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164th out of 676 books
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666 voters
The Body in the Belfry (Faith Fairchild #1)
During her years spent in New York City. Faith Fairchild was convinced she had seen pretty much everything. But the transplanted caterer/minister's wife was unprepared for the surprises awaiting her in the sleepy Massachusetts village of Aleford. And she is especially taken aback by the dead body of a pretty young thing she discovers stashed in the church's belfry. The vic
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Published
(first published 1990)
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Rating: 2.5* of five
The Book Description: During her years spent in New York City. Faith Fairchild was convinced she had seen pretty much everything. But the transplanted caterer/minister's wife was unprepared for the surprises awaiting her in the sleepy Massachusetts village of Aleford. And she is especially taken aback by the dead body of a pretty young thing she discovers stashed in the church's belfry. The victim, Cindy Shepherd. was well-known locally for her acid tongue and her jilted bea...more
The Book Description: During her years spent in New York City. Faith Fairchild was convinced she had seen pretty much everything. But the transplanted caterer/minister's wife was unprepared for the surprises awaiting her in the sleepy Massachusetts village of Aleford. And she is especially taken aback by the dead body of a pretty young thing she discovers stashed in the church's belfry. The victim, Cindy Shepherd. was well-known locally for her acid tongue and her jilted bea...more
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This is a fun series. I have read the more recent books, but it's always interesting to read the first book in a mystery series. What I like about this series is that, while it's light reading, it's not stupid reading. There has been a lot of stupid writing in the mystery genre lately. I can tell pretty quickly after reading a few pages. When I have the urge to throw the book in the trash, it's time to return it to the library! In this case, I got this copy from Paperback Book Swap, a site I rec...more
Katherine Hall Page -- The Body in the Belfry 11/09/11 -- 4/B
Mystery/1990/St. Martin's Press/258 LP
#1 in Faith Fairchild series
Late 1980's/Aleford, MA
Faith Fairchild -- minister's wife, mother, caterer, amateur sleuth
1st Lines: Fairth Fairchild, recently of NYC, paused to catch her breath.
Comments: Another series I've been meaning to try for years. Was able to find the 1st in the series at the library. Faith is a very likeable character, a born & bred New Yorker, independent -- started her o...more
Mystery/1990/St. Martin's Press/258 LP
#1 in Faith Fairchild series
Late 1980's/Aleford, MA
Faith Fairchild -- minister's wife, mother, caterer, amateur sleuth
1st Lines: Fairth Fairchild, recently of NYC, paused to catch her breath.
Comments: Another series I've been meaning to try for years. Was able to find the 1st in the series at the library. Faith is a very likeable character, a born & bred New Yorker, independent -- started her o...more
Jan 19, 2011
Lisa (Harmonybites)
rated it
2 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Those Who Love Cozy Mysteries
Recommended to Lisa (Harmonybites) by:
The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Ultimate Reading List
This is a "cozy mystery," the first in a series, of the kind with recipes included. (Thankfully, unlike Davidson, at the back of the books, not smack in the middle of the narrative.) This book didn't exactly suck me in and point of view issues didn't help. Most of the first chapter was skimmable backstory told in narrative summary, and Faith Sibley, our sleuth, didn't come alive to me as a person.
Faith is a caterer and minister's wife in the small Massachusetts town of Aleford. She's heaving "V...more
Faith is a caterer and minister's wife in the small Massachusetts town of Aleford. She's heaving "V...more
This book is the beginning of a growing list of “Body in the _____” series. Its heroine is Faith Sibley, a native New Yorker who has started a gourmet catering service. She meets and falls in love with Tom Fairchild, a young minister who whisks her away from her beloved home town to a much different life in rural Massachusetts. Faith is trying her best to fit into the role of pastor’s wife in a small town where everyone’s family goes back several generations and where everyone knows everyone el...more
The Body in the Belfry is the first in a series whose protagonist is Faith Fairchild, a New York-bred caterer who falls in love with a minister and ends up in a small suburban Boston town. In this book, although she has been married long enough to produce a baby, she is still learning her way around the New England mores, as well as how to be a mother and a pastor's wife. When she discovers a dead body in a historic landmark (this belfry is free-standing, not atop a church) it leads to undreamed...more
Another pick for my little mystery lunch group and another enjoyable read. This is the first in this particular series for Page and it's a fine start. The writing is both eloquent and down to earth, sometimes quite tongue in cheek. Page throws in a few asides that are absolutely hilarious.
Faith Fairchild, formerly a successful caterer in NYC and now wife to a small town minister and new mother to son Benjamin, discovers the body of a young woman in a church belfry. Faith soon discovers that the...more
Faith Fairchild, formerly a successful caterer in NYC and now wife to a small town minister and new mother to son Benjamin, discovers the body of a young woman in a church belfry. Faith soon discovers that the...more
This book was disappointing. I had high hopes for it, since I'm always excited to start a mystery series I hadn't tried before. This one is about a minister's wife, Faith, who moves with her husband from NYC to a small New England town. And there, surprise, surprise, she discovers a body in the belfry.
I found that I didn't care about Faith, her husband, or any of the other characters. The writing was very slow, and I had to force myself to keep reading it. Supposedly the people in the town were...more
I found that I didn't care about Faith, her husband, or any of the other characters. The writing was very slow, and I had to force myself to keep reading it. Supposedly the people in the town were...more
this is the first in the faith fairchild series - and one i sort of wish i'd read first (instead of starting with like the 14th book in the series).
it's interesting to see where certain characters started...and what they've become, though.
of all the faiths, this was my favorite. there was no actual cookbook in the back, so that gimmick must have happened later. hall page also tried this thing where she got in the heads of many characters, not just faith. i'm glad she dropped that as well.
the ki...more
it's interesting to see where certain characters started...and what they've become, though.
of all the faiths, this was my favorite. there was no actual cookbook in the back, so that gimmick must have happened later. hall page also tried this thing where she got in the heads of many characters, not just faith. i'm glad she dropped that as well.
the ki...more
Dec 03, 2009
Rebecca
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
mystery lovers
Recommended to Rebecca by:
my mother
Shelves:
rmr-project
The Body in the Belfry is, according to the back flap, Katherine Hall Page's first book and it earned her the Agatha Award for best first mystery novel. From a reader perspective, it captivated me easily and carried me happily along on its tale. No problems with suspension of disbelief or characterization. A pleasant read.
Copyright 1990. Published by Avon Books.
Aspects of POV annoyed me--it felt broken. See http://balancingboard.blogspot.com/20... for my full eval.
Copyright 1990. Published by Avon Books.
Aspects of POV annoyed me--it felt broken. See http://balancingboard.blogspot.com/20... for my full eval.
Another New England mystery series that I have really enjoyed. Faith Fairchild comes to the small village of Aleford as a pastor's wife. After living all her life in NYC, this is quite the transition for Faith. I have read this series for years and enjoyed seeing Faith open a catering business, Have Faith, while raising Ben and Amy and dealing with all the people of her husband's parish. And of course, murders abound in this small town, so Faith uses her sleuthing abilities to solve the crimes.
I especially enjoyed reading that the main characters are fans of Garrison Keillor and his radio show. I'm a big fan of Mr. Keillor myself. I listen to the show every week.
I also enjoyed that the ending prepares the reader for a sequel. I have read all the sequels except for two of them. I had to read the books out of order because I borrowed them from the library. I hope she writes more beyond the two I haven't read.
I also enjoyed that the ending prepares the reader for a sequel. I have read all the sequels except for two of them. I had to read the books out of order because I borrowed them from the library. I hope she writes more beyond the two I haven't read.
Enjoyable fun read about a small town wife, mother and foodie who finds herself solving murders in her east coast town. First in the series, Body in the Belfry follows the life of lead character, Faith Fairchild, who grew up in NYC and enjoys cooking gourmet meals for her friends and family. Nothing to taxing on the brain but it is a great cozy mystery. If you enjoy cooking then this series is for you.
Faith Fairchild is an unlikely heroine, but very likeable. She is married to a young minister and has a young baby, but neither stop her from searching for clues to the murder in her small Northeastern town. Here's a quote: "Tom would draw Robert out, unraveling the thread of his discontent, then help him knit it all back up into a more wearable garment."
I am a murder mystery fan. I love PBS's Masterpiece Mysteries series. Reading Katherine Hall Page's series is like watching Murder, She Wrote. They are not heavy, gory reads and Faith Fairchild, the heroine, is a caterer so there is a lot of talk about food with recipes at the back of most of her books. So its informative reading also.
Faith Fairchild, ministers wife, found a body in the village's belfry. Her friend is accused and Faith is sure he didn't do it. Thinking the police are looking in the wrong places, Faith decides to do her best to solve the murder. Good mystery. Suspenseful but not as gory as other murder mysteries.
Bought this one (and a view others in this series) on Ebay because it takes place in Massachusetts. I recently moved to that state. The locale made it so much fun for me as I live in a similar small New England town. Loved the characters. Can't wait to read more in this series.
Enjoyable cozy mystery--the plot was interesting and the characters pleasant, it may not be literature but it was a pleasant way to spend a couple hours.
*I had the kindle edition, and there were quite a few typos--nothing I couldn't figure out, but enough to distract me from the book.*
*I had the kindle edition, and there were quite a few typos--nothing I couldn't figure out, but enough to distract me from the book.*
I might be overly enthusiastic about this one given the terribly mediocre mysteries I've been reading lately. But the plot held together, the setting was accurate, I didn't guess the murderer by page 100, and the main character was both realistic and likeable.
This book is a nice one to curl up with for a bit of relaxation. I like the characters very much and the comparisons that Faith Fairchild makes between her current home and big city life are humorous.
There are no great surprises, but it is an enjoyable ride!
There are no great surprises, but it is an enjoyable ride!
I so enjoyed reading this. Such a perfect partnership between Faith and her minister husband--love, patience, enthusiasm, consideration. Page has drawn a lovely range of characters. I look forward to getting to know them all better.
The Have Faith part reminds me of Diane Mott Davidson's Goldy Bear series while the New England village setting bears a vague feeling of Agatha Christie's Miss Marple. And the whole creates a very homey feeling.
The Have Faith part reminds me of Diane Mott Davidson's Goldy Bear series while the New England village setting bears a vague feeling of Agatha Christie's Miss Marple. And the whole creates a very homey feeling.
Pleasant cosy mystery of former New York City posh caterer who meets handsome country boy turned minister and moves to country. Lots of enjoyable quirky characters in a small town. Humorous voice. Will read these for fun when nothing else appeals.
I enjoyed this book enough that I've gone on to read most of the rest in the series. They're not great literature, but they're entertaining reading. I like these cozy mystery series and this author is another one that I'm glad I found.
I saw some later books in the series in a bric-a-brac shop in Wellfleet and decided it was worth a try. I'm glad I did. While there's nothing exceptional about this first Faith Fairchild mystery, there's a lot of promise. I will read more of them and see how the characters develop.
Jan. 2013: Re-read the book for the Somerville Public Library Mystery Book Club and I'm feeling a little more critical of it. The author had not yet learned her craft: there's a lot of telling instead of showing, and t...more
Jan. 2013: Re-read the book for the Somerville Public Library Mystery Book Club and I'm feeling a little more critical of it. The author had not yet learned her craft: there's a lot of telling instead of showing, and t...more
This was "Go on a Blind Date with a Book" choice from the library. It is a mystery which I don't read often. It was fun and entertaining and I stayed up until 1am to finish it.
loved this first in the series. i have read others but this helped clear information mentioned in following books. faith fairchild mother, wife, caterer and sleuth. good book
Nice little Miss Marple typpe mystery set in modern times. Nice to read something with no bad language and no graphic scenes in it. Fun, fast summer read!
Oct 02, 2008
Sfdreams
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Sfdreams by:
Lisa Vegan
Shelves:
reviewed
This is the debut book in a series. I enjoyed this book, but it wasn't the most well-written book I've read. However, since it was a first book, I am willing to suspend criticism for now. There are many books in the series (this book was written in 1990!) so I plan to read at least the next few books to see how I enjoy the rest of the series.
I found the protagonist likeable, but I didn't feel as involved as I get with my other series favorites. This is probably due to the skill level of the auth...more
I found the protagonist likeable, but I didn't feel as involved as I get with my other series favorites. This is probably due to the skill level of the auth...more
This was a fun, light, mystery. Likable characters, and I appreciated the the warm portrayal of the minister as a real person, not a stereotype, as I happen to be married to one myself!
You don't often come across a Unitarian minister as the protagonist. The story is more like a cozy ... A little simple, but nothing noir about it.
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Katherine Hall Page is the author of fifteen previous Faith Fairchild mysteries, the first of which received the Agatha Award for best first mystery and the most recent of which, The Body in the Snowdrift, was honored with the Agatha Award for best novel. Page also won an Agatha for her short story "The Would-Be Widower." She lives in Massachusetts with her husband and son. (from the publisher's w...more
More about Katherine Hall Page...
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