Miss Seeton Plants Suspicion

I really enjoyed this older female sleuth in the vein of Miss Marple. She is sharp and funny. I would definitely read more of this series.

If you've read any of the other books in the series you realize that the key to solving the crime(s) is in the unwittingly created cartoons Miss Seeton is compelled to draw when crime or evil is within her purview. At times she becomes a mere background character as the action plays out; at others she is the central protagonist. This latest episode in the re-release of these delightful tales falls somewhere in the middle. The crime this time is murder, not just one but two, spaced a year apart and fairly horrific even with British understatement. Despite the carefully laid clues, I was utterly surprised at the final and fully logical conclusion so will not spoil your enjoyment with any further plot notes other than to say--there is *almost* a cliffhanger ending! Or at the very least a hint of things to come

Disclaimer: "I was given an advanced copy. All opinions expressed are my own." But I SELECT which books I wish to read and review them voluntarily, as thank yous to the authors for providing me reading pleasure. (Frankly, unless a book is so bad I need to warn others away, if I don't enjoy it I don't bother to share my opinions.)

I would like to thank Netgalley and Farrago for an advance copy of Miss Seeton Plants Suspicion, the fifteenth novel in Heron Carvic's series and the seventh written by Sarah J. Mason under the pseudonym Hamilton Crane.

It is hop season in Kent and the casual labour employed to pick them has arrived in force from London's East End. Superintendent Brinton of Ashford CID is not too bothered about them as he is too busy brooding over the unsolved "Blonde in a bag" case from the same time the previous year. His mood does not get better when The Nuts, two local ladies from Plummergen, Miss Seeton's home village, find another body, killed in an identical manner. Given the gruesome nature of the crime Superintendent Brinton does not want to upset Miss Seeton's sensibilities by consulting her but her mind and fingers are working away on it anyway.

There is nothing particularly new in this novel. The characters are well established and do as they always do. The Nuts gossip, draw false inferences and find a way to implicate Miss Seeton in anything untoward that happens. Superintendent Brinton continues to mutter about Miss Seeton, her other friends support and protect her and Miss Seeton herself sails through it all sublimely unconscious of most of it.

This is an amusing novel with a light touch and, as always, makes it a joy to spend time with Miss Seeton and her innocent view of the world. I have no hesitation in recommending it it as a good, escapist read.

This is the 15th Miss Seeton mystery. And in some ways, it is the same as well as very different.

Normally Miss Seeton's solves crimes which may be violent but this one seems Much More. There is a Blonde in a Bag. And the inference is that the crime is extremely violent.

There are a great many things going on in this story.

The village of Plummergen has an upcoming Christmas pantomime. Right now there are hops pickers who have come to Kent for the harvest. It is autumn and farms as well as private gardens are being readied up for winter.

At times, it almost seems events are going in too many directions at once.

The humor and the mystery involving Miss Seeton are just as a reader familiar with the series would expect. Miss Seeton seems oblivious to much of what happens around her, but she has absolute faith in her fellow man. Most of all, when she does her special drawings, her mind's eye shows crimes and criminals which have been hidden.

The village citizens are gossiping and imagining the worst of their neighbors. Scotland Yard does not have as large a part in the action this time. The main police involvement comes from locals who are familiar with the village as well as Miss Seeton. Miss Seeton's good friend, Amelia (Mel)Forby, the reporter from London is in the midst of the action.

We have the usual characters and a plot that moves very quickly.

In short, we have a Miss Seeton story which accomplishes the usual entertainment for a cozy mystery reader.

I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I am voluntarily writing this review. All opinions are my own.