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Starting/joining in with buddy reads
By Judy · 1334 posts · 372 views
By Judy · 1334 posts · 372 views
last updated 1 hour, 52 min ago
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White Nights by Ann Cleeves (Shetland #2) (August/Sept 25)
By Susan · 29 posts · 12 views
By Susan · 29 posts · 12 views
last updated Sep 04, 2025 12:17PM
What Members Thought

The first in Carr's series featuring Dr. Gideon Fell, Hag's Nook centers on the Starberth family, who have owned and operated a prison for centuries. The property is entailed, meaning that the oldest son will officially inherit, but first he must go through a rather bizarre ritual. It is at the time of such a ritual when the story begins. The heir is one Martin Starberth, who is somewhat apprehensive -- there is a curse upon the family and the Starberths have traditionally been found dead at the
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Really not my type of mystery, but I couldn’t give just one star, as Carr creates quite an atmosphere! Very creepy and well-done, just not able to keep my interest. I found myself skimming through the melodramatic scenes between the two young lovers, and didn’t really feel like there was “fair play” at the end as Dr. Fell unveiled his solution - but I skipped and skimmed the last quarter or so of the book, so I may have missed something!
I’ve always heard Carr was a master of plotting mystery pu ...more
I’ve always heard Carr was a master of plotting mystery pu ...more

Well, this had me up until 3 am one night and 6 am another. Actually, I couldn't put it down because I was too spooked by it.
The Starberths became governors (what we would call wardens) of a prison because they owned the land the prison was built on. They weren't nice wardens either. Took joy in the hangings, they did. Then they all seemed to die of broken necks, just like their charges.
This is the first Dr. Fell book. We also meet, briefly, Mrs. Fell. In addition, we meet young Rampole, a young ...more
The Starberths became governors (what we would call wardens) of a prison because they owned the land the prison was built on. They weren't nice wardens either. Took joy in the hangings, they did. Then they all seemed to die of broken necks, just like their charges.
This is the first Dr. Fell book. We also meet, briefly, Mrs. Fell. In addition, we meet young Rampole, a young ...more

This was a wonderful old time classic Golden Age mystery with some fine atmosphere and ambience that I think readers who enjoy mysteries in this era will enjoy. Hag’s Nook, even the title itself suggests a feeling of eeriness and perhaps sinister workings. The story itself involves an odd family tradition of a particular Starberth family, whose sons must spend an hour in the “Governor’s Room” in order to keep the inheritance for the family fortune. Well, the problem is that the Starberth family
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Oooh creepy atmosphere, vivid descriptions of the scary brought to life, locked room mystery and a climax filled with enough twists & turns to chew your finger down? Count me in!
My Rating - 4/5
My Rating - 4/5



Jun 26, 2016
Helen (read247_instyle_inca)
marked it as to-read
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review of another edition
Shelves:
golden-age-of-mystery

Feb 16, 2017
Sam
marked it as to-read
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
historical-mysterys,
20th-century

Nov 24, 2020
Nina
rated it
liked it
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review of another edition
Shelves:
mystery,
101-mystery-books-in-10-years