Death of a Minor Character

Virginia Freer #4

by E.X. Ferrars

Virginia Freer and her former husband Felix join forces to investigate drug smuggling and murder in the pastoral English town of Allingford

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

183 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1983

About the author

Aka Elizabeth Ferrars

Elizabeth Ferrars is a pseudonym of Morna Doris MacTaggart Brown. She was born in Rangoon, Burma.

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Virginia Freer is shocked by the murder of an antique dealer she knows in the quiet town where she lives. She's more shocked when her estranged husband Felix calls to tell her that another murder has been committed--a pleasant old lady was killed in his building in London. Oddly enough, there are several people the two victims had in common, even excluding the Freers. Virginia reaches out to the dead man's widow and finds herself more deeply involved than she would have chosen.

[Susanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy, entertaining read. Main character is likeable.

This is the first book I’ve read by E.X. Ferrars.

[Bob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as its predecessor, but still with its charms, and we do still kind of get the animal motif, this time in the form of a dragon god emblem that appears within the artistic output of a surly jeweler suspect.

The plot specifics here concern antiques, revenge and drug smuggling, with a cast that was for me about two people too many for me to easily keep them separate enough in my mind to care about them individually. The pace also occasionally hobbles along like one of our suspects.

On the other hand, the relationship between the two divorcees continues to be more than enough to propel this series along. There's a realness to the two disappointments these two carry (he thinks she's too cynical; she worries about when she can fully trust him) that allow the flashes of caring they have for each other all the more resonant. Ferrars ups that ante by quietly bringing onto the stage a few side characters who could get in the way of a full reunion (in an appealing dramatic way.)

A couple favorite passages from this one:

"'Because the truth commits one so horribly,' Felix said. 'You can't get out of it, even when you want to. But as long as there's an element of uncertainty about everything you say, you can always adjust it as you go along. That's what lawyers do, I've been told.'"

"There was a slight pause, then Felix said, 'Virgina, you're becoming distinctly peculiar. You doubt everything everybody says. You should be careful. It might develop into some quite serious form of neurosis.'
'Let's keep off the psychoanalysis,' I said. 'I've a feeling you may not have a really good grasp of the subject.'"

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A slow detection story, one in a series featuring Virginia and Felix, a couple amiably separated who share a group of friends in a small community and put their heads together to solve murders. The novel was written in 1983 and has an old time feel. This is a slow going detection story, a lot of Virginia’s thought process, Virginia and Felix discussing possible motives, scenarios, and analyzing each other and their friends. This is not a compelling read, I found it dull at times; neither Felix nor Virginia are engaging characters. I would probably not read any of her other novels, and she wrote quite a few featuring this couple.

[Lisa T. Ungerer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very nice read

Virginia and Felix continue to sparkle. Their complicated friendship makes them seem more real. The plot of this particular story is a bit twisted, involving murder, smuggling and drugs. The end has more violence than I expected, though it is not graphic. Recommended

[Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dull. And, Felix is far too irritating.

[Melissa Lindberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed - Virginia as always is a bit clueless about what is going on, but Felix comes up with the answer, plus a little tap on the head.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

For my full review click on the link below
https://crossexaminingcrime.wordpress...