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Dr. Jean Montrose #2
A Fiery Hint of Murder
The suspicious death of Morgan Stroud, science master at St. Jude's School for Boys, has been proclaimed a case of spontaneous combustion, but Dr. Jean Montrose discovers otherwise. By the author of Intensive Care. Original.
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 13, 1990
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 4, 2019
This is the second of the Dr. Jean Montrose mysteries. I hadn't read the first, so I don't have a full sense of the series. These are set in Scotland and feature interesting details of how a national health practice works. In this novel, Scotland is beset by a drought; people are seriously disturbed by dryness that no one in Southern California would give a second glance. Then there is a death that looks like a case of spontaneous human combustion, an event known to those who are familiar with Charles Dickens's Bleak House. The medical details are interesting, but the main character seems to lack depth.
May 15, 2025
There's a strange heat wave hitting Scotland and the people of Perth are suffering with the unremitting heat, some even acting very strangely. So it's no surprise that even the students and faculty of St. Jude's School for Boys are behaving badly.
But things head toward the supernatural when Det. Insp. Douglas Niven and Dr. Jean Montrose are faced with the death of Morgan Stroud, St. Jude's science master. His body has been burned to ashes except for his hands and feet. The coroner can't find a clue as to what happened except for the rare spontaneous human combustion.
It leaves Niven with little to go by, even to hazard a clue. And he doesn't like that. Everyone who knew Stroud hated him — his fellow teachers, the students and their parents, even his wife and sister. But how was the death caused? Could it be a natural death? Or a very clever murderer?
The little doctor may be the only one who looks at the individuals, their lives and finds the clues that may lead to a solution to this mystery. And she does it all while dealing with her family, her practice and her patients. It's a big load but Montrose seems to handle it with a delicate, loving hand.
This is the second book in the series and I've enjoyed both books very much. The story is human with moments of humor, anger and sadness. The hidden gem is this wonderful lead character who always is there to help others, even when she is tired, stressed, afraid. Could readers not cheer her on whether its soothing a broken-hearted daughter, a sick patient or quietly weeding out the clues to the human condition that leads to death. It is good reading.
But things head toward the supernatural when Det. Insp. Douglas Niven and Dr. Jean Montrose are faced with the death of Morgan Stroud, St. Jude's science master. His body has been burned to ashes except for his hands and feet. The coroner can't find a clue as to what happened except for the rare spontaneous human combustion.
It leaves Niven with little to go by, even to hazard a clue. And he doesn't like that. Everyone who knew Stroud hated him — his fellow teachers, the students and their parents, even his wife and sister. But how was the death caused? Could it be a natural death? Or a very clever murderer?
The little doctor may be the only one who looks at the individuals, their lives and finds the clues that may lead to a solution to this mystery. And she does it all while dealing with her family, her practice and her patients. It's a big load but Montrose seems to handle it with a delicate, loving hand.
This is the second book in the series and I've enjoyed both books very much. The story is human with moments of humor, anger and sadness. The hidden gem is this wonderful lead character who always is there to help others, even when she is tired, stressed, afraid. Could readers not cheer her on whether its soothing a broken-hearted daughter, a sick patient or quietly weeding out the clues to the human condition that leads to death. It is good reading.
April 21, 2015
"The strange heat wave that hit Scotland had people whispering about witches, spells, and the supernatural ... and so did the death of Morgan Stroud, science master at St. Jude's School for Boys. Dr. Jean Montrose had examined many corpses, but Stroud's mortal remains gave her chills. His body was burned to ashes, yet his hands and feet were untouched by the flames. The coroner excitedly proclaimed it a rare case of spontaneous human combustion. Detective Inspector Douglas Niven of the Perth police quietly disagreed. He kinew Morgan Stroud had given many people -- from his ex-wife to a former prize fighter to a boy dabbling in black magic -- reasons to want him dead. But only Dr. Montrose suspected how this near-perfect crime was committed ... and why the most volatile fuel for murder was a wounded heart."
~~back cover
So was it spontaneous human combustion? Or a near-perfect murder? This was one of the cleverest mysteries I've read, and again, the author kept the suspense until the very end. If there were clues along the way to the killer's identity, I didn't notice them. Ordinarily I think that's unfair but this mystery was so well plotted and so well written that I didn't care!
~~back cover
So was it spontaneous human combustion? Or a near-perfect murder? This was one of the cleverest mysteries I've read, and again, the author kept the suspense until the very end. If there were clues along the way to the killer's identity, I didn't notice them. Ordinarily I think that's unfair but this mystery was so well plotted and so well written that I didn't care!
December 3, 2012
If anyone is asking to be killed, it's Morgan Stroud, a sadistic, abusive, evil bully who should never have been trusted as a teacher. The method of death, however, is particularly vicious--and the police are not sure if it was a murder, or one of the rare cases of spontaneous human combustion. Either way, there's not much left of the body to go on, but there were plenty of people who would have been happy to help Stroud out of this life. Jean Montrose, the local doctor, is on the case along with the police, and her insight might provide the answer.
I picked this up thinking it was a cozy mystery. I mean, boys' school in Scotland, possible black magic, interesting murder--sounded perfect. Well, not so much. Most of the characters are just generally unpleasant, and the book is full of abuse, pedophilia, child prostitution, incurable comas, etc. etc. Not to mention two over-eighteen girls who still live with their parents and squabble like twelve year olds. Not a win for me. Gave me nightmares, actually, and made me really want to take a shower after reading it.
I picked this up thinking it was a cozy mystery. I mean, boys' school in Scotland, possible black magic, interesting murder--sounded perfect. Well, not so much. Most of the characters are just generally unpleasant, and the book is full of abuse, pedophilia, child prostitution, incurable comas, etc. etc. Not to mention two over-eighteen girls who still live with their parents and squabble like twelve year olds. Not a win for me. Gave me nightmares, actually, and made me really want to take a shower after reading it.
March 31, 2011
interesting amateur(doc) teams up with cop. woo-woo becomes poo-poo effectively
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews