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Carol Ashton Mysteries #17
Lethal Care
Two celebrated writers combine to offer the electrifying conclusion to a legendary mystery series…
Detective Inspector Carol Ashton’s promotion to Chief Inspector has immediately ensnared her in two assignments that hold no warning they will forever change her life.
She’s inherited the pressurized case of the high-profile death of media star and wealthy philanthropist Greta Denby, who had been undergoing a controversial experimental treatment for her cancer. Also the case of the investigating officer, greatly respected Inspector Ian Rooke, who has himself just died in baffling circumstances, a demise made more mysterious by the inexplicable shoddiness of his investigation into Greta’s death.
Carol’s life is further complicated by her failing hold on the woman she loves. And by the surfacing of a powerful ghost—her mother. Someone from Carol’s distant past has emerged to question in the most public possible way the circumstances of her mother’s death with accusations against Carol—and they may well be the truth.
In this final chapter, Carol Ashton confronts an increasingly dire future and the most formidable challenge of all—her fundamental belief in her career, and in herself.
Genre: Mystery
Editor: Cath Walker
Cover Designer: Judith Fellows
Detective Inspector Carol Ashton’s promotion to Chief Inspector has immediately ensnared her in two assignments that hold no warning they will forever change her life.
She’s inherited the pressurized case of the high-profile death of media star and wealthy philanthropist Greta Denby, who had been undergoing a controversial experimental treatment for her cancer. Also the case of the investigating officer, greatly respected Inspector Ian Rooke, who has himself just died in baffling circumstances, a demise made more mysterious by the inexplicable shoddiness of his investigation into Greta’s death.
Carol’s life is further complicated by her failing hold on the woman she loves. And by the surfacing of a powerful ghost—her mother. Someone from Carol’s distant past has emerged to question in the most public possible way the circumstances of her mother’s death with accusations against Carol—and they may well be the truth.
In this final chapter, Carol Ashton confronts an increasingly dire future and the most formidable challenge of all—her fundamental belief in her career, and in herself.
Genre: Mystery
Editor: Cath Walker
Cover Designer: Judith Fellows
- GenresLGBT
243 pages, Paperback
First published December 5, 2017
6 people are currently reading
83 people want to read
About the author
Claire McNab
48 books52 followersCLAIRE McNAB, 1940-2022
Claire McNab died on June 30, 2022, after a prolonged battle with Parkinson’s Disease. She also wrote under her real name, Claire Carmichael, an outpouring of children's literature, textbooks, self-help books, and plays. She became (and remains to this day) a renowned author of children’s books in Australia.
Claire McNab is the pseudonym of Claire Carmichael. She was born in 1940 in Melbourne, Australia. While pursuing a career as a high school teacher in Sydney, she began her writing career with comedy plays and textbooks. She left teaching in the mid-eighties to become a full-time writer. In her native Australia she is known for her self-help and children's books. She moved to Los Angeles in 1994 after falling in love with an American woman, and now teaches not-yet-published writers through the UCLA Writers' Extension Program. She is best known for three lesbian mystery series featuring Inspector Carol Ashton, Agent Denise Cleever and Detective Kylie Kendall. She is the recipient of the 2006 Alice B. Medal.
From the publisher's website: Claire McNab has written over 50 books and is known in her native Australia for crime fiction, children's novels, picture books, self-help, and English textbooks. Her first mystery, Lessons in Murder, was published in the U.S. in 1988. Now a Los Angeles resident, she teaches not-yet-published writers through the UCLA Extension Writers' Program. She is the author of three lesbian mystery series featuring Inspector Carol Ashton, Agent Denise Cleever and Detective Kylie Kendall. She has served as the president of Sisters in Crime and is a member of both the Mystery Writers of America and the Science Fiction Writers of America. She lives in Los Angeles and is working on the finale of the Carol Ashton series, Lethal Care.
Claire McNab died on June 30, 2022, after a prolonged battle with Parkinson’s Disease. She also wrote under her real name, Claire Carmichael, an outpouring of children's literature, textbooks, self-help books, and plays. She became (and remains to this day) a renowned author of children’s books in Australia.
Claire McNab is the pseudonym of Claire Carmichael. She was born in 1940 in Melbourne, Australia. While pursuing a career as a high school teacher in Sydney, she began her writing career with comedy plays and textbooks. She left teaching in the mid-eighties to become a full-time writer. In her native Australia she is known for her self-help and children's books. She moved to Los Angeles in 1994 after falling in love with an American woman, and now teaches not-yet-published writers through the UCLA Writers' Extension Program. She is best known for three lesbian mystery series featuring Inspector Carol Ashton, Agent Denise Cleever and Detective Kylie Kendall. She is the recipient of the 2006 Alice B. Medal.
From the publisher's website: Claire McNab has written over 50 books and is known in her native Australia for crime fiction, children's novels, picture books, self-help, and English textbooks. Her first mystery, Lessons in Murder, was published in the U.S. in 1988. Now a Los Angeles resident, she teaches not-yet-published writers through the UCLA Extension Writers' Program. She is the author of three lesbian mystery series featuring Inspector Carol Ashton, Agent Denise Cleever and Detective Kylie Kendall. She has served as the president of Sisters in Crime and is a member of both the Mystery Writers of America and the Science Fiction Writers of America. She lives in Los Angeles and is working on the finale of the Carol Ashton series, Lethal Care.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 21, 2018
4.5 stars
13 years after the publication of “Fall Guy” Claire McNabb has come out with a final chapter in the story of Inspector Carol Ashton. Ably assisted by one of our most well-respected writers, editors and publishers, Katherine V Forrest, who edited many of the Carol Ashton series, this story slides seamlessly into place and brought back so many memories.
Carol has been promoted to Chief Inspector, Mark to inspector and Ann to Sergeant. Further into a political world than she would like, with a Police Chief she despises, Carol and the team are handed two suspicious deaths. A wealthy socialite and matriarch, Greta Denby already dying of cancer whose autopsy showed a drug overdose, and Inspector Rooke, a friendly rival throughout her career, whose car went over the cliff on a hairpin bend. Was Denby’s death assisted suicide or murder, was Rooke’s an accident or something more damaging to the Sydney police force?
As usual the crime drama is excellent, well thought through and plotted, complex enough to keep the attention and like a good Agatha Christie, literally anyone could have done it, although we didn’t meet a butler. What makes it more emotionally complicated is the triggers for Carol, who carries enormous guilt about her mother’s death under similar circumstances. When a religious fanatic tries to accuse her of murder she must face up to the past, and recognise that her career is on the line.
At the same time Carol and Sibyl are dancing around their perennial ‘will they wont they’ question. I have to admit I am going to have to re-read the whole series (lucky me) to remember when they weren’t at odds. As usual Carol's dedication to her career is a fundamental issue, but Sybil’s PTSD is also a major stumbling block. Aunt Sarah is her usual wonderful self, dying butterfly and all, while Madeline Shipley plays her customary stirring role as both a talk show host and a flirtatious ex.
The cast is excellent as always and continue to provide the warmth of a family and friends that keeps Carol sane. Sydney again provides a stunning backdrop to the storyline. The whole is a wonderful example of an extended series which seems to float along, heartfelt, honest and complete in it’s own little microcosm.
I cant tell you how delighted I was that Claire McNabb had managed to put out this final story despite the obstacles of Parkinson’s and poor health, and applaud Katherine V Forrest for helping this happen. It is still very much a Claire McNabb, and, as mentioned by the author, having a former editor co-authoring meant a deep understanding of the characters and style of the series were already in place, making it a painless endeavour.
As you would expect it is excellently written and edited, it is warm and fuzzy with the feeling of returning to old friends, resolving long held questions and tying up a myriad of loose ends. The Carol Ashton books, along with Forrest’s Delafied series, were the cornerstone of my lesbian reading in the late 80’s and 90’s. Between them they created the genre of the lesbian cop/procedural/crime series and I for one will always shower them with respect for being the ground breakers of lesbian fiction that they are.
13 years after the publication of “Fall Guy” Claire McNabb has come out with a final chapter in the story of Inspector Carol Ashton. Ably assisted by one of our most well-respected writers, editors and publishers, Katherine V Forrest, who edited many of the Carol Ashton series, this story slides seamlessly into place and brought back so many memories.
Carol has been promoted to Chief Inspector, Mark to inspector and Ann to Sergeant. Further into a political world than she would like, with a Police Chief she despises, Carol and the team are handed two suspicious deaths. A wealthy socialite and matriarch, Greta Denby already dying of cancer whose autopsy showed a drug overdose, and Inspector Rooke, a friendly rival throughout her career, whose car went over the cliff on a hairpin bend. Was Denby’s death assisted suicide or murder, was Rooke’s an accident or something more damaging to the Sydney police force?
As usual the crime drama is excellent, well thought through and plotted, complex enough to keep the attention and like a good Agatha Christie, literally anyone could have done it, although we didn’t meet a butler. What makes it more emotionally complicated is the triggers for Carol, who carries enormous guilt about her mother’s death under similar circumstances. When a religious fanatic tries to accuse her of murder she must face up to the past, and recognise that her career is on the line.
At the same time Carol and Sibyl are dancing around their perennial ‘will they wont they’ question. I have to admit I am going to have to re-read the whole series (lucky me) to remember when they weren’t at odds. As usual Carol's dedication to her career is a fundamental issue, but Sybil’s PTSD is also a major stumbling block. Aunt Sarah is her usual wonderful self, dying butterfly and all, while Madeline Shipley plays her customary stirring role as both a talk show host and a flirtatious ex.
The cast is excellent as always and continue to provide the warmth of a family and friends that keeps Carol sane. Sydney again provides a stunning backdrop to the storyline. The whole is a wonderful example of an extended series which seems to float along, heartfelt, honest and complete in it’s own little microcosm.
I cant tell you how delighted I was that Claire McNabb had managed to put out this final story despite the obstacles of Parkinson’s and poor health, and applaud Katherine V Forrest for helping this happen. It is still very much a Claire McNabb, and, as mentioned by the author, having a former editor co-authoring meant a deep understanding of the characters and style of the series were already in place, making it a painless endeavour.
As you would expect it is excellently written and edited, it is warm and fuzzy with the feeling of returning to old friends, resolving long held questions and tying up a myriad of loose ends. The Carol Ashton books, along with Forrest’s Delafied series, were the cornerstone of my lesbian reading in the late 80’s and 90’s. Between them they created the genre of the lesbian cop/procedural/crime series and I for one will always shower them with respect for being the ground breakers of lesbian fiction that they are.
January 22, 2021
This has been a phenomenal series!
I first started reading this series in the late 90s. I was hocked on the first book and watching Carol grow has been a joy. I had let go of the series for awhile because at the heart it, I’m a romantic! I loved the passionate development of her and Sybil’s relationship. I became Disenchanted when They parted and went on to other relationships, Those symbol was always there in the background. When I realize from Buck 15 that they would get back together it prompted me to go back in time read the first book to refamiliarize myself with the love that they share and then get caught up on several books starting with mine. Doing that made the final chapter really worthwhile. It was a fitting ending to the series delving into Carol’s secrets and inner world To finally discover what really makes her tick.
Sometimes it takes a tragedy or a life altering situation that forces a change. The plot forced a reckoning that allowed Carol to open up emotionally and finally share herself fully with the woman that she has always loved. Tshe was able to become vulnerable and admit she needed Sybil. That was all Sybil ever really wanted, And I love the fact that she was able to do so before she lost her completely. What a heartfelt, beautiful ending to a series that I’m sure I will visit again from the very beginning. I’ve read the first book many times but to explore the entire series again is going to be a treat!
I first started reading this series in the late 90s. I was hocked on the first book and watching Carol grow has been a joy. I had let go of the series for awhile because at the heart it, I’m a romantic! I loved the passionate development of her and Sybil’s relationship. I became Disenchanted when They parted and went on to other relationships, Those symbol was always there in the background. When I realize from Buck 15 that they would get back together it prompted me to go back in time read the first book to refamiliarize myself with the love that they share and then get caught up on several books starting with mine. Doing that made the final chapter really worthwhile. It was a fitting ending to the series delving into Carol’s secrets and inner world To finally discover what really makes her tick.
Sometimes it takes a tragedy or a life altering situation that forces a change. The plot forced a reckoning that allowed Carol to open up emotionally and finally share herself fully with the woman that she has always loved. Tshe was able to become vulnerable and admit she needed Sybil. That was all Sybil ever really wanted, And I love the fact that she was able to do so before she lost her completely. What a heartfelt, beautiful ending to a series that I’m sure I will visit again from the very beginning. I’ve read the first book many times but to explore the entire series again is going to be a treat!
January 16, 2018
This is the last book in the Carol Ashton series, and I'm sad to see it end. Not because the books are particularly well-written or that Claire McNab's a fantastic writer - they're not and she's not, the books are just a fun read. I wish it could have gone on, but I understand how ill McNab is and that she's not able to write any more. I saw a lot of Katherine Forrest's writing style in the book, which was a bit irritating. For instance, at one point Carol and her colleagues were discussing a murder attempt, and one of them said it was "amateur city". That just happens to be the title of Katherine Forrest's first Kate Delafield murder mystery book, and it seriously annoyed me that she would throw that in there. Or one of Forrest's favorite phrases "soft fine hair", which she uses in almost every book she writes. She uses it to describe Carol's hair as well, except she leaves out the word "soft" and just calls it "blonde, fine hair". Ugh. It was unfortunate that Forrest had to help McNab write the book, but otherwise it wouldn't have been able to get done.
January 13, 2018
I enjoyed this book very much. I haven’t read a Claire McNab book in years, but as this was the last one in the series and it was co-written by Katherine V. Forrest I had to check it out. It’s about the right to die and assisted suicide and was handled well. The characters are well developed, all could be the killer, and I was surprised by who it actually did it.
September 5, 2018
Very good mystery, really double mystery. Lesbian characters, lesbian detective. Co-authored by two giants of lesbian feminist mystery/ literature. Unfortunately, because Claire McNab was too ill to finish. I will go back and read more of this series, now.
November 29, 2019
Good to the last word. I have loved reading all of Claire McNab's books and this latest was no exception. Carol is stellar and I thoroughly enjoy Aunt Sarah, Sybil, and Madeline. What would you do?
June 28, 2020
Brilliant end to the series!
I loved:
- how the three mysteries were cleverly woven together;
- that there was more exposition to Sybil's trauma, and a resolution to her relationship with Carol;
- the dramatic beat showcasing how Madeline Shipley proved to be a true friend.
Thank you Claire McNab and Katherine V Forrest!
I loved:
- how the three mysteries were cleverly woven together;
- that there was more exposition to Sybil's trauma, and a resolution to her relationship with Carol;
- the dramatic beat showcasing how Madeline Shipley proved to be a true friend.
Thank you Claire McNab and Katherine V Forrest!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews