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Harriet Quigley Mysteries #1
Murder Fortissimo
When a terrible, awful woman dies by suspicious means, is there any reason not to let sleeping killers lie? Christiane Marchant met her bloody end when a large, heavy euphonium plunged off a balcony and onto her head. Everyone at the Firstone Grange residential home agreed it was a terrible accident. But nobody was going to miss the hateful Mrs. Marchant. Not her beleaguered daughter, not the exasperated staff, nor fellow guests at the home—and especially not those she was blackmailing.
But retired headmistress Harriet Quigley, a new resident at the luxury lodgings, believes in getting to the truth, no matter how terrible. As she begins to ask questions, her sympathetic nature elicits more than a few confessions from the others—all involving shameful secrets and long-buried dark deeds that Christiane had threatened to expose. But who among them was forced to resort to murder?
But retired headmistress Harriet Quigley, a new resident at the luxury lodgings, believes in getting to the truth, no matter how terrible. As she begins to ask questions, her sympathetic nature elicits more than a few confessions from the others—all involving shameful secrets and long-buried dark deeds that Christiane had threatened to expose. But who among them was forced to resort to murder?
- GenresMystery
296 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 9, 2017
A very enjoyable first book in the series with an interesting main character who I can imagine being put into a wide variety of situations to keep the stories fresh. Looking forward to reading the next one.
October 1, 2017
Loved reading murder fortissimo! The story gripped my interest from the start... The way it unfolds is extremely well managed, and I was eager to read on to find out what is going to happen next....Least to say I could not put the book down...
December 30, 2022
How often does a euphonium appear in a novel
That's what the instrument on the cover is; a euphonium is a tenor tuba, smallest member of the tuba family. The mystery is very British, and there's a few things an American like me is never going to understand automatically. Christmas holiday theme, by the way.
That's what the instrument on the cover is; a euphonium is a tenor tuba, smallest member of the tuba family. The mystery is very British, and there's a few things an American like me is never going to understand automatically. Christmas holiday theme, by the way.
June 3, 2020
Started out with much promise. By the end I didn't care who the murderer was or their motive. The protagonist had a touch of arrogance but by the end it was grating heavily on my nerves. The author tried to inject some male bashing in a subtle way but that never ends well with me.
August 31, 2012
‘Murder Fortissimo’ by Nicola Slade
Published by Worldwide Library, April 2012. ISBN: 978-0-373-26796-5
Harriet Quigley, retired headmistress, has, unknown to either her cousin Canon Sam Hathaway or any of her friends, booked herself into Firstone Grange following an operation.
Firstone Grange is both select and expensive. Not an old people’s home but a kind of hotel for older guests who might be convalescing or just wanting some peace and quiet.
Alice cannot believe her luck when her mother Christine Marchant decides to try a month’s respite care at Firstone Grange. Coinciding with this event Alice learns that her boss Barry Wilson has sold his estate agent business to Neil Slater. Initially, browbeaten Alice fears the worst but matters take a surprising turn.
When Christine Marchant takes up residence at Firstone Grange she has a most unsettling effect on the current guests, for Christine Marchant is a most unpleasant women revelling in the misfortune’s of others, and keen to exploit their weaknesses for her own pleasure. From the elderly inmates to young Gemma Sankey who works at Firstone Grange Christine Marchant has something on them all and she makes sure that they all know it, enjoying watching her victim’s squirm. When a heavy euphonium falls from a balcony landing on her head, it is initially put down as an accident, but Harriet is not so sure.
With clever plotting and a marvellous cast of characters, Nicola Slade has presented a real brain-teaser. Virtually everyone who knew Christine Marchant is a suspect. So just who did kill Christine Marchant, and how did they do it?
An interesting exercise in the effect one person can have on so many lives and the changes wrought once the evil presence is removed. A most enjoyable and tantalising mystery.
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Lizzie Hayes
Published by Worldwide Library, April 2012. ISBN: 978-0-373-26796-5
Harriet Quigley, retired headmistress, has, unknown to either her cousin Canon Sam Hathaway or any of her friends, booked herself into Firstone Grange following an operation.
Firstone Grange is both select and expensive. Not an old people’s home but a kind of hotel for older guests who might be convalescing or just wanting some peace and quiet.
Alice cannot believe her luck when her mother Christine Marchant decides to try a month’s respite care at Firstone Grange. Coinciding with this event Alice learns that her boss Barry Wilson has sold his estate agent business to Neil Slater. Initially, browbeaten Alice fears the worst but matters take a surprising turn.
When Christine Marchant takes up residence at Firstone Grange she has a most unsettling effect on the current guests, for Christine Marchant is a most unpleasant women revelling in the misfortune’s of others, and keen to exploit their weaknesses for her own pleasure. From the elderly inmates to young Gemma Sankey who works at Firstone Grange Christine Marchant has something on them all and she makes sure that they all know it, enjoying watching her victim’s squirm. When a heavy euphonium falls from a balcony landing on her head, it is initially put down as an accident, but Harriet is not so sure.
With clever plotting and a marvellous cast of characters, Nicola Slade has presented a real brain-teaser. Virtually everyone who knew Christine Marchant is a suspect. So just who did kill Christine Marchant, and how did they do it?
An interesting exercise in the effect one person can have on so many lives and the changes wrought once the evil presence is removed. A most enjoyable and tantalising mystery.
------
Lizzie Hayes
August 1, 2013
Harriet Quigley – retired headmistress – has booked herself a few weeks convalescence in an upmarket hotel/nursing home but she doesn’t want her cousin Canon Sam Hathaway to know where she is and why she is there. Sam – being an inquisitive soul – soon finds out where she is which at least means Harriet gets some visits from him.
Harriet soon decides that she does not like one of her fellow inmates – Christianne Marchant – who seems to have a hold over several of the other inmates. It soon becomes clear that several people have a reason to want her dead and no one is terribly surprised when she meets an untimely end.
I enjoyed this crime novel with its down to earth and no nonsense heroine and have already started another novel by this same author. There is no on the page violence or bad language so if you don’t like those elements in your crime novels then try Nicola Slade.
Harriet soon decides that she does not like one of her fellow inmates – Christianne Marchant – who seems to have a hold over several of the other inmates. It soon becomes clear that several people have a reason to want her dead and no one is terribly surprised when she meets an untimely end.
I enjoyed this crime novel with its down to earth and no nonsense heroine and have already started another novel by this same author. There is no on the page violence or bad language so if you don’t like those elements in your crime novels then try Nicola Slade.
January 12, 2013
To me this book is 'Murder she wrote meets Miss Marple' in a home-from-home at Firstone Grange, an establishment that combines top class hotel facilities with discreet nursing care, but when the past of some of its new guests meets up with them, then you know it can only lead to one thing.
The author, Nicola Slade has a wonderful way of bring her characters alive on the page, as she sketch out their lives for you to build up a picture of them while the story unfolds.
By the end of the book you are left wondering whether justice was truly done and who were the real criminals in 'Murder Fortissimo'
As the old saying goes... walk a mile in their shoes and then ask yourself what would you do?
A very enjoyable read.
The author, Nicola Slade has a wonderful way of bring her characters alive on the page, as she sketch out their lives for you to build up a picture of them while the story unfolds.
By the end of the book you are left wondering whether justice was truly done and who were the real criminals in 'Murder Fortissimo'
As the old saying goes... walk a mile in their shoes and then ask yourself what would you do?
A very enjoyable read.
January 15, 2014
Murder strikes in a rehab home when a particularly vile woman is killed by a falling euphonium. sound a bit comic---it isn't. Many of the other residents had seemed to be terrified of Christianne Marchant. But why??? Harriet Quigey, a former head mistress, recuperating from surgery, cannot let the situation rest and although the police rule it a dreadful accident she keeps snooping around suspecting murder. To this point I was really enjoying the book, but some of the "possible" suspects were just as vile and I found I didn't care if they were guilty. The ending was also quite contrived.
June 24, 2014
This is pretty much a standard English drawing room mystery except that the murder weapon is a euphonium [That is not a spoiler as this is stated on on back cover blurb.]. Although there are a finite number of suspects, the murderer is not obvious, even if the motive is. I enjoyed it well enough to finish it, but I doubt that I would ever want to re-read it. I'd consider it to be a good plane trip book.
February 8, 2012
This is a great, quick murder mystery along the lines of Miss Marple. The author is confident and strong in her characters and setting. There is a small group of clients staying in a convalescent home all of whom seem to have cause to hate a new arrival - who, naturally, is found dead!!
April 6, 2014
I always enjoy the Worldwide Library distribution although I cancelled my subscription when I started up with Audible. This book was great - readable, moved along and cozy all at once - w a death by euphonium. Not a bad way to go (spoken as a brass player).
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews