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A [Very] Public School Murder
Excellence by the Sea is the strap line in Stormhaven Towers school's publicity, but when, at the end of the summer term, the hard-drinking, hard-smoking new Headmaster, Jamie King, is found dead at the bottom of the town's famous white cliffs, this excellence comes under savage scrutiny.
Suicide is assumed at first - King wouldn't be the first tormented soul to hit those unforgiving rocks. But unanswered questions remain, and then there is a second death at the school. With the pursuit of excellence exchanged for the pursuit of a killer who is both clever and efficient, the long dark corridors of Stormhaven Towers become an education in fear. Who will be next?
Leading the investigation is the attractive and ambitious Inspector Tamsin Shah, accompanied, rather unexpectedly, by Abbot Peter, recently retired from the deserts of Middle Egypt. Known locally as 'the odd couple', they have worked on cases together before surprising though that the Abbot should wish to become involved again. The ruthless Shah has brought danger to his seaside door, and, through events at Stormhaven Towers, will do so again.
Suicide is assumed at first - King wouldn't be the first tormented soul to hit those unforgiving rocks. But unanswered questions remain, and then there is a second death at the school. With the pursuit of excellence exchanged for the pursuit of a killer who is both clever and efficient, the long dark corridors of Stormhaven Towers become an education in fear. Who will be next?
Leading the investigation is the attractive and ambitious Inspector Tamsin Shah, accompanied, rather unexpectedly, by Abbot Peter, recently retired from the deserts of Middle Egypt. Known locally as 'the odd couple', they have worked on cases together before surprising though that the Abbot should wish to become involved again. The ruthless Shah has brought danger to his seaside door, and, through events at Stormhaven Towers, will do so again.
256 pages, Paperback
Published May 19, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 3, 2026
A 3.5. Rather over-dialogued for me, but a subtle storyline which I didn't totally foresee. Several witty exchanges.
October 23, 2016
I would like to thank Netgalley and Marylebone House for a review copy of A (Very) Publuc School Murder.
Jamie King, the youngish headmaster of Stormhaven Towers, is found dead at the bottom of a cliff. It could be murder or suicide but as suicide would be out of character the police send DI Tamsin Shah and her civilian helper Abbot Peter to investigate. When a second body turns up they are sure but as every one of the suspects, seven members of the school review team and his wife have motive it is not easy.
This novel is well written and will hold your attention with its plotting but, sadly, unlike most of the reviewers, I didn't find it either amusing or convincing. I didn't "get" the main characters and still have no idea why they would want to work together when Tamsin is so downright unpleasant. Jamie King I did get and while he isn't particularly nice he is focused on his job, career and being the best he can be. Admirable traits which tend to upset the status quo. The perpetrator's motive is incredible, although well thought out.
A (Very) Public School Murder is not for me so I wouldn't read another in the series but many other reviewers love it so what do I know?
Jamie King, the youngish headmaster of Stormhaven Towers, is found dead at the bottom of a cliff. It could be murder or suicide but as suicide would be out of character the police send DI Tamsin Shah and her civilian helper Abbot Peter to investigate. When a second body turns up they are sure but as every one of the suspects, seven members of the school review team and his wife have motive it is not easy.
This novel is well written and will hold your attention with its plotting but, sadly, unlike most of the reviewers, I didn't find it either amusing or convincing. I didn't "get" the main characters and still have no idea why they would want to work together when Tamsin is so downright unpleasant. Jamie King I did get and while he isn't particularly nice he is focused on his job, career and being the best he can be. Admirable traits which tend to upset the status quo. The perpetrator's motive is incredible, although well thought out.
A (Very) Public School Murder is not for me so I wouldn't read another in the series but many other reviewers love it so what do I know?
May 15, 2017
Great Fun
A traditional murder mystery with a modern twist. Abbot Peter is a wonderful creation: a quiet observer with a full understanding of human nature. Great fun.
A traditional murder mystery with a modern twist. Abbot Peter is a wonderful creation: a quiet observer with a full understanding of human nature. Great fun.
February 23, 2017
This was a thoroughly enjoyable read for me. It was pacy and well plotted, and having taught in a minor public school myself for 25 years I found the opening chapters deliciously if excruciatingly close-to-the-bone-convincing! I could see at once why EVERYONE would have wanted to murder Stormhaven's new headmaster; the teaching staff would probably have been queueing up for the chance, and who could blame them. I was much less convinced by the police enquiry that resulted - would one police officer really be left in charge of a high-profile murder enquiry on her own, aided and abetted by a fairly random member of the public? Would a woman in her position really allow her emotions to get so unprofessionally out of control? And why was it never questioned by anyone that the murderer might be someone other than the members of staff and their immediate families? But then again, I don't usually read crime fiction so I don't necessarily understand its conventions. I bought the book because I was so intrigued by its title!
December 8, 2016
3 Stars
This is a very difficult book for me to judge. I didn’t like the writing style at all. It was dull and uninteresting.
I tried to get past that to the story itself. That was better. Tamsin and Abbott Peter, who is also her uncle, are on the trail of a murderer. Someone has pushed Headmaster Jamie off a cliff.
After arguing a lot – which also didn’t interest me at all – they finally get down to interviewing the potential suspects. They are the teachers and staff of the school Jamie of which Jamie was the head. They all seem bitter and angry with good cause. Jamie was a businessman, not someone with an educational background. His attitude and approach to running the school horrifies the employees of the school. His ideas seem to be wasting their time.
The murderer comes as a surprise.
I do not think I’ll be reading any more of Simon Parke’s books.
I want to thank Netgalley and Marylebone House for allowing me to read this book.
This is a very difficult book for me to judge. I didn’t like the writing style at all. It was dull and uninteresting.
I tried to get past that to the story itself. That was better. Tamsin and Abbott Peter, who is also her uncle, are on the trail of a murderer. Someone has pushed Headmaster Jamie off a cliff.
After arguing a lot – which also didn’t interest me at all – they finally get down to interviewing the potential suspects. They are the teachers and staff of the school Jamie of which Jamie was the head. They all seem bitter and angry with good cause. Jamie was a businessman, not someone with an educational background. His attitude and approach to running the school horrifies the employees of the school. His ideas seem to be wasting their time.
The murderer comes as a surprise.
I do not think I’ll be reading any more of Simon Parke’s books.
I want to thank Netgalley and Marylebone House for allowing me to read this book.
November 1, 2016
When the headmaster of Stormhaven Towers is found dead, Inspector Tamsin Shah brings in Abbot Peter to help with her investigation having worked on cases previously. But this is only the first of the deaths.
I didn't particularly like the style of writing, and didn't really care for the two main characters, and the plot struggled to hold my attention.
I doubt I will read more in the series.
A NetGalley Book
I didn't particularly like the style of writing, and didn't really care for the two main characters, and the plot struggled to hold my attention.
I doubt I will read more in the series.
A NetGalley Book
November 12, 2016
This book was a good read, it was full of twists and turns and characters that seemed real. It did slow down in places and I felt that I was going over the same ground a few times, but all in all it moved along quite nicely and I found I was in a hurry to find out what happened next.
The priest detective was a nice touch and an unusual one - (nothing like Father Brown) and the storyline was intriguing the way it wound its way around the different suspects. An enjoyable read.
The priest detective was a nice touch and an unusual one - (nothing like Father Brown) and the storyline was intriguing the way it wound its way around the different suspects. An enjoyable read.
January 10, 2017
A so-so mystery with just okay plotting and not very intriguing characters. I'm not particularly interested in the series but may just revisit if it crosses my path again.
I received an ecopy from the publishers and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ecopy from the publishers and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 17, 2016
Much better than "A Vicar Crucified ",better storyline and characters that are more believable, less amateur theatre characters...
Want to Read
November 21, 2016Note: I received a digital galley of this book through NetGalley.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews