The Corpse of St James's

Dorothy Martin #12

by Jeanne M. Dams

Dorothy Martin and her husband, retired Chief Constable Alan Nesbitt, have just visited Buckingham Palace, where Alan was awarded the George Cross, when they and a friend, retired Chief Inspector Jonathan Quinn, stumble across the body of a young girl hidden in St James's Park. Wondering what led to the unfortunate girl's demise, Dorothy can't help but get involved in the case when Jonathan calls the next day and admits he knew who the victim was.

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

221 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Jeanne M. Dams lives in South Bend, Indiana. The Body in the Transept, which introduced Dorothy Martin, won the Agatha Award for Best First Novel. Dams is also the author of Green Grow the Victims and other Hilda Johansson mysteries published by Walker & Company.

Reviews

[Ivonne Rovira · Rating 2 out of 5]

Readers will find the denouement to this, the 12th novel to feature American ex-pat Dorothy Martin and her English husband Alan Nesbit, retired Chief Constable of the Belleshire Constabulary, completely implausible. So is the character of hero-turned-zero Jonathan Quinn, who features so heavily in the maudlin adventures of The Corpse at St. James.

Unless you’re a Jeanne M. Dams devotee, this is the one to skip.

[Hope · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of all, I enjoyed middle-aged Dorothy Martin as crime solver. She's a well-drawn, likeable character whose words and actions match her persona. Second, Dams is a good writer with many fine word choices (salubrious, fulminating, and dissolute, for example.)

Third, Dams quotes great works of literature showing she has a broad reading background. This doesn't automatically make someone a good writer, but it sure helps. Fourth, the book shows a married couple in tune with each other's needs and interests, and I enjoyed their banter. Fifth, Dorothy and her husband are mentioned as attending church as if it were a completely normal, natural thing to do. Last, the book is filled with references to life in England which will appeal to anglophiles.

So why didn't I give this book more stars? Because it falls just short of being a cozy mystery; all three of the people involved in the crime were in some stage of sexual sin. No sordid details, though. The occasional light swearing and constant drinking might offend some.

Nevertheless, I look forward to exploring other Dorothy Martin mysteries.

[Les Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I almost didn’t read this book as I strongly disagreed with the sentiments at the beginning. So a book to one side for a couple of days then started again on the 14th skipping the first few pages. After that I found the book satisfactory reading in spite of it’s disagreeable sentiments.

[Patricia · Rating 1 out of 5]

The mechanics of good writing are here, but the fault lies in the protagonists. If you are going to make the victim of your murder mystery a child, you cannot handle it with a level of detachment you'd give to road kill. Dorothy and co. come off like extreme narcissists in this one, who care more for tourist attractions than they do a child's life. The issue of post traumatic stress and suicide are also handled with appalling ease. To put it bluntly, what a piece of shallow crap. Where was the editor on this one? Did anyone else read this before publication? This is a case of competent but soul-less writing.

[Gloria Mccracken · Rating 2 out of 5]

Marked down because of the ending which was rife with loose ends and puzzling non-resolutions.

[Bev · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Corpse of St. James's is my third mystery by Jeanne M. Dams in two weeks. I'm all caught up on her Dorothy Martin series--which is a good thing, I think. I do believe this series is better in small bites rather than large gulps. Although, I must admit that I liked this round better than the last one (The Evil That Men Do).

We start out with a rather nice travelogue of London--just a short tour, nothing too long and involved--and a brief re-introduction to our heroine (for anyone who has missed the previous eleven outings). Then it's straight down to business. Dorothy and her husband, Alan Nesbitt, are off to Buckingham Palace to witness their good friend ex-Chief Inspector Jonathan Quinn receive the George Cross from the Queen. After the ceremonies, they go for a relaxing walk in St. James's Park--only life is rarely relaxing for long when Dorothy Martin is around. They stumble across the body of a young girl hidden under a bush in a normally restricted area of the park.

Before long, Dorothy is wondering about the details and finds herself headlong into unofficial investigations when Jonathan reveals that he knows who the girl was. Soon the decorated hero is suspect number one and Dorothy and Alan...and all the friends they can muster into service...are on the hunt for the real villain of the piece in the hopes that he can be found before Britain's scandal sheet press get hold of the juicy story. Dorothy winds up talking to palace footmen, the handler of the famous royal Corgis, and members of the art world before the crime is finally solved.

There are some good moments in this one--more than the previous book, and Dorothy & Alan's relationship is a real gem. I enjoy they way they mentor Jonathan. I would have to say that the redeeming qualities in these cozy mysteries are primarily in the characters. The motive for the murder is a little far-fetched, but there are some interesting twists and some fair clues. Three stars.

This was first posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is about as close as an author should come to including the royal family in their story. Dorothy's retired chief constable husband has a policeman friend who is being awarded a George Cross for heroism and you don't get one of those for standing out of the light. Since he has no real family he has asked Dorothy and Alan to attend as his guests. It is a moving little ceremony but they are all three anxious to go to lunch afterward. Since Jonathan has difficulty walking as a result of the incident during which he won his award they are taking their time through St. James Park and that is how they came to find the body of a girl under a bush.
They do the obvious in calling for the police but Jonathan doesn't admit till the next day that he actually knows the girl. Here is where the alarms all go off. I can't imagine Alan actually hiding information from the investigating officers no matter how he feared the police would "get it wrong". We all know that a harried police are anxious to solve cases and they could easily "get the wrong idea" about people involved but for an officer to deliberately hide the truth while trying to solve the case himself just seems beyond the realm of likelihood. At least the officers are stomped on by the commanding officer in question and the bloom is rather blown off Alan's reputation to say nothing of the injured officer.
Otherwise the story moves along briskly - very briskly, considering the whipping back and forth and up and down the country by train and car. The resolution was satisfactory and we were certainly led around a few corners before we got there.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The corpse of St. James by Jeanne M. Dams.

Dorothy Martin and hubby, ret. Chief Constable Alan Nesbitt, have been invited to Buckingham Palace. They will be attending the ceremony of their friend, Jonathan Quinn, being awarded the George Cross by no less than the Queen herself. Quite an honor!

Jonathan has had to retire early on in his career as the current Chief Inspector due to injuries related to saving the life of a youngster from a murderer. His injuries are quite apparent in that Jonathan uses a cane when able otherwise a wheelchair.

After the ceremony Alan makes a shocking discovery just outside the Palace. This discovery brings secrets long past into the forefront for Dorothy and Alan. Secrets that no one wanted to be unearthed.

Once again Jeanne M. Dams authors another excellent British cozy on ,in my opinion, the same level as Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers. Smooth writing, excellent character portrayal and a story line that kept me interested from page one. A TRUE COZY.

[Ellie Rhodes · Rating 2 out of 5]

Starting a foreword with the warning that this is more of a travelogue than anything should have told me everything I wanted to know and I should have just returned the book. I have read several by the author but this is the worst. First 2 senior police officials obstruct justice and thus commit a crime themselves. The side characters are beyond annoying. They are self-involved and completely unlikeable. Do yourself a favor and pass on this one.

[Kim · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can't believe I actually kept reading but once I start a book I like to finish it. That two former police officers would withhold information was totally implausable. There was no suspense, no sympathy for the characters and all the English references too strained. This is the first and last Jeanne Dams book I'll be reading.

[Tasha · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book drove me crazy. Okay l know fiction means taking a step away from real life. But when you have a senior (retired) officer and high ranking officer with holding information from the police it boggles my mind. I could not get past that fact all through the book. That and the family of the murdered girl seemed like such snobs l found myself not caring after a while.

[Carrie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book wasn't nearly as good as the others in the series. I didn't care for the characters; there was no one really to root for. Even the main character, Dorothy, wasn't nearly as sympathetic as usual. The other books in the series have been good, so here's hoping the next one will be as well.

[Paula · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just could not finish this one. Characters did not act with any sympathy and did not act rationally. Really wanted to like it and have enjoyed other books by this author - just did not find this one plausible at all.

[Lorraine · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was not pleased with this book. The victim is taken advantage of and murdered, and then it ends on a "happy" note because it brings two people together who in reality would probably need a lot of therapy. Really?

[Jackie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel bad giving one of my go-to mystery writers a 2-star, but this was very meh. I felt like the mystery itself wasn't very engaging, and the side plot about Jonathan was really weak. I didn't dislike the book, I just wouldn't recommend this one to people.

[Marie Shirley Griffin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fair

The more of this series I read, the more disappointed I become.

Not sure what is happening, but after 20+ books, there seems only so much you can do. Very glad Alan has joined in, other wise boredom would have set in

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE !!! The author being in my home town is a bonus !!!

[Stephanie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Irrational, nonsensical and annoying. Not words I would use to describe a well written mystery. Blech.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly I am getting a little weary of this series. I just like the characters enough and the descriptive settings ... they keep me reading.

[Shannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I congratulate this American author for owning up to her homeland as she makes her protagonist an American Ex-Pat, the book then becomes a semi-amusing look at British life viewed from the viewpoint of a starry-eyed foreigner. The murder of a 14 year-old girl definitely comes in a distant second to the cutesy asides. She does warn the would-be reader that there will be many digressions into the realm of travelogue, so perhaps that's supposed to let her off the hook!
The front cover blurb states that "Fans of Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers will enjoy this VERY traditional British cozy." Let me say for the record, that THIS Christie/Sayers fan did not find it a comparable mystery on any level to those two mistresses of the genre. It IS however, much more along the lines of a Hazel Holt cozy, with its English village atmosphere (although the characters spend a LOT of time running to and fro to London in this one1) and several cossetted pets sharing the stage!
In fairness to Ms. Holt, her plots are much stronger than the weak vestige presented here, full as it is of gaping holes and complete impossibilities. The motivations behind keeping back critical information from the police are painfully unbelievable and greatly detract from any semblance of reality. I have to say that none of the characters are engaging or credible, so I was irritated and bored the whole way through. The victim's mother is especially awful as her only real concern is keeping her sweet gig at the palace! Also, I have never come across such a cast of easily exhausted people...they get tired just riding a train for an hour!

A waste of time, but at least not filthy or explicit.

[Alison C · Rating 3 out of 5]

An ex-colleague of former Chief Constable Alan Nesbitt is receiving a rare honour, a medal from the Queen for his heroic action in saving the life of a young girl. In the course of his police duties, Jonathan Quinn had suffered such significant injuries that he could never work again, which is a problem for him given that his work had been his life. When Alan and his wife Dorothy Martin try to console him following the ceremony, they happen to stumble upon a corpse in a little-used park near Buckingham Palace. Unfortunately, Jonathan happens to know who the young girl is, but he wants to conceal that information from the police because the girl’s mother works at the Palace. And thus begins a desperate race between Jonathan, Dorothy and Alan versus the police in trying to solve the case before any more damage is done…. This is the 12th book in the Dorothy Martin series and like the ones before it, it is a slight tale that is nonetheless entertaining in its own way. This particular entry is set largely in London and there are some lovely descriptions of parts of that unique city; otherwise, it’s pretty much standard fare for this series. Mildly recommended.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Dorothy Martin and her husband, retired Chief Constable Alan Nesbitt, have just visited Buckingham Palace to see their good friend ex-Chief Inspector Jonathan Quinn receive the George Cross when they stumble across the body of a young girl hidden in a section of St James's Park that is normally closed to the public.

"Having reported the disturbing discovery to the police, Dorothy finds herself wondering what led to the unfortunate girl's demise. So when Jonathan calls the next day and admits he knew who the victim was, Dorothy can't help but get involved in the case ..."
~~front flap

This is a lovely series, but after reading several of them in a row, the common denominator is that the murderer always turns out to be someone who wasn't even in the frame at first, and it's always Dorothy who happens upon this otherwise unknown person when all the probably leads hit dead ends. It's fun to follow her lines of reasoning and to the denouement, which often reveals someone you'd never guess ...

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Killer in a Royal Park

Dorothy Martin is one of my favourite detectives. A modern family Constable of Belleshire, & wife Dorothy Martin to 'Bucks House' to witness his ceremony. A cousin, Jemima, working there, wants to meet. She's worried about her young daughter who has run away from a small town to London. When the child's body is found under a bush in St. James Park, is Jonothon a suspect? Dorothy, Alan & Jonothon himself butt heads with Superintendent Carstairs, Jonothon's old boss. Being told to butt out of an ongoing case won't stop all three former & never been detectives from finding the murderous culprit.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dorothy, Alan, and their friend Jonathon have just left Buckingham Palace, where Jon was presented the George Cross. They go into St. James's Park to relax, and find the body of a young woman under a bush. They report it to the police and go home. Later Jon admits to them that he knew who is was, but said nothing. Turns out Jon's "adopted" family contains a dearly-loved "aunt" who took care of him in his youth, her illegitimate daughter Jemima, and Jemima's daughter, the dead girl. Things get a little convoluted after that, and of course Dorothy gets involved.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

No Disappointment Here

This is a good cozy read, enough mystery to keep one turning pages.
I love the scene and area descriptions so that part of it adds to the character of the story for me. Dorothy Martin always provides comic relief as well as insight into every situation that she finds herself in, or every situation that finds her in it! And I love it.

[Sue Epps · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poor Dorothy really was stumped by this murder, but she persevered as usual! I have enjoyed her earlier books as well.

I would recommend this and previous titles to those who enjoy British mysteries. This one is particularly interesting in that it incorporates interesting bits of history and sightseeing.

[MRS T J CHIVERS · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great example of a traditional murder mystery novel

The author of this series of books has researched her subject well. Dorothy is a warm credible woman with strengths and failings many of us 60_something ladies can relate to. The story rattles along at a good pace and the denouement is satisfyingly acceptable without hauling all the red herrings into a net at the last moment.

[Charline Romine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Odd Man Out

From a list of several to a list of one, Dorothy, Alan and Jonathan look for and find the killer. Melissa was a child of 14 found dead in the park. So sad. This story is a whirlwind of speculation. Follow along as they find and follow the clues. I feel numb right now just thinking about the outcome.

[Lisa T. Ungerer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Curate's egg

Parts of this book are good, however, those are the parts about London itself. The mystery aspect is not up to the author's best. Dorothy and Alan keep back vital evidence from the police, who ultimately solve the case despite their interference. Read Dark and Stormy Night to see what Dams can do.

[Judy Barnette-Zeamer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another hit!

I really liked this book. All of the books in the series have been excellent. The only critique I have is she should use another name other than Jemima. She has used it twice before and it is confusing when one comes upon it get again. One wonders if it relates to earlier Jemima's.