Sirens Sang of Murder, The [Import] [Unknown Binding]

Sarah Caudwell (Author)

Product Details

• Unknown Binding: 288 pages
• ISBN-10: 0753169908
• ISBN-13: 978-0753169902
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not for everyone, October 18, 2000

By 

D. P. Birkett (Suffern, NY USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Sirens Sang of Murder (Paperback)

The humor is elaborate and depends on convoluted witticisms couched in a pastiche of eighteenth century prose, alternating with sharp observations of contemporary British life and amazingly effective slapstick. This sort of thing has to be done superbly well or it falls flat. This is done superbly well. The plot seems completely fantastic until the murderer is revealed and you realise you should have thought of that person all along. The same setting as the other Caudwells - the London singles bar scene.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pure delight, August 8, 2001

By 

Dr. Amanda DeWees - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Sirens Sang of Murder (Paperback)

After the relatively disappointing second book in the series (The Shortest Way to Hades) I was enraptured to find The Sirens Sang of Murder on a par with the first Sarah Caudwell, the one that made me sing hosannas and rush out to buy everything she had written. One of the strengths and pleasures of Sirens, as with Thus Was Adonis Murdered, is that a large part of it takes the form of an epistolary novel, in this case through telexes in the hilarious voice of Cantrip. Surely Caudwell is a fan of P.G. Wodehouse, since the hapless Cantrip reminds me irresistibly of clueless Bertie Wooster, even down to his malapropisms and his dotty uncle (reminiscent of Uncle Fred). Having so many adventures related through his harried, well-intentioned, quirky voice ("pottle" is one of his favorite verbs) makes everything that much livelier. Another clever, enjoyable device is the use of hackneyed romance-novel cliches, which circulate due to Cantrip and Julia's collaboration on a would-be bestseller. Added to this heady mixture is the faintly dangerous, sexy whiff of witch lore and the supernatural.

If you enjoyed Thus Was Adonis Murdered, don't hesitate to heed the Sirens' seductive cry.

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another treat from Sarah Caudwell!, August 30, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Sirens Sang of Murder (Paperback)

Alas, the last of Ms. Caudwell's mystery series with Professor Tamar and the barristers of Lincoln's Inn, but certainly a good one. Sarah Caudwell's mysteries are a treat for lawyers and non-lawyers, well-written with a great command of English as few mystery novels are these days. This one has red herrings and interesting twists throughout.