Customer Reviews

THE SHOOTING IN THE SHOP (FETHERING MYSTERIES 11)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Great book. Fast dependable delivery. I like the Fethering Series. Not too violent...very british cozy. Good read.

In Fethering, England Carole Seddon makes pre ghost Scrooge and Grinch look like Santa supporters compared to her feelings about Christmas. She believes the holidays are a ridiculous waste of time, money and energy. Her preference is to pretend the Yuletide season does not exist as it has not since her painful divorce from David and her son Stephen chose work over celebration. Now Stephen married to Gaby with a daughter Lily wants a family Christmas. Thus when her BFF Jude orders her to go Christmas shopping with her at Gallimaufry, she objects initially until she remembers it is discounted sales time so she agrees as only a bargain is anything positive about Christmas.

A few days after the two friends went shopping, Gallimaufry burns down. Once the fire is put out and the area cool, a body is found amidst the ashes and rubble. Although the death of pretty Polly Le Bonnier, the stepdaughter of the owner of Gallimaufry, initially looks like a tragic accident, a bullet is determined as the cause of death. Having solved mysteries before, the dynamic amateur duo Carole and Jude investigate with Gulliver assisting them.

The Fethering mystery series is always a wonderful English cozy starring a charming pair of amateur sleuths (in fairness; Jude is charming while Carole remains so wound up a shilling could not fall out of her crack). Their latest escapade is a fun whodunit as the detecting is well conceived containing a fabulous late twist and Carole becomes a reborn-holiday cheerleading aficionado due to her most gorgeous granddaughter. An eggnog toast is given to Simon Brett for another fine Fethering investigative whodunit.

Harriet Klausner

Eleven murders in a single small English coastal village ... and they've all been deftly solved by an unlikely pair of friends. Carole Seddon is a repressed, straight-laced divorcee whose solitary existence has been frequently disrupted by Jude, the colorful, outgoing neighbor who has become her closest friend. The chemistry between the two, who find pleasure in solving the extraordinarily frequent murders occurring in and around their town, is described with Brett's characteristically sarcastic and witty humor which is what makes these books so enjoyable. In this installment, Carole and Jude find themselves in the midst of the Christmas season. Carole is dreading her first real "family" Christmas since her divorce, a change that's been prompted by the birth of her grand-daughter, and is persuaded by Jude to shop in an eclectic new village shop to find unique gifts for her son and daughter-in-law. A few days later, after a bright Christmas party at Jude's home, the store burns down and the body of the owner's step-daughter is found in side, with a bullet in her back. Who killed the young woman with a tortured past? Jude and Carole are determined to find out - and they dig up a lot of surprising information along the way. Brett's caustic but funny commentary on village society - and humanity in general - along with the somewhat intricate plot made this another great addition to the series. Although, I do have to admit that I'm getting to the point where I wish Carole would just loosen up...can she really stay this spiky forever with Jude at her side???

Got this order and i'm looking forward to reading them.The Shooting in the Shop (Five Star Mystery Series)The Poisoning in the Pub (Five Star Mystery Series) and others.