Jigsaw

Chiltern Hills Mysteries #2

by Anthea Fraser

The return of Rona Parish - Rona Parish is ready to embark on a new assignment. She is to write a series of articles for the 600th anniversary of the local market town of Buckford, looking at its churches, schools and celebrated inhabitants. But her first encounter with the elderly Edna Rosebury raises unresolved questions about a recent tragic murder and Rona's investigative antennae are instantly on the alert . . .

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Cozy Mystery, British Literature

277 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2004

About the author

aka Vanessa Graham

Reviews

[Mia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nora Parish travels to another town to write several articles about its history. While she's there, one of the long time residents mysteriously dies, and it could have something to do with a murder that happened several years prior. Meanwhile her sister deals with her ex, and their father shows interest in another woman.
Another lovely story in this series. I'm so glad I discovered it, because I enjoy the authors style of writing, and really like the characters. Rona's husband and sister will need to grow on me though.

[Cybercrone · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not at all sure about this series and its main characters yet.

We'll see.

[Mrs VTJ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Readable tosh, nice characters, bit unbelievable (a freelance journalist and an artist can afford two houses and appear very well-off??). Rattles along nicely, though. Entertaining.

[Janet Farnham · Rating 2 out of 5]

Consistency is important to me and when I see something that conflicts with an earlier statement it is like a jarring note in a piano concert. This story read like a rush-job to me...

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the second installment in the Rona Parish mystery series. In addition to the characters are developing and becoming more interesting, the actual mystery was a little more, for lack of a better word, mysterious than in the first book. Yet, once again, Rona stumbles into the solution without any proper sleuthing. She is simply a journalist who has gotten involved in the lives of the people she has come across in the course of the research she is doing for a series of articles. As a mystery lover, I’m not sure how I feel about this. On the other hand, I enjoyed the writing and getting to know the characters better and character development is one of the reasons I like to read a series. So maybe this series is one where its’s the journey and not the destination that is the important thing. The thing I liked the least is that there were too many threads hanging at the end of the book with regards to the series main characters (as opposed to some of the main characters who featured in this particular story and we are not likely to hear from again). All in all, I enjoyed the book and will probably continue with the Rona Parish mysteries.

[D · Rating 3 out of 5]

it’s not the writing, it’s the character

I’ll update when/if I finish. At chapter eight, I am so angry at Rona that I hardly want to finish. Apparently, she has no real ethics and limited intelligence in spite of being a well received author. She didn’t share something she should have in the first book, and now she’s doing the same.
Ok. Finished it. Apparently this is a placeholder. Lots of things introduced to be sorted out in the future. Rona continued in her selfish, secretive vein. However, other characters are enjoyable and well done to my POV. If I continue with the series, it will be for them, not Rona.

[Doug Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rona decides to write a series of articles on the town of Buckford, which is due to celebrate its eight hundredth anniversary. As she researches the town's history, she is approached by Beth Spencer about a more current issue: Beth's husband Alan is serving a prison sentence for a murder Beth is sure he didn't commit. Although Rona does not consider herself to be an "investigative reporter," she is persuaded to do some investigating. Meanwhile, her parents and twin sister are having relationship problems.

[MARK D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good English murder mystery

I can lose track of who is who in a book like this and it does have some interesting tense moments. I'm not English or British, but I learn a lot about locations and various cultural interests and traditions in a book like this. For example, a trifle is a dessert, not a small gift or item.

[valerie gosling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Compelling

A really good book ,marvellous characters first-class plot developing slowly drawing you in and keeping you turning the pages really enjoyed reading this book highly recommend

[Antonia Jennings · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very interesting and sometimes spine-tingling mystery. I was surprised by the revelations made by some of the characters. This changed the whole sense of the mystery and the murders. This was a most excellent read!!!!!

[✎ᝰ. # ◞ ℋeather ✧. ✉︎ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didnt enjoy this one as much, it felt like everything just happened suddenly at the end and was over like that. Would still recommend as a part of the series though, obviously not every good will be as good as the others!

[Julie A Morrissey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely a Cosy Murder Story

Enjoyable (if that's right for a murder?!).
Nicely written, so that you soon fall into the villages where this story is based. Look forward to the next in the series.

[P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read

I enjoyed meeting Rona again on another mystery. The author has developed a good technique for Rona to encounter adventures in places other than her home town - being a journalist/writer gives her a good reason to travel.

[Jacqueline Whitington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as the description suggests a cozy mystery full of twists.

Very exciting, couldn't put it down. Totally unexpected ending. So looking forward to starting the next book in the series

[Jillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit disappointing. There seems to be a formula developing. The good- natured banter, and evasions, about risk get tiresome. Rona survives by good luck rather than good management and the end comes abruptly, as if the author has had enough. The various romance interests are also tiresome. I did want to know what happens, but most of these people are hard to like.

[Tonya Brum · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series, however, I do try to read them in order but must have gone wrong somewhere, Catherine Bishop is introduced it this book, but she was in the book I read previously and I was sure I read the first in the series not the third. I am so confused buy will read on. Great characters

[Lexine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Exciting ending

The back story is interesting and makes me want to read the next installment. Good plot. This is a fun read.

[Deb Mervold · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am enjoying this series with Rona Parish.

[Ann Hind · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book author has written lots of different books but really great reading.

[Hannah Benwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Standard enjoyable book.

[Emma Quarmby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read from Anthea Fraser. I suspected completely the wrong person! Great twists.

[Charline Romine · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Red Ink Pen

Murder most mysterious! Rona was researching for articles she was going to write and ran across information leading to a murder. Oh my!

[Robert Polhill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliantly put together and well thought out. Thoroughly enjoyed it and looking forward to the next book

[Snowy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m enjoying this book series. I love the descriptions and most of the characters, but can’t warm to Rona. She seems very selfish, doesn’t share information and Max seems too nice for her!

[Julie B · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Bookish Puzzle

Fraser tells a good story but she involves too many characters for me. I can’t keep track of who’s who. I hope her next book is more linear.

[Eleanor · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting ride all the way to the end.

No one is ever as they seem and who can blame us as we all have our own thoughts and emotions that we resolve to keep to ourselves.

[Kim Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

It makes me mad!

What does? Books where the female investigator usually either gets trapped by, or deliberately puts themselves in a position of danger to capture, the killer. Why can't authors find a sensible way for women to get the right conclusion without them needing to be rescued? It's so annoying! Other than that it was a good book.

[Damaskcat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second in the Rona Parish mystery series and very good it is too in my opinion. Rona has been commissioned to do a series of articles about the town of Buckford because it is celebrating eight hundred years in existence. She decides to stay in the town for a couple of nights each week while she gathers information for her articles.

Almost immediately she is asked to look into a murder by the wife of the person who was convicted of the crime because she believes he is innocent. Rona is reluctant but Beth Spencer is persuasive and in any case Rona herself has come across some information while talking to an elderly lady which may be relevant to the murder. Then Rona starts to receive anonymous notes warning her to stay away. Someone has something to hide it seems.

I liked the characters in this book as the author really brings them to life - not just Rona herself and her family but the people she meets and those who help with her research. I liked the background of the bustling market town with its mixture of old and new buildings. I felt I could visualise the backdrop to this story very easily.

If you like crime and mystery novels with well drawn characters and backgrounds and interesting plots then try this series. There is no graphic violence or bad language.

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great discovery, the cozies of Anthea Fraser! Such a good read, never mushy, for the characters stand out from the cozy murder mystery because they are, nearly all of them, not easy, but prickly, like hedgehogs with fleas. Would love to have the whole Rona Parish series on my bookshelf to pick up in time of need. Perfect setting out of detail with plenty of plot and characters that are alive. So glad I found Fraser!

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rona is writing a series of articles celebrating the anniversary of a town called Buckford. She even goes up there to stay a few days each week. As she discovers more about the people and events, she uncovers an unsolved mystery and some other unsettling things. She has to solve it before her husband finds out and orders her home.

Okay. I like some of her other books better. This one seemed to be hodge-podged together and not as interesting.