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Rona Parish #10
Retribution
Biographer Rona Parish finds herself embroiled in another mystery when her latest projects take disturbing and unpredictable turns.
Biographer Rona Parish is keen to finish her series on successful single mothers for local glossy magazine, Chiltern Life - and interviewing the mysterious and intriguing Nicole Summers should finish off the series nicely. But on one of her visits to Nicole's house, Rona makes a shocking discovery . . .
Meanwhile, Rona has also taken on a new project - finishing the book acclaimed biographer Russell Page was writing on Gideon Ward, a TV presenter, before the recent car crash that killed him. But when Russell's wife hands over his notes and papers, Rona soon starts to realize that something isn't quite right.
As Rona throws herself into trying to find the answers to her many questions, a catastrophic event from the past is about to have massive ramifications for the present.
Biographer Rona Parish is keen to finish her series on successful single mothers for local glossy magazine, Chiltern Life - and interviewing the mysterious and intriguing Nicole Summers should finish off the series nicely. But on one of her visits to Nicole's house, Rona makes a shocking discovery . . .
Meanwhile, Rona has also taken on a new project - finishing the book acclaimed biographer Russell Page was writing on Gideon Ward, a TV presenter, before the recent car crash that killed him. But when Russell's wife hands over his notes and papers, Rona soon starts to realize that something isn't quite right.
As Rona throws herself into trying to find the answers to her many questions, a catastrophic event from the past is about to have massive ramifications for the present.
192 pages, Hardcover
Published March 1, 2017
6 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 29, 2017
Rona Parish is finishing her series on single mothers for the magazine Chiltern Life with an article on Nicole Summers who writes a cookery column for the magazine. But when she visits the enigmatic writer she makes a disturbing discovery. Out of the blue she is asked to take on a biography of a famous journalist who was also an international sportsman. The research has been started by a writer who has recently been killed in a car crash.
It soon becomes clear that neither commission is going to be without its associated mysteries and it seems as though someone doesn't want her to finish the biography and will stop at nothing to prevent her finishing the book. Rona must also deal with news which will upset her life in ways she could not possibly imagine.
I enjoyed this low key mystery. I like Rona and her sister Lindsey and I enjoy reading about their lives. The interlocking mysteries in this book are well plotted and I didn't work out what was going until almost the end of the book. While this book is part of an ongoing series it can be read as a standalone novel and the series can be read in any order.
It soon becomes clear that neither commission is going to be without its associated mysteries and it seems as though someone doesn't want her to finish the biography and will stop at nothing to prevent her finishing the book. Rona must also deal with news which will upset her life in ways she could not possibly imagine.
I enjoyed this low key mystery. I like Rona and her sister Lindsey and I enjoy reading about their lives. The interlocking mysteries in this book are well plotted and I didn't work out what was going until almost the end of the book. While this book is part of an ongoing series it can be read as a standalone novel and the series can be read in any order.
July 6, 2017
This is the first book featuring Rona Parish et al that I have come across although it is not the first in the series. That said, it can easily be read as a standalone without the reader feeling that something is missing.
Rona is a writer of biographies and also contributes to a local magazine, Chiltern Life. She has a twin sister and she is married and the novel establishes a credible cast of characters supporting Rona. Her latest contribution to the magazine has been a series on single mothers and to this end she meets Nicole Summers. Rona discovers that Nicola is somewhat prickly and reticent about her past despite being a successful publisher of cookery books and holding cookery classes in the local community centre.
Rona is then invited to take over the work of Russel Page (another biographer) who was killed in a car crash. His widow provides Rona with all the research material on TV presenter Gideon Ward but as she settles down to review the material she uncovers a mystery.
How Rona manages to become embroiled in several mysteries at the same time provides a very satisfying book with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing, or not… This is a gentle kind of murder mystery, no knife wielding maniacs, no blood and gory descriptions to unsettle you, just good writing and good characterisation. For me the name of the magazine, Chiltern Life says it all. Rona and her cast of characters occupy a civilised world; ladies who lunch (Rona doesn’t like to cook), social gatherings and, of course, the social niceties that one would expect where men are always gentlemen and women always fragrant. However, one would expect this to be set in a more golden, gentler time a la Agatha Christie, but no – it is present day. I do not mean to imply that it doesn’t work because it does, but just that it could sit more comfortably in that genre which may well be Ms Fraser’s intention.
A thoroughly good read – enjoy, I did.
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing an ARC via my Kindle in return for an honest review.
Rona is a writer of biographies and also contributes to a local magazine, Chiltern Life. She has a twin sister and she is married and the novel establishes a credible cast of characters supporting Rona. Her latest contribution to the magazine has been a series on single mothers and to this end she meets Nicole Summers. Rona discovers that Nicola is somewhat prickly and reticent about her past despite being a successful publisher of cookery books and holding cookery classes in the local community centre.
Rona is then invited to take over the work of Russel Page (another biographer) who was killed in a car crash. His widow provides Rona with all the research material on TV presenter Gideon Ward but as she settles down to review the material she uncovers a mystery.
How Rona manages to become embroiled in several mysteries at the same time provides a very satisfying book with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing, or not… This is a gentle kind of murder mystery, no knife wielding maniacs, no blood and gory descriptions to unsettle you, just good writing and good characterisation. For me the name of the magazine, Chiltern Life says it all. Rona and her cast of characters occupy a civilised world; ladies who lunch (Rona doesn’t like to cook), social gatherings and, of course, the social niceties that one would expect where men are always gentlemen and women always fragrant. However, one would expect this to be set in a more golden, gentler time a la Agatha Christie, but no – it is present day. I do not mean to imply that it doesn’t work because it does, but just that it could sit more comfortably in that genre which may well be Ms Fraser’s intention.
A thoroughly good read – enjoy, I did.
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing an ARC via my Kindle in return for an honest review.
September 27, 2018
Was going to give it a 3 star because the story was better than previous entries, but then had to take it off again because of the propaganda. Here is a couple who love their lives, and as the protagonist says "I don't want anything to change". When she discovers that she is pregnant she is horrified - but then, Hallelujah!! - discovers that she wants to be a mother after all. People need to give a rest to trying to tell the rest of the world that they can't be truly happy without kids. (Full disclosure: 2 kids, 6 grandkids, 2 great-grandkids)
I'm going to try her other series and see if it goes better.
I'm going to try her other series and see if it goes better.
May 14, 2017
I almost didn't bother to finish it. First 100 pages devoted to characters , relationships and lunch meetings. No meat. Finally, when the last 20 pages came, it seemed rushed. Like the author had some place to go.
July 5, 2017
4 stars
Rona Parish is a contributor to a magazine called Chiltern Life. Her specialty is biographies. She is just finishing up on a series about single moms who made it big. Her final interview is with a woman who is also a contributor to the magazine, but also runs a cooking school.
Meanwhile she gets the opportunity to finish a biography of Gideon Ward who passed away some ten years earlier. The original biographer Russell Page was almost done with the assignment when he was killed in an auto accident. Anxious to begin that project, she makes arrangements to meet with her cooking person named Nicole Summers. However, when she arrives at her home in order to cadge a ride to the cooking class, she makes a horrific discovery.
Fortunately, Rona has a wide circle of friends, family and acquaintances to lean on during her times of trouble; for it is trouble that is on its way. The further she digs into her research project, the closer she gets to an old ticking bomb from her past.
This is a very well written and plotted novel. It makes for interesting reading. The characters are engaging and sufficient background information is given for the reader to know the characters, but not so much that it intrudes on the story. Like all of Anthea Fraser’s books, this one is easy going. No blood and gore to worry about, so it’s almost a cozy. I enjoyed reading it and will no doubt enjoy the next one as well.
I want to thank Netgalley and Severn House Publishing for forwarding to me a copy of this fine book for me to read.
Rona Parish is a contributor to a magazine called Chiltern Life. Her specialty is biographies. She is just finishing up on a series about single moms who made it big. Her final interview is with a woman who is also a contributor to the magazine, but also runs a cooking school.
Meanwhile she gets the opportunity to finish a biography of Gideon Ward who passed away some ten years earlier. The original biographer Russell Page was almost done with the assignment when he was killed in an auto accident. Anxious to begin that project, she makes arrangements to meet with her cooking person named Nicole Summers. However, when she arrives at her home in order to cadge a ride to the cooking class, she makes a horrific discovery.
Fortunately, Rona has a wide circle of friends, family and acquaintances to lean on during her times of trouble; for it is trouble that is on its way. The further she digs into her research project, the closer she gets to an old ticking bomb from her past.
This is a very well written and plotted novel. It makes for interesting reading. The characters are engaging and sufficient background information is given for the reader to know the characters, but not so much that it intrudes on the story. Like all of Anthea Fraser’s books, this one is easy going. No blood and gore to worry about, so it’s almost a cozy. I enjoyed reading it and will no doubt enjoy the next one as well.
I want to thank Netgalley and Severn House Publishing for forwarding to me a copy of this fine book for me to read.
June 26, 2017
Rhona Parish, a biographer and contributor to the magazine Chilterns Life, wants to finish her series on successful single mothers by interviewing the magazine's cookery specialist, Nicole Summers. At the same time she's asked to write a biography of TV presenter Gideon Ward.
Her twin sister Lindsey and husband Max are familiar characters if you've read previous Rhona books. As usual she gets embroiled in a mystery and a possible murder, worrying her family.
Nicole Summers, a cool and distant woman who refuses to speak of her past, proves a difficult interview and the research on Ward's biography, despite copious notes and info from the original biographer, (dead after a car accident), leads Rhona down a dangerous path.
A pleasant, cozy read perfect for fans of British mysteries.
Thank you, Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC.
Her twin sister Lindsey and husband Max are familiar characters if you've read previous Rhona books. As usual she gets embroiled in a mystery and a possible murder, worrying her family.
Nicole Summers, a cool and distant woman who refuses to speak of her past, proves a difficult interview and the research on Ward's biography, despite copious notes and info from the original biographer, (dead after a car accident), leads Rhona down a dangerous path.
A pleasant, cozy read perfect for fans of British mysteries.
Thank you, Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC.
September 26, 2017
Reading this book is like visiting friends that you don't get to see very often. I love her main characters, Rona and Max. I feel involved with her sister Lindsey and their parents and their spouses. I even like the dog!
A previous biographer died and Rona is give the job of completing the biography. Meanwhile, the woman that was supposed to be the topic of the last article she is doing for a series is murdered. Oh, the twists and turns.
A previous biographer died and Rona is give the job of completing the biography. Meanwhile, the woman that was supposed to be the topic of the last article she is doing for a series is murdered. Oh, the twists and turns.
June 16, 2025
I really felt all the way through this book that I was coming in to the middle of a conversation. I had trouble keeping the characters straight except for Rona and Max and her sister Lindsay. Who everyone else was remains a mystery. For that reason, I only give 3 stars because it meant I spent more time trying to figure out who everyone was than in caring about who the killer was.
February 25, 2018
The plot/chpaters were choppy and she referred to characters by their first name in one chapter and their last name in another so that got a little confusing. But I wanted to find out how it all tied together so I kept reading which I don't normally do so I must have liked it.
December 2, 2019
A good story and well-written. My only negative about the story is the Australian lingo. I've lived in Oz for nearly sixty years and have never met Aussies, city or rural, who talk like that. But otherwise the characters were great and decidedly engaging.
December 10, 2017
Very good storyline.
February 28, 2023
. Loved these characters
December 29, 2025
Another great Rona Parish mystery. Can't wait for the next one!
April 15, 2017
2 mysteries that intertwine on Rona Parish's desk.
April 24, 2017
Always look forward to the latest installment in the Rona Parish series and this didn't disappoint.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews