Mary Stanton (1) (1947–)

I usually listen to books only in bed, so it can take more than a few days. Angel's Verdict by Mary Stanton was so compelling that it took only three days for seven CDs. I enjoyed Defending Angels and Angel's Advocate, but this was even better. I've been reading mysteries since I got my first Nancy Drew books when I was eight, over 60 years ago. The only lesser revelation I guessed with this book happened after the big revelation. Otherwise, I was surprised all the way.

Bree takes on a show more client at her temporal office, an elderly actress. Justine has a role in a made-for-TV movie about an unsolved murder case. There are those who don't want her to play the role of the victim's boyfriend's mother. The scriptwriter is also writing a true crime book about the case. She has her own idea about whodunnit, and it's not the man who was executed for the crime. The actress playing the victim believes she's being possessed by the victim's ghost. Two of the three daughters of the now-deceased boyfriend don't want the movie made and are willing to use their lawyer (Yes, that scuzzy firm that Peyton the Rat, Bree's ex, works for).

The only one who is nice to Justine is the movie company's driver, William Dent. He drives Bree around as well. Bree gets another client through Justine, but it's for her angel office: the very woman Justine is playing.

Interestingly, when Bree and her angel secretary Ron check the heavenly records, they discover that three of the persons involved have pending cases. It's another mystery.

A drawback to an audio book is that the listener can't make the CDs play any faster. If I had been reading a print copy when I (and my eyes) were younger, I probably would have read it in one sitting. show less

It seems every little girl loves horses. And I was no different. I read a ton of horse-themed books, but quickly wanted something new. I wanted more than the traditional "girl works on a horse farm" horse book. I loved Farley's Black Stallion series, but even then I wanted more fantasy than reality. Stanton delivered beautifully with her duology about Dancer, the Heavenly Horse. This was one of the first stories I encountered to truly anthropomorphize horses (even beyond Black Beauty). show more Horses are not only sentient, they have a pantheon of gods made up of all the breeds. They talk and socialize. They fear. And there is a "devil."

Duchess is the last of the Appaloosas and has been horribly abused. Her breed has nearly been exterminated. Though her coat is buckskin, she carries the genes within her to bring spotted Appaloosas back. Dancer is the first among the horse breed gods, an Appaloosa stallion, and he wants to make Duchess his. But, the Dark Horse wants to stop them at all costs and unleashes a fanged monstrosity called Anor.

Not only is this a classic good versus evil story, it touches on some moral issues in a subtle way. Such as the mistreatment of animals, and the rightness of keeping animals in captivity. Duchess gives young readers a "person' to identify with on these topics. This is also a rousing adventure with a well-thought out mythology and great characterization. Highly recommended to all horse-lovers, and anyone who loves a good story. Unfortunately, this book and the sequel, Piper at the Gate, are out of print. But worth looking for on the secondhand market.

This is the UK hardcover edition. The book was only published as mass market paperback in the U.S. Unfortuantely, it is out of print in both countries. show less

In this Beaufort & Company Mystery, attorney Brianna Winston-Beaufort accepts the case of a young woman accused of ripping off a Girl Scout selling cookies. But the girl’s troubles are minor compared to those of her recently deceased father, whose condemned soul pleads for her assistance in celestial court. Was he murdered like he hinted, or did he die in a car crash as everyone believes? Did he become aware of shady goings-on among his associates, or was he a part of them? And how does show more poor Lindsey fit in? With one case in the temporal world and another in the realm of angels, how will Brie learn the truth? With the supernatural help of her friends and a couple of guardian dogs, she sets on the path to justice. Angel’s Advocate is a twisted tale of paranormal romance with a dollop of Southern charm. show less

I did not hesitate to jump right into Angel's Advocate upon finishing Defending Angels. In the second book of the series, Bree's aunt asks her to take on the defense of a rather unruly teenager, Lindsey Chandler, who assaulted and stole the money of a Girl Scout. Bree isn't sure how she can help--or if she'll be able to do much for the child, but she agrees to at least give it a try.

As it turns out, someone else needs her assistance as well. Lindsey's father died in a car accident four show more months before.Probert Chandler was a man who had lived a modest life despite his wealth. He had been found guilty of serious charges in the Celestial Court, however, and had filed for a retrial and Bree is his designated attorney. Bree has her hands full. Lindsey is out of control, and her mother does not know what to do with the child. Not to mention the long list of suspects who may be embroiled in some sort of trouble related to Mr. Chandler and his business. And does it relate to Lindsey and all the trouble she manages to find her way into? Bree has quite a knot to untangle in order to find the truth.

If that wasn't enough, it appears two bodies have disappeared from the cemetery surrounding Bree's office, and the murderers' spirits are out to stop Bree. Someone isn't happy she picked up where her uncle left off.

Angel's Advocate was just as exciting and fun as the first book in the series. The reader is reacquainted with old characters and meets a slew of new ones, each of them interesting. I could just picture Belli and Miles, Bree’s most recent guardians, crammed into the back of Bree's car everywhere she went. And, of course, I was happy to see Sasha by her side.

In preparation for writing this series, the author did extensive research into the subjects of angels and early Christianity. The foundation of the Beaufort and Company series is built loosely on 11th and 12th century medieval theology, which was influenced by the world's major religions of the time: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The author also drew on Chinese religions as well. I found this especially fascinating and admit it makes the series even more appealing to me. Mary Stanton has created an intricate and detailed world that I am looking forward to exploring further with each novel.

Bree has an interesting back-story that is threaded throughout each of the novels and most likely will continue in future books. So, while each book can stand well on its own, there are personal story lines that carry over and might be best read in order.

Despite the somewhat frivolousness of the novels, they do have a darker side. The more I delve into the "cozy" sub-genre, the more I am discovering how wrong my early conceptions were. Charlaine Harris, Clea Simon and now Mary Stanton are among the authors who have shown me the light. I like edge to my mysteries and The Beaufort and Company mysteries certainly contain that. show less