Helpful Score: 3
One of the original five Miss Seeton books actually written by Heron Carvic - so charming that publishers made numerous attempts to find a ghost-writer to continue the series, always under a nom-de-plume with initials of H.C., and all abysmally failing to copy Carvic's delightful writing style. Here is Miss Seeton's review of the opera Carmen which opens this first book in the series: "So colorful. Not romantic -- no, one couldn't call it that; if anything perhaps a trifle sordid. Carmen, herself, for instance, no better than she should be. In fact, if one were frank, worse. And the other girl, the young one; it was difficult to feel sorry for her. Her fiance, quite obsessed with his mother -- obviously weak and easily influenced -- would have made a most unsatisfactory husband in any case. Still, for him to stab Carmen at the end like that -- so unnecessary. Almost contrived. Though, of course, one must not forget that foreigners felt differently about these matters. One read that people abroad did frequently get emotional and kill each other. Probably the heat." After which rumination, Miss Seeton observes a girl being struck - stabbed, as it turns out - by a young man, and her indignation causes her to prod the young man in the back with her umbrella to remonstrate with him: a gentleman does not strike a lady. But the girl is not a lady, and Cesar Lebel is not a gentleman, but a pimp and a murderer - and now he's after Miss Seeton.
Classic English village eccentrics, county gentry, and British police. Gentle humor, unique and wonderful writing. A true delight - but ONLY those actually written by Heron Carvic: Picture Miss Seeton, Miss Seeton Sings, Witch Miss Seeton, Miss Seeton Draws The Line, and Odds On Miss Seeton. The others are pale and unsatisfying counterfeits.
Classic English village eccentrics, county gentry, and British police. Gentle humor, unique and wonderful writing. A true delight - but ONLY those actually written by Heron Carvic: Picture Miss Seeton, Miss Seeton Sings, Witch Miss Seeton, Miss Seeton Draws The Line, and Odds On Miss Seeton. The others are pale and unsatisfying counterfeits.
A quick cozy mystery full of humor and adventure. I really enjoyed Miss Seeton, she seemed to really get herself into a mess with her timing and of course, with her umbrella. I enjoyed the characters of this small country village. The mystery was well-developed, the story even paced and everything ended pretty clearly. My only big question was on the setting-when was this supposed to have taken place? In the 1960's? Today? It read as if it was a bit modernized-just enough to confuse me as to the time period. I would read another in this series.
Thank you Netgalley for this galley in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you Netgalley for this galley in exchange for an honest review.
When Miss Seeton walks out of a performance of Carmen and witnesses a real-life stabbing, who could guess that her drawing of the murderer would put her into a perilous position. She is the perfect eccentric English spinster.
Cathy C. (cathyskye) -
Having been recommended by someone whose opinion I trust, I was in the mood for something light and decided to try the first book in the Miss Seeton cozy series. I had no idea what I was getting myself into!
Delightful, charming, and hilarious are words that I seldom use, let alone throw around with abandon as I am doing now, but... I can't believe how much I enjoyed this book! If I didn't have any self-control, I'd be reading all the books in this series one right after the other like potato chips or cookies.
Miss Seeton is Miss Marple on laughing gas. She's a spryer Miss Marple, too, and you'll never believe the adventures she and her umbrella get into. To Scotland Yard's credit, Detective Chief Superintendent Delphick (known as The Oracle) knows that Miss Seeton's ability to identify the killer means her life could be in danger-- especially since they know who they're looking for: "...he had a nasty feeling that when she'd stuck her brolly into César Lebel, she'd stuck it into a hornet's nest." Fortunately for Miss Seeton, Delphick sees her for the astute person she is. Unfortunately, Detective Sergeant Ranger has the typical youth's opinion that she's merely a dotty old woman carrying a lethal umbrella-- but that opinion may change as the two police officers try their best to keep her alive.
Miss Seeton is about to retire, and she's inherited a nice little cottage down in a village in Kent. Wanting to try country life on for size, she moves in for a few weeks-- and she takes Delphick's murder investigation with her, little knowing how much difficulty the villagers are going to add. The people of Plummergen are a riot, even "the Nuts," Miss Nuttel and Mrs. Blaine, horrible gossips who are "the parish substitute for a Hollywood scandal sheet." As broad as the comedy may be, I'm from a small village and I recognized many of Plummergen's characters. (My village had its own version of the Nuts, among others.)
The killer tries time and again to do away with Miss Seeton. If you have a hard time understanding how murder attempts on a poor little old lady could be hilarious, all you have to do is read Picture Miss Seeton. I spent most of this book either smiling or laughing out loud. This book is light and fun and addictive. It's just what I needed, and I've decided: I. Need. More.
Delightful, charming, and hilarious are words that I seldom use, let alone throw around with abandon as I am doing now, but... I can't believe how much I enjoyed this book! If I didn't have any self-control, I'd be reading all the books in this series one right after the other like potato chips or cookies.
Miss Seeton is Miss Marple on laughing gas. She's a spryer Miss Marple, too, and you'll never believe the adventures she and her umbrella get into. To Scotland Yard's credit, Detective Chief Superintendent Delphick (known as The Oracle) knows that Miss Seeton's ability to identify the killer means her life could be in danger-- especially since they know who they're looking for: "...he had a nasty feeling that when she'd stuck her brolly into César Lebel, she'd stuck it into a hornet's nest." Fortunately for Miss Seeton, Delphick sees her for the astute person she is. Unfortunately, Detective Sergeant Ranger has the typical youth's opinion that she's merely a dotty old woman carrying a lethal umbrella-- but that opinion may change as the two police officers try their best to keep her alive.
Miss Seeton is about to retire, and she's inherited a nice little cottage down in a village in Kent. Wanting to try country life on for size, she moves in for a few weeks-- and she takes Delphick's murder investigation with her, little knowing how much difficulty the villagers are going to add. The people of Plummergen are a riot, even "the Nuts," Miss Nuttel and Mrs. Blaine, horrible gossips who are "the parish substitute for a Hollywood scandal sheet." As broad as the comedy may be, I'm from a small village and I recognized many of Plummergen's characters. (My village had its own version of the Nuts, among others.)
The killer tries time and again to do away with Miss Seeton. If you have a hard time understanding how murder attempts on a poor little old lady could be hilarious, all you have to do is read Picture Miss Seeton. I spent most of this book either smiling or laughing out loud. This book is light and fun and addictive. It's just what I needed, and I've decided: I. Need. More.
Just love Miss Seeton! The originals by Heron Carvic are, I think, the best.
