The Miss Seetonseries is a collection of cosy mystery novels featuring elderly spinster, Emily Seeton, and the cosy village of Plummergen.

“… she is one of those people things happen to – or she happens to them ..”

The series was originally created by author Heron Carvic, before being continued by Roy Peter Martin writing under the name Hampton Charles, followed by Sarah J Mason under the pen name of Hamilton Crane. Miss Seeton Draws the Line is the second in the 25-book series. The books are fun, lively and completely zany, and completely lacking in the graphic violence and sex that we see in a lot of current crime fiction, which makes a refreshing change.

In Miss Seeton Draws the Line, Miss Seeton once again relies on a bit of luck and her trusty umbrella (and maybe some minor assistance from Superintendent Delphick (“the Oracle”) and his sidekick Sergeant Bob Ranger). Scotland Yard are investigating the murders of young children and call in former art teacher, Miss Seeton, to assist with their investigation (her drawing seem to hold some sort of psychic ability). When she fails in her attempts to draw a local child, this leads the policy to believe that the child in question will be the killer’s next victim. Heavy subject matter indeed, but told in a fashion that keeps the tale from becoming too dark.

Miss Seeton is an entertaining protagonist, repeatedly finding herself in awkward situations and unwittingly thwarting criminals in their tracks – whilst usually being completely unaware that she has done so! The inhabitants of Plummergen also make a reappearance. With their unapologetic nosiness and love of gossip, they act as a real warning against village life. Plummergen is certainly not a place where you are allowed to keep to yourself!
Miss Seeton Draws the Line is undemanding and lighthearted – a wittily satirical take on village life, combined with an amusing parody of amateur sleuth detective fiction. It’s twee, old-fashioned, somewhat ridiculous but it really is great fun. With mystery and skulduggery underfoot, this book is perfect for those who fancy a humorous take on a classic detective novel.

Read this if you are feeling like reading about: 1. British old school atmosphere; and 2. some gross crimes! As Heron Carvic goes for these two birds at once here.
To be honest, I do not think the one stone called Miss Seeton can successfully kill them both (no pun intended). Because she is incredully naive for such a long-time teacher (can they be so blind to the sadder realities of life?). But she also has this sharp intuition, which (mostly through her drawings here) shows the way for the smart police guys. When they cooperate, some hard perpetrators can be successfully caught.
So while I wholly bow only to the Queen Miss Marple, the baroness Seeton can offer a pleasant, if not challenging read for your leisure time.

Emily Seeton, aka Miss Seeton, Miss Ess, or the Battling Brolly, is the fictional heroine in a series of British cosy mystery novels written in part by Heron Carvic; then following Carvic's death, by Roy Peter Martin, writing as Hampton Charles (I guess preferring to focus more on his own "The Superintendent Otani Mysteries" under the name of James Melville); then picked by Sarah J. Mason (writing as Hamilton Crane), before branching out on her own with the “Trewley & Stone” series .

In each book, we find Miss Seeton using her skills as an art teach as she randomly draws psychologically and, perhaps, psychically informative sketches that allow Inspector Delphick of the Yard, and his assistant Bob Ranger, to solve the crime. The primary storyline is the seemingly naive and oblivious Miss Seeton finding herself in awkward situations, then managing to provide enough random clues and insights for the detectives to use to solve these mysteries.

I have read a number of titles in the series (of which there are 23 - 22 and a prequel). The character of Miss Seeton is standard cosy fare (elderly spinster involved in solving crimes); the villagers, distinctly unique (reference "The Nuts"); the crimes predominantly local with a few trips further afield; the community, typically English of the 1950s style. Whilst the first five stories were original and charming, as the series goes on, it does get a bit repetitive, and with so much crime in one sleepy village, I'm surprised Scotland Yard has opened a branch there! In the end, Miss Seeton comes across as a poor man's Miss Marple crossed with Inspector Clouseau as the final author, I feel, struggles to provide anything original with which to involve our heroine.

Scotland Yard is investigating serial murders of children and again Miss Seeton's extraordinary abilities come into use. There is a child in her village she cannot draw and when the same reactions occur when trying to draw a victim, Scotland Yard descends on her small village believing that the next victim will be this child.

The subject matter was heavy yet the author was able to carry it easily interjecting humorous situations that Miss Seeton always seems to "fal" into while brandishing her trusty umbrella.

Looking forward to the next installment.