Customer Reviews

The Skeleton in the Closet

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you're a Marion Chesney fan (M.C. Beaton's other pen name), you will enjoy her latest work, "The Skeleton In The Closet." The plot of this novel follows closely most of those that she wrote as Marion Chesney -- the downtrodden protagonist comes into an unexpected windfall, rediscovers the selfishness of his/her family and decides to try and live life instead of cowering away from it. The only difference is that her earlier works that had this basic plot premise were usually regency romances and this novel is set in the 20th century.

Fellworth Dolphin, who had basically given up all his dreams and ambitions in order to look after his parents, discovers upon his remaining parent's death, that his parents were actually quite well off and that he had sacrificed everything for nothing! Going through his parents' things, Fell discovers almost 50, 000 pounds in a strong box. Where did all this money come from? But before he can even begin to investigate more fully, his aunt threatens to move in with him. In a moment of blind panic Fell claims to be engaged and asks his friend Maggie to give credence to the lie and to move in with him. Maggie herself is living a life of unfulfilling drudgery; secretly in love with Fell, she agrees to help him, not expecting very much to come out of this except perhaps for a few beautiful memories. But that is before Fell and Maggie discover that Fell's father might have been involved in a train robbery. Suddenly Fell and Maggie find their lives full of adventure: Fell's home is burgled and their lives threatened. Could all the money Fell inherited be stolen loot? Fell and Maggie are determined to discover where all this money has come from, no matter the cost.

While "The Skeleton In The Closet" does read like a mystery novel, the plot line involving the duo's quest to discover if Fell's father had been part of the train robbery gang is only a subplot. Mostly, this novel is a bittersweet story about two people, Fell and Maggie, who are loners, who have received very little love or respect from their respective families, and who find acceptance, support and ultimately, love in each other. Because they have finally taken control of their lives, both Fell and Maggie blossom. They become more courageous, outgoing and competent. While I did feel some pain for the unrewarding lives that Fell and Maggie had lived hitherto their teaming up with each other, it is I think, difficult to sustain any feelings of pity, because both characters are finally taking control of their lives. I definitely rooted for them to come out on top and for Fell to discover what a gem he had in Maggie. Some readers may not enjoy novels where the main characters are quiet and plain, but I rather like novels that deal with the 'ordinary' people, afterall it can get a little tiring to read about beautiful and talented and witty people all the time.

In it's own way, I found "The Skeleton In The Closet" to be a uplifting and heartwarming novel, and worthy of a five star rating.

Thank you, M.C. Beaton for the wonderful new book "Skeleton in the Closet" i was suffering withdrawal having no more Agatha raisins left to read and along comes this little gem which is perfect from its art work to its final denoument and the hinted promise of more of this new pair. Reading books like this is sitting in the shade on a summer's day with no cares.....

This one off story by M.C. Beaton is outside the stream of her other
series novels which makes it that much more captivating. The careful
development of two outsiders into a loving, caring couple of amateur
detectives is both skillful and touching. The mystery that brings them
together is well done without being too convoluted. The conclusion is
believable and thrilling. Beaton's best book in my opinion

M.C. (Marion Chesney?) Beaton takes the Regency Romance into the third millennia with a delightful cozy mystery featuring a couple of brand new friends. Once again the reader is treated to a healthy dose of English village life with the emotionally stunted semi-losers Maggie & Fellworth Dolphin. In this twenty-second century Cinderella story, Fellworth's tyrant of a mother dies, he finds his dull life absolutely full of surprises. To avoid a takeover by the Evil Aunt Agnes, the prematurely grey, virginal Fell fictionalizes an engagement to the plump Maggie with limp hair and thick glasses and ankles. As they turn the cottage from a pumpkin into a home, the two of them are virtually unaware of the magic going on in their lives. Fell begins to grow a backbone, as Maggie goes from ugly duckling to swan. But Prince Charming and Sleeping Beauty really don't see themselves (or each other) as they attempt to figure out an ages old train robbery as well as the next chapter in their (up to this point) dreary lives. The author weaves her magic and once again gives us a spectacularly delectable little book with a couple of characters who we enjoy getting to know.

This time of year, I would also HIGHLY recommend Ms. Beaton's HIGHLAND CHRISTMAS, as well as the entire Hamish MacBeth and Agatha Raisin Series.

I picked up The Skeleton In The Closet while looking for more M.C.Beaton books. I love her "cozies" - Hamish Mcbeth and Agatha Raisin series (of which I have read all). But this book left me wanting more - more character development, more plot momentum. "Skeleton" seemed thrown together somehow. The intertesting characters and situations were skimmed through and loose ends - left undone.
I finished it quickly hoping the best was yet to come and it ended nicely but without the satisfaction a better book would have held.
I would reccommend the Marion Chesney (M.C. Beaton) Edwardian Murder Mystery series: Snobbery with Violence, Hasty Death, Sick of Shadows, and Our Lady of Pain. I do hope she'll continue with the series as they are great fun!

In Buss, England, thirty-eight-year-old Fellworth Dolphin is still a virgin in more ways than just the sexual. The depressed Fellworth Dolphin knows life has passed him by. He works as a waiter at a local hotel during the day and cares for his chronic complaining mother at night. Fell has no hope for a future until the evening he came home from work and sees his widowed mother sitting in her armchair. She is dead.

To his shock, Fell inherits a fortune which enrages him even more towards his parents as they blackmailed him into giving up the university to bring in income to ensure the family never starved. He begins to wonder where the loot came from and wonders if his father, a railroad signalman, was involved in an unsolved train robbery. Fell begins to investigate the train robbery accompanied by Maggie Partlett the waitress who is also equally emotionally deprived. As they work together making inquires, they begin to fall in love, but neither one was ever the recipient of unselfish love. Will they recognize their feelings before the danger they stirred with their sleuthing causes permanent harm? What will the truth do to the already fractured psychological psyches of two individuals with deep emotional scars?

THE SKELETONS IN THE CLOSET is a delightful amateur sleuth tale, but not quite at the level of M.C. Beaton's wonderful Raisin or MacBeth novels. The characters make the story line gel, but readers will feel anger and pity for the stars, who allowed emotional blackmail to cripple them. That reaction by the audience slows down a tale that fails to attain the mark of excellence expected by Ms. Beaton's fans.

Harriet Klausner

MC Beaton has done it again. She can always be counted on for an enjoyable light read with great characters. This book, while not featuring her more well known characters, Hamish McBeth or Agatha Raisin is every bit as enjoyable as her other mysteries.

Memorable characters and a great story lead me to highly recommend this for cozy village mystery fans.

THE SKELETON IN THE CLOSET is the first book I ever read by M.C. Beaton, and it was marvelous. It's a fairy tale with all sorts of wonderful and magical things befalling the main characters. It's an allegory in which nice guys finish first. And it's an old-fashioned romance. All of these subtexts are placed in the setting of proverbial English country town. There are multiple mysteries, with a great train robbery, murder attempts and terrorist bombs. The whole combine to create a terrific romp, a true modernization of the English country mystery, starting right from one of the best opening sentences in the history of writing. I look forward to reading Beaton's other books.

Fell Dolphin has led a miserable life. Beaten as a child, repressed and forced to support his mother at an early age, he hasn't had much of a life and really has nothing to look forward to. Since his father's death, he has been her sole support, and has no privacy or life of his own. He doesn't even have a key to his own house. Upon the death of his mother, he finds out that he has inherited a substantial amount of money. Since his parents have cried poverty all his life, just where did all the cash come from? To avoid having his mother's sister move in with him, he tells her that he is engaged to a coworker, Maggie Partlett, and convinces Maggie to move in with him to substantiate the lie. Maggie had been living in much the same circumstances as Fell, and is happy to escape a miserable life. The two of them get together to investigate the source of Fell's wealth. Fell is afraid that his father had been part of a train robbery in the town, and decides to investigate that crime.

This was a very good mystery, very different from Beaton's usual works. Two unhappy repressed characters find each other and blossom and solve a mystery as well. There is even a happy ending. A fast read and very entertaining.

Fellworth "Fell" Dolphin grew up in a family lacking the normal love. His parents took good care of him and he never went hungry, but they never had any of the extras. Matter of fact, when his father became ill and later died, Fell had to get a job. His mother took his checks and gave him a small allowance to spend. She was a cold-hearted woman and controlled his life. Then one day he returned from work at the hotel to find his mother dead. Instead of grieving, he feels relieved.

Even before he can decide what he will do, his parents' lawyer calls. Fell finds out that his mother left him a large sum of money. Where did the money come from? They lived like misers. He could have gone to the university. They stole his youth! Fell goes home and begins going through his father's desk to find out more about his parents' financial situation. He finds a cash box full of money. Why would they hide money in the desk? Could it have been gotten illegally?

Aunt Agnes, his mother's sister, comes to call. She is concerned that Fell will need someone to care for him so she has decided to make the sacrifice. Fell is stricken with horror. He immediately tells her that won't be necessary because he is engaged to Maggie, a co-worker at the hotel.

Next he needs to tell Maggie and see if she will go along with his charade. She is a very plain girl and it turns out her home life hasn't been great. She is thrilled with the idea. She ends up moving into Fell's home -- separate rooms of course.

Fell and Maggie begin redecorating his house. Things are going well. They even begin discussing opening a bookstore.

Then Andy Briggs shows up accusing Fell's father of being a part of the old Post Office train robbery.

Now Fell and Maggie begin looking into the old robbery to try to clear his father's name and discover where the money came from. Many things begin to happen. Fell meets Melissa who wants him to invest in her business. Fell is mesmerized by Melissa but Maggie is worried Melissa is only after his money. She tries to alert Fell and he only becomes more upset with Maggie. Maggie has fallen in love with Fell but is worried he is about to throw her out. Then Peter, a local newspaper reporter, comes into the picture. He writes a piece about Maggie and Fell investigating the old robbery. Peter is smitten with Maggie. They begin dating. Fell has no problem with this in the beginning.

Fell's house is vandalized. Is this related to the old robbery?

Fell and Maggie are great characters. Underdogs all the way. You can't help but root for them. This is the first book in a new series by a terrific author. I already like her other two mystery series. This is another terrific series and I can't wait for the next book.

I had a little trouble with some of the terminology because it is set in England, but I really enjoyed the book and recommend it highly.