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Chiltern Hills Mysteries #5
A Bookish Plot
Previously published as Rogue in Porcelain
Rona loves her tea. And it tastes even better from an elegant Curzon’s cup. When an opportunity arises to write about the family of secretive potters behind the brand, she jumps at it. But someone out there seems just as curious about Rona’s private business.
Out on a lonely country lane, many miles away, a handbag is found. Rona knows it doesn’t belong to her. So why does it have her name and address scrawled inside . . . ?
Things go from bad to worse when Finlay Curzon — the youngest, most dashing member of the clan — invites Rona and Gus for a stroll around his family plot in the churchyard.
Lying on a bench, amid the centuries-old graves, Rona spots a much fresher corpse! And it’s someone Rona knows and loves.
You can’t build a pottery legacy without shattering a few china plates. But now this case feels personal.
Rona already knows way too many Curzon family secrets for her own good.
Can she piece together the fragments before the killer strikes again?
Rona loves her tea. And it tastes even better from an elegant Curzon’s cup. When an opportunity arises to write about the family of secretive potters behind the brand, she jumps at it. But someone out there seems just as curious about Rona’s private business.
Out on a lonely country lane, many miles away, a handbag is found. Rona knows it doesn’t belong to her. So why does it have her name and address scrawled inside . . . ?
Things go from bad to worse when Finlay Curzon — the youngest, most dashing member of the clan — invites Rona and Gus for a stroll around his family plot in the churchyard.
Lying on a bench, amid the centuries-old graves, Rona spots a much fresher corpse! And it’s someone Rona knows and loves.
You can’t build a pottery legacy without shattering a few china plates. But now this case feels personal.
Rona already knows way too many Curzon family secrets for her own good.
Can she piece together the fragments before the killer strikes again?
289 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2007
329 people are currently reading
74 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
July 29, 2020
Another great read by Fraser-
Rona Parish, an author, is currently working on biographies involving old family businesses in her county. This book involves a family who's been in the pottery business for several generations. On their anniversary, they want to introduce a new line of china, and Rona will produce an article at the time of release.
Rona meets one of the company's nephews, and there's an immediate attraction between them. She also meets a woman who she instantly forms a warm friendship with.
Meanwhile, Rona's parents start to move on with their lives, Lindsey is still juggling men, and has a new one in mind, and Max visits his ailing father.
While Rona does research for her article, a few secrets from the family's past come to light, and a murder is committed.
Rona Parish, an author, is currently working on biographies involving old family businesses in her county. This book involves a family who's been in the pottery business for several generations. On their anniversary, they want to introduce a new line of china, and Rona will produce an article at the time of release.
Rona meets one of the company's nephews, and there's an immediate attraction between them. She also meets a woman who she instantly forms a warm friendship with.
Meanwhile, Rona's parents start to move on with their lives, Lindsey is still juggling men, and has a new one in mind, and Max visits his ailing father.
While Rona does research for her article, a few secrets from the family's past come to light, and a murder is committed.
March 12, 2026
Tense, shocking
Rhona has dinner with her Dad who mentions a ceramics dynasty which he thought would be an ideal industry for her magazine series. Once again Fiona finds herself embroiled in a shocking event. A thoroughly enjoyable read, well written, great characters and a very intriguing plot.
Rhona has dinner with her Dad who mentions a ceramics dynasty which he thought would be an ideal industry for her magazine series. Once again Fiona finds herself embroiled in a shocking event. A thoroughly enjoyable read, well written, great characters and a very intriguing plot.
October 19, 2015
Rona Parish is writing a series of articles about local family firms and her latest subject is the Curzon china company which has been in existence for almost one hundred and fifty years. Rona likes to highlight the human element in her articles and is pleased to hear that there are family stories of a scandal and she hopes to hear more about it.
Unfortunately the old scandal may still have repercussions in the present and Rona's investigations could just turn over a few stones which might have been better left where they were. In her private life she has made a new friend and her parents seem to be settling down in the new status quo though Rona is still worried about twin sister Lindsey and her inability to attract men who make her happy.
This is an entertaining and well written mystery and I enjoyed reading it. I like Rona as a character and I think her unconventional lifestyle makes a change from the usual marital situation. I am enjoying this series and the books can be read as a standalone novels as well as part of a series.
Unfortunately the old scandal may still have repercussions in the present and Rona's investigations could just turn over a few stones which might have been better left where they were. In her private life she has made a new friend and her parents seem to be settling down in the new status quo though Rona is still worried about twin sister Lindsey and her inability to attract men who make her happy.
This is an entertaining and well written mystery and I enjoyed reading it. I like Rona as a character and I think her unconventional lifestyle makes a change from the usual marital situation. I am enjoying this series and the books can be read as a standalone novels as well as part of a series.
June 25, 2010
It was a pretty good story, but in the end, it seemed as if the author had grown tired of working on it and just wanted it over and done. To my mind, she left a few loose ends, as well.
October 19, 2012
Not a bad story but somewhat of a weak ending.
April 22, 2026
Another cog in the wheel
After coming annoyed with Rona’s lack of judgment in prior books, I’d let things lie for a bit. Didn’t realize this was that series until I’d jumped in. Good characters introduced and quite an interesting set up. I confess I was waiting with every page for her to follow her usual foolish path, and, she didn’t disappoint, though it did take longer than expected. Apparently, an intelligent, clear-headed woman doesn’t make a compelling protagonist. I also found the wrap up, though neat, to be unsatisfactory. It’s a shame, because there is SO much good here. I suspect the author needs to commit to a true, lengthy novel to give her stories the room they deserve.
After coming annoyed with Rona’s lack of judgment in prior books, I’d let things lie for a bit. Didn’t realize this was that series until I’d jumped in. Good characters introduced and quite an interesting set up. I confess I was waiting with every page for her to follow her usual foolish path, and, she didn’t disappoint, though it did take longer than expected. Apparently, an intelligent, clear-headed woman doesn’t make a compelling protagonist. I also found the wrap up, though neat, to be unsatisfactory. It’s a shame, because there is SO much good here. I suspect the author needs to commit to a true, lengthy novel to give her stories the room they deserve.
April 3, 2026
More articles from Rona
This time about a family about to celebrate the 150th anniversary of their porcelain company.
Pretty much boilerplate. Cozy stories about a journalist who seems to get involved with people where there is an inevitable murder.
I hadn't read any books by this publisher for a while. They have a silly glossary translating British english to American english. How ridiculous.
This time about a family about to celebrate the 150th anniversary of their porcelain company.
Pretty much boilerplate. Cozy stories about a journalist who seems to get involved with people where there is an inevitable murder.
I hadn't read any books by this publisher for a while. They have a silly glossary translating British english to American english. How ridiculous.
March 15, 2026
good plot
Another good plot by Anthea Fraser. The dog is the reason I was attracted to the series. Dogs make every book better.
Another good plot by Anthea Fraser. The dog is the reason I was attracted to the series. Dogs make every book better.
March 18, 2026
Easy read.
Enjoy the characters but the stories are a bit samey. Easy read when you don't want to think too much. Not a bad series.
Enjoy the characters but the stories are a bit samey. Easy read when you don't want to think too much. Not a bad series.
March 24, 2026
Secret Ceramic
Very abrupt ending, and unusual. This series is more like who is sleeping with who. I like more of the mystery story than the infidelity.
Very abrupt ending, and unusual. This series is more like who is sleeping with who. I like more of the mystery story than the infidelity.
April 12, 2026
a gripping mystery
Loved the story although it was a while before it stated to get interesting, but once it did, it was a real page turner
Loved the story although it was a while before it stated to get interesting, but once it did, it was a real page turner
February 29, 2012
Journalist Rona Parrish is writing a magazine article (or two, she's not sure yet) about the porcelain company started 150 years ago by the Curzon family. She wants the story of the people involved, whose descendents still own the firm. Naturally, there are some things that the family would rather keep to themselves. As Fraser usually does, she includes information about Rona's twin sister's complex romantic relationships and the progress of the twins' parents' divorce. Into what seems to be a straight novel, murder intrudes.
September 8, 2018
As far as the story goes, this was probably my favourite so far. Good plot and fewer incidences of stupidity as a plot-furthering device.
And it was totally annoying, that because Rona's husband got kissed by a secondary character in the last book, Rona had to be kissed in this book. *sigh*
And it was totally annoying, that because Rona's husband got kissed by a secondary character in the last book, Rona had to be kissed in this book. *sigh*
December 16, 2023
This series reads like Barbara Cartland meets Agatha Christie. For much of it, I find it fun and enjoyable. Some of it gets a bit too Cartland-ish for me. And some of it seems like it was done in a rushed deadline ending. That being said, on the whole, I like it enough to keep going...
July 10, 2008
Part of a series set in modern England.Well paced and easy to read with likeable characters.
September 5, 2017
Pleasant but unremrkable exmple of the British contemporry mystery genre.
January 17, 2018
Love this series, except for her rapid endings!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews