Death at Dovecote Hatch

Florence Norris #2

by Dorothy Cannell

The second in the brand-new Florence Norris series.
November, 1932. Still reeling from the recent murder at Mullings, country estate of the wealthy Stodmarsh family, the peaceful little village of Dovecote Hatch is about to be rocked by news of another violent death. When mild-mannered Kenneth Tenneson is found dead from a fall down the stairs at his home, the coroner’s inquest announces a verdict of accidental death. Florence Norris, however – the quietly observant housekeeper at Mullings – suspects there may be more to it than that.
Florence’s suspicions of foul play would appear to be confirmed when a second will turns up revealing details of a dark secret in the Tenneson family’s past. Determined to find out the truth about Kenneth’s death, Florence gradually pieces the clues together – but will she be in time to prevent a catastrophic turn of events?

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery, Historical, Fiction, British Literature, Cozy Mystery

281 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 31, 2015

About the author

(from Fantastic Fiction online)

Dorothy Cannell was born in London, England, and now lives in Belfast, Maine. Dorothy Cannell writes mysteries featuring Ellie Haskell, interior decorator and Ben Haskell, writer and chef, and Hyacinth and Primrose Tramwell, a pair of dotty sisters and owners of the Flowers Detection Agency.

(from Internet Book List)

Dorothy Cannell, a mother of four, grandmother of ten, and owner of a King Charles Spaniel, was born in England and moved to the United States when she was twenty. After living in Peoria, Illinois, for years, she and her husband recently moved to Belfast, Maine. Her first Ellie Haskell novel, The Thin Woman, was selected as one of the 100 Favorite Mysteries of the Twentieth Century by the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association.

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Death at Dovecote Hatch by Dorothy Cannell is a


Inspector Crane has once again popped into Dovecote Hatch, only this time he's looking for help from Florence and George regarding a suspicious death.

The first book in this series was a bit of a rocky ride, but this second installment was markedly improved.

Florence and George have finally confessed their feelings of love for one another and look forward to marrying one day, but after the murder at Mullings, Florence wants to be sure Ned is truly settled and that the housekeeping staff will manage without her.

In the meantime, she and George work a couple of mysterious cases, one of which directly involves Alf and his wife, Doris, who receives an unexpected inheritance.

The pacing is much faster in this second installment, the dialogue is crisper, and the mystery much more compelling and interesting than what was experienced in the first book.

It was interesting that the sudden deaths that George, Florence, and Crane are concerned about only looked suspicious if you viewed them with a trained eye or if you were quite observant. Otherwise, no one would have been the wiser and the deaths could have been passed off as accidents. This setup made the need for character examination and attention to detail very important. George and Florence make a pretty good team, bouncing ideas and theories off each other, which intensified their cerebral and practical chemistry.

Some of Cannell’s trademark humor, which was MIA in the first book, made a guest appearance a few times here, which was very nice to see.

I rather enjoyed this very British historical mystery. I’m not sure the author intends to continue on with the series, but if not, it ended on a very positive note. However, if Florence were to return again someday, I would love to catch up with the gang at Dovecote Hatch and Mullings Manor.


4 stars

[Cindy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I usually love this author, but this series just isn't working for me. For one thing, I miss the humor that is in her other series. But the real problem is that this is a classic example of "show, don't tell." She slows the book down so much by telling us what every character is thinking all of the time that the reader loses the thread of the action. I don't really want to know every detail about every character's lives PLUS what they're thinking all of the time. Just not what I was hoping for.

[Judy Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this second story in the Florence Norris Mystery series better than Murder at Mullings because I got the full effect of the novel taking place in 1932. Reading historical mysteries is a pleasure for me, but I want to really feel the time period and this novel gave that to me. This story takes up just a few months after the murder involving the Stodmarsh family and their ancestral home of Mullings with the return of the well developed characters from that first novel. If you missed reading Murder at Mullings you can easily begin the series here, but be aware that there are many references to incidents and relationships covered in that first novel.

Florence Norris is housekeeper at Mullings and this story opens with George Bird, owner of the Dog and Whistle pub, seeing her off at the railway station for a week long holiday in London with her cousin Hattie Fly. Just as the train pulled into the station Florence had the strongest impression the only other person on the platform, a woman, was thinking about throwing herself in front of the train. Nothing happened, though, and both women boarded the train for London. From this incident Florence found herself investigating a secret in the village which lead to death and possible insanity.

At a very early spot in this story the author put in a plot device which blew my preconceived notion of where the story was leading all to bits. What a nice shock that turned out to be because it made this story take on a more original aspect than I've encountered in many years of reading mystery novels. Once again the characters of Dovecote Hatch are exceptionally well presented and the resolution of the questions being investigated make perfect sense. I really am looking forward to reading future novels in this series.

I received an e-ARC of this novel through NetGalley.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

A small-town English mystery with delightfully appealing characters who drink enough tea to sink a ship and a mystery obscure enough that the reader doesn't jump to a conclusion, either right or wrong, before the end of the book. It is the second in the Florence Norris series, so I will go back and read the first one, since it is often mentioned in this book. After reading a short story by Ms. Cannell in a Charlotte McLeod collection, I wanted to read something more by her, and I am glad I did.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first one and this one also. However, it jarred that widow George Bird's deceased wife in the first one was named Mable and Betty in the second one. I don't know if this was because the name Betty tied in with another character, but I'm the type that notices things like this. I had built up a picture of Mable in my mind and to have her change to a Betty really bothered me.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

1932 following the accidental death of Kenneth Tenneson of Bogmire House, there are surprises to come when a new will is presented that changes several peoples' lives.
Slow paced cozy historical mystery

[Damaskcat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Florence Norris is back again and investigating a very tangled web of past secrets and possible suspicious deaths. Even Inspector LeGrange needs her help as he feels there are circumstances when Florence is more likely to get at the truth than he is because people are not suspicious of her.

Quiet Kenneth Tenneson dies in a fall down the stairs at his home shortly after making changes to his will. His two obnoxious sisters, who are heartily disliked by the villagers of Dovecote Hatch, seem likely suspects. Florence is observant and has a good understanding of human nature, can she get to the bottom of the mystery without putting herself and those she cares about in danger?

I enjoyed this well written mystery set in the nineteen thirties. The characters are likeable - apart from the Tenneson sisters who are masterpieces of spite and vindictiveness. I loved Rupert Trout - the village constable's son - who does his best with a situation he doesn't wholly understand.

If you like mysteries set in the nineteen thirties then give this one a try. It can be read as a standalone novel but it is the second story in the Florence Norris series which started with 'Murder at Mullings'. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for review.

[Jacqueline Fairchild · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story! The main character Florence had me right from the beginning. There were twists and turns that kept me turning the page. I read it in 2 days. I cannot recommend it enough. I hated the mean sisters and loved Ned. If you enjoyed Dorothy's Ellie series, I think you will fall in love with her new 1930's stories. Jacqueline Gillam Fairchild--author: Estate of Mind

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm sorry there are no more books in this series. These books are packed with subplots and characters but it all ties together. The characters are well developed with detailed backgrounds.

One inconsistency for me is that this is a small village in rural England in the 1930's but, particularly in the second book, no one seems to know other people in the village. I find it hard to believe they would not have passed each other at some point.

[Rachel Ronning · Rating 3 out of 5]

You can't change Birdie's dead wife's name from Mabel in the first book to Betty in the second without annoying readers. Sorry. I think this one read easier, knowing what to expect, but still came across as wordy.

[Miriam · Rating 4 out of 5]

You need to think of it as a novel, in which a death happens to happen. There aren't really good clues and its very slow paced. But I enjoyed it.

[Dany · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. Not really bad but very slow moving. It really didn't hold my interest for very long in any one sitting. The murder wasn't even particularly interesting.

[Martha Greenough · Rating 2 out of 5]

Contrived, and not well

[Lyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Slow, rambling, infuriatingly repetitive, and barely a mystery at all.

[Crystal Toller · Rating 4 out of 5]

The village of Dovecote Hatch is still reeling from the murders at Mullings, the great estate of the village when Kenneth Trennan falls down the stairs at his house and dies. A number of people in the village are wondering if Kenneth was killed by one of his batty and hateful sisters or someone else. Meanwhile, Doris and Alf Thatcher receive a letter from a solicitor and in meeting with him, Doris learns her parents are not really her parents and she is an heir of Kenneth because she's really the heir not him. It all makes for a wonderful story in this series. A few editing mistakes in this one but the story was so good it didn't detract too much from the story.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This mystery continues the adventures of Florence Norris. However, Florence is much less directly involved in the events in this story than are Alf and Doris Thatcher. Several other characters from Murder at Mullings reappear as well--Florence's beau, George; the town Constable, Lord Ned Stodmarsh and his grandmother, Mrs. McDonald, the butler, and other servants from Mullings. The case this time has to do with the death of Kenneth Tenneson and the discovery that Doris and Kenneth were switched at birth and Kenneth's will has left his money and house, Bogmire, to Doris.

[Suzanne Stauffer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Incredibly slow, repetitive, rambling. Filled extraneous detail. I got to the point that I just couldn't read any more. It started well, but soon went off into the weeds. As others said, it suffers from far too much telling. Particularly irritating are the conversations in which both parties tell each other what they already know, as in "As you know, I did it because you asked me to," followed by, "As you know, I asked you to because I was out of town." And we'd already been told this when the event occurred.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story with lots of surprises

Nicely written story with an interesting collection of characters. Florence Norris makes a good sleuth in a small town setting. The story bogs down a little bit in the middle but zips along to an interesting conclusion. Somewhat reminiscent of Downton Abbey

[Cascade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love reading Dorothy Cannell

I've read all her books. Of course I like any England themed books and period books. I recommend this to anyone that's wants an easy enjoyable reading experience.

[HKR · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like how it spends about the entire first half introducing the various people and setting up details. It really starts coming together and explains most of it but at a pace you can figure things out for yourself.

[Joann Pilachowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Florence Norris #2. Just as good as #1.

[Anne Straub · Rating 1 out of 5]

This series is not for me. The story meanders, even rambles. The payoff of the solution to the murder was tepid.

[Jane Horn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't figure it out (my highest praise for a mystery). It was a lovely slow paced cozy mystery.

[Lourdes C. Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book more than the first (Murder at Mullings). The story progressed more quickly, and with a gentle humor.

[Missi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was too wordy for my taste and I could guess most of the plot... but I have read far worse novels.

[Lauren Little · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good classic English village mystery that will remind you of Midsommer Murders.

[Shug · Rating 1 out of 5]

Please oh please allow me to give it a 1/2 star. This head-hopping, driveling, rambling mess was a waste of my precious time. A big MEH. Only one good thing about this book, I got it for free.

[Vicky Lee Owen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book I read her other series the Thin woman first it made me think and laugh at the same time. So I knew before I picked up this series then that I was in for a treat.

[Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good read set in 1930s England.

[M · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just okay.