Mary T. (MaryTheCat) reviewed on 12/2/2009 + 15 more book reviews

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.

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