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Bones in the Belfry
Author(s): Suzette Hill (Author)
- Publisher: Constable
- Publication Date: 26 Jun. 2008
- Language: English
- Print length: 288 pages
- ISBN-10: 184529582X
- ISBN-13: 9781845295820
Book Description
Having extricated himself from the embarrassment of murdering his lady parishioner, the Rev. Oughterard is now plunged into the traumas of art theft. Forced by the shady Nicholas Ingaza into being a fence for stolen paintings, he endures the investigative probings of terrifying female novelist and amateur sleuth, Maud Tubbly Pole, hell-bent on portraying him in her next novel. Haunted by the recent murder and fearful of exposure in his new role of ‘receiver’, the Reverend blunders haplessly in a mesh of intrigue and risible deceit. As before, his antics are commented upon by his cat, the acidic Maurice, and redoubtable bone-grinding ally, the dog Bouncer.
Editorial Reviews
Review
A vicar needs the help of his pets to stay out of prison. Francis Oughterard, the vicar of Molehill, has been tormented by anxiety since he accidentally strangled one of his parishioners (A Load of Old Bones, 2008). He’d be languishing in jail if not for the timely aid of his clever cat Maurice and his playful dog Bouncer, who managed to remove evidence from the crime scene that could have led to their master’s arrest. Now, however, he’s being gently blackmailed by Nicholas Ingaza, the old college pal who provided his alibi. Nicholas wants the vicar to house some stolen paintings. A comedy of errors ensues as the frantic vicar moves them from the belfry to his sister’s house to the church crypt. Things go from bad to worse when one of the paintings turns up at a church fundraiser and is purchased by a parishioner. Fortunately for the vicar, the buyer’s love of art is blissfully unaccompanied by any knowledge of art. The ever more nervous vicar tries to get the paintings out of his possession before the police discover that he’s involved in a crime yet again. Maurice and Bouncer steal the show in a mildly amusing tale that lacks any real mystery. –Kirkus Reviews
The prose is delicious … highly recommended. –Mystery Women
About the Author
Suzette A. Hill taught English Literature for many years at Reading College before retiring to Ledbury, Herefordshire.
