8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Pure pleasure --, March 12, 2001
Margot Arnold, where have you been all my reading life? How does it happen I'd never even heard of you until a month or so ago, when I've been devouring mysteries (especially well-written, intelligently-plotted ones) for some forty years now? (Oops, probably shouldn't have said that, but--it's only too true, so why not?)
My first acquaintance with Penny and Toby was in 'Lament for a Lady Laird'--the title having caught the eye of this devoted Anglophile. I was immediately caught up in the adventure of Dr. Penny Spring, an anthropologist, and Dr. Tobias Glendower, archeologist. One is almost tempted to add the word 'extraordinaire' after each occupational designation, for such they are.
Penny, an American occupied at Oxford as a teacher, is a widow of perhaps 50-something, with a 30 year-old son, Alex, who is scheduled to join her for a holiday in her adopted country, now that he's a full-fledged medical doctor, about to take up his practice in New York City.
Before his arrival, however, she is queried for the whereabouts of her fellow teacher, Toby. Scotland Yard is most desirous of his presence, immediately if not sooner, because of a murder at the Brighton Pavillion, during a reception for the visiting troupe of Russian ballet stars. The suspected ballerina, Sonya Danarova, will speak ONLY to Sir Tobias, which has quite flummoxed Inspector Grey, the man in charge.
Toby, in a blue funk, as happens not infrequently, is off in Wales, excavating a cave, known locally and elsewhere as Toby's Folly, a location as secretive and nearly inaccessible as the moon. Eventually, he is found, and prevailed upon to return to England and in Brighton, finally, meets up with Sonya, who is the daughter he never knew he had.
Although no year is mentioned, if Sonya is in her late twenties, and Toby was last in Russia in the late 50s, then this story quite obviously takes place in the mid to late 1980s, when spies and espionage were still very much a part of every day life.
The characterizations are wonderfully realized, every one of them unique. The plot is perfectly sensible, and the writing will blow you away. Entirely. Although I've only read two of these books--so far--I wasn't thrown off pace or made to feel I'd missed anything by not reading the stories in order. I can guarantee it won't be long before I visit once again with Penny and Toby and share another of their adventures. What a treat to find an intelligent couple of a certain age, who have a wonderful working relationship, get along well together, and who also function well when they're apart. They are, moreover, a straight couple who have apparently never had the slightest inclination to fall into bed together. Extraordinaire, indeed!
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