Miss Melville's Revenge

Miss Melville #3

by Evelyn E. Smith

Susan Melville certainly doesn't look the part of a fierce assassin. But the prim middle-aged spinster plays that role to the hilt when the occasion demands it. Although her free-lance hit-lady days are over, she still dabbles in a meaningful murder, if the victim is deserving.
But this time, she's bound and determined to uncover another kind of mystery and exact a very personal revenge. With her U.N. connections and some high-class finagling, Susan is in the right place to vindicate the death of her own father -- murdered at the hands of a vicious South American dictator years ago. Ever the correct society matron, Miss Melville hits on the perfect plan -- until a few purposeful accidents and overlooked details threaten to send disaster her way . . . .
"Witty, sophisticated and amusing." --Roanoke Times & World-News

Genres: Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Novels, Fiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Evelyn E. Smith was an American author of Science Fiction. During the 1950s, her works appeared regularly in magazines such as Galaxy and Fantastic Universe. In the 1980s, she wrote a number of novels featuring the character Miss Melville, a middle-aged assassin.

She also wrote as Delphine C. Lyons and Christopher Grimm.

Reviews

[Kaethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a middle-aged assassin, especially one who has the taste and flair to only kill bad people.

[Evelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I stopped my Miss Melville reading after book 2 quite some time ago, because I was disappointed with book 2. Ms. Smith has redeemed herself with this book 3. I found the writing to be playful and quirky, and the ending to be completely unexpected. Miss Melville has returned to her avenging ways of book 1 and packs a gun wherever she goes. You never know when you might meet up with a diplomat who needs to be assassinated, you know. She still will not kill someone unless she is convinced of their need to die. Her latest target is El Presidente, the former General Relempago Martillo, the leader of a small Latin American country, and the murderer of her father some years ago. What follows is Miss Melville doing all she can to get close to the man when he comes to New York to address the UN. There are many plot twists and turns, and lots of sarcastic humor. I loved it and plan to go right into book 4, "Miss Melville Rides a Tiger."

[Marj · Rating 3 out of 5]

Miss Melville was raised in high society, rich, and without a care in the world. Then her father absconded with all of their money.

After years of just getting by, she inadvertently became a paid assassin, which lessened her money woes. After being "discovered" as an artist, she no longer accepted assassination assignments, but found she had a calling for killing.

I enjoyed this series about a middle-aged high society killer.

[Nora · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series returns me to the NYC of my childhood and brought up things I had forgotten (or never known, like how Trump and Ivana briefly owned the Plaza Hotel.) Miss Melville was a more appealing character in the first book when she was down to her last dime but still brusque and snooty--it doesn't feel the same now that she's a wealthy, flourishing artist and mostly being rude to her maid and the building super. But still a lot of fun. I love how she had an epergne tucked away in her closet. You won't be surprised by the twists, but the plot of wanting to assassinate an evil head of state who is coming to address the UN is SO relatable and evergreen.

[Karin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Once again, the beginning and ending sections were much better than in the middle. I suspect this might be partly due to dated humour, so I'm giving it 3 stars. Miss Melville, wealthy from sales of her paintings, has returned to assassinating very horrible criminals who can't be prosecuted due to diplomatic immunity, but as the blurb says, she learns that the dictator who killed her father is coming to NYC so she plots to kill him. There are some twists in this book, some of which I saw coming, that also helped me put it up to 3 stars. However, some of the humour just doesn't work for me.

[Serena · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Rating System:
* couldn't finish, ** wouldn't recommend, *** would recommend, **** would read again, ***** have read again.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wickedly funny and very satirical. I must read more in this amoral and delightful series.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

An okay mystery enlivened by an amusing twist at the end

[Eileen Joyce-Donovan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't like this one as much as its prequels.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

As long as Miss Melville continues to be a famous artist/assassin, I will be her devoted fan.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't find as good as the others I've read, didn't like her working alone and way to political for me to really enjoy although I thoroughly enjoy her character and how she handles things!

[ChrisGA · Rating 3 out of 5]

Back to assassinations.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

At last we learn about her Father's fate. And no one is who they seem to be.

And Miss Melville's new mission is keeping her all too busy.

[Tonya Mathis · Rating 3 out of 5]

So far this was my least favorite of the series. It was alright, but kind of predictable.