Murder in the Charleston Manner

Sheila Travis #2

by Patricia Sprinkle

In Sheila Travis’s second case, she deals with a Charleston phenomenon called “Northside manners,” which means you don’t look out your north side windows onto your neighbor’s southern yard and porch. A perfect set-up for committing murder because people are too polite to watch.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Mystery Thriller

278 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

Aka Patricia Houck Sprinkle.

When I met and married Bob, he looked over our budget and demanded, "Why don’t you write a mystery to pay for all the ones you buy?" I immediately knew I wanted to put a body in a building where I’d once worked. However, being over-endowed with the Protestant ethic, I wrote "important" things first and only wrote the mystery in my spare time, so my first mystery, Murder at Markham (reissued by Silver Dagger in 2001), took thirteen years to complete. It took even longer for me to learn that any writing which gives me pleasure is important, whether fiction or non-fiction.

Since 1988 I have written twenty mysteries, four novels, and five non-fiction books. I am grateful to my readers and editors for letting me do what I enjoy most in the world. Bob has concluded that writing is not a profession, it's an obsession--my favorite vacation is to go to a place where somebody else fixes my meals and where I can write more than I do at home, without interruptions. Thanks, if you are one of the readers who keeps my fingers on the keys. I enjoy spending time with you at conferences, book clubs, and signing events.

Reviews

[Catsalive · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the tale & liked the protagonist, Sheila Travis.

"Trouble follows that woman like fleas follow a dog," her father had always said about Aunt Mary. Sheila Travis ruefully agrees when she is despatched by her colourful aunt to Charleston to "investigate" some mysterious accidents occurring at the historic home of Mary's childhood friends, Dolly and Marion.

Sheila's hostesses are a monument to Southern hospitality and though a master at protocol, the former ambassador's wife feels boorish by comparison. But this isn't a social visit - Sheila has a job to do, even if she's initially inclined to write the accidents off as coincidence. The first murder changes her mind. The second begins to unearth dark secrets amidst the roses and honeysuckle. Wills and family history come under close scrutiny as Sheila closes in on a killer ... unwittingly putting herself in deadly danger.

[Heather Ames · Rating 3 out of 5]

This really is a slow-moving book. I figured out who was behind the murders about 3/4 of the way through, but had suspicions before the halfway point. Too many murders for this book. One would have been sufficient. I had to wonder how much all the characters weighed by the end of it. They ate all day long and sipped sweet tea or hot coffee (despite Charleston's high temps with high humidity.) No one seemed to sweat, which was a minor miracle in itself. The characters were likeable and overall, this was a good book to take on a lazy vacation or read before bed, as I did. I wouldn't want to go another round with Sheila and her Aunt Mary. As sleuths, they were definitely in the cozy category, and I couldn't understand why or how they would be solving crimes.

[Rebecca Baughman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this mystery. I enjoyed the setting in Charleston, and all the Southern charm weaved in the storyline. Had a couple of characters to many. For me, I had a hard time remembering who they were, but usually figured it out without having to go back to find them in the beginning A good rainy day read.

[Jjean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting mystery - many, many family issues along with many murders within the family - characters are interesting with a "Southern" flair - I didn't figure out the murderer until almost the end - good lead up to the plot.

[Mark S Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Read

I loved the characters and found myself engulfed in the mystery. Great reading for vacations or rainy weekends or At the pool

[Vintagebooklvr · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story. I didn't guess the murderer even though I picked up on all the right clues. Just didn't follow it through.

[Martha A. Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy to read

Sometimes her books are slow at the beginning but this one was good.
I was slow to solve it, but finally the light dawned.

[Susan Dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is just a really fun mystery story with a lovely Southern flavor.

[Rhonda Keener · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll have to pick up more books in this series

[Jimmie Lee Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

It helt my interest.

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book, and I think the any fans of Patricia Houk Sprinkle's writing would enjoy it immensely. This is the second book in her Sheila Travis Series and, I believe, one of the best of that series. I don't write reviews of most of the books I read, primarily because I read so many. But I feel compelled to write one for this book because: I just read a review of the book here on GoodReads that was unnecessarily derogatory, AND, because I feel that this mystery series is vastly unappreciated. Heck, I don't even think most mystery readers have heard of it! That's a shame because it's a really good series, great characters, great settings, and the author doesn't have her heroine "solving" the crime(s) by almost getting killed but being rescued by the male policeman at the end of the story as so many other writers do, thereby reinforcing the stereotype of the helpless incompetent female needing to be rescued by the competent strong male. Ms. Sprinkle's Sheila Travis is not a flashy, gum popping, gun toting, fast quipping "hip chick". She is a class act who uses her brains - and those of her Aunt Mary - to solve crimes. Each of the books in this series has a different setting. In this one it is an old, historical home in Charleston, and the author makes you feel like you are there in that beautiful old house among all of Charleston's history and antiques. I particularly like the author's characterizations in this book. Although there were quite a few characters I was able to keep all of them - and their relationships to the others - straight in my mind. Even a set of identical twins! A previous reviewer of this book gleefully crowed on his ability to solve the "who dunnit" as quickly as possible. Hmm. I guess I didn't know that was the point of reading the book. Well. Guess I've been going about this reading thing all wrong.

[Kristian · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the books my sis purchased at Capitol Bookstore for Php 5.00! Woot2x!

[WARNING: SPOILER COMING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!]

Anyway, this book took me a long time to finish it. At first, it's kind of boring. The first murder (why first? because there's a second!) added the thrill but it took me about twenty chapters to be really thrilled and be really encouraged to speed up my reading.

Also, this author kind of adapted Christie's style of writing. The scary(?) part of this book is that, as what is written in it's first pages, "nothing hurries...not even murder." The crimes are slow and are in series. But, detecting who the real culprit is and the one behind all the "accidents" turns out to be an easy task.

I'm not bluffing but my "deduction(?)" turned out to be correct. Determining who the murderer was, though, kind of confusing. Almost all of the characters are close to each other, not to mention that almost all of them had the opportunity, the motive, and imperfect alibis. Of course, at first everybody is suspected. Basically, I suspected the one who is probably the most likely to be suspected. Then, I narrowed it down because that person was killed and it seemed to me that the most probable suspects are gonna die soon. I became careful and suspected then 2 persons, the one least likely to be suspected because of the least probable chance and the other least likely to be suspected because of his/her character.

[END OF SPOILER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!]

[The Mystery Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Being from the Charleston area, I was immediately drawn to "Murder in the Charleston Manner" and its premise about the city's unique social rules. The book introduces us to Sheila Travis in her second case, where she has to contend with a local phenomenon called "Northside manners." The idea that people are too polite to look out their north-side windows, creating a perfect setup for a crime, is a clever and charming hook for a mystery.

The book does a great job of using its setting. It’s a very pleasant read with a strong sense of place, and you can really feel the low-country atmosphere. Sheila Travis is a likable protagonist, and the mystery has a cozy, classic feel to it. It’s the kind of story you can easily get lost in while enjoying the unique local details.

However, while the premise and setting were a lot of fun, the mystery itself didn't quite grab me. The plot felt a bit straightforward at times, and I found myself wishing for a few more twists and turns. It's a nice, easy read, but it didn't completely pull me in and keep me guessing the way a top-tier mystery does.

Overall, it's a solid, charming cozy mystery that truly shines because of its fantastic Charleston setting and unique premise. It's a great choice for a light read, even if the mystery itself wasn't the most intricate.

★★★☆☆

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[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful mystery. Kept me turning the pages.Sheila Travis travels to Charleston to visit her aunt's friend who is experiencing a lot of "accidents" in her extended family. Soon after Sheila's arrival the accidents turn to murder (several of them) Enjoyed every page despite the fact I was able to figure out the murderer early on.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sheila is sent to Charleston by her aunt to investigate mysterious accidents which are happening to her elderly friends. Kept me turning the pages. One of Patricia's first mysteries--such a lovely author (and a fellow Presbyterian!).

[Mary]

I enjoyed this book but got a little lost in all of the names and relationships. It took several chapters to get them all straightened out but I was interesting and enjoyable. I am looking into other books by this author.

[Eulail Huffcutt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this series. Not sure if it is still in print.

[Pat · Rating 2 out of 5]

Slow to get going. Unusual accidents in house.
Nurse is studying history of family and gets killed.
Murderer turns out to be an 80 year old woman with a secret she wants to keep hidden.
OK

[Mbluther]

I enjoyed this book.