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A Robert Forsythe Mystery #6
Death for a Dietitian
The lonely island inn is the perfect setting for a celebrity murder party, with famous guests performing a make-believe murder scenario. — Too bad somebody changed the script, for now the "victim," world-famous chef Felix Caspari, is dead. And the remaining celebrities, pop star Reggie Knight, beautiful romance writer Dolores Carter White, and society matron Sybil Montrose, are rushing for the exit. They are just a little too late, however, for the only boat has been destroyed, the telephone line has been cut, and a howling storm has sealed their terrifying isolation.
It remained for Miss Sanderson, a stand-in at the party for her employer, famed barrister Robert Forsythe, to investigate. From the sad and sordid confessions of guests and staff she learns that every person present has both motive and opportunity to kill the great chef.
Meanwhile her chilling conviction grows that somewhere in the wings an uninvited guest is lurking.
It remained for Miss Sanderson, a stand-in at the party for her employer, famed barrister Robert Forsythe, to investigate. From the sad and sordid confessions of guests and staff she learns that every person present has both motive and opportunity to kill the great chef.
Meanwhile her chilling conviction grows that somewhere in the wings an uninvited guest is lurking.
- GenresMystery
182 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1988
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 18, 2024
A departure novel for Giroux--her usual sleuth barrister Robert Forsythe is buried in cases and so when Gavin Lebonhom, aspiring mystery author, invites Robert and his secretary Miss Abigail Sanderson, to a celebrity mystery murder party (with murder plot written by the author himself) set at an isolated inn on an island, Sandy opts to go. It helps that Gavin is married to one of Sandy's friends' daughter. Since Forsythe (known for his sideline in detective work) won't be on hand to play detective for the murder party, Sandy is asked to take his place. She's not sure she can fill her boss's shoes, but she can't turn down a challenge.
Among her fellow guests are Jamaican pop star Reggie Knight, romance novelist, Dolores Carter-White, society's favorite hostess Sybil Montrose, and world-famous chef's chef Felix Caspari and his wife/dogsbody, Alice. Also on hand are the island's handy-woman, Fran Hornblower, and cook, Heilkje. In addition to being a well-known chef, Felix is also known as an incorrigible practical joker and Gavin fears that Felix will ruin the mystery of the plot with one of his jokes. He's right to be concerned because Felix does have a "funny" little surprise planned...except a killer decides to surprise Felix with a deadly joke of their own.
In keeping with mystery tradition, a heavy storm cuts the island off from the mainland. In placid weather, the island is reachable by boat or a somewhat dilapidated causeway--but just to make sure no one can get away, the killer bashes in the bottom of the boat and cuts the phone lines. Are there more victims on the killers to-do list? When questions are asked about connections to the dead man, it winds up that everyone except Sandy has connections to the dead man. So, Sandy is elected to investigate while they wait for the storm to subside. Will she be able to unmask the killer before the island turns into a version of And Then There Were None?
Sandy does a pretty good job filling Robert's shoes and I found this entry in the series to be a nice change of pace. Usually Sandy is doing the research/leg work to help Robert figure things out. Here she has to rely on conversations with the suspects and her observations over the course of the party. She has no access to materials/information that could help verify what the others say. With those handicaps, she does very well indeed. Giroux provides a nice set of red herrings to keep readers guessing and I didn't catch on until right before the close.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
Among her fellow guests are Jamaican pop star Reggie Knight, romance novelist, Dolores Carter-White, society's favorite hostess Sybil Montrose, and world-famous chef's chef Felix Caspari and his wife/dogsbody, Alice. Also on hand are the island's handy-woman, Fran Hornblower, and cook, Heilkje. In addition to being a well-known chef, Felix is also known as an incorrigible practical joker and Gavin fears that Felix will ruin the mystery of the plot with one of his jokes. He's right to be concerned because Felix does have a "funny" little surprise planned...except a killer decides to surprise Felix with a deadly joke of their own.
In keeping with mystery tradition, a heavy storm cuts the island off from the mainland. In placid weather, the island is reachable by boat or a somewhat dilapidated causeway--but just to make sure no one can get away, the killer bashes in the bottom of the boat and cuts the phone lines. Are there more victims on the killers to-do list? When questions are asked about connections to the dead man, it winds up that everyone except Sandy has connections to the dead man. So, Sandy is elected to investigate while they wait for the storm to subside. Will she be able to unmask the killer before the island turns into a version of And Then There Were None?
Sandy does a pretty good job filling Robert's shoes and I found this entry in the series to be a nice change of pace. Usually Sandy is doing the research/leg work to help Robert figure things out. Here she has to rely on conversations with the suspects and her observations over the course of the party. She has no access to materials/information that could help verify what the others say. With those handicaps, she does very well indeed. Giroux provides a nice set of red herrings to keep readers guessing and I didn't catch on until right before the close.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
November 20, 2021
A quick fun read. It takes place just before Christmas and Ms. Sanderson (Forsythe's secretary) heads off to a "mystery" stay at an old inn that isolates itself when the water rises. In this instance, the mystery becomes very real and while it's not a locked room case, it is a stuck in an inn and no where to go during a storm.
In the end, the secretary does return for a Christmas gathering at the end. But all in all, a fun quick read and it is actually fair play. The characters are not cookie cut outs, they feel real. Will be looking for more mysteries by this author. Sometimes one needs just a fun read!
In the end, the secretary does return for a Christmas gathering at the end. But all in all, a fun quick read and it is actually fair play. The characters are not cookie cut outs, they feel real. Will be looking for more mysteries by this author. Sometimes one needs just a fun read!
July 17, 2018
I really like this book. I bought it years ago and have read it several times in the past, but it has been years since the last time I read it. I pulled it out last night for something light and easy to read, expecting it to be dated and not sure how it would hold up after all these years, but it was still as fun as I remembered.
January 17, 2019
This was boring and disappointing. The first 100 pages sets the scene, introduces the players, and develops the backdrop; the first murder victim appears on page 100. It was not worth reading 100 pages to finally get to the crux of the story. The next 75 pages unravels the mystery but the payoff falls flat. It was difficult to follow all of the characters and proceedings. This book is on some book lists as a Christmas mystery, but there are only scant references to Christmas; the story takes place in early December.
February 8, 2015
It has been surprising amount of time since I last picked up this series, several years in fact. My first impression of this one is that it is the best thus far. I recall in the previous works, I'd get a bit muddled with the facts, who said what to whom, and what the relationships were amongst the characters. I never really felt I had a chance to understand the resolution. I didn't complain because,honestly, I bought these to pleasantly pass the time, they do just that.
Yet, this book really caught my attention. Sandy is on her own, and the case is murder game that turns deadly.
The book felt lighter and clearer in structure and, I felt I could figure out the killer with the clues given, or at least, give a decent guess of it.
I enjoyed it enough, I am strongly considering going back and reading the rest. I will more likely plow onward to the other piles of books waiting to be read.
Yet, this book really caught my attention. Sandy is on her own, and the case is murder game that turns deadly.
The book felt lighter and clearer in structure and, I felt I could figure out the killer with the clues given, or at least, give a decent guess of it.
I enjoyed it enough, I am strongly considering going back and reading the rest. I will more likely plow onward to the other piles of books waiting to be read.
March 11, 2012
My sister gave me this book, because I am a dietitian. The victim in this book is actually a chef, who had to "settle" for a "dietitian course". (Makes me want to kill him too. Dietetics is a wonderful career, but I get off-topic.) This is a very short book (my copy gives the pen name of E.X. Giroux as the author) and just a so-so mystery, in my opinion. I am not tempted to read the others in the series.
March 2, 2011
I wish there were more books in this series. Love the main characters.
May 11, 2013
This book was good but not great. I think I have been spoiled for mysteries by the darker books of Scandinavia. I have one more from this author and will consider it goes in the fluff category.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews