Untimely Guest [Unabridged, Audiobook] [Audio Cassette]

Marian Babson (Author), Kate Binchy (Narrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 1995

Eleanor is not pleased when she learns that her prim sister-in-law is to stay with her, as well as another divorcee sister. So the grim old matriarch starts scheming against them.

Editorial Reviews

From AudioFile

Kate Binchy never disappoints, but in this she's at her personal best. A huge Irish-Catholic family is slowly intermarrying with Protestants, but is this reason for murder? Babson's story is packed with typical Irish views, accents, wit, blarney and philosophy. Binchy handles each character and situation splendidly. As the story moves from hilarity to horror, Binchy misses not a turn of phrase or a beat. In particular, she presents the children and the cat, Furface, splendidly. Never have asides or internal musings been more awesomely rendered. S.G.B. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Chivers Audio Books; Unabridged edition (August 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0745165249
• ISBN-13: 978-0745165240
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 6.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,198,169 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars just your average cozy with some added blarney, September 23, 2008

By 

Nancy O (hobe sound fl) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Untimely Guest (Mass Market Paperback)

England's convents are suffering from economic cutbacks like everyone else, and nuns are either being moved or sent home. It is this fact that brings Bridget (known as Bridie) home to her rather large Irish-Catholic family. However, no one's told her mother (known only as "Mam") yet that she's back; it seems that Mam has her hands full with daughter Dee-Dee, who's also returned to the fold. Dee-Dee has brought home her fiance, but living at Mam's house as a lodger is Dee-Dee's ex-husband, Terence. According to the Catholic Church, Dee-Dee and Terence are still married, so the other family members decide to keep the news of Bridie's return a secret for now, and she goes to stay with her brother Kevin and his family until such time as Kevin's sister Veronica (who is taking care of Mam) feels that Mam is strong enough to take the news. However, Bridie's presence is unsettling at best, and when she finally does go home to Mam, the result is murder.

On the surface, the mystery is okay, the characters are fun and are described well. However, there's way too much theologizing and pontificating on the Catholic Church which tends to divert the reader's attention. This I found really dull, even though the author tried to lighten things up.

It's a cozy-type mystery and it will definitely keep you reading until the end. I'd recommend it to people who've read some of Babson's books, and to people who like cozy mysteries. I'm not a huge cat-in-the-story kind of person, but I know those sell well so those readers may enjoy the book as well.