Arson and Old Lace (Far Wychwood, #1) in Around the World in 80 Books

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Jun 29, 2014 Pam rated it really liked it

Shelves: uk-mystery

AUTHOR: Harwin, Patricia
TITLE: Arson and Old Lace
DATE READ: 06/16/14
RATING: 4.5/B+
GENRE/PUB DATE/PUBLISHER/# OF PGS: Mystery/2004/Simon &Shuster/278 pgs
SERIES/STAND-ALONE: #1 in The Far Wychwood series
TIME/PLACE: 2004/Far Wychwood and English village near Oxford
CHARACTERS: Catherine Penny -- retired librarian

FIRST LINES: " I pulled the car in close to the hedgerow and turned the key, and that amazing silence came down. It was the silence I had been wanting for more than a year, since my husband AUTHOR: Harwin, Patricia
TITLE: Arson and Old Lace
DATE READ: 06/16/14
RATING: 4.5/B+
GENRE/PUB DATE/PUBLISHER/# OF PGS: Mystery/2004/Simon &Shuster/278 pgs
SERIES/STAND-ALONE: #1 in The Far Wychwood series
TIME/PLACE: 2004/Far Wychwood and English village near Oxford
CHARACTERS: Catherine Penny -- retired librarian

FIRST LINES: " I pulled the car in close to the hedgerow and turned the key, and that amazing silence came down. It was the silence I had been wanting for more than a year, since my husband had left me, since I'd decided my only hope of peace lay in the ancient rhythms of an English village."
COMMENTS: Catherine Penny is originally from Ohio but had lived in NYC for most of her adult life -- married, mother of one daughter and a librarian. All that has changed -- she is retired, her daughter is now married and a mother and living in Oxford, UK; and her husband left her for younger woman. She decides a change is due and moves to the small village of Far Wychwood, more affordable than Oxford but close enough to be near her daughter and babysit her grandson. Catherine loves her home and village. Her elderly neighbor is living on his own but his health is failing and she goes over to help when she sees smoke. He is rather irascible and rather muddled -- despite him not wanting help, Catherine is persistent in finding out where his family is and why they are not around. There is a daughter who has mysteriously vanished many years ago and then a son who insists the father is fine and doesn't need any help. A second sighting of smoke at her neighbors only this time Catherine is too late to the rescue -- her neighbor is on the floor, lifeless -- she notices a dent in his head that appears to have been there prior to the fall on the floor so murder rather than an accident. .. At first, Catherine appears the nosy American and is not to be believed by most until the authorities do agree w/ her observations and pursue the investigation as a homicide rather than an accidental death. I enjoyed this debut & look forward to the 2nd book, only wish there were more.
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Jul 16, 2013 Kristen rated it really liked it

Shelves: mystery-suspense

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Around the World in 80 Books