God Save the Queen
2 journalers for this copy...
Will journal when read
From Publisher's Weekly:
Flora Hutchins has grown up at once-magnificent, 12th-century Gossinger Hall under the loving care of her grandfather, the meticulous head butler, known for his scrupulous handling of the family silver. But imagine the consternation that ensues when the elderly Sir Henry Gossinger (recently married to the distinctly lower-class Mabel Bowser) announces that he intends to leave Gossinger Hall to this treasured servant. Mabel is moved to nasty thoughts, a cousin is outraged and, when the butler's body is found head-down in a medieval toilet, it sets off a sharply etched chain of events that includes Flora being exiled to London?her flat paid for by Sir Henry and Mabel. Questions abound: Who is the mysterious woman shadowing Flora? What is the importance of a long-missing 18th-century tea strainer? And above all, why was the estate to be left to the butler? Flora and Vivian, Sir Henry's seemingly worthless nephew, seek solutions and form an endearing bond.
I read this book quite quickly, it reminded me of a modern and more barbed Christie novel. However, it wasn't up to Christie's standards by far, just a ok read. I didn't really feel like I cared about any of the characters, but the murder mystery, and the question of the queen's missing spoon, kept my attention. Good to read if you like cozy mysteries.
Flora Hutchins has grown up at once-magnificent, 12th-century Gossinger Hall under the loving care of her grandfather, the meticulous head butler, known for his scrupulous handling of the family silver. But imagine the consternation that ensues when the elderly Sir Henry Gossinger (recently married to the distinctly lower-class Mabel Bowser) announces that he intends to leave Gossinger Hall to this treasured servant. Mabel is moved to nasty thoughts, a cousin is outraged and, when the butler's body is found head-down in a medieval toilet, it sets off a sharply etched chain of events that includes Flora being exiled to London?her flat paid for by Sir Henry and Mabel. Questions abound: Who is the mysterious woman shadowing Flora? What is the importance of a long-missing 18th-century tea strainer? And above all, why was the estate to be left to the butler? Flora and Vivian, Sir Henry's seemingly worthless nephew, seek solutions and form an endearing bond.
I read this book quite quickly, it reminded me of a modern and more barbed Christie novel. However, it wasn't up to Christie's standards by far, just a ok read. I didn't really feel like I cared about any of the characters, but the murder mystery, and the question of the queen's missing spoon, kept my attention. Good to read if you like cozy mysteries.
reserving for Almost Anything Goes Virtual Bookbox from WarEagle78
Journal Entry 4 by ladilee24 at Media Mail in Virtual BookBox, A Bookbox -- Controlled Releases on Saturday, December 16, 2006
Released 17 yrs ago (12/16/2006 UTC) at Media Mail in Virtual BookBox, A Bookbox -- Controlled Releases
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
Sending to WarEagle78 at end of Almost Anything Goes Virtual Bookbox.
Sending to WarEagle78 at end of Almost Anything Goes Virtual Bookbox.
Arrived safely in Alabama from the Virtual Bookbox, and it does look interesting. I'll journal again when read. Thanks, ladilee24!
A British mystery that I've had in hand for many years. The blurbs on the cover tell me this author is extraordinarily funny. I found some chuckles and smiles, but one one "laugh out loud" moment. The story, and the murder, take place in frosty-cold Gossinger Hall where the butler leads a household staff including a cook/housekeeper, a stableman, and hid granddaughter. The house is open for tours, and it is on one such day that a murder takes place and the story begins.
The good: Cannell develops her characters beautifully. Although some end up as caricatures, it does add humor. Mrs. Most, whose passion for cleanliness causes her to take down the centuries-old tapestries to be scrubbed, is one example. Flora and Vivian, the main characters, prove to be thoughtful, clever, warm, and endearing.
The not so good: the story rambled a bit and the mystery became clear to me fairly early on in the story. the ending seemed a bit rushed in its attempt to tie up the loose ends of Flora's future.
The inexplicable: page 88 in my copy was a mirror image. I have never run into this error before in a published work, and even tried to divine whether it was purposeful and meant to move the plot forward in some way. Alas, it was just a mistake.
Not sure I would seek out this author again, but the story did not warrant its long period of being ignored at my house either. Hope to let it back out into the world very soon. I read this one as part of the Librarything's Reduce Mount TBR Challenge 2014 for Bookcrossers, found here.
The good: Cannell develops her characters beautifully. Although some end up as caricatures, it does add humor. Mrs. Most, whose passion for cleanliness causes her to take down the centuries-old tapestries to be scrubbed, is one example. Flora and Vivian, the main characters, prove to be thoughtful, clever, warm, and endearing.
The not so good: the story rambled a bit and the mystery became clear to me fairly early on in the story. the ending seemed a bit rushed in its attempt to tie up the loose ends of Flora's future.
The inexplicable: page 88 in my copy was a mirror image. I have never run into this error before in a published work, and even tried to divine whether it was purposeful and meant to move the plot forward in some way. Alas, it was just a mistake.
Not sure I would seek out this author again, but the story did not warrant its long period of being ignored at my house either. Hope to let it back out into the world very soon. I read this one as part of the Librarything's Reduce Mount TBR Challenge 2014 for Bookcrossers, found here.
