Carol Seddon is a new trustee for Brackets, former home of somewhat second-string 20th century author Esmond Chadleigh, most famous for the lament he wrote about his brother's death in WWI and his own happy family life. Then a body at least 50 years buried shows up in the former kitchen gardens, touching off a series of incidents all connected to the truth about the Chadleighs, and those who depend on the Chadleighs' reputation.I liked the setup of this mystery (well, it's a British country house, so of course I liked it), and I liked the connection between past and present, and the role that research plays in solving it (I am a librarian, after all). However, I knew whose the body was pretty much as soon as it was discovered, and I figured out the mystery of the death pretty early on, too. I also knew exactly what would happen when Carol discovered a certain part of the house, and I was right. I like a bit more surprise in my mysteries. I also don't really like the author's overt cynicism about people, institutions, government, etc. Some of it is fine and well-deserved, but I want to like at least some of the characters, or why bother reading the book? Carol is prickly and irritating a lot of the time, and I don't really enjoy spending time with her.
I always enjoyed the Charles Paris stories and thought I'd try this from the Fethering series. I will probably read more of these, simply because they're easy and I only yelled at the book once: when the heroine finds the secret priest hole and ventures down it without a "lifeline" (someone who knows where she is, a weapon, a functioning cell phone, enough food for a week - that sort of thing) and then, when not just one but two suspects show up, are annoyed to find her, and have with them someo
What do You think about Murder In The Museum (2004)?
The downside of this book was all the typical BORING boardroom meeting rhetoric (disagreements / powerplay among members, fundraising, sponsors, etc.) that the main storyline revolves around. How can any of these dynamics create an enjoyable page-turner? There were also major editing oversights in the book. A board of trustees manages Bracketts, the Elizabethan house of a celebrated writer, Esmond Chadleigh. Throughout the book, Felix is Esmond's father, except in Chapter 13 where Gerard is Esmond's father. Throughout the book, Belinda is Esmond's daughter, except in Chapter 34 where Belinda is Esmond's sister. On the positive side of this book, the author Simon Brett did a great job portraying the characterization differences between the strait-laced Carole and her laid-back, serene next-door neighbor, Jude.
—F
Murder in the Museum contributed more to the relationship between Jude and Carole than it did to the mystery. In its own way, that was good. The murder, though, was unsensational. I couldn't have cared less about the age old body in the garden or about the second murder. It just went flat about mid-way through the story. However, I felt that with this book, Carole is beginning to understand or perhaps appreciate Jude more, and maybe Jude is now willing to open up to Carole. I continue to enjoy this series, as it offers a genuine friendship between two characters that is interesting and that grows.
—Yeva
