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Robert Amiss #11
Murdering Americans
"Academia (n.): a profession filled with bad food,
knee-jerk liberalism, and murder...
Being a member of the House of Lords and Mistress of St Marthas College in Cambridge might seem enough to keep anyone busy, but Baroness (Jack) Troutbeck likes new challenges. When a combination of weddings, work, and spookery deprives her of five of her closest allies, she leaps at an invitation to become a Distinguished Visiting Professor on an American campus.
With her head full of romantic fantasies inspired by 1950s Hollywood, and accompanied by Horace, her loquacious and disconcerting parrot, this intellectually-rigorous right-winger sets off from England blissfully unaware that academia in the United States is dominated by knee-jerk liberalism, contempt for Western civilization, and the institutionalisation of a form of insane political-correctness.
Will the bonne viveuse Baroness Troutbeck be able to cope with the culinary and vinous desert that is New Paddington, Indiana? Can this insensitive and tactless human battering-ram defeat the thought-police who run Freeman State University like a gulag? Does she believe the late Provost was murdered? If so, what should she do about it? And will she manage to persuade Robert Amisswho describes himself bitterly as Watson to her Holmes and Goodwin to her Nero Wolfeto abandon his honeymoon and fly to her side?
knee-jerk liberalism, and murder...
Being a member of the House of Lords and Mistress of St Marthas College in Cambridge might seem enough to keep anyone busy, but Baroness (Jack) Troutbeck likes new challenges. When a combination of weddings, work, and spookery deprives her of five of her closest allies, she leaps at an invitation to become a Distinguished Visiting Professor on an American campus.
With her head full of romantic fantasies inspired by 1950s Hollywood, and accompanied by Horace, her loquacious and disconcerting parrot, this intellectually-rigorous right-winger sets off from England blissfully unaware that academia in the United States is dominated by knee-jerk liberalism, contempt for Western civilization, and the institutionalisation of a form of insane political-correctness.
Will the bonne viveuse Baroness Troutbeck be able to cope with the culinary and vinous desert that is New Paddington, Indiana? Can this insensitive and tactless human battering-ram defeat the thought-police who run Freeman State University like a gulag? Does she believe the late Provost was murdered? If so, what should she do about it? And will she manage to persuade Robert Amisswho describes himself bitterly as Watson to her Holmes and Goodwin to her Nero Wolfeto abandon his honeymoon and fly to her side?
236 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2007
8 people are currently reading
53 people want to read
About the author
Ruth Dudley Edwards
38 books40 followersAfter being a Cambridge postgraduate, a teacher, a marketing executive and a civil servant, Ruth Dudley Edwards became a full-time writer. A journalist, broadcaster, historian and prize-winning biographer who lives in London, her recent non-fiction includes books about The Economist, the Foreign Office, the Orange Order and Fleet Street. The first of her ten satirical mysteries, Corridors of Death, was short-listed for the CWA John Creasey Memorial Dagger; two others were nominated for the CWA Last Laugh Award. Her two short stories appeared respectively in The Economist and the Oxford Book of Detective Stories.
Series:
* Robert Amiss Mystery
Series:
* Robert Amiss Mystery
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
August 24, 2012
The premise of this book is that the loud and obnoxious Baroness Jack Troutbeck (who is an academic...of sorts!) goes to a US university as a Visiting Lecturer. She pisses people off (starting with the stewardess on the plane). And people get murdered. Unfortunately, I didn't really care that they got murdered. And it took about half the book before they did, which is also sub-optimal for this genre.
Honestly, I felt that this book needed a really good editor, and didn't get one. Besides the fact that the first murders happened too late in the book (well, aside from the possible one that happened four years before the book started), large parts of it seemed to be just the author ranting about her issues with the US third-level education system and political correctness. Rants put into the mouths or experiences of her characters, but rants nonetheless. The story got lost. And the denouement was unsatisfying. And...yeah. Editor, please.
Overall, I'm not sure I'd even say this is a Curate's Egg. There were good parts, but it wasn't the quality of egg I'm used to seeing Ms. Edwards boil. Very disappointing.
Honestly, I felt that this book needed a really good editor, and didn't get one. Besides the fact that the first murders happened too late in the book (well, aside from the possible one that happened four years before the book started), large parts of it seemed to be just the author ranting about her issues with the US third-level education system and political correctness. Rants put into the mouths or experiences of her characters, but rants nonetheless. The story got lost. And the denouement was unsatisfying. And...yeah. Editor, please.
Overall, I'm not sure I'd even say this is a Curate's Egg. There were good parts, but it wasn't the quality of egg I'm used to seeing Ms. Edwards boil. Very disappointing.
January 17, 2015
The American Revolution. The War of 1812. And now Murdering Americans. It's obvious that Edwards intends this book to be the start of another round of US vs. GB open warfare. She can't possibly have been trying to write an actual book. No one is this terrible a writer. Not even Stephenie Meyer. Okay, maybe Stephenie Meyer. But no one else.
So obviously this is meant to be some kind of incendiary device to ignite our two great nations into a nuclear confrontation. If only to obliterate the source of such searing stupidity. Fortunately there is a more diplomatic solution. The UK arrests Edwards and apologizes for her brain-stabbingly awful writing. Meanwhile the US arrests Stephenie Meyer and apologizes for her eye-gougingly horrific writing.
Then we create one giant bonfire of all copies of both authors' work, hold hands, and sing "Kumbaya" together. World peace at last.
And yes, I'm aware that Edwards is Irish, but she currently lives in London and considers herself both Irish and English. Sorry, England.
So obviously this is meant to be some kind of incendiary device to ignite our two great nations into a nuclear confrontation. If only to obliterate the source of such searing stupidity. Fortunately there is a more diplomatic solution. The UK arrests Edwards and apologizes for her brain-stabbingly awful writing. Meanwhile the US arrests Stephenie Meyer and apologizes for her eye-gougingly horrific writing.
Then we create one giant bonfire of all copies of both authors' work, hold hands, and sing "Kumbaya" together. World peace at last.
And yes, I'm aware that Edwards is Irish, but she currently lives in London and considers herself both Irish and English. Sorry, England.
August 28, 2011
I don't know where I read a good review of this book - wish I could remember because I don't want to take his/her advice in the future! Clearly, I disliked it. Edwards sets her mystery in a small primarily undergraduate college (yes, I know the higher education terminology) in the midwest. The author uses her bully pulpit to pummel over-paid administrators, politically-correct thinking and liberal arts scholarship. The trustees at the University of Texas must have loved this book - a Texan character provides guns to the main character. Edwards also does a pretty slam-dunk job at portraying middle America (the fly-over states) in the worst light possible. The layout and logic of the mystery was low on the author's priority list.
August 30, 2014
Dull and boring would sum it up for me. Baroness Troutbeck is a rude bullying bore. Her rudeness is exaggerated and it seem that the author is using the Baroness to get across a lot of bigoted ideas about many things. The book was supposed to be a murder mystery but the murder took up very little space and the novel seemed simply to be a soap box for 'the Baroness'? to let off steam in an obnoxious way about religion, Americans, foreigners in general, and American food, to name just a few! I did not find this satirical just a long rant, it should not be classified as a murder mystery and it is not 'cosy' it is cringe-making.
May 16, 2020
I honestly couldn't believe that such feeble reactionary nonsense wouldn't include a surprise twist, but about half-way through I got so tired of it that I gave up. The author sets up straw-feminists and
-liberals so caricatured that even the Daily Express would be embarrassed to use them! It's possible that the author intended the protagonist to be seen as "charmingly eccentric" instead of arrogant, bigoted, right-wing and selfish - if so, she failed.
-liberals so caricatured that even the Daily Express would be embarrassed to use them! It's possible that the author intended the protagonist to be seen as "charmingly eccentric" instead of arrogant, bigoted, right-wing and selfish - if so, she failed.
February 15, 2020
A first-class mystery accompanied by a scathing look at the political correctness and multicultural insanity on American college campuses. Lady Troutbeck and her band of followers fight it brilliantly. This book was published in 2007 but applies more than ever to higher education today.
December 22, 2020
Baroness Jack Troutbeck is a lot of fun, sometimes laugh out loud funny, but this book was way too preachy about the dangers of extreme political correctness and affirmative action, etc. so it wasn't so enjoyable.
August 31, 2012
‘Murdering Americans’ by Ruth Dudley Edwards
Published by Poisoned Pen Press. ISBN 978-1-59058-413-9
With weddings abounding, for Robert Amis and his Rachel, and Ellis and Mary Loo, Baroness Ida (Jack) Troutbeck accepts an invitation to become a Distinguished Visiting Professor on an American Campus. But as an anguished Rachel explains to Robert, she wants us to go and stay there with her for several weeks - but on our honeymoon says Robert - yes, says the now crying Rachel, who has already had a hell of a day
arguing with her mother over canapés.
The Baroness’s entry on to American soil is not without incident, being unable to be parted from her parrot Horace the Baroness has taken Horace with her, but passing through customs with Horace shouting ‘Pass the ammunition sees the officials taking Jack Troutbeck aside for further investigation as a possible member of Al Qaeda, and it is some three hours later before Jack finally emerges with hat eschew and in need of a
restorative. However, although the Provost has sent delectable Betsy to conduct Jack to the hotel, worse is to come - the bar is closed on Sundays. Attempting to surmount this obstacle Jack encounters the new rules from the Provost’s office enforced by Dr Gonzales.
Before she has spent one day in New Paddington Jack Troutbeck discovers that Freeman State University is dominated by an insane form of political-correctness controlled by the thought-police, in the shape of Dr Gonzales. Jack joins forces with a student body called the VRC. Then the Provost is found dead and Jack is in all sorts of trouble. Luckily her friend from the flight over, one Edgar S Brooks of Jackson, Mississippi is at her service, but she really needs her Watson.
Absolutely magic wonderful dialogue, great characters, insane story, but not to be missed.
------
Lizzie Hayes
Published by Poisoned Pen Press. ISBN 978-1-59058-413-9
With weddings abounding, for Robert Amis and his Rachel, and Ellis and Mary Loo, Baroness Ida (Jack) Troutbeck accepts an invitation to become a Distinguished Visiting Professor on an American Campus. But as an anguished Rachel explains to Robert, she wants us to go and stay there with her for several weeks - but on our honeymoon says Robert - yes, says the now crying Rachel, who has already had a hell of a day
arguing with her mother over canapés.
The Baroness’s entry on to American soil is not without incident, being unable to be parted from her parrot Horace the Baroness has taken Horace with her, but passing through customs with Horace shouting ‘Pass the ammunition sees the officials taking Jack Troutbeck aside for further investigation as a possible member of Al Qaeda, and it is some three hours later before Jack finally emerges with hat eschew and in need of a
restorative. However, although the Provost has sent delectable Betsy to conduct Jack to the hotel, worse is to come - the bar is closed on Sundays. Attempting to surmount this obstacle Jack encounters the new rules from the Provost’s office enforced by Dr Gonzales.
Before she has spent one day in New Paddington Jack Troutbeck discovers that Freeman State University is dominated by an insane form of political-correctness controlled by the thought-police, in the shape of Dr Gonzales. Jack joins forces with a student body called the VRC. Then the Provost is found dead and Jack is in all sorts of trouble. Luckily her friend from the flight over, one Edgar S Brooks of Jackson, Mississippi is at her service, but she really needs her Watson.
Absolutely magic wonderful dialogue, great characters, insane story, but not to be missed.
------
Lizzie Hayes
January 24, 2013
Baroness Jack Troutbeck has been invited to spend a semester at an American university as a visiting professor. Those who know her well wonder what havoc she is going to wreak in academia and as she is taking the parrot Horace with her, how well he will go down at the university. Jack really wants Robert and Rachel – spending their honeymoon travelling round Europe in a camper van – to go and spend some time with her in the US but they are not keen.
Having reorganised the cuisine of the hotel in which she is living to her satisfaction and started to educate her cheerleader assistant, Betsy, Jack discovers that there is definitely something fishy going on at Freeman University. What precisely happened to the Provost who died ‘accidentally’ four years ago? What is the VRC and what is it trying to do? Naturally Jack finds these mysteries intriguing. I enjoyed this well written and highly amusing mystery novel. The picture it paints of impossible political correctness and dumbed down learning where no one can fail – unless they say or do the wrong thing – is hilarious and highly disturbing.
Jack really came into her own in this the eleventh volume in this entertaining series. Even though Robert wasn’t much in evidence, except through e-mails, for much of the book they still proved they are an excellent team. I loved the way the finale was organised and found myself turning the pages faster towards the end as everything built up to a crisis. This is the second time I’ve read this book and it stood up well to a second reading. All this series can be read more than once and in any order.
Having reorganised the cuisine of the hotel in which she is living to her satisfaction and started to educate her cheerleader assistant, Betsy, Jack discovers that there is definitely something fishy going on at Freeman University. What precisely happened to the Provost who died ‘accidentally’ four years ago? What is the VRC and what is it trying to do? Naturally Jack finds these mysteries intriguing. I enjoyed this well written and highly amusing mystery novel. The picture it paints of impossible political correctness and dumbed down learning where no one can fail – unless they say or do the wrong thing – is hilarious and highly disturbing.
Jack really came into her own in this the eleventh volume in this entertaining series. Even though Robert wasn’t much in evidence, except through e-mails, for much of the book they still proved they are an excellent team. I loved the way the finale was organised and found myself turning the pages faster towards the end as everything built up to a crisis. This is the second time I’ve read this book and it stood up well to a second reading. All this series can be read more than once and in any order.
September 24, 2013
God but Baronness Troutbeck has become a bore! This book features a lot of Jack Troutbeck bellowing on about food and indulging in bullying rudeness and snobbery. Far from the endearing rebel she was when in the minority at St Martha's, she is now rather like Aunt Marge from the Harry Potter series. My problem with this is that she has taken a perfectly decent series of books down with her: Robert Amiss has faded as she has grown, and is now barely a character in his own series.
June 24, 2016
I wouldn't be surprised to learn that the author had never been to America. It's all stereotypes, and the way she writes "American" accents is cringe worthy. I was looking forward to this book due to the amusing title, but it's less about Murdering Americans and more about the author getting to complain about anything and everything. Also absolutely nothing is redeemable with the protagonist, I felt no attachment to any character actually. Awful.
April 12, 2009
I enjoyed this - lived up to my expectations for Troutbeck and Amis. I usually listen to these books on tape / CD though and missed Bill Wallis' usual entertaining rendition. Amuses the whole family on long car journeys. Irreverent and not for the politically correct.
August 12, 2012
There is a line between satirical comedy and political polemic. The first few chapters of Murdering Americans felt to me on the wrong side of this line, a tedious attack on the more ludicrous excesses of political correctness, but things gradually improved and I ended up enjoying the book.
July 9, 2015
Annoying and obnoxious main character starring in a heavy-handed rant against current trends in academia, which (academia and the trends in question) are presented more as caricatures and trite stereotypes. Far too many talking heads; not nearly enough story.
July 4, 2008
Awesome Must Read
August 21, 2012
Great take on the PC'ness of American Academe in addition to providing characters and a mystery that keeps you reading.
October 25, 2015
Humorous, witty and scary this book was very enjoyable.
May 2, 2016
Getting a little tired of Jack Troutbeck's shenanigans -- I like farce as much as anyone, but this is going too far. Now I'll have to re-read the entire series.
June 26, 2019
Heavy-handed.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews