Rainbow's End

The Felse Investigations #13

by Ellis Peters

The sleepy village of Middlehope is suddenly jerked into life by nouveau riche antiques magnate Arthur Rainbow. In a whirlwind of activity he extravagantly refurbishes the Manor House, joins the Golf Club, Angling Society and Arts Council - and, in a ruthless coup, dislodges the old church organist to take over the position himself.

But for all his reforming zeal, the Middlehope community rejects him. 'He won't do, you know', is the villagers' judgment, an opinion spearheaded by Miss de la Pole, the local aristocrat. And when Rainbow's crushed body is found in the graveyard of St Eata's church, there is very little surprise or sorrow - but much speculations to who the murderer could be.

After all, there are so many candidates - from his young, beautiful, flirtations wife to the usurped organist and his mutinous choir. It falls upon Superintendent George Felse, newly promoted head of the Midshire CID, to solve this most perplexing murder.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Historical Fiction, British Literature, Historical Mystery, Mystery Thriller

202 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1978

About the author

A pseudonym used by Edith Pargeter.

Edith Mary Pargeter, OBE, BEM was a prolific author of works in many categories, especially history and historical fiction, and was also honoured for her translations of Czech classics; she is probably best known for her murder mysteries, both historical and modern. Born in the village of Horsehay (Shropshire, England), she had Welsh ancestry, and many of her short stories and books (both fictional and non-fictional) were set in Wales and its borderlands.

During World War II, she worked in an administrative role in the Women's Royal Naval Service, and received the British Empire Medal - BEM.

Pargeter wrote under a number of pseudonyms; it was under the name Ellis Peters that she wrote the highly popular series of Brother Cadfael medieval mysteries, many of which were made into films for television.

Reviews

[Cindy Rollins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rather more enjoyable than I expected.

[Yibbie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I loved the person who figured this out. He was so completely refreshing. That part of the story was really good. The ‘hero’ was a perfect mix of loyalty, mischief, genius, and stupidity. Well, maybe the officials didn’t interact in a totally realistic way, but that made for a good story. I really liked that part of the story.
The mystery itself was interesting. Maybe a bit farfetched, and the conclusion more so, but it had to do with lost manuscripts, forgeries, and bell towers so what could be more fun. That part was enjoyable also.
The downside… I let the cute child hero distract me from the completely from the disgusting situation with the other main characters. I was so caught up in his antics that I just kept reading when she moves in with her boyfriend days after her husband is murdered. It was only after the child genius was out of danger that I stopped to think. Then I was completely disgusted with myself for being lulled into liking her because she was nice to the locals. Her morals were terrible. There were also a few curse words spoken and more alluded to.

[Abigail Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely a fun read, but as it’s the last in the series I wish she would have gotten the family back together. There was no mention of Dom and very little of Bunty in this one, and the family dynamic is what made me fall in love with this series. I want to know what happens to Dom and Tossa! What is George like as a grandfather? I want to watch Bunty tactfully and gracefully negotiate being a mum-in-law. Basically I’m sad to let the Felse family go. I want a Christmas special and a wedding episode.

[Elisabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

A slightly anti-climactic finish to the series. It's not really that the writing or plotting drops off in quality so much as a feeling that Peters was losing interest in it—I don't think it's a coincidence that the plots of the last three Felse mysteries set in Britain all involve antiquities and archaeology, while at the same time she was beginning the Brother Cadfael series: it's evident that her interests were shifting strongly from contemporary to historical. In Rainbow's End the character delineation of the suspects feels a little rushed and slapdash, and we don't really get to know several of them enough to consider their motives. Also seems to lean a bit more into 1960s moral attitudes, or lack thereof.

[RAW · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, murder, mystery, but very improbable. Listened on hoopla while traveling to and from GR.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Light and enjoyable, good mystery.

[Sparrow .]

British mystery novels used to be filled with nostalgia for the aristocracy; now (that is, by 1978) they’re full of contempt for the nouveau riche. I hate to ruin a book’s plot, but once you notice that the pretentious antique dealer who’s just moved into Middlehope, in the “border country” near Wales, is Arthur Everard Rainbow, and remember that the book's title is "Rainbow’s End," the only question is whether Arthur will die or his beauteous gypsy-type wife, Barbara, whose every costume change is recorded by Ellis Peters with meticulous precision (and I use the word “costume” advisedly). She first appears in

"a long, billowing skirt built in three tiers, in three different shades of red and three different flower-prints; a black, embroidered blouse that spilled low to leave her shoulders bare, and half her high breasts into the bargain, while shrouding her arms to just below the elbow. A lot of beads, heavy, tangled and bright, a lot of bangles in a dozen colors. And what looked like a new dishcloth twined round her hips and knotted on the left."

[PR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kept one guessing til the end...so sad this is the last one in the series...so wanted more!!!

Interesting conundrum. What do you do when children are involved! Secrets that need to be told held sacred by children who are keeping their paths to one another...A murder to solve with out all the available information???
She does plotting so well. I love her a.ability to build tension and suspense. The Will He or won't He? Situation...
I loved the characters of the kids...innovative and crafty and loyal and intent on finding out and solving the puzzle And the crime...with and without help or supervision!
I do applaud their tenacity...and I applaud the adults involved for being there and actually listening to the kids involved. The parents and George Froze may have learned to listen a little bit more.
Missed Dominic in this one...before the series ended it would have been great to know what he and his fiance and Bounty and George were going to do and be in future...so sad not to have an inkling!!!
Highly recommend her books. Challenging and puzzling and enjoyable.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been an Ellis Peters fan for decades, but exclusively have read the Brother Cadfael stories.
This was my first Inspector Felse mystery and I enjoyed it immensely---primarily because I have a penchant for precocious children (EXCLUSIVELY in literature).

The young soloist in the church choir was full of mischief, full of ideas, full of fun and it was a treat for me that he and his friends played such an integral part in the mystery. One of the less than enthusiastic other reviewers commented that this was like a Midsomer Murders story---and, that it was, but I didn't consider that a detriment.

I take this book for what it is: light entertainment with an English country setting and a cast of questionable characters. To delve to deeply in to the probability of the plot details and the mystery's resolution would only spoil the fun for the reader. Accept it for what it is and curl up and enjoy it.

[Jeanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Her Brother Cadfael books are much better. This book didn’t age well. It’s very much 1970s
The town organist resigns because her arthritis is causing her problems. The rich man who recently moved into town volunteers and the vicar agrees. It’s a disaster. He wants to bring the music into the 20th century but the choir and the congregation are happy with the music the way it was. Several of the boy sopranos plot to get rid of him. When his murdered body is discovered in the churchyard the boys feel guilty.
Meanwhile, the widow takes up with the local gamekeeper within days and no one blinks an eye because they like her as much as they disliked her husband.
The police are baffled because so many people have a motive for the killing.

[Cynthia Grove · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually re-read this book about two weeks ago but failed to enter it here.
It remains a pleasant read but knowing who the murderer is does detract from the pleasure and tension. For anyone who hasn't yet read it it is well worth looking out for at book fairs or other sources.
A newcomer to the village is trying to take over all the roles of importance. The adult local are frustrated in their desire to oust the newcomer. A group of choirboys, inflamed by the introduction of new tunes for old hymns, decide they must take action but before doing more than starting their plan someone takes more drastic and final action.
Some really enjoyable characters in this and George Felse runs the investigation with his usual aplomb.

[Jane Irish Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Arthur Rainbow had "done up" the local manor house in Middlehope and moved in, complete with his young and exotic wife, Barbara. Although the locals start out welcoming, all too soon they feel like he's trying to take over various clubs and institutions. But worst of all is when he become organist and choir master at St. Eata's church, and insists on modern music — in the enclave of music lovers on the Welsh border! The choirboys devise a plot to depose him, only to have it somehow go terribly wrong, with Rainbow ending up dead. Once again the author presents an ingenious plot, full of unforgettable characters, well spiced with humor. Recommended.

[Jlnpeacock Peacock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ellis Peters has a delightful manner of giving the reader all types of history lessons while weaving her mysteries. I like her characters that she has developed well enough for the reader to be engaged with their welfare. It was a very nice story. I also appreciate her encouragement in the belief that 10 - 12 year olds can be clever and resourceful. She also demonstrated how fathers teaching their sons by simply talking and including them in their occupations caused the sons to be able to solve a problem and ‘save the day.’ Nothing preachy about her method; simple observation.

[Rick Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick read. I was pleased to see the inspector play a larger role in this story. It was interesting to see how the introduction of the characters played into the overall progression of the mystery. Many characters are all involved in the investigation, from a 12 year old boy to a rather playful married woman. They are all designed to take the reader on a joy ride down the path of solving of the murder. I assure you that there are plenty of surprises to keep the plot fresh.

[Keeley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The sad thing about this book is that I have now finished Felse as well as Cadfael and have only a few of her standalone mysteries left to read before I have to switch over to Pargeter. It was a good mystery, though since I took longer than usual to read it I didn't make all the necessary connections about the clues she leaves. Dominic and Bunty don't really feature, sadly, but some other side characters from earlier in the series do.

[Ulrike · Rating 5 out of 5]

A satisfying end to the series. George is back "on screen" for this one, which is nice. Alas, hardly any Bunty (and no Dom).

This story really feels like it comes full circle. I started my Ellis Peters journey with the Cadfael mysteries, and part of this story takes place in the ruins of a former abbey. Bossie feels a lot like Dom in the first Felse book. The mystery and solution were cozy and satisfying.

Audiobook narrator Simon Prebble was excellent as usual.

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

weaker than the weakest cadfael, which makes sense because this is what she wrote before cadfael. ambivalent about inspector felse as a main character. still, enjoyable side characters and a decent climax (even if i ignored all of the worldbuilding leading up to it so i was like "why do we care about the abbey in the next town over again???").

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another surprise villain.

A bunch of antiquers vie for finding a treasure they weren't really sure was there. Or even if it truly was treasure. A gang of young boys gets involved and of course proceed to do stupid things. Fall in a pile of manure and come out smelling like a rose.

[virginia j denney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slow start but good ending

the Slow Start is the house warming where we meet most of the valley residents. The choir boys are good boys, and smart. The boys don't make the adults look stupid, because the adults are smart too. Set in a small community where the locals are familiar with each other, adults and children alike, and where the villain walks among them.

[Rachael Robbins · Rating 4 out of 5]

It all sounds too good to be true - an antique dealer buying up an old school to use as a base for his antiques business. But this is not the end of the Rainbow where you find a pot of gold. No, Arthur Rainbow, is found quite suddenly dead - having been thrown off the church steeple. True, no one liked him. But who had a motive for murder? And why?

[Hazy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh. Mystery was alright, but I wasn't that invested in the characters. Probably because this is the last installment in the Felse mysteries, which is not always a good place to start when you're reading a new series. Wasn't my cup of tea, but not terrible by any means.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Number 13 and the last of the Chief Inspector Felse series ending with an exciting mystery. I have enjoyed the series and will one day return to enjoy them again. This kind of writing, courtesy of Ellis Peters/Edith Pargeter, is always a pleasure.

[Margaret Sweet · Rating 5 out of 5]

British mystery story at its best

Ellis Peters has never let a reader down. Finely crafted stories both in plot and in the characters. In this case death couldn't have come to a better man.

[Judith B. Cherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the final book of the Felse Investigations series, written by the author who wrote the wonderful Brother Cadfael mysteries. My favorite of the Felse series is The Grass Widow's Tale, but all the books are worth reading, and sadly there will be no more as the author died in the 90's.

[Lynne Tull · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the last one available in this series. Some new characters were introduced in a setting from an earlier book. ('The Knocker on Death's Door') I liked this mystery but found myself 'speed reading' at the end. It was tedious and seemed to stretch out way too long. Recommend

[Vicky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ellis Peters is best known and won well deserved praise (and a TV series) for her Brother Cadfael books. The Brother Cadfael books are much better in terms of character and plot, but also because of the 12th century setting and historical references in which the reader is immersed. She also wrote the “modern” Felse Investigations series, set in an area of England near the border with Wales. In this one, the plot, Inspector Felse and the other characters are pleasantly entertaining and the musical references add interest. She also works in an old abbey.

[Ann-Marie Messbauer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read a few of Ellis Peters' "Cadfael" mysteries and decided to try one of her non-Cadfael novels. I thoroughly enjoyed it; solid writing, an interesting, multigenerational cast characters, and a unique situation tied to setting. Quite satisfying.

[Joyce · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting.

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

George is investigating the murder of a wealthy antiques dealer. The characters include a group of Just-Williamesque schoolboys.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bossie is *extremely* exasperating! Wonder where he'll end up - Oxbridge?