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Susan Wren #2
A Lesson in Murder
Secrets, lies — and murder! Susan Wren’s about to be swept up in quite the Kansas twister . . .
Originally published as Consider the Crows.
High-flying city cop Susan never expected to wind up in Hampstead, Kansas — a sleepy little town where there are more pigs than people.
But she moved here to be with the man she loved. One year after his murder, the folk of Hampstead need police chief Susan more than ever.
Professor Carena Egersund is out walking in the woods, when a dog comes bounding over. Carena looks for the owner — and spots a dead body floating face-down in the creek!
A few days before her death, Lynnelle Hames was telling everyone she’d found her long-lost birth mother.
Has someone killed her to keep her silent?
Professor Carena may specialize in math, but something about her story doesn’t add up.
Then a second body surfaces, in an equally watery grave, and Susan realizes the clock is ticking to catch a ruthless killer . . .
Originally published as Consider the Crows.
High-flying city cop Susan never expected to wind up in Hampstead, Kansas — a sleepy little town where there are more pigs than people.
But she moved here to be with the man she loved. One year after his murder, the folk of Hampstead need police chief Susan more than ever.
Professor Carena Egersund is out walking in the woods, when a dog comes bounding over. Carena looks for the owner — and spots a dead body floating face-down in the creek!
A few days before her death, Lynnelle Hames was telling everyone she’d found her long-lost birth mother.
Has someone killed her to keep her silent?
Professor Carena may specialize in math, but something about her story doesn’t add up.
Then a second body surfaces, in an equally watery grave, and Susan realizes the clock is ticking to catch a ruthless killer . . .
- GenresMysteryProcedural
281 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 15, 1993
75 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
About the author
Charlene Weir
12 books16 followersCharlene Weir was born in Nortonville, Kansas. She grew up in Hutchinson, Kansas. After graduating from nurses' training she attended the University of Oklahoma and worked as a public health nurse. She is the creator of "Susan Wren", police chief in Hampstead, Kansas.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
November 25, 2022
This tale is told mostly from the viewpoints of two people. One, a university professor, feels threatened by two women, and she’ll lie to hide a devastating secret. It’s easy to sympathize with her.
The other is the chief of police, Susan Wren. Pressured to solve two murders, she senses the professor is lying about her connection with the deaths.
As with many mysteries, there are plenty of characters who can provide red herrings. This is the second novel in a series, so we’re faced with occasional confusion over who is who. Particularly since you might read a last name and the next time the author uses a first name to refer to the same individual. As for people new to this book, Weir is clear in her references.
Wren is a transplant from San Francisco, so the Kansas snowy season hits her hard. We get a good feel of what c-c-cold is. She does a good job also of allowing us to overhear snippets of conversation from passing college students. However, the snippets remind me more of high schoolers in their hormone laced shallowness than the expected depths of more mature collegiates. But then I’m judging from my own college days.
I’m amazed that the author refers to a cow as he. That’s as bad as calling a bull or a steer she. All the cows I grew up around were indisputably female.
The ending was a great surprise and suspenseful. I liked Weir’s unique and convincing approach.
Some loose threads left me asking questions, however minor. What happened to the kitten dumped on Wren? What caused Parkhurst to suddenly act uptight? What was to become of the lovable dog, Alexa?
Nevertheless, it’s a worthy read that invites you to anticipate the next novel, or perhaps pick up the first if you haven’t read it.
The other is the chief of police, Susan Wren. Pressured to solve two murders, she senses the professor is lying about her connection with the deaths.
As with many mysteries, there are plenty of characters who can provide red herrings. This is the second novel in a series, so we’re faced with occasional confusion over who is who. Particularly since you might read a last name and the next time the author uses a first name to refer to the same individual. As for people new to this book, Weir is clear in her references.
Wren is a transplant from San Francisco, so the Kansas snowy season hits her hard. We get a good feel of what c-c-cold is. She does a good job also of allowing us to overhear snippets of conversation from passing college students. However, the snippets remind me more of high schoolers in their hormone laced shallowness than the expected depths of more mature collegiates. But then I’m judging from my own college days.
I’m amazed that the author refers to a cow as he. That’s as bad as calling a bull or a steer she. All the cows I grew up around were indisputably female.
The ending was a great surprise and suspenseful. I liked Weir’s unique and convincing approach.
Some loose threads left me asking questions, however minor. What happened to the kitten dumped on Wren? What caused Parkhurst to suddenly act uptight? What was to become of the lovable dog, Alexa?
Nevertheless, it’s a worthy read that invites you to anticipate the next novel, or perhaps pick up the first if you haven’t read it.
December 31, 2023
This tale is told mostly from the viewpoints of two people. One, a university professor, feels threatened by two women, and she’ll lie to hide a devastating secret. It’s easy to sympathize with her.
The other is the chief of police, Susan Wren. Pressured to solve two murders, she senses the professor is lying about her connection with the deaths.
As with many mysteries, there are plenty of characters who can provide red herrings. This is the second novel in a series, so we’re faced with occasional confusion over who is who. Particularly since you might read a last name and the next time the author uses a first name to refer to the same individual. As for people new to this book, Weir is clear in her references.
Wren is a transplant from San Francisco, so the Kansas snowy season hits her hard. We get a good feel of what c-c-cold is. She does a good job also of allowing us to overhear snippets of conversation from passing college students. However, the snippets remind me more of high schoolers in their hormone laced shallowness than the expected depths of more mature collegiates. But then I’m judging from my own college days.
I’m amazed that the author refers to a cow as he. That’s as bad as calling a bull or a steer she. All the cows I grew up around were indisputably female.
The ending was a great surprise and suspenseful. I liked Weir’s unique and convincing approach.
Some loose threads left me asking questions, however minor. What happened to the kitten dumped on Wren? What caused Parkhurst to suddenly act uptight? What was to become of the lovable dog, Alexa?
Nevertheless, it’s a worthy read that invites you to anticipate the next novel, or perhaps pick up the first if you haven’t read it.
The other is the chief of police, Susan Wren. Pressured to solve two murders, she senses the professor is lying about her connection with the deaths.
As with many mysteries, there are plenty of characters who can provide red herrings. This is the second novel in a series, so we’re faced with occasional confusion over who is who. Particularly since you might read a last name and the next time the author uses a first name to refer to the same individual. As for people new to this book, Weir is clear in her references.
Wren is a transplant from San Francisco, so the Kansas snowy season hits her hard. We get a good feel of what c-c-cold is. She does a good job also of allowing us to overhear snippets of conversation from passing college students. However, the snippets remind me more of high schoolers in their hormone laced shallowness than the expected depths of more mature collegiates. But then I’m judging from my own college days.
I’m amazed that the author refers to a cow as he. That’s as bad as calling a bull or a steer she. All the cows I grew up around were indisputably female.
The ending was a great surprise and suspenseful. I liked Weir’s unique and convincing approach.
Some loose threads left me asking questions, however minor. What happened to the kitten dumped on Wren? What caused Parkhurst to suddenly act uptight? What was to become of the lovable dog, Alexa?
Nevertheless, it’s a worthy read that invites you to anticipate the next novel, or perhaps pick up the first if you haven’t read it.
February 11, 2024
Another mystery taking place in a fictional northeast Kansas community. Described as a "small town," it is large enough to have a local college and several of the characters are employed or attend that institution. However, our main character is Susan Wren, now chief of police after the death of her new husband.
Plenty of possible murderers are introduced with varying degrees of involvement with the first of the victims, a new-to-town young woman looking for her birthmother. The final part of the book certainly has plenty of action, although some might find the center slower going.
I'll be reading the next volume in the series. I don't agree with a few nit-picking details about the portrayal of this town near where I grew up, but can recognize many of the elements as pretty accurate. I like that there might be a future romance bubbling in the background (pretty far in the background) and would like to see how that progresses, too.
Plenty of possible murderers are introduced with varying degrees of involvement with the first of the victims, a new-to-town young woman looking for her birthmother. The final part of the book certainly has plenty of action, although some might find the center slower going.
I'll be reading the next volume in the series. I don't agree with a few nit-picking details about the portrayal of this town near where I grew up, but can recognize many of the elements as pretty accurate. I like that there might be a future romance bubbling in the background (pretty far in the background) and would like to see how that progresses, too.
December 12, 2017
PROTAGONIST: Susan Wren, chief of police
SETTING: Hampstead, Kansas
SERIES: #2 of 7
RATING: 3.5
WHY: Susan Wren moved from California to the small town of Hampstead, Kansas, and became the police of chief after the death of her husband, who she had recently married. The case before her is a puzzler—newcomer Lynette Hames, living alone in a decrepit remote house, has been murdered. It appears that she was looking for, and may have found, her birth mother. Things get more complicated when the dean of the university Lynette attended is found dead in a well on the same property. Working with officer Parkhurst, Susan follows a lot of dead ends before uncovering the truth. The characters are interesting, but the ending is a disappointment.
SETTING: Hampstead, Kansas
SERIES: #2 of 7
RATING: 3.5
WHY: Susan Wren moved from California to the small town of Hampstead, Kansas, and became the police of chief after the death of her husband, who she had recently married. The case before her is a puzzler—newcomer Lynette Hames, living alone in a decrepit remote house, has been murdered. It appears that she was looking for, and may have found, her birth mother. Things get more complicated when the dean of the university Lynette attended is found dead in a well on the same property. Working with officer Parkhurst, Susan follows a lot of dead ends before uncovering the truth. The characters are interesting, but the ending is a disappointment.
December 8, 2023
A Lesson in Murder
Great storyline. I love how the author gives you little details about victim, then have you guessing whodunit. Susan seems vulnerable but also is coping with her owe issues. I really was surprised who the killer was, wow!! Never would've thought.
Great storyline. I love how the author gives you little details about victim, then have you guessing whodunit. Susan seems vulnerable but also is coping with her owe issues. I really was surprised who the killer was, wow!! Never would've thought.
May 29, 2018
A good series, nicely written, characters are likeable and each book is enjoyable. Not a cozy mystery, there's no gimmick to it, and that's the part that keeps me reading.
January 16, 2019
A little slow moving until the last two chapters.
August 6, 2024
This is a wonderful book about a chief of police in a small town investigating a murder. I love the characters in this book.
August 22, 2025
Excellent mystery. This is s new to me author. I have the set and am thoroughly enjoying it. It was written before cell phones and the internet. Procedures were different. Very exciting.
September 3, 2013
Second or third in a mystery series featuring Susan Wren, a small town police chief who succeeded to her position when the previous chief, her husband, was killed. Nice batch of plot twists and turns, and things move along nicely. A few enigmatic hints, not resolved in this installment, of personal issues affecting her previously not always supportive detective collegue. Anyone with experience reading series featuring widowed female law enforcement officers in a position of authority (e.g., J.A. Jance's Joanna Brady) can probably make agood guess as to what his problem is. However, this very minor subplot isn't too annoying. I'm hoping that we'll further signs of Susan moving on with her life in subsequent installments. I would also like to see more of at least a couple of the characters who played parts in this one.
I would, however, like to never again see anything at all of the totally unreasonable mayor and his aggravating wife. Small chance of that, I suppose. I do get tired of antagonists who so overwhemingly...well, antagonistic. Couldn't they just sometimes be a little grouchy?
I would, however, like to never again see anything at all of the totally unreasonable mayor and his aggravating wife. Small chance of that, I suppose. I do get tired of antagonists who so overwhemingly...well, antagonistic. Couldn't they just sometimes be a little grouchy?
August 15, 2008
CONSIDER THE CROWS - Good
Weir, Charlene - 2nd in Susan Wren Series
The life of d small-town police chief is a far cry from that of a street-smart San Francisco cop. But as Susan Wren knows only too well, murder happens everywhere.
The first victim is Lynnelle Flames, a young woman found dead outside her newly rented house. Lynnelle had a secret—it was the reason she had come to Hampstead. Was it the reason she had died?
When the body of a prominent citizen is found tossed in a well, Susan struggles through a maze of small-town secrets to connect the murders and find a killer who won't hesitate to litter the trail with more death.
Good 2nd book, lots going on, not at all fluffy.
Weir, Charlene - 2nd in Susan Wren Series
The life of d small-town police chief is a far cry from that of a street-smart San Francisco cop. But as Susan Wren knows only too well, murder happens everywhere.
The first victim is Lynnelle Flames, a young woman found dead outside her newly rented house. Lynnelle had a secret—it was the reason she had come to Hampstead. Was it the reason she had died?
When the body of a prominent citizen is found tossed in a well, Susan struggles through a maze of small-town secrets to connect the murders and find a killer who won't hesitate to litter the trail with more death.
Good 2nd book, lots going on, not at all fluffy.
May 27, 2009
2nd in the series, this is a fun series, big town cop marries small town cop and moves to Kansas. After losing her husband she takes his job, solves his murder and instead of heading back to San Francisco she stays and continues to do his former job. This book involves the murder of a young girl who seems to have a lot of secrets. When a local educator at the college also goes missing things get complicated. This is a complicated mystery with a cast of characters but all are well drawn and the suspense is built to the breaking point. I'll be reading the next in this series.
January 3, 2015
This one was readable, but not that good. The writing was kind choppy, the characters felt like stereotypes. It wasn't really awful though (except for a couple of scenes, like the unbelievable diary). If you're looking for a mystery, you could do worse.
August 25, 2009
Cheif Susan Wren #2
September 8, 2009
ill bk strong story with good plot a young woman comes to Hampstead KS to look for her birth mother and is foudn dead then the asst chancellor of local private college is missing
December 15, 2012
I didn't read the first of the series because my library didn't own it. But I don't think it is necessary to read these in order. A very interesting mystery. Will read more in the series.
October 26, 2013
did not care for it as much as the first one which was novel for a murder mystery. Too many murders in this one
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews