Why Shoot a Butler? (Paperback)

~ Georgette Heyer (Author)
Key Phrases: Sir Humphrey, Lady Matthews, Ivy Cottage (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

...[D]raws the readers into the upper class world of the English country house. (Marg Bates Reading Adventures )

Why Shoot a Butler? demonstrates once again the acclaimed Queen of Regency's deftness in juggling a large cast of well-defined characters and a tangled plot-web. (Theresa Ichino Bookloons.com )

The appeal of cozies has always included well-drawn characters as well as a crime-puzzle. As befits a writer justly renowned for characterization, Georgette Heyer delivers with a vengeance in Behold, Here's Poison. (Theresa Ichino Book Loons )

This was all I could have wanted in a mystery and... there was even a bit of romance. (Kristen Meston We Be Reading 20090601)

While many of the plot elements in Why Shoot a Butler? are familiar, Heyer's light, stylish touch makes them feel classic. (Word Candy 20090518)

[A] clever, witty romp, the whole upstairs/downstairs thing going on, with even a touch of a romance thrown in. (K. Fitzgerald A Lovely Shore Breeze 20090623)

[A] delightful and pleasant read with plenty of clever dialogue and witty humor... (Liliana Swistek Reading Extravaganza 20090527)

[A] witty and funny novel. (Grace Loiacano Grace's Book Blog 20090601)

[I]t's the characters that really shine. They're varied, interesting, and entertaining... I enjoyed every minute I spent reading the book. (Debbie White Genre Reviews 20090626)

Product Description

Every family has secrets, but the Fountains' are turning deadly…

On a dark night, along a lonely country road, barrister Frank Amberley stops to help a young lady in distress and discovers a sports car with a corpse behind the wheel. The girl protests her innocence, and Amberley believes her—at least until he gets drawn into the mystery and the clues incriminating Shirley Brown begin to add up…

In an English country-house murder mystery with a twist, it's the butler who's the victim, every clue complicates the puzzle, and the bumbling police are well-meaning but completely baffled. Fortunately, in ferreting out a desperate killer, amateur sleuth Amberley is as brilliant as he is arrogant, but this time he's not sure he wants to know the truth…

PRAISE FOR WHY SHOOT A BUTLER?

"If genteel mysteries are your cup of tea, you have here a steaming teapot just waiting to be poured."
Bestsellers

"Georgette Heyer is second to none."
Sunday Times

"Heyer is an author to read — this means you!"
New York Herald Tribune

"Sharp, clear, and witty"
New Yorker

(20090330)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark (April 7, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402217951
• ISBN-13: 978-1402217951
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #95,263 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars typical british manor house whodunit, August 1, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Why Shoot a Butler? (Hardcover)

A lot of fun, written tongue-in-cheak. Not the way most mysterys are done, but this one works. Cocky young barrister on his way to visit family finds a young woman standing next to car with a dead butler in it. The plot involves him solving the murder but only after he is begged by the local police. Good fun.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wh y Shoot a Butler- Why indeed?, December 9, 2001

By	Mathilda Clare (Bath) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Why Shoot A Butler (Paperback)

To find out, you'll just have to read the book! A typical Heyer, with a delicious hero, resourceful heroine, and an happily resolved ending, with a few murderous twists on the way. A must-read for any Heyer addicts.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very well-written whodunit, May 12, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Why Shoot a Butler? (Hardcover)

This suspenseful mystery is most enjoyable for its dialogue and character development, much like a Dorothy Sayers novel. The hero is a very realistic, dynamic young lawyer. He finds himself in love with an enigmatic young woman who is a central figure in very mysterious circumstances, including a murdered butler. The plot and pace of the book are excellent, as is the ending.