Ring for Tomb Service [Paperback]

Kate Kingsbury (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1997

St. Bartholomew's Week is usually one of Cecily's favorite times of the year. People from all over flock to the feast, and the Pennyfoot buzzes with activity. But this year, Cecily's only activity is catching a killer--because this holy celebration has been marred by the unholiest of acts.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Berkley (May 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425158578
• ISBN-13: 978-0425158579
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #839,687 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I grew up in London, England, and at a very early age began telling stories to my school friends during the London Blitz of WW II while huddling in bomb shelters. I moved to the U.S. in the early sixties, and had passed my 50th birthday when I published my first book. Since then I've written over fifty romance and mystery novels. I have one son, and married for the second time shortly after my 60th birthday.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This book was worth the wait., May 14, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Ring for Tomb Service (Paperback)

Finally, the most recent installment of Kate Kingsbury's "Pennyfoot Hotel" series is out. Those of us who have been following the series have been waiting anxiously for this one, wondering what will happen next. Will Baxter come back? Will he ever sit down in Cecily's presence? Indeed, does he even have a first name?

The one possible flaw in this book is that too much time is spent teasing the reader about what will happen between Cecily Sinclair, the owner of the Pennyfoot Hotel and Baxter, her former manager. But, and let's be realistic, isn't that why some of us were so antsy waiting for the release of this book? Several other old characters return in this book as well. While I did enjoy this book a great deal, it seemed to me that this book mainly was to rearrange the players and set the stage for the next book. But that is OK. It is still a good book and sometimes a rearrangement is neccesary. This is a wonderful book to take in a hot bath after a stressful day. I couldn't stop smiling after I read it. I highly reccomend this book, and the whole series in fact. Good, light, fun reading. Fans of light mysteries will definitely enjoy this one.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Chalices and Murder, April 8, 2009

By 

S. Schwartz "romonko" (alberta canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ring for Tomb Service (Paperback)

This book, set during St. Bartholomew's Week in Edwardian England is a fast moving little story. Cecily and her hotel are very busy with celebration preparations, and the hotel is full of guests when strange murders happen. That combined with the theft of a priceless chalice have Cecily working overtime with her ex-manager Baxter trying to get things sorted. These little books are enjoyable cozies with wonderful and warm characters. I enjoy each one.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't check into the Pennyfoot. It is always the same, July 23, 2009

By 

David Wilkin (La Habra Heights, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ring for Tomb Service (Paperback)

After a long tedious slog, I finished the series of Pennyfoots that I have purchased. Kingsbury writes drivel. There is no complexity to it. There is no historical context or feel to it. You can pick up all you need from two hours of BBC America and you will know as much as the author seems to give you.

I have pointed out before how a large estate transformed into a turn of the last century hotel, would not be run like a modern hotel. All of sudden now there are rooms for more than 50 guests. Our heroine and her dead discarded husband must have had a great deal of money indeed to buy one of the largest homes in all of england.

Houses just weren't built like hotels are now. But the writer has no concept. Again with staffing, trying to make it a plot device. There are always enough staff for the ever large amount of guests. We find there is a Bartender, who we have never seen. Then the stableman is also the man who is the groomsman always on errands for the boss. Well what if a guest wants to ride, who saddles their horse?

When the old maid shows up looking for her job, (married to a farmer, I am so sure that they will be able to maintain the same hours) it is used as a plot device and takes days and many chapters to resolve.

For everything has to fit into Kingsbury 20 chapter, 12 pages to each, formula. Whether it makes sense or not. Whether there is anything to say or not. Whether we have another large group of pages of the dancing girls arguing over nothing or not, or the drunk Colonel with the one clue the heroine needs everytime.

I wasted my money. I've recouped what I could be reading the trash. I hope I can save you from wasting yours.