Death on All Hallowe'en

A Carolus Deene Mystery Book 19

Author:    Leo Bruce

Genre:     Mystery

Paperback; Digital Book (Hardcover Available)

ISBN #:    9780897332927

Academy Chicago Publishers

203 Pages

$10.99 5; $17.99 Amazon

Original Print 1970

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Carolus Deene is summoned to a small Kentish village where the presence of a possible coven of witches lends an eerie aura to the presumed "accidental" death of a young local boy a year ago on Hallowe'en.  Before his work is completed, Carolus Deene has the answers to this and two other deaths.

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Carolus Deene is a college professor who does a little sleuthing on the side.  His friend, Father John Stainer, tells him he thinks something nasty is going on in his little village of Clibburn near Kent.  A year ago, a small boy died from pneumonia, but John thinks there's more too it.  Now, coming again on  All Hallowe'en, he's afraid more will happen and wants Carolus to look into it.

Of course he agrees, and heads to Clibburn to stay with John.  When he meets a man named Connor, he seems shaken because he thinks someone has taken a shot at him.  Carolus presses him (gently) for more information, but Connor refuses.  It is then that he has a true mystery on his hands.  He's determined to figure out what it is that Connor is hiding, and if it is connected in any way to the death of young Cyril a year ago.

What Carolus finds is that someone wants him out of the village, and soon.  He's not easily intimidated, and he knows he may very well put himself in danger; but he proceeds with his investigation, sharing what he finds with the local police.  It's interesting what you can discover when you ask people the right questions, isn't it?...

This is the first book that I have read by Leo Bruce, but it is certainly not going to be the last.  I found this mystery so well done, in fact, that I did not know the murderer until nearly the very end, later than Mr. Deene did, himself.  It was a delight to read, especially since it coincided with the Halloween time as well.  (I do love to 'read the season', as it were).

Watching Carolus look for answers among the village people was definitely worth it alone.  Some of them were first and foremost nasty humans that one would not want to spend time with; but there were others that were just those who wanted to live their lives.  Yet all of them were connected in some way or another, even if it were only vicariously. 

When the truth comes out, it is definitely a terrible sight.  Even Carolus was disgusted by what he found.  But human nature is uncontrollable, and things will occur even if we don't like them.  Evil exists.  Murder does happen, and it is never pleasant.  

The book was a very good read, and the clues not so easy to find.  But all in all, it made me respect Mr. Bruce and want to look for others he has written.  Highly recommended.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00P5OZOV6?tag=speculativefic05&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6966805500

More on Leo Bruce's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/c/rupert-croft-cooke/

The Happy Housekeeper's Guide to Arson (A Barbara Hollis Murder Mystery #2)

Author:    Blythe Baker

Genre:     Mystery

Paperback; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9798875742859

Independently Published

242 Pages

$12.99 Amazon

January 15, 2024

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Suspicion.  Lies.  Murder.  Barbara Hollis didn't expect to encounter any of these in small town life.  With a murky past to hide from, moving to quiet little Cobbsville was supposed to be a perfect escape.  But a neighbor who has her own dangerous secret to conceal soon becomes as big a threat as the crazed lunatic who is setting fire to houses around town...

Even as a terrible new doubt surfaces against her brother, Barbara is intrigued by an attractive new acquaintance who happens to be the local mayor.  But will one more distraction prove welcome...or deadly?

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Barbara Hollis left the big city to move back home and live with her widowed brother, taking care of his twelve-year-old twins and keep house.  Her past is behind her, and she's looking forward to a new future.  Unfortunately, she's already been involved in one murder, and wants to forget it.  But when she is running errands one day she comes upon a burning house, and with the owner being taken to the hospital, her inquisitive nature wonders if it's not arson.  While the fire department deems it an accident, she's not so sure...

She also meets the handsome mayor, who seems to take a liking to her, and asks her out.  But there are problems with their date, and she's not sure about the man, even though her brother, the police chief, warns her away.  She's an adult, right?  Also, what was her neighbor doing in the middle of the night?  Barbara finds it suspicious, but doesn't know how to ask her without seeming to be prying (which she would be).

Who knew there would be so many questions in a sleepy town like Cobbsville?  Not Barbara...

This is the second book in the series, and I really enjoyed the first one.  This one, not so much.  There were too many unanswered questions, and I also would really like to know why she left Liberty City.  There's not even a hint of why anywhere in these first two books.

Saying that, I found that the issues with her neighbor added nothing to the story except to fill pages.  They had nothing to do with the murder, so why was it in there?  Same as with her dating.  Because of this, we were given less to think about with the arson, and the ending seemed like it was thrown in to finish the story.

Still, I will read the next in the series to see if any of this goes anywhere -- and if we learn anything about why she moved back home.

https://www.amazon.com/Housekeepers-Barbara-Hollis-Murder-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0CQZCZG75/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6576962341

More on Blythe Baker's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/b/blythe-baker/

A Study in Scarlet (Sherlock Holmes #1)

Author:    Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Genre:     Historical Mystery

Digital Book

ASIN #:    B0B6F59KS2

Independently Published

158 Pages

$3.99 Amazon

July 12, 2022

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A Study in Scarlet is a detective mystery novel written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, introducing his new characters, "consulting detective" Sherlock Holmes and his friend and chronicler Dr. John Watson, who later became two of the most famous characters in literature.  Conan Doyle wrote the story in 1886, and it was published the following year.  The book's title derives from a speech given by Holmes to Dr. Watson on the nature of his work, in which he describes the story's murder investigation as his "study in scarlet"; "There's the scarlet thread of murder running through the colourless skein of life, and our duty is to unravel it, and isolate it, and expose every inch of it."

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When Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote this story in 1886, little did he know that Mr. Sherlock Holmes would go on to become the most famous detective of mystery.  This is the first of these stories, and in it we get to meet Dr. John Watson first, and why he returned to England from the war.  When we meet Mr. Holmes, he is in his laboratory doing experiments - what else? - and seems flighty to Watson; but as we know, first impressions can be deceiving.  It is not long before he discovers what Holmes does for a living; and he encourages him to take a case when asked by Scotland Yard detectives to intervene.

It is in the murder room that Dr. Watson sees Mr. Sherlock Holmes at his best and how he goes about deciphering clues.  While it is strange indeed, with Holmes putting his face to the floor, picking up bits of dust, and walking back and forth across the room, he is intrigued and wants to know more.  It is here that Holmes gives Scotland Yard detectives Gregson and Lestrade their clues -- and watches while they bungle the case.  He, however, is cleverer than that (which we know) and he manages to not only figure out the murderer, but the name also, and where he may be found.  

After the capture, we are given the story behind the reasons for the murder, and it is very sad and heart-wrenching; it is a story of revenge that carries decades of pain with it.  After the man is dispatched to Scotland Yard (no spoilers here; we know he will be captured and taken to the Yard), Holmes explains to Watson how it was done.   It is a masterpiece written centuries ago, one that still stands the test of time.  How Holmes mind works is an amazing piece of art; how he uses reason and logic and no emotions at all in solving; and how he is satisfied with himself at the end -- these are the true reasons for reading the book.  We cannot hope to reach his expertise, nor do we want to; it is enough that these wonderful books are here for our reading pleasure.  Highly recommended.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B6F59KS2/ref=sr_1_9

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/323587525

More on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/d/sir-arthur-conan-doyle/