Join Amazon Prime and get unlimited Free One-Day Delivery. Already a member? Sign in.
|
Frequently Bought Together
Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought
by Robert Barnard
|
by Robert Barnard
|
by R Barnard
|
by Robert Barnard
|
by Robert Barnard
|
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Product Description
Review
In this engaging novel, Robert Barnard explores his own backyard, the city of Leeds and its hinterland. He has a sharp eye for hypocrisy, provincial snobbery and narcissism. In addition he can plot a good murder mystery. When the story begins, the heroine of the novel, a semi-retired actress named Caroline Fawley, is the chatelaine of a grand house in a Yorkshire village. The house has been provided by the wealthy married man with whom she has been having an affair, and Caroline discovers that she is thoroughly enjoying the loss of her independence. But the rural idyll is shattered when Marius, her lover, is stabbed to death. Caroline learns that Alderley was merely rented, not purchased in her name as she had believed, and, even worse, Marius has left behind a wife pregnant with his child and fully aware of Caroline's history with her husband. Amidst these various shocks, Caroline has to offer moral support to her eldest child, a rising opera star. But the serpent of egotistical desire can reach even into the heart of a family, and it is not long before Caroline has to learn even more unpleasant truths about the selfishness of those around her. Fortunately for her, she is not a woman born to feel deeply or to suffer. Although nominally a murder mystery, the story is told in a light-hearted manner, with the minimum of gore and and psychological exploration. Readers who enjoy social satire enmeshed in a good plot will want to add this to their collection. (Kirkus UK)
Normally the Yorkshire villagers would shun the likes of former actress Caroline Fawley, but the lover who's set her up in Alderley, a charming stately home, and visited her on weekends is super-rich supermarket tycoon Marius Fleetwood. So she's even asked to host the annual fete. At her mantrap daughter Olivia's Leeds operatic debut in La Forza del Destino, Caroline awaits in vain for Marius to join her for the curtain call. All too soon, the coppers discover his body between the theater and the tawdry Crescent Hotel. Caroline, who believed Marius to be devoted to her despite his many previous mistresses and his live-in accommodation with his wife, is devastated to learn that he might have been unfaithful and, even worse, that he'd paid for only two more months rent on Alderley. Investigating DS Charlie Peace (The Bones in the Attic, 2002, etc.) finds no lack of suspects, including one of Caroline's former husbands, impoverished musicale singer Rick Radshaw; Caroline's youngsters Stella and Alexander, and Marius's son Guy, all lukewarm about Dad's relationship, all gadding about Leeds that night; the ubiquitous Pete Bagshaw, one of Marius's unacknowledged by-blows; and assorted business rivals, village moralists, and even Marius's wife, now pregnant, so he'd claimed, with another man's child. But it's not until Peace breaks down La Forza scene by scene and prop by prop that the real murderer, motive, and method are revealed. A treat for fans of opera, English country houses, and women of a certain age with the knack for rebounding. If not quite Barnard at his best, close enough. (Kirkus Reviews)
Product Description
Actress Caroline Fawley is enjoying life in her new role as 'the mistress of Alderley'. Her TV work made her popular and wealthy and she laps up the attention she receives from her new neighbours in the Yorkshire village, Alderley. And the romantic weekend visits from her boyfriend, supermarket heir Marius Fleetwood, provide the locals with something to gossip about. But Caroline's idyllic life is shattered when a young man looking remarkably like Marius unexpectedly turns up on her doorstep. Within a few weeks Marius has gone missing and it isn't much longer before a body turns up...
See all Product Description
In this engaging novel, Robert Barnard explores his own backyard, the city of Leeds and its hinterland. He has a sharp eye for hypocrisy, provincial snobbery and narcissism. In addition he can plot a good murder mystery. When the story begins, the heroine of the novel, a semi-retired actress named Caroline Fawley, is the chatelaine of a grand house in a Yorkshire village. The house has been provided by the wealthy married man with whom she has been having an affair, and Caroline discovers that she is thoroughly enjoying the loss of her independence. But the rural idyll is shattered when Marius, her lover, is stabbed to death. Caroline learns that Alderley was merely rented, not purchased in her name as she had believed, and, even worse, Marius has left behind a wife pregnant with his child and fully aware of Caroline's history with her husband. Amidst these various shocks, Caroline has to offer moral support to her eldest child, a rising opera star. But the serpent of egotistical desire can reach even into the heart of a family, and it is not long before Caroline has to learn even more unpleasant truths about the selfishness of those around her. Fortunately for her, she is not a woman born to feel deeply or to suffer. Although nominally a murder mystery, the story is told in a light-hearted manner, with the minimum of gore and and psychological exploration. Readers who enjoy social satire enmeshed in a good plot will want to add this to their collection. (Kirkus UK)
Normally the Yorkshire villagers would shun the likes of former actress Caroline Fawley, but the lover who's set her up in Alderley, a charming stately home, and visited her on weekends is super-rich supermarket tycoon Marius Fleetwood. So she's even asked to host the annual fete. At her mantrap daughter Olivia's Leeds operatic debut in La Forza del Destino, Caroline awaits in vain for Marius to join her for the curtain call. All too soon, the coppers discover his body between the theater and the tawdry Crescent Hotel. Caroline, who believed Marius to be devoted to her despite his many previous mistresses and his live-in accommodation with his wife, is devastated to learn that he might have been unfaithful and, even worse, that he'd paid for only two more months rent on Alderley. Investigating DS Charlie Peace (The Bones in the Attic, 2002, etc.) finds no lack of suspects, including one of Caroline's former husbands, impoverished musicale singer Rick Radshaw; Caroline's youngsters Stella and Alexander, and Marius's son Guy, all lukewarm about Dad's relationship, all gadding about Leeds that night; the ubiquitous Pete Bagshaw, one of Marius's unacknowledged by-blows; and assorted business rivals, village moralists, and even Marius's wife, now pregnant, so he'd claimed, with another man's child. But it's not until Peace breaks down La Forza scene by scene and prop by prop that the real murderer, motive, and method are revealed. A treat for fans of opera, English country houses, and women of a certain age with the knack for rebounding. If not quite Barnard at his best, close enough. (Kirkus Reviews)
Product Description
Actress Caroline Fawley is enjoying life in her new role as 'the mistress of Alderley'. Her TV work made her popular and wealthy and she laps up the attention she receives from her new neighbours in the Yorkshire village, Alderley. And the romantic weekend visits from her boyfriend, supermarket heir Marius Fleetwood, provide the locals with something to gossip about. But Caroline's idyllic life is shattered when a young man looking remarkably like Marius unexpectedly turns up on her doorstep. Within a few weeks Marius has gone missing and it isn't much longer before a body turns up...
See all Product Description
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
Customer Discussions
Beta (What's this?)|
This product's forum
(0 discussions)
Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Active discussions in related forums
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Listmania!
|
|
Look for similar items by category
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.
Health & Beauty at Amazon.co.uk |
Let Olay Amaze You |
Treat Someone
With an Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificate, you can get them what they want (even if you don't know what that is). |
||||||||
| |||||
Your Recent History
(What's this?)|
You have no recently viewed items or searches.
After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. Look to the right column to find helpful suggestions for your shopping session. |
Continue Shopping: Top Sellers
| ||||
Amazon Home | |
| International Sites: United States | Germany | France | Japan | Canada | China | |
| Business Programs: Sell on Amazon | Fulfilment by Amazon | Join Associates | Join Advantage | |
| Customer Service | Help | View Basket | Your Account | |
| About Amazon.co.uk | Careers at Amazon | |
| Conditions of Use & Sale | Privacy Notice © 1996-2009, Amazon.com, Inc. and its affiliates |