Nice Derangement Of Epitaphs [Paperback]

An old mystery is used to confuse the evidence in a new crime, and when it is all sorted out we are left with three human tragedies. One of the author's most endearing traits is that her victims are never cardboard cutouts; they are as real as any of the living characters, and their loss directly impacts the people around them. At the very least: a good read.

This entry in the George Felse series is well-worth a read. In it we see the Felse family on vacation at the seaside. The action of the book takes place over a six day period, but in that time they find evidence of smuggling, a missing body in a family crypt and two murders. (one from about 3 years ago and one most recent). The weird thing about these two murder victims is that their bodies are found in an old family crypt in a stone coffin that is actually minus the original body that was supposed to be there. It's a nice little puzzler that has two or three plot strands running through it. These separate strands do meet up together in the end though, and the mysteries are solved. Great story.

Best known for her "Brother Cadfael" series, Ellis Peters (1913-1985) was also the author of thirteen novels featuring Inspector George Felse. Published in 1965, A NICE DERANGEMENT OF EPITAPHS is the fourth novel in that series. Like most of Peters' work, it is a lightly written, enjoyable read.

The story itself finds Inspector Felse, his wife Bunty, and their just-adult son Dominic on a seaside vacation--where they encounter Simon Towne, well known author and lecturer. Towne is present to open the tomb of Jan Treverra, a locally legendary figure who died in the late 1700s and whose crypt may include important writings. But when the Treverra vault is opened, Towne and his assistants find more bodies than they expect.

Peters often elected to work with highly contrived plots, and this is particularly true of EPITAPHS. At one point, Peters has one of her characters comment that the twists and turns of the case are so ridiculous that not even a novelist could get away with them! And it is true that most readers will see each major plot device in the offing long before it appears on the page. When the author writes more for amusement than mystery, this is not necessarily a bad thing, and Peters handles the most blatant aspects of her plot with considerable humor.

Unfortunately, however, the plot is not only contrived: it is extremely transparent. Any mystery reader worth the name will probably spot the killer by the fourth chapter because of the manner in which Peters sets up her tale. Although it is a quick, amusing, and painless read, this is really one of Peters' weaker efforts. Fans will enjoy it, but few will put it on the "must keep" shelf of their bookcase.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer