Dorothy Martin, an American widow living in the English town of Sherebury, stumbles upon the body of an unpopular cleric, and she turns her talents to amateur sleuthing. By the author of The Body in the Town Hall. Reprint.
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From Publishers Weekly
Drawing on American sensibilities and English tradition, Dams's debut introduces widowed American sleuth Dorothy Martin, who will delight lovers of cozies set on both sides of the Atlantic. Dorothy has moved to the fictional university/ cathedral town of Sherebury, where she and her academic husband had planned to retire before his unexpected demise. After the Christmas Eve service in the Cathedral, Dorothy stumbles over the body of Canon Billings. Once she recovers her equilibrium, she finds herself feeling involved in the case and curious about the unpleasant but learned Canon, who had made more enemies than friends. He had recently argued vehemently with his young, hot-headed assistant in the library, had tried to get the choirmaster fired and was gathering evidence against the verger who was stealing from the collection plate. Dorothy charmingly insinuates herself into village life in the best Miss Marple tradition, talking to neighbors and befriending others (including widower Chief Constable Alan Nesbitt) and determinedly pursuing the killer even as she puts herself in danger. With her penchant for colorful hats, Dorothy establishes herself as a fresh, commanding?and always genteel?presence among female elder-sleuths of the '90s.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Library Journal
This offering from newcomer Dams gleams with all the polish of a quaint English-village mystery. American widow Dorothy Martin, sixtyish and plump, inhabits a picturesque Jacobean house in Sherebury. Feeling low, she attends Christmas Eve services at a nearby cathedral and afterwards trips over the bloody body of a clergyman. Unable to put the matter out of her mind, and in need of something to do, she begins sleuthing. Nicely described small-town antics, a cleverly concocted plot, and a charmingly competent heroine. Recommended.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
By Mark Baker
Format:Mass Market Paperback
It's Christmas Eve in the small town of Sherebury. Dorothy Martin, a recently widowed American, is looking forward to her first Christmas as a resident of England. But when leaving the cathedral's midnight mass, she literally stumbles over a body. Soon the questions are flying. Who killed Canon Billings? Since the list of suspects includes most of the town, more importantly why? Dorothy has her hands full trying to figure this one out.
I was drawn in by the charm of this book. It starts out rather quickly and the pace never lags until the gripping conclusion. Dorothy is an interesting main character. I felt her interest in the murder was a little under explained, but I was willing to let that go. I really enjoyed the writing style. The first person narration felt like a letter to a friend and the scenes where Dorothy argued with her self were funny because they were so true.
Having already discovered this author's other series, I now look forward to reading more in this one as well. She is a truly talented mystery author.
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Dorothy Martin and her husband had planned to move to England when they retired. When he died she decided to go ahead with their plan. She moves to Sherebury England where she starts to put the pieces of her life back together. Because this is a murder mystery she promptly stumbles over the body of Jonathan Billings. To the dismay of her new friend, Chief Constable Alan Nesbitt, she starts to investigate and as she gets closer to the solution the danger increases. A charming cozy with a main character whose affinity for hats rivals Dorothy Gilman's Mrs. Pollifax.
By A Customer
Format:Mass Market Paperback
This book is very hard to follow unless you are of the Catholic religion and know what all the technical terms mean. The author fails to make the fictional town of Sheresbury or it's inhabitants in any way appealing. And the author never makes quite clear why a widow of comfortable means would leave a perfectly lovely life in America for a cold, foggy, damp, cramped subsistance of a life in an unheated, unpleasant, unwelcoming house in England. If it's for the ambience, the author fails to provide any that make this setting attractive. The concept is good, the writing bad.
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4.1 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Winner! Miss Marple, move over!
This is a delightful first novel and for those of us who are sick onto death of mystery and crime novels that portray sickenly graphic violence, Ms. Read more
Published on July 18 1999 by Joan David
5.0 out of 5 stars
A cozy, engaging, enjoyable story
I enjoyed this book from page one. Dorothy Martin is an extremely likable heroine. The plot was interesting and the interaction between the characters was realistic and believable. Read more
Published on Jun 28 1999
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Body in the Transept and a 'cuppa' - a great combo
The Body in the Transept was fun and satisfying. Here's an American lady leading the life of my dreams - retirement in England in a cozy little English cottage with a cat and an... Read more
Published on Jan 4 1998 by "pltr"
5.0 out of 5 stars
A must read for fans of classic British Mystery
I fell in love with Dorothy Martin right off the bat. Dams has managed to create a character to equal those penned by Agatha Christie, Dorothy Gillman, Marian Babson, and Charlotte... Read more
Published on Sep 3 1997
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