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Miss Seeton #3
Witch Miss Seeton
A sudden interest in the occult swept through the English village of Plummergen, with Ouija boards replacing the best china in many a cozy cottage.
It might be quite the thing for maiden ladies and persnickity aunts, but it wasn’t Miss Seeton’s cup of tea . . . until Scotland Yard requested she go undercover to investigate some sinister shenanigans in the Kentish countryside. A flim-flam was afoot in the local witches coven . . . and magic could be a prelude to murder most foul.
Serene amidst every kind of skullduggery, retired art teacher Miss Seeton steps in where Scotland Yard stumbles. Armed with nothing more than her sketchpad and umbrella, she is at every turn the most lovable and unlikely master of detection.
It might be quite the thing for maiden ladies and persnickity aunts, but it wasn’t Miss Seeton’s cup of tea . . . until Scotland Yard requested she go undercover to investigate some sinister shenanigans in the Kentish countryside. A flim-flam was afoot in the local witches coven . . . and magic could be a prelude to murder most foul.
Serene amidst every kind of skullduggery, retired art teacher Miss Seeton steps in where Scotland Yard stumbles. Armed with nothing more than her sketchpad and umbrella, she is at every turn the most lovable and unlikely master of detection.
172 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1971
186 people are currently reading
276 people want to read
About the author
Heron Carvic
45 books43 followersHeron Carvic (21 January 1913-9 February 1980) was a British actor and writer who provided the voice for Gandalf in the BBC Radio version of The Hobbit, and played Caiphas the High Priest every time the play cycle The Man Born To Be King was broadcast.
As a writer he created the characters and wrote the first five books featuring retired art teacher Miss Emily D. Seeton, a gentle parody of Agatha Christie's Miss Marple.
Further books nominally in the Miss Seeton series were then written under two other pseudonyms. Roy Peter Martin as "Hampton Charles" wrote three novels which were all released in 1990. Sarah J. Mason, writing under the name of Hamilton Crane, then took up the series writing 14 books in all, some of which are still in print.
As a writer he created the characters and wrote the first five books featuring retired art teacher Miss Emily D. Seeton, a gentle parody of Agatha Christie's Miss Marple.
Further books nominally in the Miss Seeton series were then written under two other pseudonyms. Roy Peter Martin as "Hampton Charles" wrote three novels which were all released in 1990. Sarah J. Mason, writing under the name of Hamilton Crane, then took up the series writing 14 books in all, some of which are still in print.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
September 17, 2016
In the third volume in Heron Carvic’s satiric Miss Seeton series, the eponymous heroine, a 40-something spinster, gets pressed into the police’s service yet again — this time in investigating a fishy-sounding New Age church and a rival devil-worshiping cult/witches’ coven.
While Emily D. Seeton always emerges as a bit naïve, in Witch Miss Seeton (also released as Miss Seeton, Bewitched), she appears positively dim-witted. A bit of innocence in fine, but only a dolt would be as clueless as she’s portrayed here. While I don’t regret reading this third novel in the series — and I especially appreciated getting to know Detective Constable Foxon of the Ashford C.I.D. better and seeing the venomous gossips Erica Nutting and Norah Blaine get their comeuppance — I hope that Carvic returns to form in the sequel, Miss Seeton Sings, especially as, unlike Witch Miss Seeton, Miss Seeton Sings is not available under Kindle Unlimited.
While Emily D. Seeton always emerges as a bit naïve, in Witch Miss Seeton (also released as Miss Seeton, Bewitched), she appears positively dim-witted. A bit of innocence in fine, but only a dolt would be as clueless as she’s portrayed here. While I don’t regret reading this third novel in the series — and I especially appreciated getting to know Detective Constable Foxon of the Ashford C.I.D. better and seeing the venomous gossips Erica Nutting and Norah Blaine get their comeuppance — I hope that Carvic returns to form in the sequel, Miss Seeton Sings, especially as, unlike Witch Miss Seeton, Miss Seeton Sings is not available under Kindle Unlimited.
April 20, 2020
So silly and unbelievable and yet I still loved it.
June 2, 2016
The third book about Miss Seeton has the village of Plummergon in an uproar over witches and Satan. Half the village believes Miss Seeton is a witch. She has been media consultant of the police department. Delphhick, aka the Oracle, send DS Bob Ranger under cover to the village as a bodyguard. The villagers attend a Nuscience meeting which attracts several villagers to join it. Ranger's cover is blown has he has to recuse MissSeeton and her bag. Turns this story takes will hold your attraction to the last page. Another great escapade by Miss Seeton and Scotland Yard.
Disclosure: I received a free copy from Farrago through NetGalley for an honest review. I would like to thank them for this opportunity to read and review the book. The opinIons are my own.
Disclosure: I received a free copy from Farrago through NetGalley for an honest review. I would like to thank them for this opportunity to read and review the book. The opinIons are my own.
August 25, 2019
So badly written. Sentences that went on forever. No characters I cared about or liked. Bad mystery.
August 27, 2022
2022 bk 246. Confidence men, witchcraft, an end of the universe cult - all of these can be found in close proximity to the village where Miss Seeton lives. Called upon to draw images of the cult members, she and her police escort are given the bums rush. Not that Miss Seeton realizes that is what is going on. The important part of this book and for future books is that she signs a contract with Scotland Yard to make her artistic services available as needed for adequate compensation of course. In need of money, she has already agreed to substitute teach and give weekly art lessons to the students of the local school. Some parents
Read
February 23, 2017The beginning of this one was a little slower to take off (and I always wonder if village gossip can really be that extreme), but ended as usual with unexpected bizarrety and chaos.
May 29, 2016
An interest in witchcraft is sweeping through the village of Plummergen and people are seeing it in the most innocent happenings. Just why is Miss Seeton seen buying a doll and a packet of pins? There's been a Black Mass celebrated in a nearby church and a cow found apparently sacrificed in a ditch.
Inspector Brinton wonders whether Miss Seeton could be of use in finding out what exactly is going on. The police are especially interested in a new religious group called Nuscience which has appeared at about the same time and could be connected with it. The group seems to be conning rich people out of their money and assets and predicting the end of the world. Could Miss Seeton infiltrate it?
Superintendent 'Oracle' Delphick feels protective of his protégée and doesn't want her put in any danger. Once again Miss Seeton finds herself caught up in things where her innocence, her resourcefulness and her redoubtable brolly are going to have to save more than herself from some very tricky situations. This is the sort of book you really don't want to read in public because you will find yourself laughing out loud at the descriptions and some of the situations.
I found this third book in the series every bit as good as the first two and I'm looking forward to more becoming available in due course. Comedy and crime don't always mix but the author has found a way to combine the two successfully. I can see all these books as films and they remind me very much of the old black and white Ealing comedies. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for review.
Inspector Brinton wonders whether Miss Seeton could be of use in finding out what exactly is going on. The police are especially interested in a new religious group called Nuscience which has appeared at about the same time and could be connected with it. The group seems to be conning rich people out of their money and assets and predicting the end of the world. Could Miss Seeton infiltrate it?
Superintendent 'Oracle' Delphick feels protective of his protégée and doesn't want her put in any danger. Once again Miss Seeton finds herself caught up in things where her innocence, her resourcefulness and her redoubtable brolly are going to have to save more than herself from some very tricky situations. This is the sort of book you really don't want to read in public because you will find yourself laughing out loud at the descriptions and some of the situations.
I found this third book in the series every bit as good as the first two and I'm looking forward to more becoming available in due course. Comedy and crime don't always mix but the author has found a way to combine the two successfully. I can see all these books as films and they remind me very much of the old black and white Ealing comedies. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for review.
June 1, 2016
Miss Seeton has as much in common with Miss Marple as Abbott and Costello have with Holmes and Watson. Actually she has more in common with Abbott and Costello, her antics, like theirs resulting in immense quantities of comic mayhem.
Miss Seeton wouldn't call herself a detective. She has no idea that the police use her because of her amazing ability to unknowingly upset the plans of hardened criminals. Armed only with her umbrella, handbag and immense naïveté Miss Seeton manages to survive fire and flood barely singed, much to the frustration of the criminal class. It is no surprise these comic mysteries have as loyal a following today as they did when the series began in the late 60s.
In Witch Miss Seeton, the police require Miss Seeton's assistance in investigating a nuisance - Nuscience - a cult that attracts the very wealthy and very gullible. At the same time, rumors of witches have Plummerton residents up in arms and scheduling exorcisms.
Witch Miss Seeton is a cute comic mystery, very different from common cozies as Miss Seeton, the main character is more of a catalyst than an amateur detective. Even though she is instrumental to the police, she honestly has no clue what is going on. These mysteries will appeal more to those who like their humor blended with nostalgia.
4/5
I received a copy of Witch Miss Seeton from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
--Crittermom
May 30, 2016
I was not impressed with this book. I picked it up as a quick read to get me through the end of May, but I really had to slog through this. Miss Seeton is a character that it seems is, in part, based on Miss Marple from Agatha Christie's mysteries. I really like Miss Marple but Miss Seeton did not hold up to my expectations. She was flighty, referred to herself as "one" throughout the book (which I found very annoying), and didn't impress me as a detective. She stumbled upon clues without realizing she was trying to solve a mystery, which I found unusual in a mystery. We knew who the bad guys were from almost the middle of the book, so there was no real mystery to solve. I felt like I was mainly trying to figure out how the book would end rather than solving a whodunit. I I won't be reading any of the other books in this series, mainly because I feel like they are mislabeled as mysteries. I like mine with a little bit of mystery to be solved.
I received an e-copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
I received an e-copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
May 15, 2023
Third in the Heron Carvic's Miss Seeton suspense series set in 1960s England and revolving around the newly-retired Miss Emily Seeton, drawing mistress.
It's also know as Miss Seeton, Bewitched and was originally published 1 January 1971.
My Take
Yeah!! I got lucky and found this particular installment! And it's too funny. What is with people that they will believe the most outlandish, stupid things?! The things the Nuts can assign to the purchase of a doll and the draining of jelly!
Oh, I did enjoy the mathematics class that Miss Seeton oversaw. I'm not sure just where the Taxation and Rates bits came from, but the way the kids rallied in spite of their parents was a treat! A nice setup for the beach expeditions later. I wish I had had a Miss Seeton for art. I just love that she came up with an art project for the ten-year-old who preferred to write! Go MissEss!
*Giggle* . . . it's the exorcism that both saves and condemns Miss Seeton . . . ! And then, when the Oracle starts to consider the practicality of enlarging the Plummergen police station with a mobile unit that would simply track Miss Seeton's whereabouts! Followed up by his comment about "If you wanted anything kept quiet in this village you'd find even the dogs discussing it at every tree…" Then there's the conga line that Miss Seeton leads out . . . oh man . . . what was wrong with Carvic that he had to go and die, dammit! There oughta be a law . . .!
The Story
There was a massive upset earlier in the area with a Black Mass discovered the next village over and now someone has done black magic on one of Farmer Mulcker's cows. CDI Brinton suspects this satanism might have a tie-in with a Nuscience religious group that's suckering people in over in Maidstone. And, more amazing yet, Brinton actually wants to hire on Miss Seeton — Miss Seeton! — to penetrate the religious group and have Ranger "visit" his sweetie so he can be johnny-on-the-spot in case of trouble. Hmmm, see Anne . . . yeah! Be backup for MissEss . . . eek! It's definitely six-of-one and half-a-dozen of the other for Bob Ranger.
Well, they say it never rains, but it pours and Miss Seeton is definitely experiencing a storm of offers. Scotland Yard's is rather confusing. Miss Seeton just doesn't think she'd be suited to life as a policewoman. Then there's the headmaster's offer. And just when she was worrying how she would make ends meet. And then there's that nice CDI Brinton wanting to know about her wardrobe…
As for the Nuscience meeting, well it's practically a village meeting with everyone showing up until young Foxon cracks up and focuses the bad guys on him. Whoops! It brings the Nuscience Majordomes' eyes onto Miss Seeton with a focused attack on her.
The Characters
Miss Emily Seeton has just retired from her post as a drawing instructor for a private school in London and she and her umbrella have moved into the cottage that her godmother left her in Plummergen in Kent. She's a nice old thing in heavy denial about the "accidents" that just seem to happen. Well, she's sure they would happen to, well, just anyone . . .
Superintendent Delphick, a.k.a. the Oracle, practically owns MissEss as far as the Yard is concerned and his Detective Sergeant Bob Ranger is teetering on the edge of rather terrified of her. Ranger is still involved with Anne, Dr. Knight's daughter. Chief Detective Inspector Chris Brinton of the Ashford Criminal Investigation Department wishes Scotland Yard would force Miss Seeton to move back to London; she scares up too many bad guys for Brinton. He much prefers the usual status quo of bad guys do bad and he locks 'em up. Without the "Battling Brolly"'s help! Sir Hubert Everleigh is the Assistant Commissioner at the Yard. Detective Constable Foxon, with the Ashford CID, is wondering why he got stuck babysitting the old lady.
Major General Sir George is the local JP and he has an extremely reasonable head on his shoulders. He and his wife Lady Colvedon and son Nigel have a great sense of humor and are Miss Seeton enthusiasts. Unfortunately, Aunt "Bray" Trenthorne is coming to visit. The total antithesis of the Colvedons. Thank god, her son Basil is staying somewhere else! Sir George wouldn't have him anyway!
"Miss [Erica] Nuttel and Norah "Bunny" Blaine live together in the middle of the village. And they're vegetarians. Mmm-hmmm . . . They're the benign villains of the series with their nasty little gossiping and peeping into windows. Of course, it wouldn't work if there weren't gullible idiots to soak it all in! In this story, the Nuts go wild with witchcraft . . . if they only knew . . . Carvic ended this story much too soon for my pleasure!
Mrs. Walsted runs the local draper's with the help of her daughter Margery — they think Miss Seeton is a witch. Reverend Mr. Arthur Treeves is the woolly-headed vicar with his much more practical sister Molly Treeves. Well, naturally I think they're practical because they're on Miss Seeton's side. Old Miss Wickes is another of Miss Seeton's allies even if she doth have a poorly fitting denture. Martin C. Jessyp is the headmaster at the village school and has asked Miss Seeton if she could do occasional part-time teaching at the school. Obviously another Seeton ally as he refuses to back down to terrified parents. PC Potter is the village constable.
Two religious ministers, Duke and N, encountered each other at the end of a pair of botched jobs and cooked up a masterful combination to relieve people of their money. Hilary Evelyn is the actor hired as the frontman, er, the minister. James and Ted are fellow Majordomes with Basil. Ted is looking forward to a return match with MissEss. Merilee Paynel is drowning her grief in nothing until she meets Nigel.
The Title
It's just jumping up on that slanderous bandwagon the Nuts are dragging around with them, giving MissEss a title like Witch Miss Seeton. I sure hope that somewhere along the way the Nuts get hoist with their own petard. And in such a way that the lesson sticks!
It's also know as Miss Seeton, Bewitched and was originally published 1 January 1971.
My Take
Yeah!! I got lucky and found this particular installment! And it's too funny. What is with people that they will believe the most outlandish, stupid things?! The things the Nuts can assign to the purchase of a doll and the draining of jelly!
Oh, I did enjoy the mathematics class that Miss Seeton oversaw. I'm not sure just where the Taxation and Rates bits came from, but the way the kids rallied in spite of their parents was a treat! A nice setup for the beach expeditions later. I wish I had had a Miss Seeton for art. I just love that she came up with an art project for the ten-year-old who preferred to write! Go MissEss!
*Giggle* . . . it's the exorcism that both saves and condemns Miss Seeton . . . ! And then, when the Oracle starts to consider the practicality of enlarging the Plummergen police station with a mobile unit that would simply track Miss Seeton's whereabouts! Followed up by his comment about "If you wanted anything kept quiet in this village you'd find even the dogs discussing it at every tree…" Then there's the conga line that Miss Seeton leads out . . . oh man . . . what was wrong with Carvic that he had to go and die, dammit! There oughta be a law . . .!
The Story
There was a massive upset earlier in the area with a Black Mass discovered the next village over and now someone has done black magic on one of Farmer Mulcker's cows. CDI Brinton suspects this satanism might have a tie-in with a Nuscience religious group that's suckering people in over in Maidstone. And, more amazing yet, Brinton actually wants to hire on Miss Seeton — Miss Seeton! — to penetrate the religious group and have Ranger "visit" his sweetie so he can be johnny-on-the-spot in case of trouble. Hmmm, see Anne . . . yeah! Be backup for MissEss . . . eek! It's definitely six-of-one and half-a-dozen of the other for Bob Ranger.
Well, they say it never rains, but it pours and Miss Seeton is definitely experiencing a storm of offers. Scotland Yard's is rather confusing. Miss Seeton just doesn't think she'd be suited to life as a policewoman. Then there's the headmaster's offer. And just when she was worrying how she would make ends meet. And then there's that nice CDI Brinton wanting to know about her wardrobe…
As for the Nuscience meeting, well it's practically a village meeting with everyone showing up until young Foxon cracks up and focuses the bad guys on him. Whoops! It brings the Nuscience Majordomes' eyes onto Miss Seeton with a focused attack on her.
The Characters
Miss Emily Seeton has just retired from her post as a drawing instructor for a private school in London and she and her umbrella have moved into the cottage that her godmother left her in Plummergen in Kent. She's a nice old thing in heavy denial about the "accidents" that just seem to happen. Well, she's sure they would happen to, well, just anyone . . .
Superintendent Delphick, a.k.a. the Oracle, practically owns MissEss as far as the Yard is concerned and his Detective Sergeant Bob Ranger is teetering on the edge of rather terrified of her. Ranger is still involved with Anne, Dr. Knight's daughter. Chief Detective Inspector Chris Brinton of the Ashford Criminal Investigation Department wishes Scotland Yard would force Miss Seeton to move back to London; she scares up too many bad guys for Brinton. He much prefers the usual status quo of bad guys do bad and he locks 'em up. Without the "Battling Brolly"'s help! Sir Hubert Everleigh is the Assistant Commissioner at the Yard. Detective Constable Foxon, with the Ashford CID, is wondering why he got stuck babysitting the old lady.
Major General Sir George is the local JP and he has an extremely reasonable head on his shoulders. He and his wife Lady Colvedon and son Nigel have a great sense of humor and are Miss Seeton enthusiasts. Unfortunately, Aunt "Bray" Trenthorne is coming to visit. The total antithesis of the Colvedons. Thank god, her son Basil is staying somewhere else! Sir George wouldn't have him anyway!
"Miss [Erica] Nuttel and Norah "Bunny" Blaine live together in the middle of the village. And they're vegetarians. Mmm-hmmm . . . They're the benign villains of the series with their nasty little gossiping and peeping into windows. Of course, it wouldn't work if there weren't gullible idiots to soak it all in! In this story, the Nuts go wild with witchcraft . . . if they only knew . . . Carvic ended this story much too soon for my pleasure!
Mrs. Walsted runs the local draper's with the help of her daughter Margery — they think Miss Seeton is a witch. Reverend Mr. Arthur Treeves is the woolly-headed vicar with his much more practical sister Molly Treeves. Well, naturally I think they're practical because they're on Miss Seeton's side. Old Miss Wickes is another of Miss Seeton's allies even if she doth have a poorly fitting denture. Martin C. Jessyp is the headmaster at the village school and has asked Miss Seeton if she could do occasional part-time teaching at the school. Obviously another Seeton ally as he refuses to back down to terrified parents. PC Potter is the village constable.
Two religious ministers, Duke and N, encountered each other at the end of a pair of botched jobs and cooked up a masterful combination to relieve people of their money. Hilary Evelyn is the actor hired as the frontman, er, the minister. James and Ted are fellow Majordomes with Basil. Ted is looking forward to a return match with MissEss. Merilee Paynel is drowning her grief in nothing until she meets Nigel.
The Title
It's just jumping up on that slanderous bandwagon the Nuts are dragging around with them, giving MissEss a title like Witch Miss Seeton. I sure hope that somewhere along the way the Nuts get hoist with their own petard. And in such a way that the lesson sticks!
June 19, 2018
Miss Seeton at times seems simple minded. She isn't really. She is just a bit divorced from reality. Still, she has a gift valued by the police. She sometimes draws pictures as though under a spell not of what she sees, but what is truth about the future or person in the drawing.
Plummergen has people looking for a witch among the populace. Miss Seeton seems a good choice.
A con scheme is underway in the neighborhood and the police need someone on the inside. Miss Seeton seems a good choice.
Everyone forgets Miss Seeton is followed by unfortunate events. Mayhem is the order of the day.
The book is very British. Miss Seeton considers herself a gentlewoman. The gatherings seem too outlandish to be possible. Except people do act that way.
Mild humor rests just below the surface all the way through the book. This makes the book a fun read as well as a fast, easy one. It isn't really a cozy mystery or a police procedural, but has aspects of both.
Plummergen has people looking for a witch among the populace. Miss Seeton seems a good choice.
A con scheme is underway in the neighborhood and the police need someone on the inside. Miss Seeton seems a good choice.
Everyone forgets Miss Seeton is followed by unfortunate events. Mayhem is the order of the day.
The book is very British. Miss Seeton considers herself a gentlewoman. The gatherings seem too outlandish to be possible. Except people do act that way.
Mild humor rests just below the surface all the way through the book. This makes the book a fun read as well as a fast, easy one. It isn't really a cozy mystery or a police procedural, but has aspects of both.
December 22, 2020
I never really got into this story. I wasn't fond of the writing style, lots of really long sentences that can wind up being confusing. But there were two lines that made me smile:
"Bob sat and waited as quietly as a stomach striking half past lunch allowed."
"She went to the kitchen and filled the kettle preparatory to making that solace for all English ills, a cup of tea."
"Bob sat and waited as quietly as a stomach striking half past lunch allowed."
"She went to the kitchen and filled the kettle preparatory to making that solace for all English ills, a cup of tea."
October 29, 2023
(3.5 stars)
Another madcap adventure with Miss Seeton.
Two delightful lines:
p. 123: "Bob sat and waited as quietly as a stomach striking half past lunch allowed."
p. 130: "She went to the kitchen and filled the kettle preparatory to making that solace for all English ills, a cup of tea."
Another madcap adventure with Miss Seeton.
Two delightful lines:
p. 123: "Bob sat and waited as quietly as a stomach striking half past lunch allowed."
p. 130: "She went to the kitchen and filled the kettle preparatory to making that solace for all English ills, a cup of tea."
April 1, 2022
Highly improbable but very enjoyable mystery with a sweet little old lady. This story touches on some evil around witchcraft and New Age, yet Miss Seeton shines with kindness and bravery.
October 27, 2017
Just in time for Halloween the publisher (Prelude/Farrago) has released an AUDIO. My original review is below and I love the story as much or more than ever, especially as enhanced by the beautifully rounded tones of narrator Phyllida Nash as she captures the vocal essence of each character and sets a very agreeable listening pace.
~~~My review from last year~~~
Miss Seeton is everyone's favorite maiden aunt--unless of course one has Evil Intentions. As she goes through her absolutely ordinary life chaos ensues in her wake. A retired art teacher, her knack for drawing not what she sees with her eyes but what she sees with her soul has proven to be of infinite use to Scotland Yard; but woe betide any who seek to harm her. Her purse, brolly (umbrella) and hat provide protection and retribution against most ills.
With "Witch Miss Seeton" we are flying around again, this time with a witches coven and a cult religion providing the witches brew. Is Miss Ess a witch and running the whole affair?
Any time I find a "new" (rerelease of the original series) title in my reader it jumps to the head of the queue and never fails to please.
~~~My review from last year~~~
Miss Seeton is everyone's favorite maiden aunt--unless of course one has Evil Intentions. As she goes through her absolutely ordinary life chaos ensues in her wake. A retired art teacher, her knack for drawing not what she sees with her eyes but what she sees with her soul has proven to be of infinite use to Scotland Yard; but woe betide any who seek to harm her. Her purse, brolly (umbrella) and hat provide protection and retribution against most ills.
With "Witch Miss Seeton" we are flying around again, this time with a witches coven and a cult religion providing the witches brew. Is Miss Ess a witch and running the whole affair?
Any time I find a "new" (rerelease of the original series) title in my reader it jumps to the head of the queue and never fails to please.
June 1, 2018
I’d bought a copy of this book from the charity shop for £1. I thought it looked like a fun read that I’d get through in a weekend. Not so; I really struggled to get to the end. I probably should have given up but I don’t like to be defeated by books. The style of writing is quite odd, it doesn’t flow easily. I found myself having to frequently re-read sections because I’d missed the point. This made it difficult to connect with any of the characters. Not that I wanted to because most of them are incredibly dull, especially Miss Seeton. It would be improved if written from a specific POV instead of swapping all the time.
It feels as if this story was written for personal pleasure and never meant for publishing. It’s a strange tale that pokes fun at Miss Marple and Scientology, it ends just as the story starts to get interesting. I think I was at a disadvantage having not read the previous two Miss Seeton novels, the story and characters would definitely mean more. However as I found this one rather dull I won’t be seeking out any further books by Heron Carvic.
It feels as if this story was written for personal pleasure and never meant for publishing. It’s a strange tale that pokes fun at Miss Marple and Scientology, it ends just as the story starts to get interesting. I think I was at a disadvantage having not read the previous two Miss Seeton novels, the story and characters would definitely mean more. However as I found this one rather dull I won’t be seeking out any further books by Heron Carvic.
February 26, 2023
How surprising to have passed over these books for so long, only to be thoroughly beguiled when finally I read one. Heron Carvic wrote 5 of these between 1968 and 1973; an untimely auto accident left him in poor health, and he died in 1980.
When finally released in the US they were so popular that the family estate commissioned authors to continue the series; Hampton Charles wrote 3 more in 1990, and Sarah J. Mason (under the nom de plume Hamilton Crane) has essayed another 17 since then. (In a complete aside, Hampton Charles under another pen name of James Melville wrote the also wonderful Inspector Otani series set in Kobe, Japan.)
Bibliographic sources I’ve seen posit that Carvic wrote these as gentle parodies of Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple character; whether this is so I cannot say, nor whether they approximate that other lady’s work as I’ve not read Miss Marple - an omission I will rectify soonest! - but I can attest that Miss Seeton is truly magnificent all on her own! I’ve since read the 1st of these, Picture Miss Seeton, and it too is captivating.
Retired art teacher Miss Seeton apparently cannot help sketching her impressions of crimes and crime scenes she witnesses (and of course, it happens again and again), and as she is (apparently) ever-so-slightly clairvoyant, the sketches show a good bit more than what she’s seen, that information becoming quite helpful to the police in solving the crimes involved. As well, her ever present umbrella is quite unwittingly her foil and weapon of defense against any baddie foolish enough to try to remove her; verily, the woman can walk into the mouth of the lion and escape without a nick, all unaware of her various prowesses. One can’t help but love her.
Here Miss Seeton is asked by DS Delphick of the Scotland Yard to “infiltrate” a witches’ coven in the Kentish countryside village of Plummergen and later draw her impressions of what she’d seen. Well! There’s a lot to see, and before all is done, Miss Seeton has uncovered much misdeeds and crime, and despite multiple efforts to “eliminate” her, avoids all dangers and hands the lot of miscreants over to the authorities. Totally enjoying these books.
When finally released in the US they were so popular that the family estate commissioned authors to continue the series; Hampton Charles wrote 3 more in 1990, and Sarah J. Mason (under the nom de plume Hamilton Crane) has essayed another 17 since then. (In a complete aside, Hampton Charles under another pen name of James Melville wrote the also wonderful Inspector Otani series set in Kobe, Japan.)
Bibliographic sources I’ve seen posit that Carvic wrote these as gentle parodies of Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple character; whether this is so I cannot say, nor whether they approximate that other lady’s work as I’ve not read Miss Marple - an omission I will rectify soonest! - but I can attest that Miss Seeton is truly magnificent all on her own! I’ve since read the 1st of these, Picture Miss Seeton, and it too is captivating.
Retired art teacher Miss Seeton apparently cannot help sketching her impressions of crimes and crime scenes she witnesses (and of course, it happens again and again), and as she is (apparently) ever-so-slightly clairvoyant, the sketches show a good bit more than what she’s seen, that information becoming quite helpful to the police in solving the crimes involved. As well, her ever present umbrella is quite unwittingly her foil and weapon of defense against any baddie foolish enough to try to remove her; verily, the woman can walk into the mouth of the lion and escape without a nick, all unaware of her various prowesses. One can’t help but love her.
Here Miss Seeton is asked by DS Delphick of the Scotland Yard to “infiltrate” a witches’ coven in the Kentish countryside village of Plummergen and later draw her impressions of what she’d seen. Well! There’s a lot to see, and before all is done, Miss Seeton has uncovered much misdeeds and crime, and despite multiple efforts to “eliminate” her, avoids all dangers and hands the lot of miscreants over to the authorities. Totally enjoying these books.
May 11, 2020
As I do not really like topics dealing with warped beliefs such as what were the subject matters in this book and the tragedy of it is... that people do believe in these things which were clearly scams to separate the fool from his money. As Miss Seeton said they were indeed 'silly and ridiculous' but I would not miss the humorous and perilous situations that our unsuspecting and equally trusting heroine could and might lead her reader into... and as usual she did not disappoint. I must also say though, that some situations here were so implausible to be even credible though it got the laughs, surely she was not so stupid to believe that the thug following her up the ladder was intent on further convivial relations and going as far as to apologize for letting the umbrella then handbag slip that the items hit her pursuer as gravity did its thing? Or was she being sarcastic? Miss Seeton enlivens the waiting~out of this necessary coronavirus enforced confinement that most of the world are now experiencing... more so with me because I am senior and thus belong to a high risk group. But the net is a treasure trove of Free ebooks that a Freebie Junkie like me could not ever hope to resist and I found Miss Seeton at libgen.io or its mirror via Bookbub recommendation.
December 19, 2020
The first two books in this series (Picture Miss Seeton and Miss Seeton Draws the Line) made my Best Reads lists of 2019 and 2020. They are the perfect blend of a traditional British mystery and laugh-out-loud humor. Having read a series of lackluster stories, I felt in great need of a pick-me-up, so I reached for the third, Witch Miss Seeton, in which the elderly lady with the lethal umbrella matches wits with scammers and a satanic cult.
Compared to the first two, what a disappointment!
First off, I think there was a bit too much going on. Either focus on the scammers bilking the rich out of thousands of pounds or focus on the witches. There was food for two really good mysteries here instead of creating an overstuffed, subpar one.
The second thing that had me all a kerfluffle was that the opening part of the book dwelled on the two vicious gossips of Plummergen whom everyone calls the Nuts. These two women willfully go out to destroy people's lives and reputations, and they both have it in for Miss Seeton. To begin the story with an overload of their bile and vitriol was too much. There was only one result that could've leavened my mood, and that didn't happen.
The third thing that left a sour taste in my mouth was the fact that there was very little real humor and not enough Miss Seeton. Now that I'm done crying in my beer, I'll say that not every book in a long-running series can be a masterpiece-- and I have twenty-one more Miss Seeton mysteries to look forward to.
Compared to the first two, what a disappointment!
First off, I think there was a bit too much going on. Either focus on the scammers bilking the rich out of thousands of pounds or focus on the witches. There was food for two really good mysteries here instead of creating an overstuffed, subpar one.
The second thing that had me all a kerfluffle was that the opening part of the book dwelled on the two vicious gossips of Plummergen whom everyone calls the Nuts. These two women willfully go out to destroy people's lives and reputations, and they both have it in for Miss Seeton. To begin the story with an overload of their bile and vitriol was too much. There was only one result that could've leavened my mood, and that didn't happen.
The third thing that left a sour taste in my mouth was the fact that there was very little real humor and not enough Miss Seeton. Now that I'm done crying in my beer, I'll say that not every book in a long-running series can be a masterpiece-- and I have twenty-one more Miss Seeton mysteries to look forward to.
August 31, 2021
I read the first 30 odd pages, wasn't enthralled so put it down and went on to read 10 other books before picking it up again. The second half was much better thankfully.
There is a quote on the back that says "the most delightfully satisfactory character since Miss Marple" - Ogden Nash. Now I have to completely disagree with Nash on this, in fact the likening to Miss Marple is mildly offensive! Miss Seeton is nothing like Marple other than being an older lady, Miss Seeton is a clueless, bumbling, woman who stumbles into situations and then doesn't make any sense of them; so she doesn't solve anything herself, the police have to solve it by working out her cryptic clues! Whereas Marple is intelligent, astute, keenly observant and above all she is likeable. So let's just sum it up with the sentence; I didn't find the protagonist "delightfully satisfactory"!
That said I did enjoy the plot when it really got going. I have another half dozen of the Miss Seeton series that were gifted to me, I won't be picking up another right away but I'll give another one a go before righting them off completely. Quick read (if you don't count the break!) and short stories so good for a change after lots of thrillers or tear jerkers!
There is a quote on the back that says "the most delightfully satisfactory character since Miss Marple" - Ogden Nash. Now I have to completely disagree with Nash on this, in fact the likening to Miss Marple is mildly offensive! Miss Seeton is nothing like Marple other than being an older lady, Miss Seeton is a clueless, bumbling, woman who stumbles into situations and then doesn't make any sense of them; so she doesn't solve anything herself, the police have to solve it by working out her cryptic clues! Whereas Marple is intelligent, astute, keenly observant and above all she is likeable. So let's just sum it up with the sentence; I didn't find the protagonist "delightfully satisfactory"!
That said I did enjoy the plot when it really got going. I have another half dozen of the Miss Seeton series that were gifted to me, I won't be picking up another right away but I'll give another one a go before righting them off completely. Quick read (if you don't count the break!) and short stories so good for a change after lots of thrillers or tear jerkers!
January 23, 2021
Review - "Witch Miss Seeton" by Heron Carvic 2/5
It might be quite the thing for maiden ladies and persnickity aunts, but it wasn't Miss Seeton's cup of tea - until Scotland Yard requested she go undercover to investigate the sinister shenanigans. A flim-flam was afoot...and the prelude to murder most foul.
Serene amidst every kind of skulduggery, this eccentric English spinster steps in where Scotland Yard stumbles! (Synopsis by publisher)
This is the third in a series of Miss Seeton books which I didnt know when I started reading it. Not that you miss anything out from not reading the first two as its pretty clear what's happening. The book made me laugh in some parts which is why I've given it 2 and not 1 star. They make the mistake of naming witchcraft and satanism the same thing which I can't forgive. I wasn't a fan of the writing style and a lot of the actual sentences made no sense.
It might be quite the thing for maiden ladies and persnickity aunts, but it wasn't Miss Seeton's cup of tea - until Scotland Yard requested she go undercover to investigate the sinister shenanigans. A flim-flam was afoot...and the prelude to murder most foul.
Serene amidst every kind of skulduggery, this eccentric English spinster steps in where Scotland Yard stumbles! (Synopsis by publisher)
This is the third in a series of Miss Seeton books which I didnt know when I started reading it. Not that you miss anything out from not reading the first two as its pretty clear what's happening. The book made me laugh in some parts which is why I've given it 2 and not 1 star. They make the mistake of naming witchcraft and satanism the same thing which I can't forgive. I wasn't a fan of the writing style and a lot of the actual sentences made no sense.
May 23, 2020
This is the most delightful of the series to date. Miss Seeton, for those unfamiliar with the series, has the talent of painting impressions of a person, a scene, a situation, without realizing that she does it. She had come to the attention of the police who have hired her to draw her impressions.
There is a strange new cult in town and it has captured the attention and the treasure of several villagers. The charismatic leader leads the followers on a strange path convincing them to give up their worldly goods and follow his lead without question.
Enter Miss Seeton, who manages to, unwittingly, save the day.
You cannot help but love this sweet old lady with her amazing talent for finding trouble, creating havoc and coming out of the whole thing as a shining star.
There is a strange new cult in town and it has captured the attention and the treasure of several villagers. The charismatic leader leads the followers on a strange path convincing them to give up their worldly goods and follow his lead without question.
Enter Miss Seeton, who manages to, unwittingly, save the day.
You cannot help but love this sweet old lady with her amazing talent for finding trouble, creating havoc and coming out of the whole thing as a shining star.
October 4, 2017
Miss Seeton helps out trying to identify a religion (cult) as a con. She is her usual helpful self, substitute teaching art for the village school, going to the Nuscience meetings to sketch the leaders, and spending time in another church and its graveyard in order to identify some Satanists. All in a day’s work for Miss Seeton and her brolly.
Written as a humorous parody of Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple, she also reminds me of Dorothy Gilman’s Miss Pollifax.
This is a fun series for relaxing. Heron Carvic who created Miss Seeton died in 1980 and his character was then written by Charles Hampton and then Hamilton Crane.
Written as a humorous parody of Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple, she also reminds me of Dorothy Gilman’s Miss Pollifax.
This is a fun series for relaxing. Heron Carvic who created Miss Seeton died in 1980 and his character was then written by Charles Hampton and then Hamilton Crane.
April 19, 2025
I'm not saying that i wont read nay more of these,
but I'm done looking for them. At least for now.
This is now the third book where the main character
has basically been unknowingly saving the day.
As in, she still doesn't think she is ever in any danger
and seems to have no idea anything sinister
could be going on, but still manages to solve the
case.
I'm just saying I expected a bit more character growth.
Even a bit of instinct for self preservation.
Unless being slightly aggrieved but still very apologetic
is a British self preservation technique.
I did enjoy that the two biggest gossips were caught up in this one.
although I doubt they will learn any humility.
but I'm done looking for them. At least for now.
This is now the third book where the main character
has basically been unknowingly saving the day.
As in, she still doesn't think she is ever in any danger
and seems to have no idea anything sinister
could be going on, but still manages to solve the
case.
I'm just saying I expected a bit more character growth.
Even a bit of instinct for self preservation.
Unless being slightly aggrieved but still very apologetic
is a British self preservation technique.
I did enjoy that the two biggest gossips were caught up in this one.
although I doubt they will learn any humility.
September 12, 2017
This third in a collection of books reissued on kindle format by Farrago Books and graciously gifted to me via netgalley for review is somewhat shorter (or it seems that way, maybe I am just more attuned to the cadences of the style now) than the first two.
All the favourites are still in there in the wake of this calamitous woman, whose very belongings become weapons with minds of their own. Here cults, satanism and capitalism collide. The body count is not so high, but the humour is just as virulent.
Very enjoyable!
All the favourites are still in there in the wake of this calamitous woman, whose very belongings become weapons with minds of their own. Here cults, satanism and capitalism collide. The body count is not so high, but the humour is just as virulent.
Very enjoyable!
June 27, 2020
This one was surprisingly good read! Maybe because human naiveté and greed are the same in every society. This installment in the Miss seeton series has quick pace and the quick wit (of the police) nicely combined with village sensitivities and charming characters.
While I still find Miss Seeton being unbelievably naive for former teacher (like, truly) and my mystery queen is forever Miss Marple, yet I has been amused and intrigued by this novel - and this is not a small accomplishment, me being the very picky crime genre reader!
While I still find Miss Seeton being unbelievably naive for former teacher (like, truly) and my mystery queen is forever Miss Marple, yet I has been amused and intrigued by this novel - and this is not a small accomplishment, me being the very picky crime genre reader!
September 12, 2020
Once again Miss Seeton Prevails!
If you want a fun read, the Miss Seeton mysteries never seem to let you down. They are cleverly written and the heroine remains as innocent and unaware of her helpfulness in solving the crime or crimes as she was in the very first book. Her 'battling brolly' (umbrella) remains as useful as a gun to her in apprehending or at least thwarting criminals as it was at the beginning of her adventures. These novels are a welcome respite from more serious crime novels.
If you want a fun read, the Miss Seeton mysteries never seem to let you down. They are cleverly written and the heroine remains as innocent and unaware of her helpfulness in solving the crime or crimes as she was in the very first book. Her 'battling brolly' (umbrella) remains as useful as a gun to her in apprehending or at least thwarting criminals as it was at the beginning of her adventures. These novels are a welcome respite from more serious crime novels.
October 31, 2022
Miss Seeton does it again.
Once again, Miss Seeton finds herself embroiled in the midst of a murder investigation and the police have once again roped her in to help by being what she believes to be an Identikit artist.
But the murders are linked to two groups of strange beliefs and right in the middle is Miss Seeton who the idiotic villagers begin to believe must be a witch too. . . Mayhem ensues.
I love how the author weaves multiple points of view without ever once losing the thread or causing confusion. I enjoyed this book thoroughly.
Also, it was very well researcched
Once again, Miss Seeton finds herself embroiled in the midst of a murder investigation and the police have once again roped her in to help by being what she believes to be an Identikit artist.
But the murders are linked to two groups of strange beliefs and right in the middle is Miss Seeton who the idiotic villagers begin to believe must be a witch too. . . Mayhem ensues.
I love how the author weaves multiple points of view without ever once losing the thread or causing confusion. I enjoyed this book thoroughly.
Also, it was very well researcched
October 28, 2018
I picked this paperback up from among my Mom's things after her funeral, and I enjoyed reading something she would have read. She read many silly mysteries, and I enjoy those on occasion, too. This was the first I'd read featuring Miss Seeton, who unwittingly solves crimes through her prophetic drawings and accidentally beats up evil-doers with her umbrella. She's not acute the way Miss Marple is; she's innocent and dense but still likeable.
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