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3.37 AVERAGE
3.37 AVERAGE
Really awful. Lasted about an hour and gave up. The story was incredibly slow and the characters were 1-dimensional. Too many books on my list to waste time on ones that are boring.
An interesting character study. Perfect for listening to in the car.
This is a very comforting and slightly old fashioned whodunnit set in the gentile town of Fethering. It draws from the tradition of Miss Marple by putting two oddly matched older ladies in the role of sleuths. One lady is prim and proper, while the other one is a bit of a free spirit. Together, they solve the mystery of a body that gets washed up on the beach of Fethering, only to disappear shortly after. The word that I mostly associate with this book is “comforting”. It has enough intrigue to keep the reader turning the pages, but all threats are quite tame and a good outcome seems certain at all times. If you look for a book to read while nodding off on a cold winter evening or to read while sinking into a warm bubble bath, this is book is perfect. If you are looking for something that will keep you at the edge of your seat, exposes you to the darkest recesses of the human mind, or provides you with a new vista of modern society, it might not be the right book for you.
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A new series, this is about a retired civil servant set on being practical & sensible, in the extreme, who discovers the body of the title, only to have it disappear. The police clearly think she's "hormonal," and only her new and faintly bohemian neighbor seems to believe her. What follows is Carole's coming out of her shell, throwing caution to the breeze (not the wind, not quite), and working with Jude (the neighbor) to solve the mystery. Pretty good plot, though I knew whose body it was pretty early on.
The Body on the Beach by Simon Brett is a 2000 Berkley publication.
This is the first in book in the long running ‘Fethering’ Mystery series.
Carole is walking her dog when she discovers a dead body on the beach. After reporting the crime, Carole is furious at the way she was treated by the police. She is also out of sorts because of her new neighbor, Jude. Carole likes her quiet, ordered life and Jude’s presence is bound to be a disruption.
But, much to her surprise, Carole finds herself intrigued by Jude, and discovers she is easy to confide in, although Jude doesn’t really reciprocate in the way Carole would like. The pair decides to investigate the suspicious death on their own, and discover they have a knack for detective work.
The village and all the quirky characters from the local pub add drama, humor, and excitement to the story as the mystery deepens once the ladies uncover more information. They eventually link together a rather complex set of circumstances, and slowly narrow down the suspects in a most disorganized, but effective manner.
This series came to my attention through Netgalley and Berkley publishing. I did not realize, when I was approved for 'The Liar in the Library', that it was part of a very long running series. So, before I tackled a book that deep into the thick of things, I decided to at least read the first few books in the series to get a better feel for the characters. I’m glad I decided to do that, since I have the distinct impression many the characters introduced here will become recurring ones and will develop more fully as the series continues.
As with most ‘first in a series’ mysteries, a lot of time is spent on time and place, and with the introduction of characters. The author created a nice, rich atmosphere in Feathering. It feels like an ideal backdrop for these characters. It’s a charming seaside village, but apparently it harbors a great many secrets and a bit of a sinister undertone.
Carole is an introverted type, while Jude is more gregarious. Jude remains a bit of an enigma, while Carole becomes more sociable. They certainly make an odd duo, but it works.
The mystery plot is a tad busy and messy, but it was the first case for these amateur detectives so I’m sure as they gain more experience they will get much better at playing detectives.
Overall, a solid beginning of the series and I look forward to visiting the quaint village of Feathering again soon.
3.5 rounded up.
This is the first in book in the long running ‘Fethering’ Mystery series.
Carole is walking her dog when she discovers a dead body on the beach. After reporting the crime, Carole is furious at the way she was treated by the police. She is also out of sorts because of her new neighbor, Jude. Carole likes her quiet, ordered life and Jude’s presence is bound to be a disruption.
But, much to her surprise, Carole finds herself intrigued by Jude, and discovers she is easy to confide in, although Jude doesn’t really reciprocate in the way Carole would like. The pair decides to investigate the suspicious death on their own, and discover they have a knack for detective work.
The village and all the quirky characters from the local pub add drama, humor, and excitement to the story as the mystery deepens once the ladies uncover more information. They eventually link together a rather complex set of circumstances, and slowly narrow down the suspects in a most disorganized, but effective manner.
This series came to my attention through Netgalley and Berkley publishing. I did not realize, when I was approved for 'The Liar in the Library', that it was part of a very long running series. So, before I tackled a book that deep into the thick of things, I decided to at least read the first few books in the series to get a better feel for the characters. I’m glad I decided to do that, since I have the distinct impression many the characters introduced here will become recurring ones and will develop more fully as the series continues.
As with most ‘first in a series’ mysteries, a lot of time is spent on time and place, and with the introduction of characters. The author created a nice, rich atmosphere in Feathering. It feels like an ideal backdrop for these characters. It’s a charming seaside village, but apparently it harbors a great many secrets and a bit of a sinister undertone.
Carole is an introverted type, while Jude is more gregarious. Jude remains a bit of an enigma, while Carole becomes more sociable. They certainly make an odd duo, but it works.
The mystery plot is a tad busy and messy, but it was the first case for these amateur detectives so I’m sure as they gain more experience they will get much better at playing detectives.
Overall, a solid beginning of the series and I look forward to visiting the quaint village of Feathering again soon.
3.5 rounded up.
I was in the mood for a cozy and I might have enjoyed this one much more if I could find a narrator other than the unbelievably annoyingly over-emoting Geoffrey Howard. What a way to ruin a book!
The first of Brett’s Fethering mysteries, this is a fun cozy mystery set in a smallish coastal town in the South of England. The two main characters become amateur sleuths as they investigate a body that one of them found on the beach.