathryn Lively's next book.

Kathryn Lively lives up to her name, with expertise in many areas: writing, book reviewing, webmistressing, editing, music, and reading. She is a graduate of Jacksonville University in Jacksonville, Florida, her home of origin. She gained acclaim with her first novel, LITTLE FLOWERS between 2001 to 2003. She also contributed chapters to SAINTS OF THE JUBILEE by Timothy Drake. She has been nominated for an Eppie, and has also published SAINTS PRESERVE US as a novel and DANGEROUS WORDS, an electronic book novella. Kathryn sounds like a fun girl to this reviewer!

Andy Farmer received an unnerving phone call from his fellow biology teacher, Chuck Cleveland, one fateful morning. Chuck insisted he had "pithed" Principal Horace Shelton, which is biology speak for stabbing him in the spinal cord. Indeed, Andy arrives at school to find the police and news of Shelton's demise:

"'Shelton. He was murdered this morning. Slumped over his desk with a knife in his back. Corrine found him.' This from Lucy Wilde, sophomore World History Standard, junior faculty, at times senior pain in the ass (according to others, anyway; what reason have I to risk a harassment suit?). I don't mind her, but I don't get her type at all - the batik skirts and ropes of beaded costume jewelry, spelling 'women' with a 'y' and two 'm's' and for all I know, a silent 'q' for good measure."

School mysteries are usually such fun because of the potential for a character driven plot, and Kathryn Lively plays it to the max. Poor Andy Farmer finds himself as one of the prime suspects in the murder of a vile man who had the power and loved to destroy careers. His fellow teachers all have their coping mechanisms for dealing with such machinations, but Andy's best friend Chuck has the most to hide and believes he committed the murder in a moment of loyalty to Andy. As if Andy didn't have enough to feel guilty about! Enough said...this is a cozy mystery written by a woman with wisdom far beyond her years. She understands the desperation of baby boomers nearing retirement and spins a darn good yard around that idea. Kathryn Lively is definitely an up and comer, and PITHED is a great little mystery!

Shelley Glodowski
Senior Reviewer

Pithed is a good read: a fast-paced mystery novel that keeps you turning the pages. Ms. Lively writes with a caustic wit that keeps you chuckling while you indulge yourself in the story. The climax is both unexpected and satisfying, and the side plot involving the loveable pooch Steely Dan makes for entertaining comic relief. This is a novella that is definitely worth picking up.

"He pissed me off for the last time, so I pithed him."

It is 4:12 in the morning, and before high school biology teacher, Andy Farmer, can make much sense of the strange words his friend and fellow teacher has hung up the phone.
But, when Andy arrives at the school it all becomes shockingly clear. Horace Shelton the unpopular principal of Rawlings High is dead, apparently murdered, and the weapon and method soon puts Andy on the suspect list. But how can Andy tell the police, when his friend did it for him. Or did he?

Chuck is on the run, Andy is in the hot seat, and it is going to get hotter as the plot thickens.

And the plot does thicken this 128 pages into a full-fledged mystery readers delight. Author Kathryn Lively quickly established a direct connection with her main character. I read the confession, knew who and how, didn't I? I was pulled right in to Andy Farmers moral and ethical dilemma of loyalties and friendship, trapped in his confusion with each rise, dip, twist, and turn of this well crafted, fast moving, roller coaster adventure, expertly jolted from my conclusions and left looking for new answers. And, all the while, I was thoroughly entertained. "Pithed" is a page turner. Andy is a new favorite. And, Kathryn Lively is a new author to watch.

Very well written, easy and quick read. Whereas Andy Farmer is a practicing Catholic, the book doesn't hit you in the face with Catholicism. An amusing and enjoyable book - I look forward to buying the next Andy Famer story.

Picked this up as a treat for myself over Christmas and put it in line with the other books I was reading at the time. Got to it this month and I must say, I was enthralled by the characters and plot and had to keep reading to get to the reveal of 'whodunit' as this is indeed a first rate murder mystery that does NOT disappoint.

Usually I figure out mysteries pretty quickly, but Kathryn had me reading up 'til the end to figure this one out even with me following the foreshadowing pretty well. Let's just say I was on the right path, but still knocked for a loop when it was all said & done.

Great story and a truly FUN & ENJOYABLE read. Glad I picked this one up and I look forward to more Andy Farmer mysteries; I'd like to see what else 'ol Andy gets himself mixed up in... :)

Kathryn Lively lives up to her name, with expertise in many areas: writing, book reviewing, webmistressing, editing, music, and reading. She is a graduate of Jacksonville University in Jacksonville, Florida, her home of origin. She gained acclaim with her first novel, LITTLE FLOWERS between 2001 to 2003. She also contributed chapters to SAINTS OF THE JUBILEE by Timothy Drake. She has been nominated for an Eppie, and has also published SAINTS PRESERVE US as a novel and DANGEROUS WORDS, an electronic book novella. Kathryn sounds like a fun girl to this reviewer!

Andy Farmer received an unnerving phone call from his fellow biology teacher, Chuck Cleveland, one fateful morning. Chuck insisted he had "pithed" Principal Horace Shelton, which is biology speak for stabbing him in the spinal cord. Indeed, Andy arrives at school to find the police and news of Shelton's demise:

"'Shelton. He was murdered this morning. Slumped over his desk with a knife in his back. Corrine found him.' This from Lucy Wilde, sophomore World History Standard, junior faculty, at times senior pain in the ass (according to others, anyway; what reason have I to risk a harassment suit?). I don't mind her, but I don't get her type at all - the batik skirts and ropes of beaded costume jewelry, spelling 'women' with a 'y' and two 'm's' and for all I know, a silent 'q' for good measure."

School mysteries are usually such fun because of the potential for a character driven plot, and Kathryn Lively plays it to the max. Poor Andy Farmer finds himself as one of the prime suspects in the murder of a vile man who had the power and loved to destroy careers. His fellow teachers all have their coping mechanisms for dealing with such machinations, but Andy's best friend Chuck has the most to hide and believes he committed the murder in a moment of loyalty to Andy. As if Andy didn't have enough to feel guilty about! Enough said...this is a cozy mystery written by a woman with wisdom far beyond her years. She understands the desperation of baby boomers nearing retirement and spins a darn good yard around that idea. Kathryn Lively is definitely an up and comer, and PITHED is a great little mystery!

Shelley Glodowski
Senior Reviewer