From Publishers Weekly
The impact of modern life on English villages is vividly captured in Granger's second murder mystery. British consular officer Meredith Mitchell rents isolated Rose Cottage in Pook's Common when she is posted back to England. Uneasily resuming her acquaintance with attractive local CID Chief Inspector Alan Markby (begun in Say It with Poison ), Meredith becomes friendly with neighbor equestrienne Harriet Needham. When Harriet dies from a fall during a Boxing Day meet, animal rights activist Simon Pardy is blamed because his banner spooked the steed. The autopsy, however, discloses that Harriet , known to have abjured drugs and medicines, died full of tranquilizers and alcohol. Alan draws Meredith into the investigation, which is complicated by the murder of the unlikable Pardy, an attack on Harriet's vengeance-seeking executor cousin and a plethora of the horsewoman's former lovers. As Meredith uncovers old local secrets, she also tries to sort out her highly ambiguous feelings for Alan. Granger delicately probes human relationships in this top-notch tale.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Granger has created a traditional English mystery (right down to the Boxing Day hunt) set in modern times. Judith Boyd meets the challenge admirably as she enlivens the gentry, cleaning lady, stable hands, and barroom brawlers. However, amatuer sleuth Meredith is her best creation with her sweet, emotive voice. Boyd even takes on a croaking sound after Meredith is choked as she and her friend Chief Inspector Markby encounter their culprit. Her narrative skill also keeps the relatively long text and heavily peopled story on track. An excellent choice for those who like their murder mysteries nice and cozy. S.G.B. © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine--
Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
