A Question of Identity

Rona Parish #8

by Anthea Fraser

Long-forgotten scandals. Dark secrets. Hidden identities. Rona Parish investigates!

An old school photograph in which someone has been deliberately blacked out marks the start of a new case for Rona Parish. Who was this person and why would someone want to hide his or her identity? Rona sets out to uncover the secret and soon finds that the school in question closed down many years ago due, it was rumoured, to a long-forgotten scandal. Could this be the link that will solve the mystery? Meanwhile, a visit to a a stage hypnotist results in more than Rona and her friends bargained for . . .

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Fiction

208 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2012

About the author

aka Vanessa Graham

Reviews

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I enjoy this series and like catching up with Rona Parish and her extended family, there was one aspect of this particular book which irked me.

As usual there were several threads unravelling through the book. The story of the school photo was intriguing and Rona's investigations brought it to an interesting and satisfying conclusion. But, for me, the story revolving around the events which followed the evening seeing a stage hypnotist was completely at odds with Rona's usual investigative forays and the outcome couldn't have been reached in a rational manner. For me it broke the rule of a detective novel involving a series of clues from which you can deduce the answer - you'll have to read the book if you want to know any more!

I'm going to carry on reading the series as I always enjoy the books, but hope the author doesn't include this particular element in any future stories. I'd be interested to hear what any other fans of the series felt.

[Mia · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this round, there are two different stories present-
Rona is given a picture with one of the people in the photo blackened out, and Rona and her husband attend a psychic show with friends.
Reluctantly, Rona investigates the photo, its origins, and who the mystery person is.
She also learns that a parent of a student where her step-sister teaches, is involved in a murder, and may have a connection to her best friend.

'Identity' was different. Clearly, two stories going on, and unfortunately a supernatural flare in this one, which I didn't really appreciate. Her sister and mother's love affairs and attitudes are getting quite old as well.
I will finish out this series, but I do hope there aren't anymore silly supernatural drops.

[Damaskcat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rona's twin sister Lindsey asks her to try and find out what she can about an old school photograph in which someone has been completely inked over so that you can't see who they are. Rona is reluctant to get involved but her biography of the artist Elspeth Wilding is not going well and she needs a distraction so against her better judgement she starts to look into it.

It takes her mind off the biography and before long she finds herself genuinely intrigued. Going to see a stage hypnotist also takes her mind off her work and leads to problems for her friend Magda. Meanwhile Rona's family seem to be gradually adjusting to their changing situations but Rona still worries about Lindsey's on/off love life.

I thought this was one of the best books in this excellent mystery series. I liked the characters and I thought the hypnotist sub-plot was very well done. I liked the way all the threads of the story gradually fitted together. I was surprised by the reasons behind the photograph and I thought that was a neat and unusual solution. I can thoroughly recommend this well written mystery series which can be read as standalone novels or as part of a series.

[John Hardy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trying out new (to me) authors is very trying. Rona Parrish is an author writing a biography, then her twin sister Lindsey comes along with a photo which she wants investigated. Rona is busy, but before you know it, her resolve is out the window and she's off all around the country asking questions. Lindsey is a self-confessed tart who has no hesitation in having affairs with married men. There's a theme of certain acquaintances experiencing certain problems after having been hypnotised at a theatre event. For a while I thought that was an interesting idea, and the pacing was gradual as various information was revealed.
Unfortunately the book was spoiled by a completely rushed and far-fetched ending. The annoying and irrelevant Lindsey did nothing for the story. However it is an easy read for those who like this style of mystery.
I'm rating this 2.8. I doubt if I will bother to try any more from this series.

[Mystic Miraflores · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought the plot was pretty good and suspenseful and I enjoyed the book for the most part. However, there were some drawbacks to the story. The main one is Rona's twin, Lindsey. There were way too many pages devoted to this feckless and foolish woman's love affairs, or attempted love affairs. Other than bringing the photo to Rona's attention, she really had no useful part in the story. Secondly, the marital problems of Catherine's son and daughter-in-law marital were superfluous to the main story and took up way too much print. Third, a reader has to suspend disbelief when it comes to hypnosis and mind transference. However, I will continue to look for more of Anthea Fraser's books, as for the most part, I do enjoy them.

[Cybercrone · Rating 1 out of 5]

Truly awful!

The main 'mystery' was about two people who supposedly switched consciousnesses when they touched each other while being 'volunteers' at a hypnotist's show. There was a Bill Murray movie once upon a time with somewhat the same premise, but at least it was funny.

[Debbie Mossad · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve enjoyed all the Rona parish books I’ve read before and agree with Ruth’s review that it is slightly different to her others. I’ll still keep reading as well. A light mystery that could be recommended to someone who does not want a gruesome murder.

[Janell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked this more than the usual mysteries. She spends more time on character development, which I
I like.

[Toni · Rating 2 out of 5]

Characters with a single dimension and preposterous storyline. I won't be looking for any more in this series.

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Many threads in this story made it a little messy to get a handle on where it was leading but Rona, with a little help towards the end, drew everything together satisfactorily.

[Linda Frances · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like this author and series, but this one was ridiculous. Shows a complete lack of understanding of hypnosis and also tries to link hypnosis with telepathy.

[Kelly Greenwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another Rona Parish Mystery involving an old school photograph, and a parallel story about a hypnotism with unusual hangover effects for Rona's friend Magda.

[christina galleo · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn’t finish the book due to how it randomly jumps around to different characters. Way too many characters to keep up with. Very disappointed not to finish

[Denise · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't think this series is one I'll be reading ...

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rona Parish is working hard on a biography that she would rather not be writing, when her twin sister Lindsey's friend comes up with a new puzzle: identify the obliterated figure in an old school photo. Rona's soon-to-be step-sister (as soon as her mother remarries) finds the body of the mother of one of her students. Lindsey's love life continues to be a disaster area. And Rona's best friend Magda seems to be ready to crack up after she let herself be hypnotized. How do these pieces fit together? Unfortunately, most of them don't, but Rona comes up with answers to everything except, of course, Lindsey's insoluble problems.

[Barbara Bothwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never did want to be hypnotised and after what happens in this book, I don't ever, ever want to be hynotised.

Rona Parish is busy working on a biography but with other problems interfering she isn't getting very far. Between a friend's problem and trying to find some information for her twin, Lindsay (to say nothing of Lindsay's love life) the biography doesn't stand a chance.

Of course all works itself out in the end and this really is a good read.

[Polly Clarke · Rating 2 out of 5]

An easy quick read. I've never read any in this series so going in at the 8th book, there were quite a few characters that I had to work out but the author does well in helping you identify who is who. I enjoyed the relationship between Rona and her twin (being a twin midtown to the subject). I have the next book in my queue to read so I'm sure after the next, I will decide if I will keep at it and read the other and many books by this author.

[Sarah Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Identified with enjoying the intrigue and mystery of A Question of Identity. A Question of Identity: Who is blacked out of an old school photograph of Springfield Lodge 1951 and why? A Question of Identity: Whose dreams and Memories is Magda having? Will Lucy's killer be found? Telepathy, identities and mysteries are revealed and lives unraveled in A Question of Identity.

[Julie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Rona Parish is asked to help figure out which figure in a photograph is completely obliterated and why . Meanwhile, her good friend, Magda, begins to act strangely after going to a hypnotist.

I kept reading to see if something amazing would develop, but the story ended up to be very minor. Not worth the read.

[Jane · Rating 2 out of 5]

An easy read again. Although I became a bit annoyed with repeated explanations found in previous books in the Rona Parish mysteries. Does the author really need to explain everything that happened before?

[Judithosc · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first Fraser book I have read. I think I will have to read others to see if this is typical of her style. I got lost in the characters and their relationships 'til about half way into the story.I wonder about the necessity of the murder to the plot.

[Charity Huff · Rating 1 out of 5]

So bad I stopped after the third chapter.

[Kadi · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit harder to read than I originally thought but it was a good book overall

[Kati Gaschler · Rating 2 out of 5]

Would have been better if I didn't have more interesting books on my "to read" list. I barely made it halfway through before I took it back to the library. I rarely stop reading a book.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really good until the end when it just got stupid.

[Bev May · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good clean murder mystery. I haven’t read this author before but will read her again.

[Mrs VTJ]

Barmy. This is the one about a psychic link after watching a hypnotist's stage show. The poor murderer's motive is never made clear. And, of course, the totally unrelated school photo. Still quite sweet, but utter nonsense. I'm still reading the series though!!

[Larry-Marlene Kershner]

Ludicrous! It started out okay, but the hypnotist portion of the plot was wasted. It could have gone in a more realistic direction and been intriguing. And her sister's love life is just filler, and unnecessary. I only finished it to meet a reading challenge.