Mrs. Malory and A Time To Die

Mrs. Malory Mysteries #18

by Hazel Holt

Sheila Malory's old friends Charlie and Jo Hamilton run a popular riding school in the quiet English town of Taviscombe. When Charlie is found dead in his stables from a blow to the head—with only his horses as witnesses to his final moments— the entire community is shaken. Especially since Charlie’s is just the first in a series of shocking and suspicious deaths. Mrs. Malory is on the case, but the trail of clues, from an unlucky horseshoe to a lethal electric fence, proves to be anything but a smooth ride.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Cozy Mystery, Mystery Thriller, British Literature

256 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Hazel Holt is a British novelist. She studied at King Edward VI High School for Girls in Birmingham, England, and then Newnham College, Cambridge. She went on to work at the International African Institute in London, where she became acquainted with the novelist Barbara Pym, whose biography she later wrote. She also finished one of Pym's novels after Pym died.

Holt wrote her first novel in her sixties, and is a leading crime novelist. She is best known for her "Sheila Malory" series. Her son is the novelist Tom Holt.

Reviews

[Hannah L · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is supposed to be a nice cosy mystery story, told through the eyes of Sheila Malory, who lives in the small town of Taviscombe, England.

A Time to Die is one of a series, and having not read any of the other books, I was instantly confused. This needn't have been the case but for the appalling first thirty or so pages of this book. All it takes is a few short paragraphs to give the reader a bit of background information, establishing the protagonist and their circumstances. But all there was in this particular cosy, was incessant conversation from a quite a few unintroduced characters, and those characters talking about even more unknown characters, to completely confuse things and leave one re-reading to try and follow what and whom they were talking about. Ugh!

I kept reading in anticipation of somebody being killed off and the story picking up dramatically. Which it actually did thank goodness. And by the time a second character died, I had actually grasped who was who in this small town and was able to enjoy the story a lot more (no longer having to re-read sections and stop and start).

Something else that bugged me about this book, was that Sheila hardly did any snooping or investigating of her own. She simply seemed to be the trusted person to whom people shared their information with. While that's quite fine to an extent, I really felt that it was just a bit too convenient that she was privy to so much relevant information regarding the mystery, instead of having to be a lot more pushy and follow her own leads.
Perhaps she did a lot more investigating in other books in the series.

While I found myself enjoying the companionship of Sheila and her best friend Rosemary, the story itself was not particularly gripping, and in terms of a "whodunnit", very disappointing. The loose ends and unsolved questions were only tied up and answered in the last five pages, hence very anticlimactic, and left my appetite for a murder mystery completely unsatisfied.

[Damaskcat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charlie and Jo Hamilton run the local riding stables and are well liked by everyone in the area. They are also friends with Sheila Malory and she starts to see more of them when her young grand daughter, Alice starts riding lessons. When Charlie dies in what appears to be suspicious circumstances, Sheila's well known curiosity is aroused and it positively burns to be satisfied when another death happens hard on the first.

This is a well written cosy mystery - number eighteen in the series. I enjoyed reading it again having first read it some years ago. Sheila has to do her detecting in between ordinary every day life, taking part in fund raising activities, looking after her grand daughter and trying not to quarrel with her friend Rosemary's obnoxious mother.

If you enjoy cosy mysteries then you may enjoy this book and this series. They are entertaining light reads when you don't want anything too taxing to read. I like Sheila Malory with her literary activities and her wide cycle of friends. The books can be read in any order.

[Jeanette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This long series gets even better at the end- as Sheila feels both the physical reality and wisdom of advancing age. It truly is a different perspective. Plus Hilda AND Mrs. Dudley BOTH have roles and are in their peak forms. And there are 3 deaths in quick succession in a plot that centers around the local Taviscombe stables. Accidents? I rather deduced only one of the three. Finally the duo of Rosemary and Sheila do the prime reveal TOGETHER. Finally, the duo's celebration of their life-long friendship is bonded with sealed lips and loving support for a struggling young man.

[Biff · Rating 1 out of 5]

Un-engaging. Rather boring. Not really a murder mystery as suggested by the back cover

[Alison C · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jo Howard had been an acclaimed stage actress when she was younger, but after she fell in love with show jumper Charlie Howard, she abandoned the stage and embraced her new role as co-owner of a stables and riding school just outside of Taviscombe, her birthplace. Her sister Esther is also in Taviscombe, having married Gordon, an old boyfriend of Jo’s, but when first Charlie, then Gordon and finally Jo all die of either accidents or, in Gordon’s case, long standing heart problems, Sheila Malory can’t help but feel there must be something more to the tragedies. And when she learns of a greedy property developer who has his eye on Jo’s fields, she is quite certain of it….This 18th book in the Mrs. Malory series is a definite must for anybody who either was, or had, a horse-mad girl in their lives, as most of the action takes place in and around stables and there’s a great deal of talk about horses, their ailments and their gaits. Depending on your tolerance for such discussions, this is either a detriment or a plus; I myself just enjoyed the atmosphere, which feels quite timeless even when set in the mid-2000s. Sure, there are mobile phones and computers here, but mostly there are lots of horses, places for people to ride and gorgeous country settings. I don’t think it’s necessary to have read all of the previous books in the series, although finding keen enjoyment in the cozy format is definitely a must; recommended!

[Phil · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a disappointing read. Three sudden, unexpected deaths occur within the same family, and according to the blurb, Sheila Malory investigates them. In reality, a lot of people spend a lot of time gossiping, we hear endless details of Sheila's granddaughter's enthusiasm for horse-riding and Sheila's best friend's mother's difficult behaviour before the 'mystery' is resolved in a rather flat conclusion in which Sheila plays no active role at all. Rather than being a 'Sheila Malory Mystery' this is more of a 'Description of a Middle Aged Lady's Everyday Life'.

It felt as if Holt was really struggling with the 'word count' on this one. At one point, we have a long description of Sheila and Rosemary going to a fancy new restaurant for lunch, only to find that the food is horrible so they end up leaving and going to buy fish and chips instead. This contributes absolutely nothing to the story apart from filling up a few more pages. There were numerous other similar occasions, where Sheila's life is recounted in tedious detail, presumably to add sufficient padding to make the novel a publishable length.

Super disappointing after 'Delay of Execution' which I enjoyed much more. Perhaps this series deteriorates over time?

[Shawn Remfrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book took me weeks to read. Weeks. I'd read a few pages and then fall asleep. If you've read any of Mrs. Malory's stories before, this probably wouldn't happen to you. I, sadly, had not.

I didn't care about the characters. I don't care about horses. It seemed to take forever for anyone to die. Though a short book, it seemed to last forever. I nearly gave up on it, but I needed something to read at night and this was handy.

But! This book still received three stars from me because it had an interesting plot and end. It took awhile to find it, but it's still there. You don't know who was murdered, who had an accident, and who committed suicide. Even if you think someone was murdered, you have no idea who did it. I gave this book as many stars as I did just for the sheer unpredictability of the thing.

If you've read any other Malory books, I'm sure you already know what to expect and may even have a kinship with some of the characters. If you haven't, I strongly suggest that you go back and start at the beginning, Mrs. Malory Investigates. Perhaps you need to start at the beginning in order to really care much about what happens here.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Sheila Malory's old friends Charlie and Jo Hamilton run a popular riding school in the quiet English town of Taviscombe. When Charlie is found dead in his stables from a blow to the head -- with only his horses as witnesses to his final moments -- the entire community is shaken. Especially since Charlie's is just the first in a series of shocking and suspicious deaths. Always ready with a cup of tea and an ear for the latest gossip, Mrs. Malory finds herself back in the saddle, trying to solve another mystery. But the trail of clues -- from an unlucky horseshoe to a lethal electric fence-- proves to be anything but a smooth ride."
~~back cover

A very convoluted plot, complete with the usual cast of original characters that live in a small English village. Sheila industriously follows the trail that leads to first one and then the other, and then yet another -- without being able to reach any definite conclusion. Which makes this book unlike the rest of the series, and a very refreshing change it is indeed.

[Marty · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the 18th book in the Mrs. Malory series. Now Mrs. Malory’s granddaughter is old enough to start riding lessons at Charlie and Jo Hamilton’s riding school, a popular place for young girls. Mrs. Malory enjoys taking Alice to her lessons and talking with her friends Charlie and Jo. … until Charlie is found dead at his desk having taken a severe blow to the head…..but was it murder or a skittish horse? Shortly thereafter, his brother-in-law dies – but he has long had heart problems. However when Jo is also found dead are there too many coincidences? A good mystery, but not quite as good as some of the others.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The little girls in Mrs. Mallory's life get caught up with horses. This takes Mrs. Mallory to a stable where the people associated with it keep dying. Are the deaths accidents, natural deaths, or murder? In her usual manner of chatting with people in her village, Mrs. Mallory hears old stories which lead to understanding the truth about recent deaths.

[Joan Colby · Rating 4 out of 5]

How splendid to discover another of what I call palate cleansers—escapist mysteries that are well written and diverting—to intersperse between more demanding literature. I loved the horse-element in this one, my first of her lengthy series—which I shall enjoy exploring.

[Audrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another lovely book by Hazel Holt, time spent with Mrs. Malory has she tries to solve a murder and keep up with her pets, family, neighbors and friends is always a good time!

[Frances · Rating 3 out of 5]

A relaxing easy read - nearly a murder in a small English town - and it is essential that one of the characters has a cup of tea in each chapter and mentions a dog, a cat or a pony! Perfect!

[Lisa Arnold · Rating 3 out of 5]

the first one of this series that i have read and enjoyed the humour, not the kind of thing I would reread but happy to pick up another by the author

[Alayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fairly slow-to-start book, but an intriguing mystery and quite involving.

[Aileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice, cozy mystery. If like English village life stories, then this is for you.

[P.D.R. Lindsay]

Well this novel was a bit of a mystery, a pleasant ramble through a middle aged British woman's comfortable life in a rural community.

The story was a chatty ramble through daily pursuits with the mysterious death of a friend thrown in. A nice harmless read for someone looking for mild entertainment.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the cozy feel to this mystery, meeting again many characters I enjoy, three deaths, two seem like accidents and one is natural causes. Sheila isn’t so sure.

[Pamela Mclaren · Rating 3 out of 5]

The little community of Taviscombe is shocked when the popular owner of a riding school is found dead in this latest outing of the Sheila Malory series.

Sheila knows the couple who own the facility and like other members of the community is fond of them. But she, along with others, are horrified when Charlie Hamilton is found dead in the office with an open safe.

At first it is believed that Charlie was struck down during a robbery but with further investigation it is found that the fatal blow came from the hoofs of one of the horses they were boarding. Things seem to be slowly going back to normal but then there is another death. What is happening in her little community?

Sheila Malory seems to be the person everyone turns to for comfort, tea and sympathy. And suddenly she is suspicious of these deaths, their timing and the people involved ... Could it be murder? could it be over money, land or ??? Can Sheila figure it out?

I always enjoy these books but Sheila Malory is not so much a private investigator as a busybody. True, she realizes that something is wrong, suspicious, etc., and through engagement with her friends, family and neighbors, she often learns things that could be considered clues but lately, she is not putting the whole thing together and coming up with the solution, a la Sherlock Holmes or Hercule Poirot. This is a cozy mystery as cozy as can be. If that is not your cup of tea, don't pick up this book. But if you are happy to enjoy the small town adventures of an over 50-year-old woman who somehow always is on hand when there's a death, and one that leaves questions, then this is exactly what you are looking for.

[Nikki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the best of the series, but it was nice to revisit Taviscombe and its characters and catch up with the lives of Sheila Mallory, her friend Rosemary, and their families. A series of mysterious deaths centered around a friend's riding stable gets Mrs. Mallory's investigative instincts going, but the explanation is one even she had not considered. Aging and its attendant concerns are a theme of the book, and also, perhaps, in evidence in the writing; a sprained ankle on page one becomes a wrist a few pages later, and one of Mrs. Mallory's cousins must have the oldest Siamese cat in existence, since the cousin was a code-breaker at Bletchley Park during the war, got the cat "in her fourth decade," and it's still alive in what appears to be contemporary London (mobile phones are in use, at least). But these are small quibbles, and the book was quite enjoyable.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a fan of Mrs. Mallory. Her cozy way of solving mysteries has always been both fun and relaxing. But this latest installment seemed rather weak. That being said, I thought I knew "who dunnit" by page 156, and I was wrong. I was even wrong on my second guess. So I suppose that says something.

Taviscombe is a quiet place most of the time. But the widow, Mrs. Mallory, always seems to wind up in the middle of a muddle in the most Miss Marple-ish way. Hazel Holt never had Christie's pure talent for twisting up a mystery, but like I said, they were cozy fun. This title did not live up to the others. And I thought there were a few untidy threads left wandering about at the end of the book, which is quite uncommon. Pity, I was looking forward to reading it and it certainly did not meet my (perhaps too highly set) expectations.

[Mandolin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading a Mrs. Malory book is like becoming an invisible visitor to the calm (but murder-strewn) world of southwestern England. I think that's why I like these books so much and keep returning to the series. The mysteries are never all that great (though this one certainly is one of the best), but Hazel Holt does such a remarkably good job at describing Sheila's life and daily activities in the small village where she lives that she makes you feel as if you've taken up residence in Taviscombe and are a part of her interesting though low-key life for just a little while. I've been dissatisfied with the mysteries in several of the previous books, but this one is excellent. The characters are interesting, the plot is just complex enough, and the ending is surprising but satisfying. Definitely a good book on all points!

[C. John Kerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this one, which was my first introduction to Mrs. Mallory. It took awhile before anyone was killed but before that we got an interesting glimpse into life in a small English community. I would describe this book as basically a cozy as most of the action is centered in that community, though we do get the occasional side excursion elsewhere. The cast of characters are also interesting and lend some verisimilitude to the story, as they seem to be exactly what one would expect to find in this setting. Mrs. Mallory is sort of a modern-day Miss Marple, which is no criticism from me. The conclusion was not what I was expecting either, as the murderer was in fact the last person I expected, and yet the clues were there, so the author did play fair. All in all a good book, and one that will send me definitely looking for more in this series.

[Josephine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun series as a whole, though the setting is as enjoyable for me as the mysteries themselves; I appreciate a long-running series in which the characters are allowed to change and age with the passing years. Mrs Malory is herself now clearly feeling the twinges of age, though she was never a sprightly young thing during the course of the series. Her son finished college, started work and married, and his child is now old enough to have entered the horse horse horse! so familiar to many parents of school-aged girls. Pets themselves age and die, heartbreaking but only in the natural course of events.

I know a three sounds only lukewarm, but given I've read (I think) all the books in the series, I'd hope that was an indicator of what I think of it as a whole.

[Jacky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read all of the Sheila Mallory novels. I do enjoy them - the characters are exquisitely drawn & the minutiae of everyday life worth of JA (or of course, Barbara Pym)
Plotting is often a bit odd - well drawn up as an old-fashioned whodunnit with proper sleight-of-hand. But like her friend BP, HH cannot write truly bad characters. we always have to see villains "off-stage": observed from a distance, seen driving away in a car, information 3rd or 4th hand. The murderer always has an accident or commits suicide so they are never brought to book.

This one involves a riding stables & a developer.

I often feel as if reading HH is like having something simple cooked by a really good cook - a lovely lightness of touch; pleasantly seasoned but also let down by the absence of any spice.

[Cynthia Grove · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful story. As if you had just moved into the small English seaside town of Taviscombe you meet a cast of diverse local characters. True some get killed through the series to give something to solve but newcomers do arrive. There are those you would love to share a cuppa eith and others who, like Sheila Malory, you slip down a different aisle in the supermarket to avoid.

In this book there are three deaths but are they murders, accidents, suicide, or natural?
Sheila, as a skilled reviewer and writer, knows how to listen to what people say and how they say it. She knows the back-grounds of most of the people and can spot things that don't seem right, then put her observations together.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I continue to be happy with this series and this middle aged woman. Wonderful English manners and behaviors are a welcome change from the frantic American mystery. The only anxiety Mrs Malory seems to feel is when she muct visit her best friend's mother. In this one the deaths appear to be accidents and would have never been found out but for a little wiring problem. Very nice people are killed and the motive seems to be non-existent but there is always history of people that everyone is not aware of and that comes to the forefront later.

[Christine Meunier · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel by Hazel Holt is set in the town of Taviscombe, England. Sheila Malory is the main character, an elderly grandmother who is friends with Charlie and Josephine Hamilton who run the local riding school her young grand daughter attends.

A Time to Die by Hazel Holt.

Sheila finds herself spending a lot of time at the stables as she takes her grand daughter for lessons and sometimes the grand daughter of her close friend Rosemary... more at http://equus-blog.com/a-time-to-die/

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sheila Malory is saddened when her old friend Charlie dies, and she's relieved when the police decide the death is a freak accident, not murder, as it had initially appeared. But when his wife, with whom he had run a riding academy, also dies of a freak accident, Sheila is not convinced by the "accidental death" verdict. Part of a genteel English series.

[Moh · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a bit of a funny one in my opinion. It was slow to start of with, we follow the life of Sheila for the first 100 pages, I would personally say that I was cosntantly wondering when something more exicting was going to happen... However, I did find the ending interesting as it is unlike any other mystery based book I have read before.