Customer Reviews

Sonnet of the Sphinx: A Poetic Death Mystery (Poetic Death Mysteries)

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Ever since I read 'Verse of the Vampyre', with its tantalizing excerpt from 'Sonnet of the Sphinx', I've been waiting impatiently for the rest of the story. And not because I care overmuch about the possibility that there's a lost sonnet by Shelley floating around somewhere. Though I admit that treasure-hunting is fun, what I really wanted, was to know the details of the Istanbul-affair, the one that landed Grace's boyfriend Peter in a Turkish jail for fourteen months. After two books full of hints, I wanted answers, and I wanted them now!

The books starts with Grace finding an old letter mentioning the unknown Shelley sonnet. Hard on the heels of that, Harry, an acquaintance of Peter's from his stint in Turkey, shows up, and threatens to have Peter extradited. Then Harry turns up dead, and naturally, Peter is at the top of the suspect list. Grace is not safe from suspicion herself, however, after Scott Sartyn, the new head librarian, accuses her of going through the dead man's pockets. (No, she didn't. Really. And Sartyn shouldn't really be talking anyway, since he knew Harry from before and is trying to keep it quiet. With good reason.) While Peter is out of town, someone forces Grace's car off the road and into the lake, and then someone sets fire to her cottage. Then Scott Sartyn ends up dead. And woven through the whole intricate web is the mystery concerning the soldier who was in possession of the Shelley-sonnet back in 1943. What happened to him? Did he desert? Was he - and the sonnet - blown to smithereens by a bomb while on leave? Did he really run away with his girlfriend's sister, or was someone else to blame for his disappearance? And for that matter, is the sonnet still around somewhere, and can Grace and Peter find it?

I quite enjoyed both 'High Rhymes and Misdemeanors' and 'Verse of the Vampyre', but I think 'Sonnet of the Sphinx' beats them both, hands down. Grace and Peter's relationship moves forward by leaps and bounds; they seem more comfortable together now, than what they did in the previous book. The plot is nice and tight, with enough surprises to keep the reader reading long after she should turn out the light and go to sleep. And while I thought for a moment, at one point, "I wonder if this person had something to do with it...?", I'd forgotten all about it by the time I got to the end. And best of all, all my questions about Istanbul were answered, and enough loose ends left dangling to make for a few more books. My only gripe is that this time, there's no excerpt to whet my appetite for the next installment, when, surely, the cursed Serpent's Egg diamond will once again resurface, to tempt Peter off the straight and narrow...

Oh, no! Here we go again!

If three's a charm, then Diana Killian's third installment in the Poetic Death Series, Sonnet of the Sphinx, is just that.... A charm!

While sorting through some old books and papers at Rogue's Gallery, Grace stumbles upon an old love letter written in 1943 by a man named John Mallow. The letter hints of an unknown sonnet by poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. Realizing the significance of this find, Grace attempts to share her enthusiasm with Peter, who only wishes to tease and poke fun. During some light hearted banter between the two, a ghost from Peter's past enters the gallery and immediately the mood is changed. The mysterious stranger is Hayri Kayaci, a policeman from the Turkish prison where Peter had spent some time. He has come to claim something he feels Peter owes him and if he doesn't get it, he's going to extradite Peter back to Turkey. Grace fearing for Peter, tries to come up with a plan to help him but Peter assures her that it will be taken care of. A few days later, Kayaci turns up dead with Grace and Peter becoming the prime suspects. Thus begins this fast paced mystery, complete with shadowy figures in the night, some very amusing and colorful characters, death threats on Grace's life, cover ups, a relentless detective determined to pin the murder of Kayaci on Peter, some surprising discoveries, a little romance and an ending that will shock you! Sonnet of the Sphinx is jam packed with heart pounding action and nail biting suspense! Hang onto your book and get ready for the ride of your life!

The dialog is witty and fun. The events may seem far-fetched and out of the ordinary but if the book was ordinary, it wouldn't be worth reading. Ms. Killian is an accomplished story teller with a knack for wit and creativity when describing a feeling or situation. From the very first page of the prologue, Ms. Killian's descriptive style starts working its magic. Describing the storm that will soon claim Shelley's life, she writes, "The young man raked fingers through the golden hair that was perpetually in his eyes, then turned his attention once more to the book of Keats's poetry. The boat creaked, the sails whispering to each other. The storm that whipped up off the black-glass ocean was like an enchanted thing, so sudden, so parlous. The pages in the book flapped like chattering paper teeth." Explaining the thoughts running through Grace's head regarding the possibility of discovering an unknown work by Shelley, she states, "Grace's brain continued to spin sweet airy fantasy as though someone had left a cotton candy machine on overdrive." While detailing Grace's constant battle to fight the urge to pry into Peter's mysterious past, she says, "Peter's mysterious history acted upon her the way an unopened jigsaw tempted a puzzle addict."

The writer's descriptive style and imagination brings this book to life. It sparks our own imagination, inviting us into the story and encouraging us to experience it for ourselves. We become the unseen sidekick tagging along after Grace, helping to solve the mystery. We are sitting with her in the garden mulling over the events of the day before. Our senses come to life and we can smell the flower's sweet fragrance, hear the buzzing of the bees and feel the warmth of the sunlight on our face. We are the fly on the wall, listening to every conversation and witnessing the intimate moments between Grace and Peter. Our heart beats frantically as we feel our way through the darkness with Grace and Peter, trying desperately to elude the dark figure trying to kill us. For a brief moment we are transformed from our dull everyday life to an exciting adventure of intrigue and mystery. Ms. Killian has given us a wonderful gift. It is the opportunity to live out our own fancy through her book. When the last page is turned and the book closes and we are again back in the real world, there is a sadness and a yearning for another wonderfully exciting adventure and book four.

Sonnet of the Sphinx is a book that can stand on its own merits but should you want the full experience, my suggestion is to start at the beginning with the first two books of the Series, High Rhymes and Misdemeanors and Verse of the Vampyre. All are equally enjoyable and fun to read!

Rogue's Gallery has just bought a farmhouse full of antiques. While Grace and Peter are sorting through the items, Grace stumbles on a letter referring to a previously undiscovered sonnet by Percy Shelley. Naturally, this peaks Grace's interest. Unfortunately, the letter was written during World War II, and the writer disappeared right after writing it. Further complicating the search, the antiques' owner demands them back because he didn't intend to sell them.

As if that weren't enough, Peter's past comes walking right into Rogue's Gallery. Hayri Kayaci was a guard in the Turkish prison where Peter spent some time. Now he's back, demanding an item Peter doesn't know how to locate and threatening to use the extradition papers he brought with him if Peter doesn't cooperate.

When Hayri is found murdered after a concert at the local park, Grace's relief for Peter is short lived. They are the top suspects in the case, and the new inspector in the village won't leave them alone. Meanwhile, Grace is hot on the trail of the missing sonnet, or at least piecing together the life of the man who discovered it sixty years before. If she can just figure out who is trying to kill her, life could be perfect.

Fans of the series will enjoy the latest entry. This story has several different mysteries tangled together, the sonnet, the murder, and the letter writer's disappearance. We even get a little more about Peter's past. The story is ultimately satisfying, but the pace is slightly off, slowing down at times in the middle. Overall, this is a minor complaint.

The characters continue to grow. The cautious, predictable Grace of book one is gone, and there are several times she does things I wouldn't have expected her to do, yet perfectly fit who she is becoming. On the other hand, Peter is becoming more cautious about life. These two are great for each other, and it's fun watching their relationship continue to evolve and grow.

Several characters from the previous entries make appearances, and new characters grace the page. They are all sharply drawn and memorable.

One of the charms of the book is the setting. I hadn't heard of the Lake District in England before starting this series, but Diana Killian makes the area come to life. Despite the murders, she makes it so inviting I would love to visit it some day.

If you enjoy the Romantic poets, this is a series not to be missed. Don't let the subject turn you away, however. These are great tales that will appeal to anyone.

The Poetic Death Mysteries have become quite a lot of fun for me to read. The characters of Peter and Grace are wonderful as they solve mysteries and discover things about each other. It's a witty series and I hope there will be a 4th. book.

Diana Killian is a thoughtful writer, and SONNET OF
THE SPHINX is just my cup of tea. It's funny. It's a
good story. The writing is lovely. I like the
protagonist, Grace Hollister, an American literary scholar
sojourning in England's Lake District. I like
her romantic interest, Peter Fox, who plays the good
guy/bad guy role that Cary Grant perfected in
movies like "To Catch a Thief."

In this third book of Killian's Poetic Death
series, Grace is enjoying her 15 minutes of fame after
writing a book about the search for a lost work by Lord
Byron. She's to be guest speaker at an annual Romantic
literature conference. She's still working at
Rogue's Gallery with Peter, jewel thief turned antiques
dealer.

If there are small clouds on her horizon they
are a touch of homesickness and a growing uneasiness
about her relationship, or lack thereof, with Peter.

Peter has bought the contents of a 17th century
farmhouse from the new owner, a wealthy Japanese
collector named Matsukado. When Peter and Grace
begin sorting through the packing boxes, she finds an
old letter referring to "Shiloh's poesy." It's
addressed to "Dearest Girl" and signed "John."

It's a riddle Grace can't resist, especially
since "Shiloh" was Lord Byron's nickname for Shelley,
and "the witch Posey" appears in Shelley's poetry.
So who was John and why was the letter hidden in an old
musical brochure?

Almost before she finishes reading the letter,
however, Matsukado's chauffeur, who may or may
not be a ninja, shows up with news that Matsukado wants
his goods back, and is willing to swap valuable
Asian art for the packing boxes and all their contents.
The plot begins to thicken.

Killian touches all the bases in this tale of a
lost poem and stolen antiquities. The characters,
along with the usual village eccentrics, include a
disagreeable detective inspector, a librarian
from hell, and a disgraced Turkish prison guard who's
looking for a legendary diamond known as The
Serpent's Egg.

While Peter has unexpected problems of his own
to deal with, Grace's pursuit of a lost Shelley sonnet
takes her into an abandoned estate, along a deadly
mountain road, and into various other dark and dangerous
places. More than once she's lucky to get out alive.

Her relationship with Peter takes an interesting
turn, and the epilogue is a perfect touch.

At Rogue's Gallery, American visitor Grace Hollister looks through papers delivered a couple of weeks ago from Mallow's seventeenth century farmhouse in England's Lake District when she locates an interesting gem. The Los Angeles English literature teacher and romantic poet scholar uncovers a World War II love letter that hints at the existence of a previously unknown Percy Byshe Shelley's sonnet, "Sate the Sphinx."; if true the excited Grace feels they will have hit mother lode.

Her lover retired jewel thief Peter Fox agrees to help her follow the "clue". However, before they can get started, Peter's enemy Kayaci, a Turk from his previous illegal profession, threatens Grace and him. Soon attempts on her life occur, but Grace is not quite as confident as Peter that the Turk is behind them; she wonders whether others, aware of at least one major weird hieroglyphic clue, interested in finding the Shelley sonnet might want to eliminate the competition.

The latest Poetic Death amateur sleuth tale is a delightful cozy that centers on whether an unknown Shelley sonnet existed fifty years ago and if so could it be found if it still survives. Grace is terrific as her enthusiasm for the romantric poets propel her accompanied by a doubting Peter to follow the clues. Several late twists add to a fun tale as the audience will wonder what the dynamic duo will find at the end of the journey; that is if they survive the quest.

Harriet Klausner

First Sentence: All week the priests and religiosi wound up and down the baked streets, praying for rain.

Grace Hollister is an American literature teacher with a love for the Romantic Poets. Peter Fox is an ex-jewel thief who is now an antiques dealer. They live in a small town within England's Lake District.

Peter bought the contents of an old farmhouse and, going through them, they find an old letter which refers to a lost sonnet by Shelly. However, they are interrupted by a threatening visit from a man who knew Peter when he was imprisoned in Turkey. When the man is found dead, Peter is a suspect. But who is trying to kill Grace?

I've not read this author before and was concerned she might be too cozy for my taste. I'm happy to say I was wrong.

There are wonderfully evocative descriptions that both add to the appeal of the location and to the suspense of the story. Both the outdoor and the indoor locations come to life.

I enjoy the author's voice. There is wonderful, subtle humor, appreciated that a character realized the coincidence of an event and enjoyed her analogies: "Grace's brain continued to spin sweet airy fantasy as though someone had left a cotton candy machine on overdrive."

Grace is a character with whom I could identify on many levels. She may get herself into situations, but it never feels as though she is too stupid to live. She keeps her head and gets herself out of danger, never expecting someone to come to her rescue. Peter is intriguing and someone about whom I want to know more, but it is always grace in the lead of the story.

The plot was good, but not perfect. There were hints to events in previous books which became annoying as no background information was provided. Although there seemed to be several threads, they were all tied up at the end and I certainly never identified the killer.

With the combination of a strong sense of place, excellent dialogue, great characters, literary information, good suspense, and unexpected killer and a wonderful ending, I so enjoyed the book, I've ordered the others in the series so I may start at the beginning.

SONNET OF THE SPHINX (Ama Sleuth-Grace Hollister/Peter Fox-England-Cont) - VG
Killian, Diana - 3rd in series
Pocket, 2006, US Paperback - ISBN: 0743466802

A book you will want to read more than once. A finely crafted English mystery with a hint of Agatha Christie influence. Instead of just a place you've heard about in relation to the famous poets of the age of Byron and Shelley, talented author Diana Killian brings them to life, peopled with characters who step off the page to take you by the hand and lead you into intrigue and murder.

An American teacher, Grace Hollister, has taken up residence in England, remaining because she needs to define her feelings for Peter Fox, ex-thief, who now owns an antiques shop. It is through his purchase of the contents of a house that Grace becomes involved in murder while hunting for a lost Shelley poem.

The search takes Grace to old manor homes, the local library, and the home of a wealthy Japanese businessman who is also in search of the poem. While the search goes on, a nasty Turkish ex-prison guard turns up in Peter's shop and threatens Peter. Later he is found dead and Grace is accused of murder by the new librarian.

Attempts on Grace's life throw suspicion on Peter and even she has doubts. Could he be responsible? Why? Or could it be related to the lost poem?

Join Grace as she tries to unravel her mixed feelings for Peter and discover the lost poem if it actually exists. A fun read meant for a dark and stormy night and a bright fire with a cozy chair beside it.

Enjoy. I sure did.

Grace Hollister is still staying in the Lake District. She has just sold her first book, and is enjoying her time with the charming antiques dealer and ex-jewel thief Peter Fox.

Peter recently acquired all the antique furnishings and papers from an old farmhouse. They begin to sort everything out. Grace discovers an old letter that refers to a Shelley sonnet, "Sate the Sphinx" that has never been published and is now lost. The writer appears to have disappeared during World War II not long after writing it. Unfortunately before they can sort the rest of the papers, boxes and boxes of papers, to try to find the sonnet, everything is purchased back by the current owner.

Hayri Kayaci was a guard in the Turkish prison Peter served some time in. He shows up at Rogue's Gallery (Peter's gallery). He demands the return of an item that Peter has no idea how to obtain. He threatens to extradite Peter if he doesn't cooperate.

Soon after that, Hayri is found murdered. Peter is the prime suspect. Grace is conflicted on whether she thinks Peter did it.

In the meantime, she is hot on the trail of the sonnet. She is trying to piece together the life of the man who discovered it and wrote about it.

Can she find the sonnet and evade the person trying to kill her? Will she be able to figure out who is the murderer?

I really like Grace and Peter. They are such fun characters. The Lake District setting really adds to the story.

I was sad to learn that this is the last in this series at this time. I hope the author is able to locate a new publisher fast so that we can have many more adventures with Grace and Peter.

I highly recommend this book.

This book was a good read with engaging characters plus an interesting mystery about a Shelley sonnet. The setting in the Lake District was fun to read about as well. I loved all the lore about the Romantic poets and the quotes. I enjoyed this book so much that I quickly read the first two in the series. Now I'm waiting impatiently for the fourth.