Slaying Is Such Sweet Sorrow

Far Wychwood #2

by Patricia Harwin

Librarian and former New Yorker Catherine Penny has already sleuthed out the truth behind a deadly house fire since settling in the tiny English town of Far Wychwood. But nowhere is too far for painful memories to find her when her ex-husband, who left her single in her sixties, arrives with his new lady love to attend a family affair. Catherine can't avoid him at the awards ceremony honoring their son-in-law, Peter, who is a shoo-in for a prestigious appointment at Oxford's Mercy College. But the shock of Peter not being chosen is matched only by who is: pompous, womanizing scholar Edgar Stone. And when Stone is found murdered, Peter's guilt seems hardly academic....

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, British Literature, Cozy, Mystery Thriller, Fiction

288 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published March 1, 2005

About the author

PATRICIA HARWIN is the author of the national bestseller Arson and Old Lace, the first novel in her acclaimed Far Wychwood mystery series. Like her heroine Catherine Penny, she is a librarian. She lives with her husband in Rockville, Maryland, where she is hard at work on the next Far Wychwood mystery.

Reviews

[AngryGreyCat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second in a series, I was mislead by the tagline on the front saying “a delightful new series” and thought it was a first. There were some references to events from the first book, but nothing that inhibited me from enjoying this one.

I loved this book. The heroine was great, a woman trying to recover from the total upheaval of her life which was caused by an unwanted and unexpected divorce after 30 some years of marriage. There are shades of Agatha Raisin in her and I adore that. The English village and Oxford were fun settings, as others have pointed out there are some discrepancies, so perhaps not 100% authentic but not enough to distract me.

The mystery was well plotted with twists and turns even after a seeming resolution. Catherine is drawn into the murder investigation when her son in law is accused with some very persuasive evidence. She investigates because others seemed just convinced that the evidence is overwhelming. She is also navigating the mine field of dealing with her ex-husband and “the other woman”. In the end, the threads are neatly tied up and then there is a hint of the book to come.

I would highly recommend this one and I am going to buy the first to read from this series, Arson and Old Lace. Unfortunately, after this book the publisher would not publish the third and so there are only 2 books in the series. I also believe that the author has since passed away in 2015. It is sad to see that there will be no further visits to Far Wychwood.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an enjoyable British cozy. The main character, Catherine Penny, has moved to England to be near her daughter, son-in-law (a don at Oxford), and grandson and to avoid her ex-husband and his lady love, still in America. She's in her 60s and doing quite well in England. But there's an event in her daughter's life and her ex (and "Barbie") arrive. Catherine has to deal with him - again - and get her son-in-law out of prison before she can deal with the emotions of seeing her ex. Ah, but wait - there's another murder!
Well written plotting and delightful characters with the story set in Oxford, England.
Couldn't put it down (except when I had to work. Dang!).

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good read and a promising series.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sadly there were only 2 books in the series and this is the last.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took awhile to get into, but worth the read.

[Wendy Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another excellent cozy, perfect for a cold evening curled up on the couch. Catherine's husband has travelled to England, with his home-wrecker girlfriend, to celebrate their son-in-law's academic success. Patricia tied in the village of Oxford and academic life excellently. The portrayal of the characters was quite wonderful, I'd say more but it would spoil the ending. Ms. Harwin did a great job with the nutty dramatic society associates, wove in the history of the playwrights quite nicely, and gave enchanting descriptions of the locale. I trully enjoyed the ending, had thought the book was over way before the actual ending.

The inclusion of Catherine's husband was engaging. I knew exactlly how Catherine felt along the way, dealing with the ex, and was glad to see it portrayed in such a manner - we've all wanted to cause a scene once or twice. I very much wish this was not the last in series, as the ending left a wide opening for the next book. It took me some time to hunt this one down. Ms. Harwin has a gift for the cozy, and I would love to see more if she ever decides to start again.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this second book of the Far Wychwood series, Pat Harwin has outdone Arson and Old Lace, and I am certainly looking forward to more adventures of retired librarian Catherine Penny. Catherine’s son-in-law Peter is in line for a promotion on the faculty at Oxford University, and some people consider him a shoe-in for the job. Catherine hesitates to attend the announcement of the promotion because her ex-husband Quin and his new lady-friend are visiting his daughter Emily, Peter’s wife and Catherine doesn’t want anything to do with Quin. However, she attends the ceremony, where pompous Edgar Stone gets the promotion instead of Peter, and where she tries to ignore Quin. Two facts drive the rest of the story: Quin does not want to ignore Catherine, and Edgar Stone is murdered and Peter is framed. Of course, all comes out well in the end, but there are several twists and turns to the story before this happens

[Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first book of the series (much more than I expected), but I didn't like this one at all. I hated reading about Catherine's ex-husband bringing his new wife to England, and it made me squirm when Catherine's daughter is so unfeeling towards her mother and her devastation during these forced meetings. However, both of these aspects were nothing to how obnoxious Catherine became when she is around her ex-husband. I had been completely sympathetic to her, but I was absolutely shocked at the words coming out of her mouth. Why would the author want to turn her heroine into such a shrill, horrible person? I don't remember anything about the mystery because the rest of the book was so awful. I'm giving it 2 stars because I still like the premise, but I won't be reading any more of this series. Very disappointing.

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Catherine is at it again. This time her ex-husband is visiting their daughter, bringing with him his "lady friend". When their son-in-law is accused of a murder nothing will do but for Catherine to start the hunt for the real killer. While this is going on she also needs to come to terms with her feelings for the ex, and to determine if she should let him back into her life.

This is a ton of literary references in this one, most of them explained, some I believe we're supposed to know. Since my Shakespeare, Marlowe and others are not that great I was a tad overwhelmed.

Still, I do like this series and can't wait for the next one to come out.

[Georgiann Hennelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

the story is set in the english country side near oxford university. a librarian and former newyorker catherine penny moves to Far Wychwood in england to be near her daughter ,s family . she has already solved one crime since moving their . when she gets involved in the murder of her son in laws boss. they both teach at mercy college. and he gets the appt peter her son in law was expecting to get when he winds up dead after . peter is arrested for the crime and catherine decides to help solve it. its an excellant story. well worth reading again

[Lundy · Rating 2 out of 5]

The second of the Far Wychood mystery "series." Unfortunately, there are only two. Drama ensues when Catherine Penny's ex-husband girlfriend come to England to visit Catherine's daughter. Complicating matters, Catherine's son-in-law is accused of murder.
I thought this one was a little more clunky than the first book and didn't think quotations were necessary at the start of each chapter. However, I think it would be interesting for Shakespeare lovers as there's lots of literary discussions about Shakespeare.

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably a 3.5 rating would be fairer but for three-quarters of the book, I was very annoyed at the heroine who had no self-control and should never have been allowed to babysit her two-year-old grandson.

She did improve immensely by the end of the book although I can never understand why these amateur detectives feel they have to break and enter to solve a mystery.

This is the second book by this author and was written in 2005. I hope Patricia Harwin writes another with an improved version of the heroine.

[Josephine (Jo) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This books is set in Oxford and has a very good plot, Catherin Penny is an American seeking refuge from her ex-husband and licking her wounds after their divorce. When her husband turns up at a function honouring her son-in-law she is unable to avoid him. When one of the candidates for a very desirable position at Mercy College is murdered it is time for Catherine to do a little investigating a good story with an unexpected ending.

[Nicole Romine · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's such a shame that there are only two books in the Far Wychwood Mystery series as Catherine, the heroine, is such a strong, principled, and likable character. "Slyaing in Such Sweet Sorrow" is a perfect cozy mystery with a large case of well-developed characters and an engaging plot. If you enjoy cozy mysteries, a must read.

[Missy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book #79read in 2013

Quick, cozy

[Wellington · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable mystery. I was totally surprised by the ending. The main character, Catherine, had some great character development during the book. If there is another one, I would read it.

[Sfdreams · Rating 4 out of 5]

2nd in a series set in Far Wychwood in England.

[Mo]

Dec 7, 2012 There are only 2 books in this series so far.