Murder While You Work
by Susan Scarlett
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Description
Judy sat staring out of the railway carriage window. Of course there was a war on, but could any train that was trying at all really dawdle the way this one was doing? On the way to her new munitions work in the village of Pinlock, Judy Rest meets handsome, dynamic Nick Parsons, who turns out (after the two engage in some extremely careless talk) to be engaged in top secret work at the same factory. Nick warns her about suspicious goings-on at her new billet, wherein a suspicious death has show more recently occurred, but Judy is unphased. As she adapts to her work and learns to maintain the proper rhythm with her lathe ("The girls in this group say that 'White Christmas' just swings it nicely"), more deaths occur at home-with even a dog as victim!-and despite Nick's protection, Judy just might be next. First published in 1944 and Noel Streatfeild's only foray into the mystery genre, this novel features not only suspense and romance, but vivid scenes of wartime factory life, some potent psychology, and an array of wonderfully likeable (and loathable) characters. Murder While You Work is the ninth of twelve charming, page-turning romances published under the pseudonym "Susan Scarlett" by none other than beloved children's author and novelist Noel Streatfeild. Out of print for decades, they were rediscovered by Greyladies Books in the early 2010s, and Dean Street Press and Furrowed Middlebrow are delighted now to make all twelve available to a wider audience. "A writer who shows a rich experience in her writing and a charm" Nottingham Journal. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
In reading Susan Scarlett's books in publication order, I've discovered that something went seriously awry with her plots during the war years. Gone are the light, sparkling, Cinderella stories. Instead, in this one we have some semblance of a murder mystery, except there's virtually no mystery, and just a lot of disturbing darkness. It's pretty dreadful. Especially since she lets the reader (and the heroine) get quite fond of a couple of sweet, harmless old ladies and a dog before letting them fall prey to a psychopath. Nope nope nope.
In consequence, I've read synopsis and reviews of the last few of her books on my TBR, and removed a couple that seem unlikely to have redeeming qualities.
By all means, if you haven't read Susan Scarlett, show more I do recommend her... just be selective! Read Sally-Ann, it's delightful and frothy. show less
In consequence, I've read synopsis and reviews of the last few of her books on my TBR, and removed a couple that seem unlikely to have redeeming qualities.
By all means, if you haven't read Susan Scarlett, show more I do recommend her... just be selective! Read Sally-Ann, it's delightful and frothy. show less
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Author Information
121+ Works 15,699 Members
Series
Belongs to Publisher Series
Furrowed Middlebrow (93)
Common Knowledge
- Original publication date
- 1944
- People/Characters
- Judy Rest; Nicholas Parsons; Rose Former
- First words
- Judy sat staring out of the railway carriage window.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)“Really? Then don’t lets be idiots any longer. Besides, it’s not as though I was marrying an ordinary girl, is it, my little lioness?”
Classifications
Statistics
- Members
- 57
- Popularity
- 538,275
- Reviews
- 1
- Rating
- (3.75)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 3
- ASINs
- 1
