The Murder Hole (Five Star Mystery Series) (Hardcover)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Book 2 of the Jean Fairbairn/Alasdair Cameron series: America's exile and Scotland's finest on the trail of all-too-living legends. Cross-genre mysteries featuring Michael and Rebecca Campbell-Reid from Ashes to Ashes and Dust to Dust in cameo roles. Jean heads to Loch Ness on the trail of Ambrose MacKintosh, a disciple of self-styled black magician Aleister Crowley, who owned a house above the loch. Ambrose claimed Crowley called the monster, Nessie, from another dimension. But Ambrose himself more or less invented Nessie by publishing the first "sightings" in 1933-the same year his wife disappeared in mysterious circumstances. Soon after Jean's arrival, MacKintosh's daughter, Iris, an ardent environmentalist, is accused of causing the death of a member of an expedition searching for the monster. The expedition is headed by Roger Dempsey, an entrepreneur with a strong-willed wife-and a shady past of his own. When Alasdair appears to investigate the death, he and Jean not only have to work together again, but also pick up their reluctant relationship where they left it. A murder hole is the hole in the ceiling of a castle's entrance passage through which defenders could shoot at attackers. There are altogether too many murder holes, Jean tells herself, in the psychic passages of life. "The Murder Hole is...not a frothy mystery to gulp down in one sitting, it's a book to save for a lazy weekend or relaxing vacation when there's time to savor the complexities of the story and take in the scent and sense of Scotland. I don't mean to imply that The Murder Hole is a story readers will have to slog through. Not at all. The author has a wonderful sense of humor and gives us a story that moves right along and a heroine who doesn't take herself too seriously." -- Diana Vickery, The Cozy Library --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 419 pages
• Publisher: Five Star (ME) (August 2, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 159414480X
• ISBN-13: 978-1594144806
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.8 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,421,474 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars fun contemporary police procedural, August 24, 2006

By	Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews (#1 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Her partner at great Scot magazine Miranda Capaldi sends American Jean Fairborn to the Loch Ness area to cover the latest effort to prove whether the monster exists or not. The head of the Water Horse expedition is controversial American scientist Roger Dempsey, who insists his modern technology will answer the question and someone the legends reporter knows from back in the states.

Many locals oppose the intrusion. Some our of fear that Dr. Dempsey will prove no monster exists and hurt tourism, but environmental activist Iris Mackintosh has other concerns. Northern Constabulary Detective inspector Alasdair Cameron becomes involved when someone sends threatening letters warning Dempsey to stay away. He and Jean have a recent history (see THE SECRET PORTRAIT) so both have mixed feelings about their latest encounter. However, when a homicide tied to the ancient Pitclachic Stone disrupts the expedition, Alasdair makes sure Jean remains safe even as she dives into cold murky danger trying to solve several mysteries including a murder.

The sequel to the delightful THE SECRET PORTRAIT is a fun contemporary police procedural investigative tale with the emphasis on the reporter's inquiries. The story line cleverly combines Nellie, an ancient historical stone with a twentieth century history, a bit of romance and murderous mayhem into a fine tale starring a likable heroine. Readers will appreciate THE MURDER HOLE as Nellie is under investigation until a homicide interrupts the scientific study.

Harriet Klausner

4.0 out of 5 stars Murder Hole, July 15, 2008

By	Linda Sheean (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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The book has a rather complex plot which eventually explains itself a few pages from the end - a lot of Scots scenery and language, both very attractive, and the Sassenach journalist and the Scots Detective wending their way thru bad marital experiences with their former husband/wife to get a few inches further into a budding relationship. Convoluted but very readable book.
Linda Sheean