Oxford Fall

Kate Ivory #4

by Veronica Stallwood

Christopher Townsend, Development Officer of Bartlemas College, was reportedly drunk when he plunged from the top of the Tower of Grace. His tragic death does, however, lead to an offer of work for novelist Kate Ivory—finishing Townsend's preparations for the 'Gender and Genre' study fortnight. Kate is doing Bartlemas a favour by taking his place—so why do her new colleagues seem so hostile towards her? And who left the note on one of Christopher's files which reads CURIOSITY KILLED THE CAT? When Kate receives some threatening messages of her own, she begins to wonder if Christopher's death was an accident after all. Perhaps he had stumbled on to something he shouldn't have. And perhaps, by stepping into his shoes, Kate has now put her own life in terrible danger...

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Fiction, British Literature

272 pages, Paperback

First published November 7, 1996

About the author

Veronica Stallwood was born in London, educated abroad and now lives near Oxford. In the past she has worked at the Bodleian Library and more recently in Lincoln College library.

Reviews

[Chaos_deluxe · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ich wusste schon warum das Buch so lange rum subt bei mir.
Ich fand es total langweilig.

[Jürgen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mehrere der Oxford-Bücher von Veronica Stallwood lagen nun schon eine ganze Weile auf meinem SuB herum und so habe ich "Unheil über Oxford" eine Chance gegeben. Leider musste ich es nach knapp 30 Seiten abbrechen. Wenn einer Autorin für Ihre Heldin als Merkmal nichts besseres einfällt als die Vorliebe für eine bestimmte Wein-/Traubensorte und dies dann an allen möglichen passenden und unpassenden Stellen eingestreut wird, stellt sich mir schnell die Frage, ob das Buch meine Lesezeit wert ist. Aber auch insgesamt ist der Schreibstil eher flach, die Figuren wirken im besten Fall farblos, oft eher unsympathisch.

[Eyejaybee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had enjoyed Veronica Stallwood’s previous novels featuring aspiring historical novelist Kate Ivory, who had an unfortunate penchant for becoming embroiled in murder investigations. I wonder, however, whether this fourth instalment represented a case of having taken the pitcher to the well once too often. I acknowledge, however, that it may simply have been that I have read too many books in this sequence within too short a period.

This time around, an impecunious Kate finds herself being taken on by Bartlemas College, to help with the administration of its summer school following the untimely death of the man in charge of the project. He had died after falling from the high college tower, as it happens, only very shortly after encountering Kate herself in a busy Oxford street. As Kate gets to grips with the work, she starts to find a few oddities in the files, and also begins to receive rather threatening messages.

So far, so good. However, each chapter begins with an encounter between Kate’s deceased predecessor and an angel, who is overseeing the dead man’s access to heaven. This is basically a rather clumsy vehicle for insights into episodes from the dead man’s past. I found this exceptionally irritating, and out of step with the rest of the novel.

Kate remains an appealing and broadly empathetic character, but I think I will wait much longer before progressing to the next book in the series.

[Liz Polding · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick easy read on the train. My neighbour had a box of books outside going begging. This was one of them and they obviously like this author a lot as there were several other titles. The writing is fine, although I was a bit worried by the comparison with the Morse books as I really didn’t like Colin Dexter’s writing at all, I’m afraid. Liked the character, couldn’t bear the books. Usually I’m the other way round. This has some clever touches and the plot works, so I will probably read the others as they were free and I commute, but then they will be going to the charity shop. It feels as though I am damning it with faint praise, and that may be unfair as I did enjoy it, but this is clear soup, not rich chowder. That said, sometimes clear soup is just what’s wanted, hence the 3 stars.

[Doreen Link · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frau Stallwood wird immer besser. Ich habe diesen Roman regelrecht verschlungen.

[Roberta · Rating 1 out of 5]

Avoid in futire.

[Iza Brekilien · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad, not excellent...

[Trine · Rating 5 out of 5]

The fourth book in the Kate Ivory mystery series is yet another ingenious mystery read even though it is more symbolic in nature than the previous Kate Ivory novels.

The title itself not only symbolizes the event of the crime, but also the metaphysical Fall (and banishment from Eden) later used as a metaphoric literary device in the form of an an explanatory, religious discourse between the victim and the cherubim Zophiel at the very gate of the Garden of Eden.

Although the mystery is very much solved on the earthly plane, the fate of the victim, however, remains unresolved as he’s still struggling with the concept of his own fall from grace at the end of the book.

Very thought-provoking read and a mystery series likely to appeal to readers mourning the demise of the incomparable Inspector Morse and anyone interested in the historic city of Oxford.

[JenniferB]

Detective story, ok, bit cynical