The Silver Ghost

Sarah Kelling Bittersohn and her husband Max are invited to take the place of Sarah’s Uncle Jem at a Renaissance-themed party at the estate of the Billingsgates, close friends of Uncle Jem. The latter could not attend because he was off sailing somewhere, but the connection serves to conceal the real purpose of Sarah and Max’s attendance: one of Bill Billingsgate’s many vintage Rolls Royces has been stolen, and he is hopeful that Sarah and Max can determine the culprit and, if possible, get it back. But when one of the household’s faithful retainers, assigned to keep guard on the shed where the Rolls Royces are kept, is murdered and his body concealed in a nearby tree, Sarah and Max realize that something much more sinister than show more car-napping is going on…. As ever, this eighth book in the cozy series featuring Sarah Kelling and Max Bittersohn is chock full of eccentric and interesting characters, many of them Sarah’s relatives. Here we also have a smarmy professor, a treatise on the history of the Morris dance, a huge swarm of (usually) benevolent bees and, of course, a bevy of ancient but glorious vehicles. Oh, and a host of private radio stations in the process of being hijacked by sinister forces. Plus lots of witty dialogue, too; recommended! show less

A typical Sarah Kelling mystery full of Sarah's offbeat friends and relations. Sarah and her husband Max are attending a "Renaissance Revel" and during the course of the party a family retainer is found dead, Aunt Bodie is missing, and the host's Rolls Royce Silver Ghost is stolen. Somewhat humorous in the same vein as other mysteries by this author. I did enjoy this book but a steady diet of them would get old fast.

Sarah Kelling and her husband, Max Bittersohn, are drawn into a tanlge of muderous events. Uncle Jeemy's friends, Bill and Abigail Billingsgate, are holding their annual Renaissance Revel. Before festivities begin, their vintage 1927 New Phantom Rolls Royce disappears. Sarah amd Max are asked to do sleuting. The gate keeper was murdered.

historical-fiction, cozy-mystery, situational-humor, verbal-humor, family-dynamics

The Rolls is already a valuable antique in the time of the story which also includes Princess style corded phones, multiple radio stations, and phone booths. There's also a Renaissance gala on a family estate, the missing Rollers and the murder victims total two of each, a multiplicity of suspects and red herrings, and a disgraceful police chief making a mess only Max and a real cop can untangle. But Sarah is the one with the creative imagination that leads to the resolution. And it's great fun!
Andi Arndt is the very enjoyable narrator.

Publishers Weekly Review: Another appearance by Sarah Kelling Bittersohn and her husband Max will please their many fans. This time they are out to find a missing 1927 New Phantom Rolls Royce, part of Nehemiah (Bill) Billingsgate's collection of antique cars housed on his baroque estate on the Massachusetts shore. The investigation begins at the Billingsgates's annual Renaissance Revel, featuring costumed revellers and appropriate food (frumenty and mock peacock), drink (mead) and entertainment (Morris dancers). Then old family retainer Rufus, set to the task of guarding the collection, is found hanged, and another Rolls, a Silver Ghost, is missing. While trying to patronize Max, the local police chief makes a hash of the investigation, show more but Sarah and Max forge ahead. Then a second body is found, that of Vercingetorix Ufford, a medieval and renaissance specialist who also serves as a consultant to Billinsgate's chain of radio stations. It appears that he's been soaked in honey and stung to death by the Billingsgates's bees (they make and sell mead as a hobby). A roster of prime suspects must be pursued and a good many complications unraveled before the villain is found. As usual, MacLeod (The Recycled Citizen) can be counted on for a witty, literate and charming mystery. (August) show less

I just couldn't get into this one

I just couldn't get into this one