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What riddles lie behind the doors of the normally sedate Ramsden Literary and Scientific Society that could have led to the death of a pretty young librarian? What secrets were hidden in the rare and valuable books that appear to have been stolen? Why has the Society's historian suddenly disappeared? And what frightening treasure has the cleaning lady's delinquent son unearthed? Superintendent Pollard and Inspector Toye dig up the long-buried pasts of Ramsden's leading families and untangle show more the murky relationships of a secluded town and its tight-lipped citizenry show lessTags
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Member Reviews
"UNDER A FACADE OF RURAL PEACE, HIDDEN EVIL ERUPTS IN MURDER
"What riddles like behind the doors of the normally sedate Ramsden Literary and Scientific Society that could have led to the death of a pretty young librarian? What secrets were hidden in the rare and valuable books that appear to have been stolen? Why has the Society's historian suddenly disappeared? And what frightening treasure has the cleaning lady's delinquent son unearthed?
"Superintendent Pollard and Inspector Toye dig up the long-buried pasts of Ramsden's leading families, and untangle the murky relationships of a secluded town and its tight-lipped citizenry. Elizabeth Lemarchand is in top form with this brooding tale of greed and jealousy in the sleepy English show more countryside."
~~back cover
Elizabeth Lemarchand is one of my favorite British mystery authors -- I have several of her books and am always delighted to discover one I've not read before. So I was a bit disappointed to realize that I didn't particularly care for this one. The plot seemed convoluted, difficult to follow, and the technique of the police seemed esoteric. Still, English mysteries are wonderful things, and I'd read this book again given the choice between it and any vampire, zombie or anime book any day! show less
"What riddles like behind the doors of the normally sedate Ramsden Literary and Scientific Society that could have led to the death of a pretty young librarian? What secrets were hidden in the rare and valuable books that appear to have been stolen? Why has the Society's historian suddenly disappeared? And what frightening treasure has the cleaning lady's delinquent son unearthed?
"Superintendent Pollard and Inspector Toye dig up the long-buried pasts of Ramsden's leading families, and untangle the murky relationships of a secluded town and its tight-lipped citizenry. Elizabeth Lemarchand is in top form with this brooding tale of greed and jealousy in the sleepy English show more countryside."
~~back cover
Elizabeth Lemarchand is one of my favorite British mystery authors -- I have several of her books and am always delighted to discover one I've not read before. So I was a bit disappointed to realize that I didn't particularly care for this one. The plot seemed convoluted, difficult to follow, and the technique of the police seemed esoteric. Still, English mysteries are wonderful things, and I'd read this book again given the choice between it and any vampire, zombie or anime book any day! show less
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#JustTheFacts2023Silver
60 works; 1 member
#MysteryBingo2024Silver(Original)
32 works; 1 member
#MysteryBingo2024Silver(Revised)
31 works; 1 member
Author Information
18+ Works 674 Members
Series
Common Knowledge
- Original publication date
- 1976
- People/Characters
- Colin Escott; Peter Escott; Alastair Habgood; Laura Habgood; Annabel Lucas; Tom Pollard
- Dedication
- To all my friends at the Devon and Exeter Institution.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)"I reckon he's spoken," he said.
- Original language
- English UK
Classifications
Statistics
- Members
- 38
- Popularity
- 761,115
- Reviews
- 1
- Rating
- (3.60)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 8
- ASINs
- 1
