Murder by Accident

Ellie Quicke #4

by Veronica Heley

Adjusting to life as a wealthy widow, Ellie Quicke is shattered to hear that her difficult but endearing Aunt Drusilla has been killed in a freak accident. Her only son, Roy, is also devastated. However, Aunt Drusilla has made many enemies in her time, among them Ellie's selfish daughter Diana, who believes she's her great-aunt's heir. What if it were not a genuine accident? And what if Aunt Drusilla's cleaner were missing? The police are suspicious of all those closest to Aunt Drusilla, which includes not only her family but all those who have worked for her...and their families, too. Ellie struggles to keep her dysfunctional family from falling apart as each one in turn is suspected of murder.

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Mystery Thriller

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Veronica Heley has published more than fifty books, including crime fiction, historical, and children's titles. She is currently involved in the Ellie Quicke series of crime stories and a variety of other projects. A full-time writer, she has been married to a London probation officer since 1964, and has one musician daughter.

AKA Veronica Thorne

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series except for her son !

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book from the Ellie Quicke series touches on the care of the elderly and bullies. Ellie is desolate when she received a call that Aunt Drusilla is dead. She learns that her Aunt was found lying on the floor of bedrooms from an electric shock. The police are present and her selfish daughter, Diane believes she that has inherited the estate and become a person of interest for the murder. Rose had decided to move into Aunt Drusilla's home and disappeared. Ellie has her hands full trying to locate Rose and saved her daughter from a manslaughter charge. I highly recommend this book and series.

[Ivonne Rovira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Widow Ellie Quicke would be the first to acknowledge that her aunt by marriage, Drusilla Quicke, was a difficult woman, tight-fisted and bullying. But she’d never thought that anyone would want to kill Aunt Drusilla! But someone tampered with the wiring, killing Aunt Drusilla’s cleaner, that’s what the police think. The police also suspect Ellie’s family of trying to get rid of the tyrannical old woman. So it’s up to Ellie to find out who really staged the “accident” — and why. Author Veronica Heley plots a clever mystery, playing fair with her readers but still providing lots of surprises.

Ellie Quicke, who began this cozy mystery series as a doormat, has absolutely blossomed. Ellie stops making excuses for her greedy, selfish daughter Diana — going so far as to give some excellent advice to Stewart, her long-suffering son-in-law! Brava! Ellie also stands up to the bullying Detective Sergeant Willis and even more menacing sorts — something that would have been unheard of when Ellie’s husband Frank died. She still loves Diana, but Ellie faces reality much more and berates herself less. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for Ellie in the next installment, Murder In The Garden.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Near perfect cozy mystery for a near perfect summer afternoon

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Too long

I like these books and can get through them quickly but this one seemed to drag. I keep asking why Ellie let's all these people impose on her. Read it, you'll see.

[Karen · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a whiny protagonist!

[Randal · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ya know what Goodreads needs? Negative scores!

I'll keep this brief:

I kind of liked big-hearted Ellie, whose good nature everyone takes advantage of, through the wedding, so quite a long way into the book.

But then class reared its ugly head, as it does so often in British fiction, once Ellie came face-to-face with poor people, who do nothing but lay about drinking, smoking, playing loud rap music, sponging off the system, and doing crimes. Ellie sits quietly in the church, communes with Jesus, and comes out judging everyone. Judge not lest ye get one star on Goodreads, Ellie.

From a whodunit standpoint, it's a wasteland. We don't really meet the perpetrators until the very end, so no chance to solve along; the ending relies on a ludicrous string of coincidences, and the motive (and raison d'être for the big reveal) relies on the evildoer being mad as a hatter. Which lets the whole thing off from making sense.

It's more of a soap opera than a murder mystery, as Heley hits her stride in lengthy discussions of domestic life, cooking, cleaning, redoing apartments, shopping, clothes, and etc.

Recommended for middle-aged bourgeois bigots.

[Janeva Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved all of this author's books so far. It took a little bit for me to get into, but I really enjoyed the Agency books. The series I am currently reading, Ellie Quicke, is somewhat similar. You can easily tell they were written by the same author but have enough differences not to just be a repeat. It is an easy read, but hard for me to put down. As soon as I finish one book, I want to get the next one in the series. It is very easy to get involved with Ellie and want to cheer her on when she holds fast and stands on her own feet. People soon find out she may be velvet on the outside, but has a measure of steel inside.

[Quercusrobur · Rating 1 out of 5]

When I started on this book, I realised I had lost patience with all the recurring characters, and was irritated by the way that, in all except the first book (for obvious reasons) the author makes characters you have got to know in the previous ones become victims. When I started reading it I found no urge to continue, moving on to other books thinking I would go back to it. In the end I decided to just give up and return it to KU, and not bother with further books in the series.

[Cea · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was the scariest

So far and spoiler alert


That whole electrical thing put me on edge. I am not sure what it is about the characters that draws me in but each one is a nice soft read. Highly recommend if that describes your genre.

[K Theobald · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like Ellie Quicke. I can relate to her trying to look after elderly relatives and forge a life of her own. This book has many twists and turns. It keeps the reader guessing. I am excited for the next book in this series.

[Caroline Ingvaldsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fourth in the cozy series starring a suddenly independent and wealthy middle-aged widow, surrounded and nearly subsumed by a host of family, friends and followers.

[Liisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another engrossing book by Veronica Heley....

[ElaineY · Rating 2 out of 5]

Least enjoyable, especially the latter half. I don't care for the lengthy monologues recording Ellie's thoughts as well as her prayers.

[aprilla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice easy series, will continue

[Elliemae · Rating 4 out of 5]

AUDIOBOOK

[JoyceCharbonneau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some sadness

Some happiness! And each book Ellie changes a little bit, gains a little bit more confidence. And so do the usual suspects

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Soap

Definitely soap opera style . Yes there's a death and all things related . But a lot of relationship stuff and family drama.

[Anne Herbison · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's becoming compelling to continue with this series, as the reader is able to follow the characters and their developing situations from book to book.

[Christine Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good read this is the fourth book I’ve read in this series and Diana winds me up I have to tell myself she’s not real which is a good sign of a great writer

[Denise Bonham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

This crime series is absolutely brilliant.
Great characters and gripping plots.
It's a real page turned I can't stop reading them.

[Shirley Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it

Its fun to "discover" a new author and a series you want to follow. I'll definitely read more in this series. Ellie is a charming and likable character.

[Damaskcat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ellie received a phone call telling her Aunt Drusilla has been killed in an accident in her own home. In spite of her Aunt's spiky nature, Ellie is very upset at the news and rushes over to her house. It soon becomes clear that the death was no accident and the old lady's cleaner as well as her companion, Rose are missing.

As the police and Ellie herself delve deeper into the circumstances surrounding the death more and more layers are uncovered and there will be more lives in danger before the anyone gets at the truth of what really happened and why.

I have read this book several times and still find it a good read even though I know who did it and why. I think the characters are well drawn and believable and the plot sufficiently complex to keep readers guessing. I like the background to this series of ordinary everyday lives. Of course both Ellie and Aunt Drusilla are richer than the average but Ellie in particular is still concerned with ordinary everyday things such as the housework and the gardening and making sure the cat is fed.

If you like your crime stories with interesting plots, an everyday background and believable characters then give this series a try. They can be read in any order - this is number four - though it helps to read them in the order they were published as you can then watch the development of the relationship between Ellie and her daughter Diana on which some of the plots hinge.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder by Accident is the 4th book in the Ellie Quicke series. Ellie is recently widowed and lives in a London suburb. Ellie receives a call that a body was found at her Aunt Druscilla house. The death was by electrocution. When Ellie's daughter comes under suspicion, Ellie becomes involved.

I am enjoying this series. The characters well developed. The reader starts to know the neighbors and Ellie's acquaintances. Changes are happening to Ellie too as she starts to assert herself more. Several men are interested in her which is much to her surprise. Her husband always downplayed her looks and what she did. She has a very self centered daughter who always stirs up trouble. Ellie is always thinking of others and helps out anyone in need. She also was left quite well off when her husband passed away.

The plotting is always strong and all comes together at the end. I enjoy this series. It seems like a true cozy mystery to me. Just settle back and go along with Ellie on her daily chores and activities. I think that Hazel Holt fans might enjoy the Ellie Quicke mysteries.

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Widowed Ellie Quick is becoming more confident and able to stand up for herself. It does not stop her from worrying about her daughter, her aunt-by-marriage and all the other people who wander into her life.

When her Aunt Drusilla is reported as dead, Ellie is shocked and saddened, while her agressive and greedy daughter is ecstatic, assuming she's the heir to the aunt's fortune. It turns out that the cleaner is accidently killed and Aunt Drusilla is alive and full of vim and vinegar. As the investigation continues, it's clear that whoever set up the electrocution is not finished.

Filled with many characters behaving badly, Ellie moves through her life with the best of intetions, giving her doubts and cares attention but following through to help the innocent and to find out the real reason for bad behavior.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

First I've read of this author and series. I was a little put off and almost put the book down because I really didn't like a couple of the characters, Diana, and Great Aunt Drusilla, they were just so self centered. Writing was just OK. Probably won't try any more.

[Kimbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

ANOTHER GREAT READ

[Tamara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aunt Drucilla is dead....until she isn't. I liked this entry in the series and am glad Miss Q is not dead --- she's almost my favorite character