Quaker Testimony

Elizabeth Elliot Mystery #3

by Irene Allen

A simple life...a deadly interruption.

Widow Elizabeth Elliot leads a modest life. As Clerk of the local Quaker meeting, she not only handles the congregation's daily activities, but also is their moral and inspirational leader. So when murder strikes this nonviolent community, suddenly Elizabeth's life gets very complicated.

Facing certain IRS eviction for refusal to pay war taxes, pacifist Quakers Sheldon and Hope Laughton had no idea their lives were in danger. Elizabeth finds herself in a real-life nightmare when she discovers Hope murdered...lying on the kitchen floor in a pool of her own blood. Shocked and horrified, Elizabeth has no time to mourn-- the police think she's the killer. Suspicion swirls in Cambridge, Massachusetts-- pitting Quaker against Quaker-- and only Elizabeth's quiet wisdom can find the murderer.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Cozy Mystery

272 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Irene Allen is the pen-name of Dr E Kirsten Peters, former faculty member in Washington State University's Department of Geology. She is a native of rural Washington State who graduated with a degree in geology from Princeton University in 1984. She earned her doctorate from the Earth and Planetary Sciences Department at Harvard University in 1990. She has also done published research in the late-Pleistocene outburst floods of eastern Washington State. Since 1995 she has taught undergraduate-level geology and interdisciplinary science classes at Washington State University in her hometown of Pullman, Washington. She became an assistant professor in the College of Sciences at WSU. She has written two non-traditional geology textbooks and helped revise Thomson's Essentials of Geology for its current edition.

Under her pen-name, Irene Allen, she is the author of four murder mysteries. She herself is a practising Quaker and regularly attended the Cambridge meetinghouse.

Reviews

[Kirsten · Rating 3 out of 5]

I usually don't like overly religious tones in my fiction, but this book is different. It incorporates the religion and faith of its characters without becoming preachy.

I have Quaker ancestry so this book was very interesting and relevant to me. The mystery was very interesting and it had characters I cared about. I will definitely read another book by this author.

[Jackson Burnett · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book, but didn't . The protagonist was too perfectionistic for me and I didn't get an authentic sense of the Friends' spirituality, just a sense of this meeting's politics. The plot was interesting, but I agree. It seemed forced.

[Eden · Rating 4 out of 5]

2021 bk 316. Another mystery in the heart of Cambridge, Massachusetts. This time a young mother is murdered. Elizabeth is found at her side by Federal agents who have come to seize the woman's home and Elizabeth must investigate to free herself from suspicion, but also to bring closure to the young woman's family. The overriding theme is the movement (not much mentioned in the media) of withholding that portion of taxes that go to the military as a political statement. A minister friend of my father went to jail over this issue so I came into the book knowing some background. This book shows the ties that intertwine those who are activists and that human emotions frequently overpower even the best of intentions.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is a total stroll through the 90s in the historic peace church circles! This installment focused on the whole movement to not-pay war taxes. It was good. It was as much about the war-tax movement as it was about solving the murder. This book had a bit more emphasis on the concept of “eldering” another Friend if they say something in poor taste, and that was a bit off-putting. But overall, a good story.

[Emily Cullen · Rating 4 out of 5]

With a couple's home about to be repossessed, Quaker and Meeting Clerk Elizabeth Elliot comes to offer support only to find the woman's murdered body. Even Elizabeth is a suspect as she works to find out who among the non-violent Quakers might be a murderer. I really love the "Elizabeth Elliot" cozy mystery series. Senior citizen Elizabeth is a likable character and I am fascinated by the simple Quaker religion!

[Johnna · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting read

[Kit · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some clumsy plot handling, but interesting discussions of pacifist tax protests and other radical practices of Quakers and Catholics.

[Annette Morris · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not an especially good mystery and the constant and overt Quaker stuff jarred a bit. A below average read. Will donate my copy to the Quaker library but shan't be recommending it to friends.

[Elizabeth Mcgowan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not up to my standards. Didn't hold interest.

[David Moorman · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm a Quaker and understand Quaker ways. The author portrays Quakers fairly accurately but leaves much out. This is a cozy mystery, and the mystery aspect has some appeal. But not all that much.

[Deirdre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elizabeth Elliot is a widow and Clerk of the local Quaker meeting, handling congregational daily activities and acting as leader for the community. On one day she heads for the house of a couple who are about to be evicted because their house was siezed by the IRS due to non-payment of taxes, taxes they refused to pay because they believed that it was against their principles to pay for war. What she finds when she gets there is Hope Laughton in a pool of her own blood. In order to clear herself Elizabeth has to get involved in the investigation.

It's a very interesting read, exploring a lot of details about the lives and beliefs of Quakers and it made me think a lot about where my taxes go. Thankfully the Irish Army are largely engaged in peacekeeping around the world and no war.

It's a quiet book that has a gentle look at the way a community copes with disaster. I do want to look for more by this author!

[Penn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the peek into Quaker culture and the topic of tax resistance was new to me and interesting. But the bad way of dealing with the trauma of the events in the books was really jarring to me. A man whose wife is murdered just says calmly the next day 'I will always miss her'? A four year old who plays happily just after loosing her mother? Even Elizabeth herself seems to have little thought for the husband and the child after being taken to the police station, after finding the body. No question is asked 'what about the husband? where is he? is he safe? who will tell him?' Also the police actions seem strange to me. They let Elizabeth get a visit from the other accused while in jail? I can't for a moment believe that that would truly happen. And where are the detectives swarming the meeting house and interviewing people?
It would have been a better book if the crime had been something unemotional - then the learning about the Quaker community would have been interesting.

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a pretty standard detective novel. I liked the setting but I don't think that I like the detective Elizabeth Elliot. She is a little too self-righteous for me. I bet that I would have liked this book more if it was written in the first person. That way, the main character's self-righteousness could have become endearing instead of annoying.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learned a little about Quaker faith and practice in this murder mystery. The topical debate over evasion of war taxes is discussed, reviewing both sides. The heroine is a likeable 67-year-old Quaker Clerk who also stars in other novels I'll probably check out.

[trisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this a while ago, but as I get rid of the book, I want to remember that I read it. (Approximating when I read it.) Something ironic about the cover: a gun under the word "Quaker."

I liked it from someone who admires the Friends.

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I actually liked this book but there were aspects of the religiosity of the main character that came off a bit forced. I would be interested in reading other books in the series to see how that continues and if her voice improves

[Diana Sandberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good. Elizabeth Elliott's spiritual journey is engaging; the mystery was somewhat more complex than the previous ones, too - or maybe I was just more focused on the protagonist than on the plot…. I suspect some folks might find these books dull, but they speak to me.

[Vickie Aldrich · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I have read a bunch of Quaker books this year. this one was fun because the main characters were war tax resisters. I loved the way in which she brings a dialog about the pros and cons of war tax resistance into the story.

[Weavre · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun idea, quick and pleasant read ... lasted long enough to make it through a couple doctor office waits, but not much more.

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a pretty drab book with just enough twist to make me finish it. I doubt I read more in the series.

[Judith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Elizabeth discovers the body of a young mother when she arrives to support her in a protest against the IRS.
This is a readable series, but not one you won't forget.

[Eleanor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was ok but the focus on Quaker peace testimony, particularly withholding taxes from government, didn't blend in well with the mystery aspect of the book. Seemed forced.

[Jobiska (Cindy) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this, because I'm a Quaker, but I was not thrilled. The protagonist was joyless! I think I'll pass it along to Goodwill.

[Janiej78]

Maybe would try again but haven't done so yet.

[Genie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read an earlier book in the series, don't remember it being as preachy as this one. Very judgmental main character...

[Jenny O · Rating 4 out of 5]

You have to not like this genre, to not like this author. I love the wisdom that she shares (some have called her preachy) while spinning around a good mystery. Made me want more.