- Paperback: 224 pages
- Publisher: HarperCollins; New Ed edition (23 Oct 1995)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0006493289
- ISBN-13: 978-0006493280
- Product Dimensions: 17.6 x 11 x 1.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 232,672 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Matricide at St. Martha's
and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle .
Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Plus, get an extra £5 Gift Certificate when you trade in books worth £10 or more before June 30, 2012. Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. |
Product details |
More About the Author
Product Description
Marcel Berlins, The Times
`The clever plot takes second place to the ebullience of the writing and spot-on inventiveness of the satire.'
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Book Description
St. Martha's College, Cambridge, had been staggering along on a shoestring for decades. Then alumna Alice Toon leaves her old school a huge fortune. The dons immediately fall to fighting over the spoils. The Virgins, led by Dame Maud, believe the bequests should be spent on scholarships. The Dykes - fewer in number but better streetfighters - want to raise a centre of Gender and Ethnic Studies. The Old Women (mostly men) dream of fine vintages to be laid down in a decent new wine cellar. Impasse!
They've reckoned without the Bursar, Jack Troutbeck. She elects to infiltrate her own agent, Robert Amiss, a former civil servant with a talent for sorting things out. No sooner does he arrive on a scene where the Virgins are getting the upper hand than Dame Maud is murdered, leading us into `An acidly funny romp... Superbly bitchy on the none-too-fragrant groves of academe'. (Mike Ripley, Daily Telegraph) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
They've reckoned without the Bursar, Jack Troutbeck. She elects to infiltrate her own agent, Robert Amiss, a former civil servant with a talent for sorting things out. No sooner does he arrive on a scene where the Virgins are getting the upper hand than Dame Maud is murdered, leading us into `An acidly funny romp... Superbly bitchy on the none-too-fragrant groves of academe'. (Mike Ripley, Daily Telegraph) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Suggested Tags from Similar Products(What's this?)Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is one of the best - and funniest - detective stories ever written. It's a wicked satire on academic life, with some marvellous characters. Everyone I know who's read it loves it!
Format:Paperback
I have to disagree with the previous reviewer. With its limping plot, dull conclusion and - frankly - the weakest denouement (spelling in the note) that I have ever read, this is not even going to the charity shop.
If you enjoy mocking Christians (and other groups too) and reading about 2D characters who come from an era 50 years before, then read this.
Straight in the bin.
If you enjoy mocking Christians (and other groups too) and reading about 2D characters who come from an era 50 years before, then read this.
Straight in the bin.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
3 reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Humorous And Suspenseful: A Must Read
17 May 2000
Format:Hardcover
This work was originally recommended to me via friends of mine who I trust about literature, so I decided to read Ruth Dudley Edwards' Matricide.
As I read the book, I was initially confused with the characters of Jack and Robert Amiss because this is just one of the many stories Edwards has written using these characters. (Jack is an "elderly fat woman" and Amiss is a man called upon to do a favor for Jack.)
After the initial haze (which is only the first ten pages or so of over two hundred), the book opened up to not only be a suspenseful murder who-dun-it but also a humorous read. The interactions between Jack and Amiss are priceless. In addition, the character of God-loving policeman Romford is thoroughly annoying yet enjoyable.
Simply, the plot revolves St. Martha's, a college in turmoil between three factions (the radical feminists, the "Virgins," and the "Old Women") vying for money from a memorial trust. The war that ensues causes the murder of the Mistress of the college, Dame Maud Buckbarrow and the subsequent investigation by police. The mystery does not stop there as another is murdered which causes Jack and Amiss to desperately plot to find the true killer through academic channels.
For those who enjoy great dialogue between various characters, look no further from this book. Although this is a British work, any American can read this without feeling disorientated with British vernacular. This book is a definite must for mystery fans and is a remarkably quick read. Personally, I have been so impressed with Edwards' style that I plan on reading the entire series of Amiss works. Overall excellent... I think I may have found another favorite writer to add to my ever-growing list...
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Gret book, poor reprint
19 May 2007
Format:Paperback
An extremely clever and funny book. But if you can read it in the earlier edition, do so; the original prologue was a highlight for me and is sadly missing in this reprint - replaced by a prologue from another book. To lose the gorgeous exchange between the Burser and Amiss in favour of an unfunny conversation between Amiss and the uninteresting cipher character, Rachel, is a mistake I hope no-one made deliberately. But anyway, read the book - it's marvellous.
Amusing book, annoying Kindle glitches
26 Mar 2012
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I've read several of this author's books and enjoyed them all. This is the first one I've read on my Kindle, however, and though the Kindle glitches don't spoil it for me, they ARE distracting. Mainly there's a frequent odd-ball division of words. E.g. "hierar chical"--twice! "finish ed" "embarrass ment" "irri tant" It's very irri tating. Once again, as I so often must, I ask myself "are there no proofreaders left in the world?" But answer comes there none.
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
