Reviews

Styx and Stones by Carola Dunn

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iskanderjonesiv's review against another edition

In the 1920's, in post-WWI England, the Honourable Daisy Dalrymple, newly married to Detective Inspector Alec Fletcher, is asked by her brother-in-law to discreetly investigate a series of poisoned pen letters that many of the local villagers have been receiving. When the pompous and unbearable brother of the local vicar is killed by a very large rock dropped on his head from a great height, it seems clear to all that this campaign of gossip has escalated to murder. With the help of her husband, who'd rather she not get involved in murder, Daisy undertakes to uncover the identity of the viper in the local nest is and who that person has driven to murder before the murderer strikes a second time.

From Library Journal

At her brother's behest, series sleuth Daisy Dalrymple investigates a series of poison-pen letters that result in murder in a 1923 English village. A pleasant historical.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

So-so eighth in a series set in the early 1920s, dealing with the misadventures and triumphs of the Honorable Daisy Dalrymple, part-time writer and full-time snoop, the latter an activity bemoaned by her fianc, Scotland Yard's D.C.I. Alec Fletcher. Daisy's worried brother-in-law Lord John Frobisher has come to London from Kent to have lunch with Daisy and to tell her about the unsigned poison-pen, obscenely worded letters he's been getting. They accuse him of having an affair with youngish widow Mrs. LeBeau in the village of Rotherden. Its true, unfortunately, though over now, but Daisy decides to pay a visit to her sister Violeto explore the territory and see whether any other villagers are victims of the poison pen. She finds a score of them, including the postmistress, Mrs. Burden; retired Brigadier Lomax; local Dr. Padgett; and mechanic Sam Basin. The Vicar, Reverend Osborne, has an atheist brother, a professor who's anathema to the Vicar's wife, and, it emerges, the Vicar has his own sin to hide. Daisy, asked to address the Women's Institute at the church hall, is on her way to do so, walking through the churchyard, when she spots a body pinned under a large stone angelwhich has obviously pushed or fallen from its stand. The victim is the Vicar's brother, and Daisy, true to form, is soon in the middle of the investigation. The answers, when they come, are hardly believable, even as the characters and events seem contrived most of the time. Only Dunn's most devoted fans will relish this tepid tale. -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

inkedmusingshi's review against another edition

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4.0

I tried reading Rattle the Bones but couldn't get beyond 10 pages. I picked up Styx and Stones in a last ditch attempt of reading a Daisy Dalrymple mystery. Daisy is not the perfect detective but armed with enough wits, common sense not to mention her guile-less blue eyes, Daisy helps her fiance Alec Fletcher and detective inspector Flagg close an otherwise baffling case with ease.

rebeccabadger's review against another edition

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adventurous lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

gray5217's review against another edition

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adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

debdeb's review against another edition

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adventurous lighthearted mysterious

3.75

coffee_and_chapters's review against another edition

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mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? N/A
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.0

Another great adventure with Daisy Dalrymple.

laurenjodi's review against another edition

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2.0

Styx and Stones
2 Stars

Daisy's brother-in-law, Lord John Frobisher, has been receiving nasty poison pen letters and requests Daisy's help in unmasking the writer.

Unfortunately, this series is losing steam.

The portrayal of the small English village filled with dark secrets, and petty squabbles is atmospheric and reminiscent of Agatha Christie and Midsomer Murders. Nevertheless, this cannot compensate for the lack of character development and the humdrum mystery.

The identity of the letter writer is easy to figure out primarily due to the prologue, but their motivations does not really make much sense. Why would a

Spoiler

man who has lost his faith in God turn on his friends and neighbors with such viciousness?

. Moreover, the revelation of the killer's identity is very stereotypical and clichéd.

Since the next installment has a new narrator, thankfully as Mia Chiaromonte is simply appalling, I will be giving the series one more try. If it does not improve, it will be quits for me.