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Thea Osborne #3
Death in the Cotswolds
Thea Osborne is thanking her lucky stars. After two disastrous house-sitting incidents in which she unwittingly became embroiled in murder and mayhem, she is only too happy to have a bit of time to concentrate on her blossoming relationship with DI Phil Hollis. But the bad luck that plagues the hapless Thea and her beloved spaniel Hepzibah is never far away. With autumn drawing in, preparations for Samhain, the pagan origin of Halloween, are well underway when Ariadne discovers a very tangible reminder of the season of death: a body laid out like a sacrificial victim on Notgrove Barrow. It soon becomes apparent that the cosy village has more than its share of secrets. But just how far will some go to keep them hidden?
319 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2007
124 people are currently reading
335 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca Tope
81 books218 followersRebecca Tope is best known as the author of over twenty crime novels. She has also recently produced the e-book entitled 'The Indifference of Tumbleweed'. She has every intention of continuing with the murder stories, as well as a variety of other kinds of fiction.
She has experienced many different kinds of work in her time - running antenatal classes, counselling troubled couples and being an office girl for an undertaker, for example. There were also several years monitoring the output of dairy cows, as well as every sort of task associated with book publishing. In 1992, she founded Praxis Books, a small British press.
She lives surrounded by trees she has planted herself, tending her own sheep.
She has experienced many different kinds of work in her time - running antenatal classes, counselling troubled couples and being an office girl for an undertaker, for example. There were also several years monitoring the output of dairy cows, as well as every sort of task associated with book publishing. In 1992, she founded Praxis Books, a small British press.
She lives surrounded by trees she has planted herself, tending her own sheep.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
June 7, 2015
Rebecca Tope has proved to me time and time again, why she is my fav author in every book in this series. This is book 3 and it did not disappoint.
This one comes from a different perspective. Instead of coming from our Heroine Thea, it comes from someone else entirely. However, Thea is still very much involved in the story but the feelings and thoughts, experiences all come from a new gal. It would seem that some may criticize this but I thought it was brilliant. As Thea and her new Beau are on holiday, I think this gave us a break from the house sitting (which I really do love and did miss) but it worked out.
This was a great edition to the series and full of mystery, people and places. I actually enjoyed seeing Thea from someone else's perspective, so you get an even bigger picture into who Thea really is as well as Phil her police beau.
I find it a waste to sit and review what a story was about, you can read a synopsis yourself for that, I prefer letting others know what I enjoyed about a book, so there it is. I loved it!
Bravo to book 3 and I simply cant wait to get started on book 4.
This one comes from a different perspective. Instead of coming from our Heroine Thea, it comes from someone else entirely. However, Thea is still very much involved in the story but the feelings and thoughts, experiences all come from a new gal. It would seem that some may criticize this but I thought it was brilliant. As Thea and her new Beau are on holiday, I think this gave us a break from the house sitting (which I really do love and did miss) but it worked out.
This was a great edition to the series and full of mystery, people and places. I actually enjoyed seeing Thea from someone else's perspective, so you get an even bigger picture into who Thea really is as well as Phil her police beau.
I find it a waste to sit and review what a story was about, you can read a synopsis yourself for that, I prefer letting others know what I enjoyed about a book, so there it is. I loved it!
Bravo to book 3 and I simply cant wait to get started on book 4.
November 22, 2021
Another enjoyable Cotswold murder mystery following the movements of Thea with Phil this time. The two believe they will have a cozy time at his aunt's place sorting through possessions and organizing the house after the aunt's death. Thea is thrown together with a colorful woman who keeps a pig and knits attractive jumpers as they work in Phil's background to help solve murders. As peaceful as the Cotswolds may seem, somehow wherever Thea goes murder follows. The knitting friend is very involved in the preparations for Samhain with her pagan friends, so that is another interesting story thread. Death by knitting needles, oh my!
October 21, 2010
This book, third in the series, was the best of the three. The first one was good, but didn't have the "I can't put it down" factor. I really wanted to keep reading Death in the Cotswolds. The references to paganism and Freemasons was of considerable interest. Good story.
December 20, 2019
I was surprised when the narrator of this book wasn't the usual character of Thea Osborne, and it took me a while to work out what was going on! I didn't really like this narrator, so I'm hoping the next book is back to being told from Thea's point of view. However it was interesting to see Thea's relationship from someone else's point of view, I guess.
June 15, 2020
This is the third in a series by Rebecca Tope. It's a continuation of the first two in that it once again involves Thea Osbourne in a murder, but this time the narrator is someone else.
Thea and her new boyfriend, Police Lieutenant Phis Hollis have come to the Cotswold village where Hollis' aunt lived and where he grew up. They are met by the narrator, Ariadne, who lives across the street and used to babysit Phil's children when he was previously married.
Ariadne is a mixture of strange and sympathy. She has embraced Wiccan beliefs and tries to uncover ancient secrets and reconnect to the earth. She has a friend, Gaynor, who is not a part of Ariadne's Pagan group, but she arrives at one of their gatherings to ask if they'll use their spells or incantations to persuade a certain man to like her.
The next day at the Barrow where Ariadne is planning the gathering, Gaynor is found dead and posed in a pagan ritualistic posture.
The mystery is uncovered through Ariadne's eyes. Along the way, we see another perspective of Thea, and Ariadne's thinking as well as the other members of this interesting cast as Thea and Ariadne, after an acrimonious start, work together to find out who murdered Ariadne's friend.
Thea and her new boyfriend, Police Lieutenant Phis Hollis have come to the Cotswold village where Hollis' aunt lived and where he grew up. They are met by the narrator, Ariadne, who lives across the street and used to babysit Phil's children when he was previously married.
Ariadne is a mixture of strange and sympathy. She has embraced Wiccan beliefs and tries to uncover ancient secrets and reconnect to the earth. She has a friend, Gaynor, who is not a part of Ariadne's Pagan group, but she arrives at one of their gatherings to ask if they'll use their spells or incantations to persuade a certain man to like her.
The next day at the Barrow where Ariadne is planning the gathering, Gaynor is found dead and posed in a pagan ritualistic posture.
The mystery is uncovered through Ariadne's eyes. Along the way, we see another perspective of Thea, and Ariadne's thinking as well as the other members of this interesting cast as Thea and Ariadne, after an acrimonious start, work together to find out who murdered Ariadne's friend.
February 18, 2018
A rather slow read with confusing characters. But I persevered in the interest of learning more about pagan rituals and their relationship to the Masons. The pagan group led by Ariadne had a youthful crush on DI. Phil Hollis who has arrived with Thea Osborne, his new love interest. Phil and Thea are there for a week away to settle the estate of an aunt. Unfortunately, as Ariadne and her group plan a pagan ritual celebrating Samhain, the origin of Halloween at a local pagan spot, a corpse shows up there with a knitting needle through her heart.
No rest for the cozy couple as they try to find the killer. Ariadne introduces a strange cast of characters from surrounding villages. A very unappealing cast. Clues are few and far between or perhaps I am getting too dense to put together the pieces.
No rest for the cozy couple as they try to find the killer. Ariadne introduces a strange cast of characters from surrounding villages. A very unappealing cast. Clues are few and far between or perhaps I am getting too dense to put together the pieces.
August 5, 2013
This one was written from the point of view of a different character .... Ariadne .... a welcome break from Thea ..... therefore I enjoyed it more; but in fairness I mention my neighbour enjoyed it less. She's passed me the next three books now ..... on seeing the pile, my hubby commented "That's a lot of death in the Cotswolds!" I guess it was the same for Morse ... bodies piling up in Oxford .... all victims of clever & unusual plots. It would be International News if it were real life & the Cotswolds would be know as the Murder Capital of Europe.
October 1, 2018
I enjoyed the different perspective of this next novel in the series. The mystery and the developing relationship between the main character and police inspector are told from the perspective of another character. It was an interesting way to bring us this story.
November 21, 2023
Best yet
This was definitely my favourite book of Rebecca to date. Interesting characters and description of local area /life / activities. Well done 👏
This was definitely my favourite book of Rebecca to date. Interesting characters and description of local area /life / activities. Well done 👏
March 29, 2024
Very gripping. I didn’t know it was the third book in a series. So I didn’t read the 2 first books but didn’t find it a problem. I really enjoyed it.
June 27, 2025
A pleasant crime novel that reminded me of "Midsomer Murders". Set in the beautiful rural Cotswold area of England, the story sheds a little light on paganism, freemasonry, traditional crafts and relationships.
A relaxing read.
A relaxing read.
March 28, 2016
Death in the Cotswolds is the third in the Cotswold series of murder mysteries by Rebecca Tope. In a departure from the first two books in the series, this one is told from the viewpoint of a new character, Ariadne, who observes Thea and Phil as they continue their courtship in the quiet Gloucestershire village of Cold Aston.
Quiet that is, until Ariadne stumbles across the body of her friend, Gaynor, murdered with a knitting needle! Ariadne had been making preparations to celebrate the festival of Samhain, on a local burial ground, when she finds Gaynor’s body. Phil, as a police Superintendant, is called upon to take charge of the case and Thea turns to Ariadne for companionship and the two share her thoughts on the murder.
Until her untimely death, Gaynor worked for Ariadne using her creativity to knit clothing, including a Kaffe Fasset modified design coat. Ariadne makes a living spinning, weaving, and knitting wool into rugs, wall hangings, and clothing. Ariadne and Gaynor also belong to a local pagan group and it is on the surviving members of the group that suspicion of Gaynor’s murder initially falls.
Phil and Thea had travelled to Cold Aston to go through the belongings of Phil’s elderly aunt Helen, who has recently died. Ariadne was caregiver to Helen and her attachment to her makes her somewhat put out when Phil considers giving all her belongings to charity. Among the belongings the trio find some Masonic paraphernalia and it becomes apparent that Phil as an ex Mason wants to remove the items as soon as possible.
Ariadne is very different from Thea in most things, for example Thea’s spaniel Hepzebah is never far from her side, whereas Ariadne hasn’t any time for dogs. Both women, however, have a fondness for Superintendant Phil Hollis. Ariadne has had a crush on Phil since childhood whereas Thea has recently found her attraction returned by the detective.
Ariadne is an unconventional, perhaps even eccentric character, however I did warm to her and thought that she did bring an interesting viewpoint to the series. It was maybe that her own interests and beliefs were closer to my own than Thea’s that meant that I found that I found no difficulty in relating to her. Ariadne has a strong affinity with the natural elements, is in touch with the earth, nature and the seasons. Even though she has a successful knitting business she does not possess many material belongings. However, she can be emotional and impatient, whilst at the same time slow to recognise the needs of her friends. On the other hand, I did find that my love for dogs was closer to Thea’s affectionate nature towards her spaniel.
I wondered why Tope decided to have a different character narrate this story when the first two books were told from Thea’s viewpoint. I considered whether it was a plot device due to Ariadne being closer to the suspects in the story. Perhaps it would have been too unbelievable for Thea to come across a third dead body in less than six months or maybe it was because the interest in a love story can be enriched when told from an external viewpoint. Whatever the reason, I note that Tope must have judged it a success as she also used other narrators later in the series.
The story continues character development by introducing elements of Phil’s Masonic past and the relationships with others in Cold Aston. Fans of Ariadne will be pleased to know that she reappears in Slaughter in the Cotswolds the sixth book in the series. It is not necessary to read the first two books to enjoy Death in the Cotswolds even though it is part of a series. Tope has created a well researched murder mystery set in a typical British village, with a knitting sub-plot, which keep the reader glued to the last page.
Review also available at: http://www.theknittingsquirrel.com/de...
Quiet that is, until Ariadne stumbles across the body of her friend, Gaynor, murdered with a knitting needle! Ariadne had been making preparations to celebrate the festival of Samhain, on a local burial ground, when she finds Gaynor’s body. Phil, as a police Superintendant, is called upon to take charge of the case and Thea turns to Ariadne for companionship and the two share her thoughts on the murder.
Until her untimely death, Gaynor worked for Ariadne using her creativity to knit clothing, including a Kaffe Fasset modified design coat. Ariadne makes a living spinning, weaving, and knitting wool into rugs, wall hangings, and clothing. Ariadne and Gaynor also belong to a local pagan group and it is on the surviving members of the group that suspicion of Gaynor’s murder initially falls.
Phil and Thea had travelled to Cold Aston to go through the belongings of Phil’s elderly aunt Helen, who has recently died. Ariadne was caregiver to Helen and her attachment to her makes her somewhat put out when Phil considers giving all her belongings to charity. Among the belongings the trio find some Masonic paraphernalia and it becomes apparent that Phil as an ex Mason wants to remove the items as soon as possible.
Ariadne is very different from Thea in most things, for example Thea’s spaniel Hepzebah is never far from her side, whereas Ariadne hasn’t any time for dogs. Both women, however, have a fondness for Superintendant Phil Hollis. Ariadne has had a crush on Phil since childhood whereas Thea has recently found her attraction returned by the detective.
Ariadne is an unconventional, perhaps even eccentric character, however I did warm to her and thought that she did bring an interesting viewpoint to the series. It was maybe that her own interests and beliefs were closer to my own than Thea’s that meant that I found that I found no difficulty in relating to her. Ariadne has a strong affinity with the natural elements, is in touch with the earth, nature and the seasons. Even though she has a successful knitting business she does not possess many material belongings. However, she can be emotional and impatient, whilst at the same time slow to recognise the needs of her friends. On the other hand, I did find that my love for dogs was closer to Thea’s affectionate nature towards her spaniel.
I wondered why Tope decided to have a different character narrate this story when the first two books were told from Thea’s viewpoint. I considered whether it was a plot device due to Ariadne being closer to the suspects in the story. Perhaps it would have been too unbelievable for Thea to come across a third dead body in less than six months or maybe it was because the interest in a love story can be enriched when told from an external viewpoint. Whatever the reason, I note that Tope must have judged it a success as she also used other narrators later in the series.
The story continues character development by introducing elements of Phil’s Masonic past and the relationships with others in Cold Aston. Fans of Ariadne will be pleased to know that she reappears in Slaughter in the Cotswolds the sixth book in the series. It is not necessary to read the first two books to enjoy Death in the Cotswolds even though it is part of a series. Tope has created a well researched murder mystery set in a typical British village, with a knitting sub-plot, which keep the reader glued to the last page.
Review also available at: http://www.theknittingsquirrel.com/de...
October 4, 2016
Third in the series about Thea Osborne and her house sitting misadventures in the Cotswolds. This one departs from the norm in being told from the first person POV of Ariadne, a childhood friend of Thea's boyfriend, Phil Hollis, Detective Superintendent. Phil and Thea are staying at the house which previously belonged to Phil's aunt Helen, who died a year ago, as Phil has decided to combine a holiday for the two of them with the process of finally clearing out his aunt's house. The house is across the road from Ariadne's, and Ariadne had been a frequent visitor, giving Helen a lot of help in her declining years.
The electricity has been cut off, so they are coping, rather unromantically given the October cold, with candles and a camping stove. In the hope that there might be an oil lamp stored in the attic, they request Ariadne's help in finding the access up there. When they enter the attic, they discover that someone has been conducting Masonic rituals there. Before long, a body is discovered and I shall say no more about the plot to avoid spoilers.
I liked this story because the viewpoint character is quite ascerbic and blunt. She is a Pagan, a knitter, and someone who lives a basic lifestyle for the most part although she does have a car - she has no TV, keeps pigs and salts her own bacon, spins her own wool and grows a lot of vegetables etc. It is interesting to see her 'take' on Thea and the relationship with Hollis especially as Ariadne had a teenage crush on him years before, but has matured in her mid-thirties and doesn't have that kind of feeling for him anymore although she is still fond of him. As I've read this series out of order, it is interesting to see some of Ariadne's thoughts on the future of the Thea-Phil relationship, as these are rather accurate in view of later events.
The same character does turn up in a later book in a minor role, though I can't remember which one now, and in that she was rather nasty and hostile to Thea, oddly so, given that she likes her in this story. There are the usual misadventures, although this time they are often initiated by Ariadne rather than Thea, and the ending, although unexpected, reminded me rather of 'Midsomer Murders'. The only thing that holds it back from a 5 star is that a number of minor plot developments were left hanging at the end.
The electricity has been cut off, so they are coping, rather unromantically given the October cold, with candles and a camping stove. In the hope that there might be an oil lamp stored in the attic, they request Ariadne's help in finding the access up there. When they enter the attic, they discover that someone has been conducting Masonic rituals there. Before long, a body is discovered and I shall say no more about the plot to avoid spoilers.
I liked this story because the viewpoint character is quite ascerbic and blunt. She is a Pagan, a knitter, and someone who lives a basic lifestyle for the most part although she does have a car - she has no TV, keeps pigs and salts her own bacon, spins her own wool and grows a lot of vegetables etc. It is interesting to see her 'take' on Thea and the relationship with Hollis especially as Ariadne had a teenage crush on him years before, but has matured in her mid-thirties and doesn't have that kind of feeling for him anymore although she is still fond of him. As I've read this series out of order, it is interesting to see some of Ariadne's thoughts on the future of the Thea-Phil relationship, as these are rather accurate in view of later events.
The same character does turn up in a later book in a minor role, though I can't remember which one now, and in that she was rather nasty and hostile to Thea, oddly so, given that she likes her in this story. There are the usual misadventures, although this time they are often initiated by Ariadne rather than Thea, and the ending, although unexpected, reminded me rather of 'Midsomer Murders'. The only thing that holds it back from a 5 star is that a number of minor plot developments were left hanging at the end.
April 2, 2010
I did not enjoy this book as much as her first.
After two disastrous housesitting incidents in which she unwittingly became embroiled in murder and mayhem, Thea Osbourne is only too happy to have a bit of peace and quiet. The only positive thing that came out of her experiences is her blossoming relationship with DI Phil Hollis and she relishes the thought of their spending some quality time together. Even meeting Phil's childhood acquaintance, the eccentric Ariadne, cannot detract from Thea s happiness. But the bad luck the plagues the hapless Thea and her beloved spaniel Hepzipah is never far away. With autumn drawing in, preparations for Samhain, or Halloween, are well underway when Ariadne discovers a very tangible reminder of the season of death on Notgrove Barrow: a body laid out like a sacrificial victim. Unlikely companions, Thea and Ariadne are thrown together as they try to uncover the events that led to the fatality. It soon becomes apparent that the cozy village has more than its share of secrets. But just how far will some go to keep them hidden . . .
After two disastrous housesitting incidents in which she unwittingly became embroiled in murder and mayhem, Thea Osbourne is only too happy to have a bit of peace and quiet. The only positive thing that came out of her experiences is her blossoming relationship with DI Phil Hollis and she relishes the thought of their spending some quality time together. Even meeting Phil's childhood acquaintance, the eccentric Ariadne, cannot detract from Thea s happiness. But the bad luck the plagues the hapless Thea and her beloved spaniel Hepzipah is never far away. With autumn drawing in, preparations for Samhain, or Halloween, are well underway when Ariadne discovers a very tangible reminder of the season of death on Notgrove Barrow: a body laid out like a sacrificial victim. Unlikely companions, Thea and Ariadne are thrown together as they try to uncover the events that led to the fatality. It soon becomes apparent that the cozy village has more than its share of secrets. But just how far will some go to keep them hidden . . .
October 9, 2017
In this book, Thea Osborne is not house sitting, but helping her boyfriend DS Hollis clear a deceased aunt's house. The house is near to another belonging to another relative of Hollis. She is a wiccan and things go wrong when a friend of hers is found murdered on a nearby barrow where it had been intended to hold a Samhain ceremony. The story is told through the eyes of Ariadne, this relative and there is little of the private detecting that Thea undertakes in the other books in the series that I have read. We learn that, in part, DS Hollis's first marriage broke up as he had left the masons. The author appears, quite rightly in my opinion, to have little time for that organisation. I suppose it is good that an author can ring the changes in a series, with here a different narrator and plot setting. It's not a bad book but really doesn't merit more than 2 stars. The blurb on the back of the book, incidentally, refers to Hollis as a DI, but much is made in the book of him being a Detective Superintendent. I can't remember what his rank is in the other books in which he features.
December 22, 2012
I found this book to be very strange. The synopsis on the back cover indicates that it is a Thea Osbourne mystery, but the whole book is written in the first person of Ariadne, the childhood friend of Thea's new partner,Detective Inspector Phil Hollis. Whoever wrote the synopsis - perhaps someone from the publishing house obviously had not read the manuscript.
The action moves very slowly with lots of side issues and conversation which dragged the action to the point of boring the reader. In fact there was very little action! The identity of the murderer was not convincing. It seemed as though the author couldn't decide who to convict, so in desperation picked the most outlandish member of the cast and hoped for the best.
I am sorry that the contents of this book did not fulfill the excellence of the cover and the intriguing title.
The action moves very slowly with lots of side issues and conversation which dragged the action to the point of boring the reader. In fact there was very little action! The identity of the murderer was not convincing. It seemed as though the author couldn't decide who to convict, so in desperation picked the most outlandish member of the cast and hoped for the best.
I am sorry that the contents of this book did not fulfill the excellence of the cover and the intriguing title.
May 25, 2017
I admit that I was, at first, disconcerted to be reading this book, not from he point of view of the series heroine, but rather from a first person viewpoint of one of the secondary characters. It didn't deter, however, in my enjoying the story. I've read the first three of this series so far, and have not been disappointed.
August 17, 2017
I found Death in the Cotswolds to be a so-so kind of cosy mystery. The murder mystery was interesting, but I found the characters to be a little lackluster. I won't be seeking out any more of the books in this series to purchase, but I will check my local library for further books.
If you are a dog lover, than this is a cosy for you.
If you are a dog lover, than this is a cosy for you.
March 16, 2017
In the third Thea Osborne Cotswolds mystery the point of view shifts, with incomplete success, from Thea and her new love, DI Phil Hollis, to a childhood friend of Phil's. Mary, now Ariadne, is a quirky pagan who spins, knits and barges her way through village life with near-disastrous results.
July 1, 2017
A murder mystery looking into paganism and freemasonry - there's a few pagan-combined-murder mysteries out there in the crime novel world. My friend sent me this one to read.
An underwhelming ending, but still not a bad tale.
An underwhelming ending, but still not a bad tale.
March 10, 2018
Sadly I was really disappointed in the third book of the series. I struggled with the narrative being in the third person of Ariadne and the plot felt more wishy washy to me than others. I'll persevere with the series but a shame I didn't enjoy this one as much as the others.
July 24, 2016
3.5 ★
August 24, 2023
Encontrei essa série de livros na minha livraria favorita (Toppings, em Bath) e ela me chamou a atenção porque são livros de crimes que se passam em várias cidades de Cotswolds, na Inglaterra (se você nunca ouviu falar na região de Cotswolds deveria procurar, porque é uma região linda!).
A série toda tem a mesma personagem principal: Thea, que cuida da casa de pessoas que vão viajar por bastante tempo; e é por isso que ela está sempre na região de Cotswolds. Ela não é detetive nem nada, mas aparentemente sempre há algum crime ocorrendo onde ela está. Eu acho um tanto estranho basear uma série de muuuitos livros (22 até o momento) nessa premissa; fica parecendo que ela é um ímã de tragédias. Mas eu só li um livro até agora, então não vou entrar nesse assunto.
Na livraria não tinha o primeiro livro da série, e eu queria mesmo comprar um desses livros lá (afinal, eu estava em Cotswolds!). Escolhi o terceiro porque ele é um dos poucos narrado por outra pessoa, não pela Thea, e achei que isso daria uma visão melhor da história dela do que começar do nada do segundo livro. Acho que foi uma boa escolha, porque não me senti perdida. Fui descobrindo sobre a Thea ao mesmo tempo que a narradora Ariadne, que também não sabia nada sobre ela, descobria.
A Thea parece ser uma pessoa muito interessante: bem prática e direta (principalmente nos assuntos que envolvem crimes), mas sem ser desrespeitosa. Acho que eu leria sim outros livros da série - começando pelo primeiro agora - para saber como é a narração feita por ela.
Muitas das reviews que eu havia lido (não só desse, mas de mais livros da série) comentam que os livros não são cheios de ação, e que passam muito tempo falando sobre a vida pessoal da Thea e das pessoas em volta dela, em vez de focar no mistério/crime. Claro que isso não me abalou: eu adoro livros com menos ação e acho interessante saber da vida dos personagens - ainda mais se o livro faz parte de uma série grande.
Ariadne, a narradora e uma das personagens principais, era chatíssima. Ela era pagã e tinha um grupo de paganismo que se encontrava algumas vezes por mês. Eu mesma não sabia muito sobre o que ser pagã significava, e acho que o livro fez um bom papel em explicar vários detalhes sobre isso. O que me deixou irritada foi Ariadne se achar superior por ser pagã (as vezes se achando superior até a alguns membros do grupo), e por estar totalmente desconectada da vida de quem tem outras crenças. Ela vivia a vida dela quase que totalmente isolada das outras pessoas, e sem entender como a relação entre as outras pessoas funcionava. Várias vezes ela ficava surpresa com o tanto que as pessoas sabiam umas das outras, como conversavam entre si. E ela mesma não sabia de quase nada do que estava acontecendo, nem mesmo na vida das amigas. E a Ariadne odiava cachorros, pensava sobre isso toda hora e não conseguia entender como alguém poderia gostar deles. Então fica difícil defendê-la.
Não foi um livro que super me moveu a ler por conta do mistério, pela vontade de descobrir quem era o assassino. Eu ficava com vontade de ler por conta da história em geral, da relação entre os personagens e pelo local onde a história se passava. Realmente talvez não seja um livro bom para as pessoas que gostam de vários plot twists e coisas inesperadas (apesar de que eu não consegui adivinhar quem era o assassino); talvez seja para alguém como eu, que gosta de pessoas conversando e tomando chazinho .
A série toda tem a mesma personagem principal: Thea, que cuida da casa de pessoas que vão viajar por bastante tempo; e é por isso que ela está sempre na região de Cotswolds. Ela não é detetive nem nada, mas aparentemente sempre há algum crime ocorrendo onde ela está. Eu acho um tanto estranho basear uma série de muuuitos livros (22 até o momento) nessa premissa; fica parecendo que ela é um ímã de tragédias. Mas eu só li um livro até agora, então não vou entrar nesse assunto.
Na livraria não tinha o primeiro livro da série, e eu queria mesmo comprar um desses livros lá (afinal, eu estava em Cotswolds!). Escolhi o terceiro porque ele é um dos poucos narrado por outra pessoa, não pela Thea, e achei que isso daria uma visão melhor da história dela do que começar do nada do segundo livro. Acho que foi uma boa escolha, porque não me senti perdida. Fui descobrindo sobre a Thea ao mesmo tempo que a narradora Ariadne, que também não sabia nada sobre ela, descobria.
A Thea parece ser uma pessoa muito interessante: bem prática e direta (principalmente nos assuntos que envolvem crimes), mas sem ser desrespeitosa. Acho que eu leria sim outros livros da série - começando pelo primeiro agora - para saber como é a narração feita por ela.
Muitas das reviews que eu havia lido (não só desse, mas de mais livros da série) comentam que os livros não são cheios de ação, e que passam muito tempo falando sobre a vida pessoal da Thea e das pessoas em volta dela, em vez de focar no mistério/crime. Claro que isso não me abalou: eu adoro livros com menos ação e acho interessante saber da vida dos personagens - ainda mais se o livro faz parte de uma série grande.
Ariadne, a narradora e uma das personagens principais, era chatíssima. Ela era pagã e tinha um grupo de paganismo que se encontrava algumas vezes por mês. Eu mesma não sabia muito sobre o que ser pagã significava, e acho que o livro fez um bom papel em explicar vários detalhes sobre isso. O que me deixou irritada foi Ariadne se achar superior por ser pagã (as vezes se achando superior até a alguns membros do grupo), e por estar totalmente desconectada da vida de quem tem outras crenças. Ela vivia a vida dela quase que totalmente isolada das outras pessoas, e sem entender como a relação entre as outras pessoas funcionava. Várias vezes ela ficava surpresa com o tanto que as pessoas sabiam umas das outras, como conversavam entre si. E ela mesma não sabia de quase nada do que estava acontecendo, nem mesmo na vida das amigas. E a Ariadne odiava cachorros, pensava sobre isso toda hora e não conseguia entender como alguém poderia gostar deles. Então fica difícil defendê-la.
Não foi um livro que super me moveu a ler por conta do mistério, pela vontade de descobrir quem era o assassino. Eu ficava com vontade de ler por conta da história em geral, da relação entre os personagens e pelo local onde a história se passava. Realmente talvez não seja um livro bom para as pessoas que gostam de vários plot twists e coisas inesperadas (apesar de que eu não consegui adivinhar quem era o assassino); talvez seja para alguém como eu, que gosta de pessoas conversando e tomando chazinho .
August 15, 2017
Well this third book in the Thea Osborne series contained a very interesting twist in that it was narrated from the point of view of a close neighbour to the house she was staying at, rather than Thea herself. In this case, Thea was accompanying Detective Superintendent Phil Hollis, her new "squeeze", to his late aunt's house for a week's holiday in order to clean out the aunt's things and get the house ready to sell.
I really liked the new character in this book, Ariadne the ardent Wiccan, because she owns sheep, cleans and spins and hand-dyes their wool, and runs a business making high-end handknits for appreciative tourists and rich locals. Her business employs a cadre of knitters whose work she buys and then sells on at a markup. I loved the reference to Kaffe Fassett (the book was written in 2006, so he would have been a big deal in the knitting world at the time) as the source of patterns the women were knitting. Also, Ariadne teaches a spinning class (spinning wool, that is) and the reference to women hauling their Ashford wheels out of their cars since the college did not provide them with storage space for wool or equipment was also delightful -- speaking as someone who regularly participates in knitting evenings where sometimes people bring their own hand spun yarn, or even portable spinning wheels as an alternative to knitting needles... but I digress.
The mystery itself was rather lacklustre, and there were an awful lot of red herrings in the storyline that were never explained. So if it weren't for the fact that I'm committed to Thea and I liked Ariadne as a character and narrator, I might not have rated the book as high.
I really liked the new character in this book, Ariadne the ardent Wiccan, because she owns sheep, cleans and spins and hand-dyes their wool, and runs a business making high-end handknits for appreciative tourists and rich locals. Her business employs a cadre of knitters whose work she buys and then sells on at a markup. I loved the reference to Kaffe Fassett (the book was written in 2006, so he would have been a big deal in the knitting world at the time) as the source of patterns the women were knitting. Also, Ariadne teaches a spinning class (spinning wool, that is) and the reference to women hauling their Ashford wheels out of their cars since the college did not provide them with storage space for wool or equipment was also delightful -- speaking as someone who regularly participates in knitting evenings where sometimes people bring their own hand spun yarn, or even portable spinning wheels as an alternative to knitting needles... but I digress.
The mystery itself was rather lacklustre, and there were an awful lot of red herrings in the storyline that were never explained. So if it weren't for the fact that I'm committed to Thea and I liked Ariadne as a character and narrator, I might not have rated the book as high.
October 29, 2022
This is the third book I've read in this series. The idea of a cosy mystery surrounding a house-sitter and her dog was a promising one. The location of the Cotswolds also attracted me. However, I didn't see the character of Thea, the protagonist, developing at all in the first two books, but I thought I'd give her one more go.
To my surprise, this book is not led by Thea, but the mystery unfolds from the point of view of Ariadne, who lives across the road from the property that Thea is temporarily living in. Oddly, the character of Ariadne was more fleshed out in contrast to Thea who appeared as vapid as ever.
There were interesting things about Freemasons, and Paganism and cottage industry along the way which seemed to make this the better book of the first three, and it all took place around Samhain (Halloween), which was aptly the time I was reading it. However, the character and the reason for the murders was flimsy and unbelievable and therefore a bit of a disappointment to me, in the end.
I'm not sure I would be interested enough in reading the fourth in the series to find out if the next adventure will be seen through the eyes of Thea once again, and if her character started to take shape.
To my surprise, this book is not led by Thea, but the mystery unfolds from the point of view of Ariadne, who lives across the road from the property that Thea is temporarily living in. Oddly, the character of Ariadne was more fleshed out in contrast to Thea who appeared as vapid as ever.
There were interesting things about Freemasons, and Paganism and cottage industry along the way which seemed to make this the better book of the first three, and it all took place around Samhain (Halloween), which was aptly the time I was reading it. However, the character and the reason for the murders was flimsy and unbelievable and therefore a bit of a disappointment to me, in the end.
I'm not sure I would be interested enough in reading the fourth in the series to find out if the next adventure will be seen through the eyes of Thea once again, and if her character started to take shape.
October 24, 2022
This is a very odd book. First of all, Thea, who is the main character in the first book I read in the series, is a secondary character in this one. As described in the first person pov of Ariadne, a confusing person herself, Thea is a much different woman than she seems in the other book. In this one, she's kind, pretty, warm, and interesting. In the other, she's dull, whiny, and stupid.
Another odd thing is the motive for the murders. I won't say what it is, but you have to suspend your disbelief to think it could be a real motive.
Lastly, I read that the author has a dog. You'd think the book would be animal-friendly, but I found it strangely passive-aggressive. The characters seem to like their dogs (although the narrator hates dogs), but bad things keep happening to the animals, both in this book and in the first one I read.
Another odd thing is the motive for the murders. I won't say what it is, but you have to suspend your disbelief to think it could be a real motive.
Lastly, I read that the author has a dog. You'd think the book would be animal-friendly, but I found it strangely passive-aggressive. The characters seem to like their dogs (although the narrator hates dogs), but bad things keep happening to the animals, both in this book and in the first one I read.
October 10, 2018
My fave so far of Rebecca Tope's series. What's not to love about the Cotwolds, and a murder thrown in!? There's a meandering, gentle style to this series which makes the books a bit like a stroll through the Cotswolds (despite a little bit of gore) and a reliable go-to when you want to immerse, relax and pretend you're in a sleepy village for a while. What I love about this particular edition is the different viewpoints (made me like Thea Osborne more, seeing her through another's eyes), extra-interesting characters and added interest of the pagan rituals, plus the continued sexual tension with the new love interest. I'm wondering how many books Tope can keep it up for but more than willing to read them all to find out!
February 10, 2021
A very bad and boring book where nothing makes much sense. I dont know much about Masons or pagans. I dont know if they are really a thing in UK or anywhere else but in this book it is not presented as something believable. It is just an excuse to unsuccesfully trying to explain the why and the who to the murder
I really do not understand why editors and publishers need to label a book as "crime" when it is really not so. This book is no crime book. It is just a story (a very boring and stupid one) where a crime occurs but it does not follow the structure of a real crime novel. There is no investigation, no tension, no nothing remotely crime-like just the rantings of a very absurd and bad depicted character.8
I really do not understand why editors and publishers need to label a book as "crime" when it is really not so. This book is no crime book. It is just a story (a very boring and stupid one) where a crime occurs but it does not follow the structure of a real crime novel. There is no investigation, no tension, no nothing remotely crime-like just the rantings of a very absurd and bad depicted character.8
February 15, 2019
I read and enjoyed book #1 of this series. I found #3, 4, and 5 in a used bookstore. They were in new condition so I was very happy to get them. This one, book #3 was a bit of a disappointment to me. It moved rather slowly with not a lot of action, mostly conversations between several characters. This book was not told by Thea, the main character of the series, but by one of the side characters. Thea came in and out of the action. The final scenes where we learn who the killer was seemed a little weak. It came down to eeny, meeny, miny, moe...pick one. Since I have #4 and 5, I will move on the those and hope I like them better.
January 9, 2021
I started this after already feeling iffy about books 1&2. Then I discovered this one was actually written in 1st POV! (one of my pet hates😣)
I thought it might just be some sort of an internal dialogue/backstory device but after 2 chapters, I have to give up. The worst thing is that it's not even Thea's voice that we hear but some random new whiny character who was a childhood friend of Thea's new love interest, Hollis from the last 2 books.
I think this one has thrown me off the series altogether. I'm afraid I'm not that invested in Thea as a character to want to learn more about her "adventures" and definitely not some peevish new character. Sorry!
I thought it might just be some sort of an internal dialogue/backstory device but after 2 chapters, I have to give up. The worst thing is that it's not even Thea's voice that we hear but some random new whiny character who was a childhood friend of Thea's new love interest, Hollis from the last 2 books.
I think this one has thrown me off the series altogether. I'm afraid I'm not that invested in Thea as a character to want to learn more about her "adventures" and definitely not some peevish new character. Sorry!
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