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Deadly Past #1
Deadly Will
History meets mystery in this clever novel in which the American Revolution, murder, and antiques all play a part. In 1789, Nathan Henry, neighbor of Benjamin Franklin, drafts a will modeled on Franklin's, leaving his fortune and possessions to all of his future descendants alive in two hundred years. In 2001, single mother Millie Kirchner, poor and virtually alone, is summoned to Philadelphia to learn about her inheritance in an elaborately staged weekend the trustees have designed in accordance with Mr. Henry's wishes. At first, Millie is thrilled to tour Philadelphia, but before long her thrills turn to chills as one by one the other heirs are killed. Unable to trust anyone, she must find the killer or risk becoming his next victim.
250 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2006
About the author
Marion Moore Hill
8 books7 followers(from author's website: abbreviated)
Marion Moore Hill was born in Oklahoma and grew up primarily in Illinois and Kansas. She holds the A.A. degree from El Dorado (Kansas) Junior College (now Butler County Community College), the B.S. in journalism from Oklahoma Baptist University and the M.A. in communications from Stanford University. Hill has worked as a newspaper reporter, college English and journalism teacher, legal secretary, and ad copywriter. For several years, she and husband Elbert owned and operated a small ethnic/gourmet grocery in Durant.
She writes two series of mystery novels: the Scrappy Librarian Mysteries and the Deadly Past Mysteries. In the former series, tough, funny Oklahoma librarian Juanita Wills solves mysteries using her research skills and knowledge of fellow townspeople in small-town Wyndham, Oklahoma. In BOOKMARKED FOR MURDER, published in 2003, Juanita runs afoul of a secret hate group operating in her community. In DEATH BOOKS A RETURN, published in 2008, she searches for the truth about an unsolved 50-year-old racist murder.
Hill loves animals and gave her librarian heroine a canine sidekick, Rip, whom Juanita has ironically named for Jack the Ripper because he's timid around strangers. Juanita's significant other, Wyndham Police Lieutenant Wayne Cleary, tries to dissuade her from snooping into possibly dangerous situations, but her nosy nature sends her sleuthing anyway. Her reporter friend, Vivian Mathiesen, aids and abets.
Marion Moore Hill was born in Oklahoma and grew up primarily in Illinois and Kansas. She holds the A.A. degree from El Dorado (Kansas) Junior College (now Butler County Community College), the B.S. in journalism from Oklahoma Baptist University and the M.A. in communications from Stanford University. Hill has worked as a newspaper reporter, college English and journalism teacher, legal secretary, and ad copywriter. For several years, she and husband Elbert owned and operated a small ethnic/gourmet grocery in Durant.
She writes two series of mystery novels: the Scrappy Librarian Mysteries and the Deadly Past Mysteries. In the former series, tough, funny Oklahoma librarian Juanita Wills solves mysteries using her research skills and knowledge of fellow townspeople in small-town Wyndham, Oklahoma. In BOOKMARKED FOR MURDER, published in 2003, Juanita runs afoul of a secret hate group operating in her community. In DEATH BOOKS A RETURN, published in 2008, she searches for the truth about an unsolved 50-year-old racist murder.
Hill loves animals and gave her librarian heroine a canine sidekick, Rip, whom Juanita has ironically named for Jack the Ripper because he's timid around strangers. Juanita's significant other, Wyndham Police Lieutenant Wayne Cleary, tries to dissuade her from snooping into possibly dangerous situations, but her nosy nature sends her sleuthing anyway. Her reporter friend, Vivian Mathiesen, aids and abets.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
August 8, 2009
This is a great book - I loved the history of Philadelphia, Benjamin Franklin, the Revolutionary War and all the antiques that are mentioned.
When a group of mostly total strangers are contacted that they are beneficiaries in a will that was written over 200 years ago they are both surprised and pleased. They have to go to Philadelphia and stay for a week while the terms of the will are completed. Millie is poor, a student working as a nurses aide and raising her son alone. A patient at the nursing home arranges for funding for her to go to Philadelphia. There she meets seven others who are there for the will plus a lawyer, a banker, a butler and a housekeeper. When one of the heirs is killed everyone starts getting suspicious of everyone else - then another is killed and the chase is on, will more people be killed or will the killer be caught, and who is that killer? And why?
I was close to the guessing the killer but in the end I went the wrong way, so I was surprised at the "who" but not the why.
I highly recommend this book and can't wait to read the next story in the series.
When a group of mostly total strangers are contacted that they are beneficiaries in a will that was written over 200 years ago they are both surprised and pleased. They have to go to Philadelphia and stay for a week while the terms of the will are completed. Millie is poor, a student working as a nurses aide and raising her son alone. A patient at the nursing home arranges for funding for her to go to Philadelphia. There she meets seven others who are there for the will plus a lawyer, a banker, a butler and a housekeeper. When one of the heirs is killed everyone starts getting suspicious of everyone else - then another is killed and the chase is on, will more people be killed or will the killer be caught, and who is that killer? And why?
I was close to the guessing the killer but in the end I went the wrong way, so I was surprised at the "who" but not the why.
I highly recommend this book and can't wait to read the next story in the series.
February 11, 2008
I'm not a huge mystery fan, but this book held my attention straight through start to finish. I am an American History buff and the Franklin connection made the whole thing seem real. I thought it unfolded at the perfect pace and presented the reader with a set of viable, intelligent characters.
May 6, 2020
Deadly Will by Marion Moore Hill is a contemporary cozy mystery that also focuses on Philadelphia 200 years ago. Millie Kirchner, a single mom, receives a notice that she is one of the beneficiaries of Nathan Henry, who in 1789 wrote an unusual will in which he bequeathed his home to become a museum, his money to be divided among his living relatives, as well as nine specific items to be drawn for by the same relatives...in 200 years. An elderly friend from the Nursing Home she works in slips Millie the money to travel to Philadelphia and spend the required week at the former home of Nathan Henry, where she meets nine other living relatives and learns there are six more who were unable to attend (such as her own 8-year-old son Danny).
The ten travel around the main historical sites and look at antiques providing a wonderful travelogue as well as vivid details about various antiques from the period. Unfortunately, during this fabulous vacation, one of the nine is drowned in a shallow pool at the Henry mansion, one is stabbed in Independence Hall, one is beaten to death at Valley Forge and a forth is choked at Fort Mifflin. In addition a number of items from the Henry home are stolen.
Obviously Millie is worried about staying alive and returning to her son with or without the money or one of the nine valuable antiques. The story bounces between interesting historical details, descriptions of authentic details of antiques, and attempts to learn which of her new-found relatives (all of whom she is just getting to know) is a thief and/or a murderer. Millie keeps up an imaginary conversation with her friend Sylvia (a type of alter-ego) as she assesses the new relations as well as how to save her own life.
There is an interesting assortment of characters (what type of deranged humans will be your own descendants) pulled together in an unusual puzzle. It is a very clever story and an intricate plot. The reader is interested in seeing the tourist sites of early Philadelphia, learning about the various relatives, wondering who will get the nine items, and of course learning who the thief and/or murderer is. I enjoyed it the second time through, and admitting my memory is not perfect, was shocked about at least one detail I had totally forgotten. New perspective each time!
The ten travel around the main historical sites and look at antiques providing a wonderful travelogue as well as vivid details about various antiques from the period. Unfortunately, during this fabulous vacation, one of the nine is drowned in a shallow pool at the Henry mansion, one is stabbed in Independence Hall, one is beaten to death at Valley Forge and a forth is choked at Fort Mifflin. In addition a number of items from the Henry home are stolen.
Obviously Millie is worried about staying alive and returning to her son with or without the money or one of the nine valuable antiques. The story bounces between interesting historical details, descriptions of authentic details of antiques, and attempts to learn which of her new-found relatives (all of whom she is just getting to know) is a thief and/or a murderer. Millie keeps up an imaginary conversation with her friend Sylvia (a type of alter-ego) as she assesses the new relations as well as how to save her own life.
There is an interesting assortment of characters (what type of deranged humans will be your own descendants) pulled together in an unusual puzzle. It is a very clever story and an intricate plot. The reader is interested in seeing the tourist sites of early Philadelphia, learning about the various relatives, wondering who will get the nine items, and of course learning who the thief and/or murderer is. I enjoyed it the second time through, and admitting my memory is not perfect, was shocked about at least one detail I had totally forgotten. New perspective each time!
April 7, 2018
What an amazing idea to write a will that will be read in 200 years! A bit egocentric of the writer.
The remaining ancestors, not all that many for 200 years, gather to go through a week of activities dictated by the will.
In addition to a pleasant amount of money for each of them, there are artifacts that will be won by lottery.
A mysterious man is hanging around trying to convince the people inheriting to sell their item to him "at a good price."
Then people start dying and it becomes obvious that they are being murdered.
The primary character is stuck trying to stay safe and wonders who she can trust.
The remaining ancestors, not all that many for 200 years, gather to go through a week of activities dictated by the will.
In addition to a pleasant amount of money for each of them, there are artifacts that will be won by lottery.
A mysterious man is hanging around trying to convince the people inheriting to sell their item to him "at a good price."
Then people start dying and it becomes obvious that they are being murdered.
The primary character is stuck trying to stay safe and wonders who she can trust.
October 22, 2021
Fairly lame. Two stars because I finished it (but only to see if I guessed right).
October 26, 2010
Millie is a hardworking, nearly broke single mom. When she receives a letter about a legacy from a will over 200 years old, she's excited, but also cautious about getting overly enthused. That's her nature throughout the book, pessimistic, curious, and not quite convinced that inheriting so much from a previously unknown relative is a good thing. That's especially true when she travels to Philadelphia and meets up with the varied group of distance relatives who've received the same thing.
DEADLY WILL is really a modern version of the classic manor house mystery. A group gets together and greed takes over as one by one people are murdered, making the split from the inheritance larger.
The dialogue and action could've been more realistic and the ending was rather predictable, too. However, it was still enjoyable despite those weaknesses.
DEADLY WILL is really a modern version of the classic manor house mystery. A group gets together and greed takes over as one by one people are murdered, making the split from the inheritance larger.
The dialogue and action could've been more realistic and the ending was rather predictable, too. However, it was still enjoyable despite those weaknesses.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 24, 2007
DEADLY WILL (Amateur Sleuth-Philadelphia-Cont) – G
Hill, Marion Moore – 1st in series
Pemberley Press, 2006 – Trade Paperback
Millie Kirchner is a divorced, single mom working at a nursing home and just trying to make ends meet. She receives a letter from an attorney in Philadelphia advising her of a legacy from an ancestor about whom she’d never known. However, things are not always as they seem and one-by-one, the other heirs are dying.
*** Ms. Hill has created an enjoyable story focusing on Philadelphia, American History, antiques and greed. There is a classic cross section of characters with the focus being Millie. The dialogue could be a bit better and the plot a bit tighter, particularly at the end. But it’s a pleasant read and, for cozy readers, worth trying.
Hill, Marion Moore – 1st in series
Pemberley Press, 2006 – Trade Paperback
Millie Kirchner is a divorced, single mom working at a nursing home and just trying to make ends meet. She receives a letter from an attorney in Philadelphia advising her of a legacy from an ancestor about whom she’d never known. However, things are not always as they seem and one-by-one, the other heirs are dying.
*** Ms. Hill has created an enjoyable story focusing on Philadelphia, American History, antiques and greed. There is a classic cross section of characters with the focus being Millie. The dialogue could be a bit better and the plot a bit tighter, particularly at the end. But it’s a pleasant read and, for cozy readers, worth trying.
August 23, 2011
This book was okay. I was excited to read it because I was in Philadelphia a couple of weeks ago and saw the historic sites. Somehow, knowing the locations and how a city looks always makes a book seem more "alive" to me. Anyway, the history and location parts were very good. The mystery part was sufficiently deceptive so that I didn't guess who it was until the reveal. However, in making all the characters except Millie potential suspects, the author made them unlikeable, with one exception. Anyway, when all of the characters are so unlikeable, it is hard for me to love the story.
March 19, 2010
This book was OK. It was an extremely cozy mystery. I would have liked a little more in-depth info on the historical aspects.
June 19, 2014
The historical aspect of the book is interesting. The plot was fairly good but the characters seemed a bit unbelievable at times. It was a good cozy mystery.
November 10, 2015
Good story idea but depth of character lacked.
February 4, 2016
Slight but librarian angle was fun.
June 14, 2017
really good story! i went to a book signing at boarding house books in Claremore, OK for this author and bought a signed copy. she's a nice older lady :) I'll read the 2nd book soon.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews