Debts of Dishonor

Jill Paton Walsh is a highly acclaimed British novelist whose works range from award-winning children’s fiction to the Booker Prize finalist 'Knowledge of Angels'. She is also the co-author of two bestselling Lord Peter Wimsey novels; as well as two Imogen Quy mysteries, one of which was shortlisted for the Crime Writers’ Association Gold Dagger Award. This latest adventure in her Imogen Quy — rhymes with why - series is a fitting tribute to the model of amateur sleuthing made famous by Sayers and Lord Peter Wimsey.

In her first case in more than a decade, Imogen Quy calls upon her clear thinking and insight into human nature to seek not only truth but justice. Quy is the witty, compassionate, and relentlessly inquisitive college show more nurse at St Agatha’s College, Cambridge University. Unfortunately, St Agatha’s has seen better days: Its financial affairs are in shambles, and the school is teetering on the verge of bankruptcy.

That is, until billionaire financier and alumnus Sir Julius Farran decides to pay his alma mater a visit. Things are looking up for St Agatha’s….but when Sir Julius suddenly dies in questionable circumstances, St. Agatha’s is in danger of closing forever. A nurse is a natural receiver of confidences, and Imogen soon learns that Sir Julius had far more enemies than friends. Her curiosity is initially piqued, but soon turns to alarm when Julius’s equally unpleasant son-in-law is found murdered. The case takes on particular urgency because Imogen’s former flame, Andrew Duncombe, had been working as Sir Julius’s right-hand man. Imogen must work what out really happened before Andrew is implicated in the murders—or becomes the next victim. Her investigation, fueled by information her students, friends and colleagues tell her in confidence, proceeds through multilayered adulteries and financial shenanigans that rival Enron and put the college at risk of bankruptcy.

This is a great afternoon read – and that’s exactly what I’ve been doing on this hot and steamy Brisbane Sunday afternoon. show less

A good read sat in the garden in the sun on a rare nice bankholiday monday. Imogen gets herself into some scrapes, this being one of the more unlikely ones. this time she becomes involved due to the reapperance of a former flame, an academic who sold out and moved to the commercial sector. Andrew (who's a bit wet, if truth be told) comes in tow with Sir Julian who's dragged himself up by his bootstraps, and isn't the most moral of businessmen. He says something about if he's found under a bus, then one of his enemies has got him. he's not found under a bus, but is found off the edge of a cliff - which sparks Imogen's interest. She starts digging around, assisted by Andrew, and then there's a second murder - for which Andrew is most show more certainly in the frame. it all got a bit convoluted, and I'm not sure i understood the financial skulduggery - but I don;t think Imogen understood it either. As seems to the the series motif, she ends up being the moral arbiter to an important decision. It was a little farfetched, and the ending was a little too neat in some ways, but a satisfactory conclusion, nonetheless. show less

I enjoyed this mystery. Especially the moral dilemma it presents. I'll have to go back and read the other Imogen Quy mysteries. Good solid British cozy mystery complete with well drawn amateur detective. I'm amazed at the amount of time she was able to devote to her extra curricular sleuthing.

The story was good, and I like the detective, Imogen Quy, but I was disappointed with solution to this mystery. It fit the book's details, but it was too far-fetched for me.

The third in a series but the first I've read. An above average example of the "whodunit by someone who's not actually a cop" genre with interesting characters.

College nurse Imogen Quy investigates financial troubles and two murders at Cambridge University. I've liked pretty much everything I've read by Walsh and this was no exception.

The story was good, and I like the detective, Imogen Quy, but I was disappointed with solution to this mystery. It fit the book's details, but it was too far-fetched for me.