Customer Reviews

Slaying Is Such Sweet Sorrow: A Far Wychwood Mystery

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I thought that the first book, Arson and Old Lace: A Far Wychwood Mystery (Harwin, Patricia. Far Wychwood Mystery Series.), was good, but this volume is even better. I was gripped by the story, sitting up until the wee hours with it, and am becoming very fond of the characters. I would recommend that fans of Jeanne Dams' Dorothy Martin series give it a try.

This series features a woman who has moved from New York City to a small English village near Oxford, where her daughter, son-in-law and grandchild live. Catherine's relationship with her daughter is prickly, but thankfully not overwrought into melodrama; I sympathize with both characters. Harwin doesn't try to substitute bickering for plot. This volume has a lot of fun with the difference between England and the US, especially in vocabulary. The chapters are headed with quotes from 15th-16th century works that are exceptionally well-chosen for their beauty.

In this book, Catherine is forced to confront her ex-husband at family affairs. One thing that I like about this series is that it appears that the character is not going to be locked into an unchanging formula, facing the same problems without resolution over and over again. When her likeable son-in-law is accused of murder, and Catherine finds that the police see no reason for further investigation, she goes into action. Although I would like Harwin to find solutions for Catherine other than breaking and entering, I am very happy to say that she is NOT the sort of amateur who, hearing that an axe murder might be in the cellar, goes down to check.

While I don't think that Harwin is necessarily ruling out romance, I like that Catherine is an independent woman who can do just fine by herself. Harwin doesn't follow the rather tired plot device of having the character find Mr. Pluperfect in the first book.

In addition to Jeanne Dam's Dorothy Martin series, I also recommend Monica Ferris' Needlecraft Mysteries featuring Betsy Devonshire and Katherine Hall Page's Body in the ... series, featuring Faith Fairchild.

It should have been an occasion for great celebration for Catherine Penny: her gentle, scholarly son-in-law, Peter, is about to be named head of faculty of non-Shakespearean Elizabethan Drama department at Oxford's Mercy College. Except that her faithless ex-husband, Quin, who broke her heart when he left her for his younger secretary, has decided to attend the ceremony with that woman! Catherine is not sure if she can be in the same country with Quin without bursting a blood vessel, but she's agreed to try for her daughter's (Emily) and for Peter's sakes. But on the night that the announcement of headship is to be made, Edgar Stone -- a pompous sarcastic and detestable character, known for his emotional cruelty towards his wife, his womanising ways and his great dislike for Peter -- is named head instead of Peter, much to everyone's dismay. And when hours later, Stone is found murdered in his house with Peter caught looming over the dead body. The police automatically assume that Peter had murdered Stone out of professional jealousy and anger; especially since they had received an emergency 'phone call from Stone claiming that Peter was at his door threatening him with a knife, just before he was found dead. Peter's solicitor wants Peter to plead temporary insanity; but Catherine fears that such a move would spell the end of Peter's career even if he gets off. And so determined to help Peter and Emily, Catherine decides to do some investigating of her own in order to unmask the read murderer. After all a great many people hated the detestable Edgar Stone! Now if only she can keep her attention focused on the investigation at hand, instead of her anger at Quin...

I, also thought that Slaying is Such Sweet Sorrow" was a much better mystery novel than "Arson and Old Lace." And isn't that how it should be? The second novel surpassing the first? Not that "Arson and Old Lace" was a shabby book. To the contrary: it was a fantastic read. It's just that I thought that Patricia Harwin had got the proportions interspersing her heroine's private life with the mystery at hand, much better in this installment. Catherine Penny's inner turmoil at having to come face to face with the faithless Quin and his middle aged floozy, and her confused emotions where Quin was concerned, was nicely juxtaposed with the mystery subplot of who murdered the unlikable Stone and framed Peter, perfectly, without one subplot hijacking the other. Both subplots were vital to this story and I was in awe with the competency with which the author handled them. Add this to the wonderfully vivid and affectionate manner in which she brought Oxford University with its deer park and spires to life; the skillful manner in which she fleshed out her characters (both primary and secondary); and the masterful manner in which she kept things quietly suspenseful and constantly humming, and you have a book worth touting as an excellent read. I'm really looking forward to the next Far Wychwood mystery.

Catherine Penny, a former New York librarian, now lives in a tiny English town of Far Wychwood. She has to deal with painful memories when her ex-husband and his new lady love show up to attend an awards ceremony honoring their son-in-law Peter. He is supposed to be a shoo-in for a prestigious appointment at Oxford's Mercy College. They are shocked when he is not chosen. The man that is chosen, Edgar Stone, is a womanizer and is not well liked.

Stone is found dead, and Peter is accused. Catherine does everything she can to prove he's innocent. Unfortunately the police have a call from Stone saying that Peter is there threatening him with a knife right before he's found dead.

Her daughter and ex-husband have hired a solicitor, but he doesn't seem to be much help. Her relationship with her daughter is tenuous at best, and these circumstances really wear on it. Plus Catherine and her ex-husband run into each other more than Catherine would want. This adds a lot of tension in the family.

I am not a big fan of mysteries set in England. I think one of the reasons I like this series is that it is an American who has moved to England. So often she will explain the idiosyncrasies I would otherwise not understand.

Catherine is an enjoyable character. I like seeing England through her eyes. I enjoy the English countryside. Her relationship with her family is very difficult and always adds to the story.

I enjoyed this book and highly recommend it and the first book in the series.

Love the Patricia Harwin Far Wychwood Mysteries! Harwin has developed a lovable character with a temper, a too-quick tongue, a stubborn nature, but a soft heart. Love the quirky characters and word pictures of the Oxford area. Can't wait for the next book!

I really wanted to love this book because I so enjoyed her first novel Arson and Old Lace. Catherine Penny moves to a small village in England and it's almost as though she is transported to a simpler time and place. A place where you really know your neighbors; a place where friends drop by for coffee and gossip; where you plant your own garden; where you can walk for miles through the lovely countryside and never cross an expressway. Her characters were appealing and warm and Catherine's own strengths and weaknesses made her seem a very believable and likable person. When death and arson occur in this idyllic setting, the reader is caught up in the attempt to identify and eliminate this menace.

Unhappily the characters in her second novel were just not as interesting. They were sophisticated and shallow and it was very difficult to care about their petty problems. When the worst among them is murdered, it just didn't matter very much to me.

Instead of Slaying is Such Sweet Sorrow, I would recommend one of Elisabeth Ogilvie's novels, perhaps A Theme For Reason. This author had an amazing ability to paint word pictures of rural Maine and to create warm and sympathetic characters.

This is a delightful lite (tea cozy) mystery. Do not forget the first of the Far Wychwood series called "Arson and Old Lace." If you enjoy reading the Aunt Dimity series and the Dorothy Martin series you will love this book.

2nd in the Far Wychwood Mystery Series. Librarian and former New Yorker Catherine Penny now lives in England after being left by her husband for a younger woman. When Catherine can't avoid him at the awards ceremony honoring their son-in-law, Peter, who is a shoo-in for a prestigious appointment at Oxford's Mercy College She must come to terms with her past and her future. But the shock of Peter not being chosen is matched only by who is: pompous, womanizing scholar Edgar Stone. And when Stone is found murdered, it is up to Catherine to solve the mystery. I love the character of Catherine Penny, she is funny and feisty with just enough curosity to keep the book interesting.

I fell in love with the first book and couldn't wait for more of the series. The second book was even better than the first. I am sad to discover that the third book (which Patricia Harwin has completed) may not be published. I have sent an email to S&S asking them when it will come out but haven't heard a peep. I'm very disappointed.

I so enjoyed the premise of this series. Right now it looks like the author's publisher doesn't want to publish the third novel.

It's nice that the first two stories can stand on their own as a series of two. But there's so much more to learn about the characters and so much more for them to do. I for one want more!

Catherine is a woman who has moved from New York City to a small English village near Oxford where her daughter, son-in-law and grandchild live, in order to get away from her ex husband who has left her for another woman. Her son-in- law, Peter, is slated to win an award and receive a prestigious appointment at Oxford. Everyone is shocked when the position goes to another professor, Edgar Stone, who is not as qualified as Peter, nor as well liked. When Sloan is found dead, Peter is the most likely suspect, since Sloan made a phone call to the police telling them Peter was threatening him with a knife.
In her heart, Catherine knows Peter is innocent and she is determined to prove it. Catherine and her daugher have a shaky relationship, so the daughter turns to her father for help and he hires a solicitor for Peter. Her ex-husband being in the picture adds more stress for Catherine, although she tries to be civil and concentrate on Peter's problem.
This mystery does have a few weaknesses. There are too many digressions, and it takes a while to get into the plot. On the other hand, the descriptions of Oxford and the surrounding area, the nice chapter headings with quotes from English literature, and the appeal of Catherine's character as an independent woman who has made a new life for herself later in life, makes it well worth reading.