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Death Warmed Up / Death Beside The Seaside
Spine creased, page edges tanned, owner's inscription. Orders received by 3pm Sent from the UK that weekday.
- GenresMystery
363 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
About the author
Marian Babson
60 books90 followersMarian Babson, a pseudonym for Ruth Stenstreem, was born in Salem, Massachusetts, but lived in London for the greater part of her life.
She worked as a librarian; managed a campaign headquarters; was a receptionist, secretary, and den mother to a firm of commercial artists; and was co-editor of a machine knitting magazine, despite the fact that she can’t knit, even with two needles.
A long sojourn as a temp sent her into the heart of business life all over London, working for architects, law firms, the British Museum, a Soho club, and even a visiting superstar.
She also served as secretary to the Crime Writers’ Association. She became a full-time writer whose many interests included theatre, cinema, art, cooking, travel, and, of course, cats, which feature in many of her mystery books. Her first published work was 'Cover-Up Story' in 1971 and 'Only the Cat' (2007) was her 44th novel.
The publisher's tagline for her style is "Murder Most British," a style reflected in each of her novels. Any violence is not graphically described and the sleuths are usually amateurs.
She re-used certain characters, such as the publicity firm Perkins & Tate, and a couple of ageing actresses, her books all stand-alone and can be read in any order.
Gerry Wolstenholme
September 2010
She worked as a librarian; managed a campaign headquarters; was a receptionist, secretary, and den mother to a firm of commercial artists; and was co-editor of a machine knitting magazine, despite the fact that she can’t knit, even with two needles.
A long sojourn as a temp sent her into the heart of business life all over London, working for architects, law firms, the British Museum, a Soho club, and even a visiting superstar.
She also served as secretary to the Crime Writers’ Association. She became a full-time writer whose many interests included theatre, cinema, art, cooking, travel, and, of course, cats, which feature in many of her mystery books. Her first published work was 'Cover-Up Story' in 1971 and 'Only the Cat' (2007) was her 44th novel.
The publisher's tagline for her style is "Murder Most British," a style reflected in each of her novels. Any violence is not graphically described and the sleuths are usually amateurs.
She re-used certain characters, such as the publicity firm Perkins & Tate, and a couple of ageing actresses, her books all stand-alone and can be read in any order.
Gerry Wolstenholme
September 2010
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 21, 2017
Two enjoyable crime stories in the one volume. Written in the early eighties they are dated but still good to read. I figured out the murderer in the second story quite quickly, but the first one was a surprise.
May 6, 2018
Death beside the seaside - it was horrible. I couldn't focus from the start, I didn't understand any characters, plot made no sence, I only prayed for it to be finished.
October 30, 2010
After reading these two Marian Babson stories I concluded that they are not so much murder stories – the crime investigated / solved – rather stories where murder happens while the protagonists carry on with everyday life. The murderers are revealed at the end, but not because the protagonist investigated and solved it.
DEATH WARMED UP
I found the descriptions of food too detailed. Padding! But that made it a quick read as I was able to skim sections. I enjoyed the story, and didn’t figure out who committed the murder (by electrocution) until it was revealed. That’s always a compliment for a book. However, the story was then let down by having the murderer – when revealed – confess. This is such a lazy ending. I took points off it for that and for having two much food description.
PS. Mona is a ‘pain’.
DEATH BESIDE THE SEASIDE is the second novel of the author’s I have read. I thought it took far too long to get to the murder, which was what the book was about.
The protagonist also can see out of the back of her head – very impressive indeed! Examples:
Chapter 6:
“…I became aware of that familiar prickling sensation at the back of my neck again.”
Chapter 9:
“Suddenly I felt a cold prickle at the nape of my neck. I tried to turn as slowly and casually as possible, knowing what – who I would find behind me.”
When Trudi and Daisy are investigating a disturbance at the wine bar, they split up to investigate. (Chapter 16) Just like any rational person would do…not!
Then when Trudi is in mortal danger from the killer she says (Chapter 20), “It was you……you killed Little Johnny.” Again, the thing a rational person says (not) in such a situation and guarantees the killer will murder them too.
These stories are not the best murder stories I have read, but they are not the worst either.
DEATH WARMED UP
I found the descriptions of food too detailed. Padding! But that made it a quick read as I was able to skim sections. I enjoyed the story, and didn’t figure out who committed the murder (by electrocution) until it was revealed. That’s always a compliment for a book. However, the story was then let down by having the murderer – when revealed – confess. This is such a lazy ending. I took points off it for that and for having two much food description.
PS. Mona is a ‘pain’.
DEATH BESIDE THE SEASIDE is the second novel of the author’s I have read. I thought it took far too long to get to the murder, which was what the book was about.
The protagonist also can see out of the back of her head – very impressive indeed! Examples:
Chapter 6:
“…I became aware of that familiar prickling sensation at the back of my neck again.”
Chapter 9:
“Suddenly I felt a cold prickle at the nape of my neck. I tried to turn as slowly and casually as possible, knowing what – who I would find behind me.”
When Trudi and Daisy are investigating a disturbance at the wine bar, they split up to investigate. (Chapter 16) Just like any rational person would do…not!
Then when Trudi is in mortal danger from the killer she says (Chapter 20), “It was you……you killed Little Johnny.” Again, the thing a rational person says (not) in such a situation and guarantees the killer will murder them too.
These stories are not the best murder stories I have read, but they are not the worst either.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews