Witness at the Wedding

Fethering #6

by Simon Brett

Carole Seddon`s son is about to be married. But as plans for the big day get underway, Stephen`s future parents-in-law, Marie and Harold, seem desperate to keep the affair as discreet as possible. Then, after a quiet engagement party, Harold disappears... only to be found dead the next day, in a burnt out car in Epping Forest. While the family try to deal with their grief, Carole discovers they are concealing secrets that can be traced back thirty years, to the murder of Marie`s best friend. Now the girl`s killer has been released from prison and is back in his old stomping ground, near Fethering. As Carole enlists the help of her friend Jude in researching the truth, Gaby returns to London to find herself in grave danger. Fearing the bride-to-be is the killer`s next target, Carole and Jude must unravel the Martin family`s past before he makes another deadly move... and before the happiness of the impending wedding day is ruined.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Audiobook, Crime, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, British Literature

300 pages, Paperback

First published February 23, 2005

About the author

Simon Brett is a prolific British writer of whodunnits.

He is the son of a Chartered Surveyor and was educated at Dulwich College and Wadham College, Oxford, where he got a first class honours degree in English.

He then joined the BBC as a trainee and worked for BBC Radio and London Weekend Television, where his work included 'Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy' and 'Frank Muir Goes Into ...'.

After his spells with the media he began devoting most of his time to writing from the late 1970s and is well known for his various series of crime novels.

He is married with three children and lives in Burpham, near Arundel, West Sussex, England. He is the current president of the Detection Club.

Reviews

[Gerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

A controlled build up to the plot has the tension steadily mounting in Fethering and its environs and also for the reader. Initially no sign of anything seriously amiss, just plenty of reflecting on a major crime of the past, and then - a new murder!

As is often the case in these provincial murders, there are amateur sleuths on hand to help the police, the latter who sometimes cannot see the wood for the trees. Carole Seddon and her pals provide the back-up in this story, which reaches an exciting climax that fortunately for all concerned does not prevent the planned wedding from going ahead.

[Lollyletsgo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unfortunately, I'm not too keen on the inner machinations of characters. I'd rather been shown, than told that she inwardly winced at this and then that. The story itself was fine and a fun read. I found it interesting that the sidekick is written as practically perfect; gentle, understanding, easy to talk to, etc.. While the main protagonist is not just flawed- but almost unlikable- and I mean almost. She is very set in her ways, and that may be why I retract from her. Though I do agree with her feelings about her ex-husband.. it was difficult just READING his quotes.

[Barbara Nutting · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Murder Mavens are at it again! This was a good one even though I figured it out very early on. When there are only a few characters, that’s not hard to do,

Murder and a wedding - what a perfect duo and the Marple Twins have a contentious time solving it.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Witness at the Wedding by Simon Brett.

Carole's son Stephen and his fiance Gaby are in the process of planning their wedding. The date is set for this September with none of the arrangements in order as of yet. Carole is looking forward to an afternoon lunch to meet with Gaby's parents but not exactly looking forward to that lunch to also include her ex David. She had been forewarned that the Martins were a little off the beaten path as far as being sociable people but that was not enough to prepare her for their standoffish stance on the wedding. Their choice of the proper hotel was so far off the mark in Carole's opinion that it took her by surprise. That's not to mention they wanted no part of any public announcements made to the fact of any engagement or wedding.

This mystery as to why the Martins were in actuality afraid of drawing any attention to themselves was one that had Carole perplexed and wondering. Then there's Jude, Carole's neighbor and good friend. Jude has volunteered to bring Gita, a former client & friend, for a stay at Woodside cottage as she recovers from a breakdown of sorts. Jude, always the wise one in unearthing the reasoning behind ailments, soon develops a camaraderie with Gita by bringing her journalistic talents to the forefront.
This was one of the earlier Fethering Mysteries and in my opinion one of the best. The characters were believable and complex as was the mystery. Intense and well written were only two of the reasons that kept me focused. Excellent and definitely recommended to all mystery lovers.

[John Frankham · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent sixth in the Fethering series, in this case involving the murky past of Carole's future daughter-in-law's family. More murder and kidnap than usual, but a nice character development as well.

I certainly prefer the more constrained Carole than her more relaxed fellow-sleuth Jude. Carole's uneasiness in social situations is so realistic and touching!

The GR blurb:

'When the father of Carole's future daughter-in-law is found brutally murdered, Carole will need Jude's help in sifting through the guest list before her son marries into a family with a rather suspicious history.'

[KayDee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel like the series got back on track with this book. The wedding of Stephen and Gaby, Carole's son, is in full planning mode. Of course, nothing can go smoothly as is the case with shadows and mysteries that seem to surround Gaby's family. Jude is also dealing with a friend going through a hard time, much to the chagrin of Carole who feels the tiny figure of jealousy sitting on her shoulder. It's also a treat that Carole's ex-husband, David, is a part of this book. This is a great rebound from the previous book in the series.

[Stacy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not one of the better Fethering and Carol is really starting to annoy me - she is an ugly person sometimes.

[M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this, the sixth installment of the Fethering books, the series appears to now be in its stride. There is a bit of unavoidable formula, but it's a good formula: two middle-aged neighbors - who couldn't be more different - get involved in mysteries in their quiet seaside hamlet and things get dangerous.

I will admit in the relative anonymity of this forum that my favorite of the two is Carole Seddon. I'm not sure whether author Simon Brett wants his readers to like Carole, pity Carole or dislike Carole. I am firmly in the "like" camp, because we share many personality traits (not all of them admirable). I do have a bit of Jude Nicholls in me too, but don't quote me on it.

In this outing, Carole's son is getting married, but murder soon mars the engagement party. Carole and Jude spring into action as amateur investigators, but are met with resistance from the bride's family, the police and almost everyone else. To make matters worse, Carole has to try and make nice with the ex-husband she hasn't seen since their divorce!

A witty adventure with excellent characterization and a bit of a Christie-esque mystery.

[Valerie Campbell Ackroyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to the entire book on Audible and thoroughly enjoyed it. After feeling somewhat let down by #5 in the series, I liked this one much more. The book centers around Carole’s son’s fiancée, Gaby, and her mysterious, murderous family history. I enjoy Brett’s explorations of Carole’s budding realization that she isn’t quite as satisfied with the way she’s always lived, with the way she’s always been and Jude’s sensitive handling of people. It’s a very quirky mystery series with each book somehow bringing forward a different societal issue without being heavy handed. Apart from the murder mystery in the book, other topics that Brett lays open are depression and, similar to the last book, prison issues. Perhaps his touch is too light, these issues can touch nerves but, like Jude’s reiki-like body treatments, I enjoy the opportunity to think about what I read (or in this case, listen to) without it being too serious. And as I said, the ending in this book is, in the main, more satisfying than the last. A few strange questions about culpability and forgiveness hang around but, I found it another satisfying addition to the series.

[Sandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like our two amauter sleuths. As annoying as Carol is, I realise I actually find the author is probably the one pushing his thoughts through her and it's so annoying. His constant reference to her being a post-war middle-class woman. The irritating comment about France and how in the good old day's countries were all distinct and boo hoo now French people aren't basically just white people that you could instantly tell were French by their shoes. Like that part was soooooooooo horrific and it wasn't even anything to do with Carol. This whole section goes on to basically say it's terrible that people migrate. Homogenisation has its negatives but the attitude of the author is irritating. It's so close to saying everyone should stay in their country.

[Thomas Zucker-scharff · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of a series of books in the Fethering mysteries. The book was good except for the fact that I knew who the murderer was by the time I was 2/3rds through the book (possibly even half way, but I don't remember). There were one or two twists at the end that I hadn't guessed although one I thought was likely. I wanted to finish the book because I really liked the characters interplay and the writing makes you want to find out every detail.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Am rereading the series, not really intending to leave reviews, but there was one incident that I found joltingly out-of-character...

Jude's houseguest is taking medications where alcohol consumption is indicated as a definite NO. She suggests drinks, and when the woman reminds her of the meds, Jude aggressively responds, "You're not driving, or operating machinery! Drink up!" Frankly, she came across as an alcoholic who was afraid of drinking alone.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

The continuing character development is nice. Carole reminds me quite a bit of my mother - very set in her ways and living a most insular life.

Just wondering when we'll find out more about Jude, and when we'll see her "feet of clay".

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

I listened to this on audiobook so maybe I got a little lost in all the detail, people and story lines. It was good, but not great.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't say it kept me guessing for too long and not my favourite of the Fethering Mysteries but enjoyable none the less and a good pace.

[Rochelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started reading this mystery because one of my favorite (older) customers at work recommended it. I love a good English mystery! This was good. I DID figure out the who in the whodunit about half way through, but I was pleasantly surprised that there was an aspect to the twist I hadn't pinned down in the end.

I would recommend this if you like an author who really gets into the inner dialogue of his main characters. I would also add that as far as mysteries go, it reads more like a soap than anything dark or scary.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carole and Jude continue to fight crime without the help of the police. This time, in a story that picks up almost immediately where #5 left off, the two sleuths must (or want to) find out who wants to hurt Carole’s prospective daughter-in-law.

As cozy mysteries go, Fethering is one of the best; the detectives are flawed but earnest, and each installment is engaging – especially as read by Ralph Cosham.

This would be a five-star review, but I guessed the killer very early on, which is generally an automatic one-star reduction. Regardless, I recommend the book, and the series. It’s best to read #5, The Hanging in the Hotel, first, if possible.

[Liisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to list five stars for this story because I love Brett’s little descriptions showing humor that, incidental to the tale, make me chuckle or laugh. By no means is this story a comedy, but Brett has a wonderful way of saying things at times and my five star rating is meant to respect that.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh what a tangled web we weave when......

[R. R. · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's an interesting plot,but I wish he wouldn't drag every dialogue on till I got bored

[Guera25 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bless Carole Seddon, but she's a prickly old pear. As much as she harps and snipes about her ex-husband David's myriad social and marital shortcomings, she's no great prize, either, in those departments, and I'd bet my boots she had more than a minor hand in the collapse of her marriage. For all I know, much-maligned David might've been a different, much more social and confident man before he fell in with her and was beaten down by years of nitpicking.

And I'm tired of St. Jude and her sad-sack friends who can only be healed by her encouragement. Just once, I'd like her to put a foot wrong or have a falling out, however temporary, with someone. It stretches credulity that her emotional intuition never fails, and that she never gets fed up with her friends' lies, evasions, and soppy pity parties.

As for the mystery, I worked out the basics three chapters before the big reveal. The setting and plot carried this one because the dynamic duo were rarely together.

[Ahtims · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was an okay sort of cozy mystery - my first one by this author. I listened to the audio while at my routine household work and walking trips. Gaby and Steve are planning to marry, and Steve's mother Caroline, a type A personality, is worried about wedding arrangements and a possible reconciliation with her wimpy ex-husband David, which she doesn;t want and her only son Steve urges her to. Then she comes to know that Gaby's family is surrounded with murder and mysteries, which turn sinister within weeks leading to murder of her father, her brother's disreputable friend and threats to Gaby and even Caroline. What does a 30 year old murder have to do with present circumstances? Caroline, with the help of her quaint neighbour Jude, and Jude's houseguest, a recovering journalist, tries to find out.

[Silvio111 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Simon Brett's Mrs. Pargeter series, and am intermittently fond of Charles Paris, but after reading two or three of this Feathering series, I am officially done with it.

This author is so prolific, I suppose it is inevitable that some of his efforts will be misses. I don't like the neurotic portrayal of Carol. It seems anachronistic, like some of P.D. James' early portrayals of women in the Adam Dalgliesh series.

The truth is, I can't stand these people in Feathering and don't want to spend any time with them, so I am not going back there.

I can put up with Charles Paris' self-deprecatory alcoholic fog from time to time; at least the plots are good. I am much happier in the sanitized company of Mrs. Pargeter who manages to make hobnobbing with ex-criminals decidedly virtuous. But no more Feathering, thank you very much.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simon Brett does not disappoint. This time we got to know Carol's ex-husband David -- very humorous description and of course I was feeling very protective of Carol. And we got to know her son Stephen who was marrying Gabby. Gabby's family was the one all tied up in a dark, deep family secret which involved....murder... of course. Carol is in the thick of it. At one time I thought the murderer must be Robert -- just because he was the one that seemed the least likely to be the murderer and then...he was! haha Anyway good one -- I listened to this one on CDs -- enjoyed it all.

[Vanessaeliza99 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was exactly the kind of cozy mystery I love. Carole and Jude were both excellent amateur sleuth characters, though I think I probably preferred Carole. She was such an excellently written character; her struggles with social situations I found instantly relatable and endeared her to me immediately. The only reason I didn't give this book 5 stars is the ending felt a little predictable and the twists weren't all that surprising. It was still fun and worth reading for the character interactions, but as a mystery it didn't quite live up to its potential.

[Mary · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m on part 5 of 7 and it isn’t interesting yet. I think I may soon abandon this one

I LOVE the Mrs. Pargeter books so I thought I’d try another series by the same author. Unfortunately this series is dull as dishwater as my grandma used to say. Especially the characters. I’d like to advise each and every one of them to get a life, live a little, develop an opinion about a subject more important than what color shirt someone is wearing.

[Gerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable mystery to read on the plane!
I'll be sure to read the others in the series.

[Lesley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this more than I sometimes do this series (still nowhere near as good as Brett's Charles Paris series), even though I was pretty sure I'd spotted the real villain early on (and I was right).

[Janet Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love listening to the late Ralph Cosham, aka Geoffrey Howard, reading this series. He managed to convey all of the dry humor of Carole and Jude

[Nathalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the kind of book I read over and over again! I really enjoy Simon Brett's writing style. It reminds me of Agatha Christie's.