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WISE Enquiries Agency #8
The Case of the Uninvited Undertaker
‘HE LEFT A WREATH OF CONDOLENCE AT OUR FRONT DOOR, THEN VANISHED.’
The women of the WISE Enquiries Agency should be enjoying the early summer with their loved ones, but find themselves facing a truly baffling a mysterious figure has been spotted in Anwen-by-Wye, heralding tragedy. Nerves in the village are frayed, and the skills of all four of our private investigators are needed to work out what’s going on – aided by Althea, dowager duchess of Chellingworth, of course.
When death strikes far too close to home for our beloved enquiry agents the stakes are raised in what has become a fatal game of cat and mouse…revealing dark secrets hidden by a person everybody thought they knew.
Meanwhile, the duke and duchess are busy organizing projects designed to help revitalize the Chellingworth Estate, though their proposals aren’t viewed favorably by all, and - snatching time as a couple when they can - Annie and Tudor are considering their future, as are Christine and Alexander…though in different ways, and with some surprising outcomes.
The women of the WISE Enquiries Agency should be enjoying the early summer with their loved ones, but find themselves facing a truly baffling a mysterious figure has been spotted in Anwen-by-Wye, heralding tragedy. Nerves in the village are frayed, and the skills of all four of our private investigators are needed to work out what’s going on – aided by Althea, dowager duchess of Chellingworth, of course.
When death strikes far too close to home for our beloved enquiry agents the stakes are raised in what has become a fatal game of cat and mouse…revealing dark secrets hidden by a person everybody thought they knew.
Meanwhile, the duke and duchess are busy organizing projects designed to help revitalize the Chellingworth Estate, though their proposals aren’t viewed favorably by all, and - snatching time as a couple when they can - Annie and Tudor are considering their future, as are Christine and Alexander…though in different ways, and with some surprising outcomes.
309 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 24, 2023
30 people are currently reading
34 people want to read
About the author
Cathy Ace
43 books387 followersCathy Ace migrated from her native Wales to Canada at the age of 40. She is the award-winning author of the traditional Cait Morgan Mysteries featuring her Welsh Canadian criminology professor sleuth who travels the world tripping over corpses, which have now been optioned for TV. She also writes the cozier WISE Enquiries Agency Mysteries featuring a quartet of female PIs who run their business out of a Welsh stately home. Both series have been well-reviewed. Her award-winning standalone, THE WRONG BOY, is a gripping novel of psychological suspense, set in Wales, and has also been optioned for TV.
"Ace is, well, an ace when it comes to plot and description.” The Globe and Mail
Cathy's work has won the prestigious Bony Blithe Award for best Canadian light mystery, an IPPY and an IBA Award, and has been shortlisted for an Arthur Ellis Award for Best Short Story.
Her short story "Dear George" appeared on the UK's O Level English Language syllabus and, together with another story, "Domestic Violence", has been produced for BBC Radio 4. You can find out more about Cathy, her books, and events she'll be attending, at www.cathyace.com
"Ace is, well, an ace when it comes to plot and description.” The Globe and Mail
Cathy's work has won the prestigious Bony Blithe Award for best Canadian light mystery, an IPPY and an IBA Award, and has been shortlisted for an Arthur Ellis Award for Best Short Story.
Her short story "Dear George" appeared on the UK's O Level English Language syllabus and, together with another story, "Domestic Violence", has been produced for BBC Radio 4. You can find out more about Cathy, her books, and events she'll be attending, at www.cathyace.com
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 20, 2024
"The Case Of The Uninvited Undertaker" is book #8 in the "WISE Enquiries Agency" by Cathy Ace.
"‘HE LEFT A WREATH OF CONDOLENCE AT OUR FRONT DOOR, THEN VANISHED.’
The women of the WISE Enquiries Agency should be enjoying the early summer with their loved ones, but find themselves facing a truly baffling mysterious figure has been spotted in Anwen-by-Wye, heralding tragedy. Nerves in the village are frayed, and the skills of all four of our private investigators are needed to work out what’s going on – aided by Althea, dowager duchess of Chellingworth, of course.
When death strikes far too close to home for our beloved enquiry agents the stakes are raised in what has become a fatal game of cat and mouse…revealing dark secrets hidden by a person everybody thought they knew.
Meanwhile, the duke and duchess are busy organizing projects designed to help revitalize the Chellingworth Estate, though their proposals aren’t viewed favorably by all, and - snatching time as a couple when they can - Annie and Tudor are considering their future, as are Christine and Alexander…though in different ways, and with some surprising outcomes."
My thoughts:
The mystery of who the undertaker spotted in the village and in other places is curious - especially as the team begins to gather more info. Of course, things get complicated as other issues arise that also need a bit of attention.
The four women are all also dealing with situations in their own lives.
Carol is caring for her toddler son Albert and her husband is working nights - which makes it hard for her to really get a lot done job wise but she is doing the best she can and makes some interesting discoveries in her research and observations.
Christine is working the cases where and when she can but is also thinking about her future life with Alexander.
Mavis can sometimes be a bit short with the dowager Althea and her antics but she is also working on a case that Carol had brought to her attention. It gets far more complicated than any of them expected!
Annie and Tudor are evolving as a couple and considering their future as well as some business matters to do with the pub and the village.
Henry - the Duke - is of course being his usual fusspot self and wonders just what his sister Clemmie is up to when she asks for a family dinner and brings a guest!
I do love how the WISE women interact with each other and find ways to work the various cases. The goings on of the village never seem to be boring and a rumour or two are always in the air. Reading how all the pieces flow and slowly fit together or are resolved is entertaining. Admittedly, I did figure out who the "Uninvited Undertaker" was before the reveal but the getting there was well done - though I hadn't quite gotten to the why they did what they did before that part was explained.
The last chapter dealt mostly with tying up some lose ends and also revealing a few more developments - one of which I had also figured out!
Overall, a good read!
"‘HE LEFT A WREATH OF CONDOLENCE AT OUR FRONT DOOR, THEN VANISHED.’
The women of the WISE Enquiries Agency should be enjoying the early summer with their loved ones, but find themselves facing a truly baffling mysterious figure has been spotted in Anwen-by-Wye, heralding tragedy. Nerves in the village are frayed, and the skills of all four of our private investigators are needed to work out what’s going on – aided by Althea, dowager duchess of Chellingworth, of course.
When death strikes far too close to home for our beloved enquiry agents the stakes are raised in what has become a fatal game of cat and mouse…revealing dark secrets hidden by a person everybody thought they knew.
Meanwhile, the duke and duchess are busy organizing projects designed to help revitalize the Chellingworth Estate, though their proposals aren’t viewed favorably by all, and - snatching time as a couple when they can - Annie and Tudor are considering their future, as are Christine and Alexander…though in different ways, and with some surprising outcomes."
My thoughts:
The mystery of who the undertaker spotted in the village and in other places is curious - especially as the team begins to gather more info. Of course, things get complicated as other issues arise that also need a bit of attention.
The four women are all also dealing with situations in their own lives.
Carol is caring for her toddler son Albert and her husband is working nights - which makes it hard for her to really get a lot done job wise but she is doing the best she can and makes some interesting discoveries in her research and observations.
Christine is working the cases where and when she can but is also thinking about her future life with Alexander.
Mavis can sometimes be a bit short with the dowager Althea and her antics but she is also working on a case that Carol had brought to her attention. It gets far more complicated than any of them expected!
Annie and Tudor are evolving as a couple and considering their future as well as some business matters to do with the pub and the village.
Henry - the Duke - is of course being his usual fusspot self and wonders just what his sister Clemmie is up to when she asks for a family dinner and brings a guest!
I do love how the WISE women interact with each other and find ways to work the various cases. The goings on of the village never seem to be boring and a rumour or two are always in the air. Reading how all the pieces flow and slowly fit together or are resolved is entertaining. Admittedly, I did figure out who the "Uninvited Undertaker" was before the reveal but the getting there was well done - though I hadn't quite gotten to the why they did what they did before that part was explained.
The last chapter dealt mostly with tying up some lose ends and also revealing a few more developments - one of which I had also figured out!
Overall, a good read!
April 25, 2025
During a surprisingly hot and dry summer, the WISE women are facing a drought of their own, until they are approached by an undertaker with a very unusual problem—someone is delivering wreaths to families before the loved one dies. At the same time, an old friend of Carol's, a nurse, wants help finding out what is happening to drugs disappearing after patients' deaths. Several other minor mysteries are also dealt with. But both of these major cases involve issues that should be addressed, just not in the way the perpetrators have chosen. The interesting characters and intertwining plots make this book very hard to put down.
August 2, 2023
While I’m still interested in this series, and the WISE Agency, I find myself skipping paragraphs that slow down the narrative and add little to my sense of the place, the people or the plot. There is also rather too many intertwining stories to keep track of. This, no doubt, sounds carping. While I do want to know how the cases are solved, I somehow don’t engage much with the characters, who are, perhaps with the exception of Althea, distinguished only to accent or birthplace ( established through much the same means).
January 3, 2024
Another delightful story
The WISE women have the hands full of inquiries that range from missing drugs at a nursing home, a suspicious fiance, and the most important the mysterious bearer of condolence wreaths to families before the person dies. Everyone is evolved in solving these cases, some even stumble into danger. Great plotline, wonderful characters created quite a page turner.
The WISE women have the hands full of inquiries that range from missing drugs at a nursing home, a suspicious fiance, and the most important the mysterious bearer of condolence wreaths to families before the person dies. Everyone is evolved in solving these cases, some even stumble into danger. Great plotline, wonderful characters created quite a page turner.
August 25, 2023
I think Cathy Ace is a competent writer (which sounds like damnation by faint praise, but is not meant to be). This particular book continues the stories of the WISE detectives with some humor and another creative mystery set up. I also continue to appreciate that there are problems to be solved that are not necessary murder.
March 29, 2024
Loved it!
Once again the ladies if the WISE Enquiries Agency are involved in several different mysteries, some of them quite dangerous. Ms. Ace does a wonderful job bringing her characters to life. The plot lines are intriguing, and not all easily figured out by the reader. Can't wait to dive into the next book in the series.
Once again the ladies if the WISE Enquiries Agency are involved in several different mysteries, some of them quite dangerous. Ms. Ace does a wonderful job bringing her characters to life. The plot lines are intriguing, and not all easily figured out by the reader. Can't wait to dive into the next book in the series.
August 19, 2023
If you are new to this series, then make sure you start from the beginning so that you get plot and cast development.
The Chellingworth Estate has big plans for the village of Anwen-by-Wye. Meanwhile the WISE women take on a number of cases, both paid and unpaid, some interesting scenarios.
The Chellingworth Estate has big plans for the village of Anwen-by-Wye. Meanwhile the WISE women take on a number of cases, both paid and unpaid, some interesting scenarios.
July 25, 2023
Another great cozy mystery. The characters lives move on and are developed and engaging. Another triumph for Cathy Ace!!!!!
August 13, 2023
Cathy knows how to tell a story with humor, pathos and love. I love to visit with the girls of the Wise Agency.
September 21, 2023
Best yet
Always well written , up to date and with the ever funny dowager. Ace keeps all of the couples developing their own story lines while the cases are solved
Always well written , up to date and with the ever funny dowager. Ace keeps all of the couples developing their own story lines while the cases are solved
August 30, 2023
The Case of the Uninvited Undertaker (book 8): the WISE women are tasked with discovering who is leaving flowers for families BEFORE a loved one dies. Meanwhile, Mavis goes undercover at a care home to see if a nurse is stealing medications from the recently deceased.
I continue to love this series. The cases this time around were really interesting. There is also A LOT going on with the women in their personal lives, which is even more interesting to me at this point. It does seem like a big change is coming and the women all seem to be ready for something different, though mostly on a personal front. Christine is REALLY going through it. Is she pregnant? What is her deal?!
I continue to love this series. The cases this time around were really interesting. There is also A LOT going on with the women in their personal lives, which is even more interesting to me at this point. It does seem like a big change is coming and the women all seem to be ready for something different, though mostly on a personal front. Christine is REALLY going through it. Is she pregnant? What is her deal?!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews