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Ellie Haskell Mystery #8
The Trouble with Harriet
In a murder mystery so charming it could only have come from Dorothy Cannell—hailed by Nancy Pickard as “America’s P. G. Wodehouse”—Ellie Haskell is shocked when her long-lost father shows up on her doorstep with some rather . . . compromising baggage.
Ellie Haskell and her husband, Ben, haven’t taken a vacation in years. Now their suitcases are packed, their tickets are booked, and they’re ready for a romantic getaway in France. But everything goes awry after a chain-smoking fortune teller makes a dire “Take that trip at your peril!” Those ominous words ring true when Ellie’s prodigal father, Morley, suddenly appears with the remains of his ladylove, Harriet, whose untimely death in a car accident has left him bereft.
But after Morley loses the urn in a bizarre series of events, Harriet’s family is furious. Now a bewildered Ellie finds herself asks some probing Who or what was in that urn? Could her father be a pawn in a deadly game? And what exactly is the meaning of that darn prophecy? Ellie just hopes she lives to find out whether the answers are worth the trouble.
Ellie Haskell and her husband, Ben, haven’t taken a vacation in years. Now their suitcases are packed, their tickets are booked, and they’re ready for a romantic getaway in France. But everything goes awry after a chain-smoking fortune teller makes a dire “Take that trip at your peril!” Those ominous words ring true when Ellie’s prodigal father, Morley, suddenly appears with the remains of his ladylove, Harriet, whose untimely death in a car accident has left him bereft.
But after Morley loses the urn in a bizarre series of events, Harriet’s family is furious. Now a bewildered Ellie finds herself asks some probing Who or what was in that urn? Could her father be a pawn in a deadly game? And what exactly is the meaning of that darn prophecy? Ellie just hopes she lives to find out whether the answers are worth the trouble.
299 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1999
141 people are currently reading
409 people want to read
About the author
Dorothy Cannell
50 books252 followers(from Fantastic Fiction online)
Dorothy Cannell was born in London, England, and now lives in Belfast, Maine. Dorothy Cannell writes mysteries featuring Ellie Haskell, interior decorator and Ben Haskell, writer and chef, and Hyacinth and Primrose Tramwell, a pair of dotty sisters and owners of the Flowers Detection Agency.
(from Internet Book List)
Dorothy Cannell, a mother of four, grandmother of ten, and owner of a King Charles Spaniel, was born in England and moved to the United States when she was twenty. After living in Peoria, Illinois, for years, she and her husband recently moved to Belfast, Maine. Her first Ellie Haskell novel, The Thin Woman, was selected as one of the 100 Favorite Mysteries of the Twentieth Century by the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association.
Dorothy Cannell was born in London, England, and now lives in Belfast, Maine. Dorothy Cannell writes mysteries featuring Ellie Haskell, interior decorator and Ben Haskell, writer and chef, and Hyacinth and Primrose Tramwell, a pair of dotty sisters and owners of the Flowers Detection Agency.
(from Internet Book List)
Dorothy Cannell, a mother of four, grandmother of ten, and owner of a King Charles Spaniel, was born in England and moved to the United States when she was twenty. After living in Peoria, Illinois, for years, she and her husband recently moved to Belfast, Maine. Her first Ellie Haskell novel, The Thin Woman, was selected as one of the 100 Favorite Mysteries of the Twentieth Century by the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
May 21, 2017
An ebook released of The Ellie Haskell mysteries written in the1980's. I had a problem getting into the book as I am still learning about the characters who are well developed. There are some scenes that are amusing. In this book, Ellie' father arrived for an unexpected visit. He is carrying an urn that has the ashes of Harriet, women who he was the Love of his life. He is supposed to turn the ashes over to her relatives. He cannot hand them over and disappeared with the ashes when the relatives are due to arrive. Through a series of mishaps the ashes disappear and there a frantic search for them. I recommend this book.
Disclosure: I received a free copy from Alibi through NetGalley for an honest review. I would like to thank them for this opportunity to read and review the book. The opinions expressed are my own.
Disclosure: I received a free copy from Alibi through NetGalley for an honest review. I would like to thank them for this opportunity to read and review the book. The opinions expressed are my own.
January 25, 2023
This story has Ellie Haskells dad returning to his daughter after many years away. He is bringing an urn, filled with the ashes of a woman he fell in love with in Germany. He is a bit scatter brained and overwhelmed with his loss. However, the ashes of Harriet keep getting misplaced. It seems like there are many people interested in these ashes, and Ellie is trying to figure out why. This reads like something Ms. Christie would have written in grade school. it is not bad, just seems a little less mature in the writing. I am not sure I would pursue another Ellie Haskell mystery unless it was given to me or I had nothing else to read.
Again, an okay read, just not on a level I usually enjoy.
Again, an okay read, just not on a level I usually enjoy.
May 25, 2017
This was a funny story! It started out that Ellie Haskell and her husband Ben were getting ready for a vacation to France.
When Ellie ran into a gypsy on the street, who told her not to go out of the Country on a trip.
She got a little scared but decided it was nothing to worry about, until she got home, and found her father had come for a visit after being out of her life for more than 20 years!
When he started to tell them why he was there, she started to wonder if the gypsy had anything to do with him and him being there!
As the story went on the characters increased and the plot thickened and you really have to pay attention to the story or you will miss the funny parts!
It truly is a fine story, well plotted, and interesting! I would recommend it to family and friends!
When Ellie ran into a gypsy on the street, who told her not to go out of the Country on a trip.
She got a little scared but decided it was nothing to worry about, until she got home, and found her father had come for a visit after being out of her life for more than 20 years!
When he started to tell them why he was there, she started to wonder if the gypsy had anything to do with him and him being there!
As the story went on the characters increased and the plot thickened and you really have to pay attention to the story or you will miss the funny parts!
It truly is a fine story, well plotted, and interesting! I would recommend it to family and friends!
June 21, 2017
This book is a fun mystery involving a quirky female protagonist, her somewhat bumbling family, a dramatic housekeeper, and a confused vicar that shows up and disappears at the strangest times. These are only a few of the interesting characters who live or just show up in a village in England where the story takes place.
The story starts as the protagonist's long, lost father shows up at her doorstep with the ashes of the "love of his life" (Harriet) in tow. (no spoilers as this happens very early in the story). It is a crazy, twisting good British mystery with a dash of humor. There is constant coming and going of all the characters, so the pace moves fast.
The protagonist keeps a running commentary on her perception of who is responsible for what based on the clues which unfold. This provides the reader with insight to various answers which can help solve who is guilty for which crime and how all is intertwined.
This a good read for pure enjoyment. It can be a quick read or the reader may take their time and analyze all the facts. The Trouble With Harriet would make another great beach read for the summer.
The story starts as the protagonist's long, lost father shows up at her doorstep with the ashes of the "love of his life" (Harriet) in tow. (no spoilers as this happens very early in the story). It is a crazy, twisting good British mystery with a dash of humor. There is constant coming and going of all the characters, so the pace moves fast.
The protagonist keeps a running commentary on her perception of who is responsible for what based on the clues which unfold. This provides the reader with insight to various answers which can help solve who is guilty for which crime and how all is intertwined.
This a good read for pure enjoyment. It can be a quick read or the reader may take their time and analyze all the facts. The Trouble With Harriet would make another great beach read for the summer.
July 20, 2012
I was really excited to start this one, but as it turns out, this was not one of my favorite Ellie Haskell mysteries. Mrs. Mallory still cracked me up, and the mystery was fairly complex for a cozy, but Ellie 's dad 's grief dragged on too long and the story got a little bogged down.
Ellie's long lost dad shows up out of the blue. He is grieving the loss of Harriet, "the love of his life ". He has brought along her ashes. He is supposed to turn the urn over to Harriet's cousins, but keeps avoiding them. Meanwhile, Ellie has begun to suspect her father was the victim of a scam. Aunt Lulu has also arrived and guest keep on popping in.
I hope the next one is better than this one. Overall a C +.
Ellie's long lost dad shows up out of the blue. He is grieving the loss of Harriet, "the love of his life ". He has brought along her ashes. He is supposed to turn the urn over to Harriet's cousins, but keeps avoiding them. Meanwhile, Ellie has begun to suspect her father was the victim of a scam. Aunt Lulu has also arrived and guest keep on popping in.
I hope the next one is better than this one. Overall a C +.
February 28, 2018
This was probably not the best book to introduce myself to Cannell's writings. On the plus side, the the mystery was one of the most unusual ones I've read. I enjoyed the sheer quirkiness of it and of some of the characters. Unfortunately, that was offset by the character of Ellie's father. Even cutting him some slack for being in mourning, he was an insufferably drama queeny, self-centered bore. I listened to the audio version where at was played to the hilt. Maybe he doesn't come across quite so bad in print. As it was, he set my teeth on edge whenever he was in a scene. That said, I did enjoy the good aspects of the book enough that it will be worth checking out some of Cannell's other works.
September 15, 2018
I had to stop reading this book after the first 133 pages. and have to admit that I am impressed that I made it that far.
Although I usually enjoy English mysteries, the language in this book is so convoluted that it was painful to read. Never use 10 words when a full page will do to describe something.
Having read thousands of books over my lifetime, I have only put down 4 that I was unable to finish - this is the fourth.
Although I usually enjoy English mysteries, the language in this book is so convoluted that it was painful to read. Never use 10 words when a full page will do to describe something.
Having read thousands of books over my lifetime, I have only put down 4 that I was unable to finish - this is the fourth.
June 19, 2017
What a delightful mystery! I'm new to Dorothy Cannell's Ellie Haskell Mystery series. After reading The Trouble With Harriet, I'm determined to read the others in the series. Ellie and her husband have plans to vacation in France, when a fortune teller advises her not to leave home. Very soon they can't leave home because Ellie's long-lost father shows up, along with an urn filled with the ashes of his much-missed lover. Of course nothing is as it appears and nothing goes smoothly in this fun-filled novel of zany characters. A great read from beginning to end!
June 16, 2017
Ellie’s father arrives in Chitterton Fells right when Ellie and Ben are leaving on a long over due trip. He is carrying the supposed urn with his recently-deceased love Harriet's ashes, which he is supposed to turn over to the woman's family.
Through a series of mishaps the ashes disappear and there a frantic search for them.
The characters are well developed and this is the first book in the series I have read.
I received an ARC and I voluntarily reviewed.
Through a series of mishaps the ashes disappear and there a frantic search for them.
The characters are well developed and this is the first book in the series I have read.
I received an ARC and I voluntarily reviewed.
August 25, 2020
Great as a one-off read by Barbara Rosenblatt. Normally, I'm okay with over-the-top, but in this case one was enough. Not interested in the rest of the series I'm afraid.
June 15, 2023
Ellie and her husband, Ben, are hours away from leaving for a much needed romantic getaway to Paris when her heartbroken father shows up with his new girlfriend. Well, that's not completely accurate. The girlfriend, Harriet, is residing in an urn, having met with a tragic accident in Germany. Now, he has come back to England to fulfil her last wish to be returned to her relatives.
Proving they are better people than I would be, they shelve their plans and agree to help him with his quest. Things quickly go downhill. One problem is that Ellie's dad was so in love with Harriet, he is quite reluctant to part with her and manages to disappear every time her cousins come by. Soon it becomes apparent that Harriet was quite beloved as more people than you would think are interested in her final resting place. It's up to Ellie and Ben to sort out the mystery, while dealing with a cast of quirky (to put it mildly) characters before someone besides Harriet ends up deceased.
A fun romp to the last page.
Proving they are better people than I would be, they shelve their plans and agree to help him with his quest. Things quickly go downhill. One problem is that Ellie's dad was so in love with Harriet, he is quite reluctant to part with her and manages to disappear every time her cousins come by. Soon it becomes apparent that Harriet was quite beloved as more people than you would think are interested in her final resting place. It's up to Ellie and Ben to sort out the mystery, while dealing with a cast of quirky (to put it mildly) characters before someone besides Harriet ends up deceased.
A fun romp to the last page.
June 9, 2017
The Trouble With Harriet is only one of many titles this book could live up to. Harriet is not HALF the trouble arriving in Chitterton Fells or to the Haskell family.
Told with very subtle wit and a touch of sarcasm, this is a bumpy, twisty ride for the reader to appreciate. I bet you will find yourself coming to various conclusions and changing your mind before all is said and done.
Dysfunctional family to the max when not only Ellie's long missing father arrives on the doorstep, but cousin Freddy's eccentric and kleptomaniac mother appears as well, with a new bag of tricks.
This book is a story within a story with a few additional tales adjacent.
Buckle your seatbelts and grab the hand grip. Prepare for a wild ride.
Told with very subtle wit and a touch of sarcasm, this is a bumpy, twisty ride for the reader to appreciate. I bet you will find yourself coming to various conclusions and changing your mind before all is said and done.
Dysfunctional family to the max when not only Ellie's long missing father arrives on the doorstep, but cousin Freddy's eccentric and kleptomaniac mother appears as well, with a new bag of tricks.
This book is a story within a story with a few additional tales adjacent.
Buckle your seatbelts and grab the hand grip. Prepare for a wild ride.
June 24, 2017
Title: The Trouble With Harriet - Ellie Haskell Series Book 8
Author: Dorothy Cannell
Publisher: Random House Publishing
Published: 6-13-2017
Pages: 288
Genre: Mystery, Thrillers & Suspense
Sub-Genre: Humor; Women Sleuths; Cozy Mystery
ASIN: B01LYUULP3
ISBN: 9780399180408
Reviewed For: NetGalley and Random House Publishing
Reviewer: DelAnne
Rating: 4.25 Stars
Ellie and Ben are preparing for their dream trip to France when a fortune teller warns not to go. Then Ellie's long missing father shows up with the urn of his love's remains. When the urn is lost and Harriet's father is blames Ellie begins to question if the remains were truly Harriet's and if her father is as involved in any way. Will Ben and Ellie make the plane on time?
Fast paced and well written, "The Trouble With Harriet will have readers smiling and sighing in turns as they follow along trying to decipher the clues. The reoccurring characters have grown over the series and seem so very real. This story can be read as a stand alone, but the previous books are just as much fun to read.
My rating of "The Trouble of Harriet" is 4.25 out of 5 stars.
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LYUULP3/...
B&N Link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-...
GoodReads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
The Reading Room Link: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.ph...
Twitter Link: https://twitter.com/DelAnne531/status...
Author: Dorothy Cannell
Publisher: Random House Publishing
Published: 6-13-2017
Pages: 288
Genre: Mystery, Thrillers & Suspense
Sub-Genre: Humor; Women Sleuths; Cozy Mystery
ASIN: B01LYUULP3
ISBN: 9780399180408
Reviewed For: NetGalley and Random House Publishing
Reviewer: DelAnne
Rating: 4.25 Stars
Ellie and Ben are preparing for their dream trip to France when a fortune teller warns not to go. Then Ellie's long missing father shows up with the urn of his love's remains. When the urn is lost and Harriet's father is blames Ellie begins to question if the remains were truly Harriet's and if her father is as involved in any way. Will Ben and Ellie make the plane on time?
Fast paced and well written, "The Trouble With Harriet will have readers smiling and sighing in turns as they follow along trying to decipher the clues. The reoccurring characters have grown over the series and seem so very real. This story can be read as a stand alone, but the previous books are just as much fun to read.
My rating of "The Trouble of Harriet" is 4.25 out of 5 stars.
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LYUULP3/...
B&N Link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-...
GoodReads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
The Reading Room Link: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.ph...
Twitter Link: https://twitter.com/DelAnne531/status...
June 3, 2017
The surprise of finding her estranged father at her door step with a heartbreaking tale of lost love and the remains of his beloved in an urn, make Ellie to put everything on hold. What will transfix of this will be a complex unraveling of facts and events that make an interesting plot.
This book has unique and well developed characters and a whimsically location.
Note: I received an ARC for review and an hones opinion.
This book has unique and well developed characters and a whimsically location.
Note: I received an ARC for review and an hones opinion.
May 19, 2017
The Trouble with Harriet
By: Dorothy Cannell
I received an e-ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
This is a very fun, frothy kind of cozy mystery. Don't come looking for anything deep or meaningful but just enjoy it as a tasty piece of candy.
Characters:
The main protagonist is Ellie Haskell. She is married to her true love Ben and they have three adorable children (who don't play a part in this story). They have a rather idealized life and their relationship is as sticky sweet as a piece of pink taffy. They are surrounded by a whole slew of quirky (if rather typecast) characters: Mrs. Malloy, the snarky housekeeper; the absentminded vicar; the ruthlessly organized vicar's wife; the doddering rich man up at the "big house"; his young ex-starlet beautiful wife; the secretary of aforementioned rich man who is, of course, in love with the wife; a kleptomaniac aunt; a fortune telling gypsy. Aaah, I think you get the point. Don't go looking for character development or depth here. The repartee between characters is clever and fun and I did very much enjoy looking for all the tidbits.
Plot:
Ellie's dad visits her bringing with him the remains of his new "true love" Harriet. He has been instructed to hand over Harriet's urn to three oddly dysfunctional cousins. The mystery appears when Ellie realizes that nefarious characters are after the urn (or rather the urn's contents). The solution (if not all the details) becomes clear well before the book's conclusion. However, I did enjoy the continuous mayhem, the penultimate scene where the crooks are caught, and the final scene where Ellie fills in all the details.
Grumps and Complaints:
I love Ms. Cannell and her clever mind but there were some bits that I found very annoying.
In the first book in this series, "The Thin Woman", the author actually tackles some pretty important body image issues. I appreciated a real life trouble core inside the fluffy body of the story. In this book, no such base to the storytelling. I found this truly vexing because some serious topics are hinted at - "daddy" deserting her at age 17 to survive on her own after the death of her mother. This is hinted at, it seems important to Ellie, but those emotions aren't dealt with. Ellie just shrugs them off as part of who he is and how he copes with life. She just deals with "daddy" as he is now. She even feels sad when he leaves at the end.
Daddy, in general, is a source of irritation for me. He spends the whole book displaying overly dramatic sorrow for the death of Harriet. Agreed, death is sad, but he is portrayed almost as an overacting player in some Shakespearean melodrama. Also, everyone, especially Ellie, plays right along with him. This is exhausting for the reader. So, all through this book, he is prostrate with sorrow, even in the face of Harriet's perfidy. Then, at the end, he goes off with another woman, ready to start a new chapter. What?
My final grump is with the ending. It all felt a little like the author was just trying to wrap things up. It seemed rushed. (Spoiler). Harriet was actually killed way at the beginnng of the book and and was more to be pitied than censured. The whole ending feels less like it fits with the clues and more like a way to finish the story neatly.
Okay, grumpiness aside, this isn't a perfect book but it is fun. Read it for easy, breezy summer relaxation. Just don't let "Daddy" annoy you too much.
By: Dorothy Cannell
I received an e-ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
This is a very fun, frothy kind of cozy mystery. Don't come looking for anything deep or meaningful but just enjoy it as a tasty piece of candy.
Characters:
The main protagonist is Ellie Haskell. She is married to her true love Ben and they have three adorable children (who don't play a part in this story). They have a rather idealized life and their relationship is as sticky sweet as a piece of pink taffy. They are surrounded by a whole slew of quirky (if rather typecast) characters: Mrs. Malloy, the snarky housekeeper; the absentminded vicar; the ruthlessly organized vicar's wife; the doddering rich man up at the "big house"; his young ex-starlet beautiful wife; the secretary of aforementioned rich man who is, of course, in love with the wife; a kleptomaniac aunt; a fortune telling gypsy. Aaah, I think you get the point. Don't go looking for character development or depth here. The repartee between characters is clever and fun and I did very much enjoy looking for all the tidbits.
Plot:
Ellie's dad visits her bringing with him the remains of his new "true love" Harriet. He has been instructed to hand over Harriet's urn to three oddly dysfunctional cousins. The mystery appears when Ellie realizes that nefarious characters are after the urn (or rather the urn's contents). The solution (if not all the details) becomes clear well before the book's conclusion. However, I did enjoy the continuous mayhem, the penultimate scene where the crooks are caught, and the final scene where Ellie fills in all the details.
Grumps and Complaints:
I love Ms. Cannell and her clever mind but there were some bits that I found very annoying.
In the first book in this series, "The Thin Woman", the author actually tackles some pretty important body image issues. I appreciated a real life trouble core inside the fluffy body of the story. In this book, no such base to the storytelling. I found this truly vexing because some serious topics are hinted at - "daddy" deserting her at age 17 to survive on her own after the death of her mother. This is hinted at, it seems important to Ellie, but those emotions aren't dealt with. Ellie just shrugs them off as part of who he is and how he copes with life. She just deals with "daddy" as he is now. She even feels sad when he leaves at the end.
Daddy, in general, is a source of irritation for me. He spends the whole book displaying overly dramatic sorrow for the death of Harriet. Agreed, death is sad, but he is portrayed almost as an overacting player in some Shakespearean melodrama. Also, everyone, especially Ellie, plays right along with him. This is exhausting for the reader. So, all through this book, he is prostrate with sorrow, even in the face of Harriet's perfidy. Then, at the end, he goes off with another woman, ready to start a new chapter. What?
My final grump is with the ending. It all felt a little like the author was just trying to wrap things up. It seemed rushed. (Spoiler). Harriet was actually killed way at the beginnng of the book and and was more to be pitied than censured. The whole ending feels less like it fits with the clues and more like a way to finish the story neatly.
Okay, grumpiness aside, this isn't a perfect book but it is fun. Read it for easy, breezy summer relaxation. Just don't let "Daddy" annoy you too much.
May 20, 2017
Ellie and Ben are about to take a well deserved trip to France. She has even purchased a new nightgown. The children are with Ben's parents. Things are wonderful.
Then everything changes.
Ellie meets a gypsy who tells her she absolutely should not go to France. Ellie's long lost father appears with an urn filled with the ashes of his one true love, Harriet. As her father discusses this wonderful woman, Ellie feels angry. She is angry that her father did not think her mother was the love of his life. She is angry that this man abandoned her after the death of her mother when she was still a teenager. She is angry that her father has arrived after all these years with little or no interest in her life and the lives of her family.
Nothing is as it seems.
It is evident that someone wants the urn with Harriet's ashes. There are mysterious people appearing around every corner. There are attempts to steal the urn. And more and more of various stories do not make sense. At the same time, the urn goes missing in a stolen car. Ellie's cousin Freddie must deal with his mother who happens to be a kleptomaniac. An absent minded clergyman seems determined to interrupt lives at the most inconvenient moments. And housekeeper Mrs Malloy has plans to become a star of stage and screen.
Ellie and Ben come to the conclusion that some sort of scam has been perpetrated. But, there seems to be no way to put a stop to things.
This is a terrific and humorous story. Ms Cannell is a talented author who creates characters who make the reader laugh. This plot has a great deal of action. At every turn there is another surprise. It is almost like a very active game of button – button who's got the button, only in this case it is an urn filled with ashes.
Although this is part of a series, it easily works as a stand alone read. I have enjoyed every book in the series. At times, I felt that there was too much angst of poor Harriet and that led to some spots that were too repetitious for me, but this is another fine book by Ms Cannell.
I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I am voluntarily writing this review and all opinions are my own.
Then everything changes.
Ellie meets a gypsy who tells her she absolutely should not go to France. Ellie's long lost father appears with an urn filled with the ashes of his one true love, Harriet. As her father discusses this wonderful woman, Ellie feels angry. She is angry that her father did not think her mother was the love of his life. She is angry that this man abandoned her after the death of her mother when she was still a teenager. She is angry that her father has arrived after all these years with little or no interest in her life and the lives of her family.
Nothing is as it seems.
It is evident that someone wants the urn with Harriet's ashes. There are mysterious people appearing around every corner. There are attempts to steal the urn. And more and more of various stories do not make sense. At the same time, the urn goes missing in a stolen car. Ellie's cousin Freddie must deal with his mother who happens to be a kleptomaniac. An absent minded clergyman seems determined to interrupt lives at the most inconvenient moments. And housekeeper Mrs Malloy has plans to become a star of stage and screen.
Ellie and Ben come to the conclusion that some sort of scam has been perpetrated. But, there seems to be no way to put a stop to things.
This is a terrific and humorous story. Ms Cannell is a talented author who creates characters who make the reader laugh. This plot has a great deal of action. At every turn there is another surprise. It is almost like a very active game of button – button who's got the button, only in this case it is an urn filled with ashes.
Although this is part of a series, it easily works as a stand alone read. I have enjoyed every book in the series. At times, I felt that there was too much angst of poor Harriet and that led to some spots that were too repetitious for me, but this is another fine book by Ms Cannell.
I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I am voluntarily writing this review and all opinions are my own.
November 28, 2017
The Trouble with Harriet was the first of Dorothy Cannell’s books I have read. Set in England, it is a story of con artists and murders. The story itself was a good mystery and comedy combination: the story of an older man conned into a romance while in Germany, only to be told his beloved had died in a car crash, then requested to take her ashes back to her family in England. The Trouble with Harriet is a little like a cozy mystery, but not close enough for me to put it in that genre.
There was a large cast of quirky characters that included a kleptomaniac aunt, a self-absorbed cousin, an impertinent housekeeper who I kept wishing would be fired, and many others. The character development was superb, but annoyingly well-described. Unfortunately, with the exception of Freddie, the self-absorbed cousin, all the characters spoke in nonessential, archaic, flowery language.
More and more common these days is the inclusion of public health information in novels: this time it was comments about tobacco use, such as the reference to a man who "looked as he did" because his health was “shot” after a lifetime of smoking. On a separate topic, and much to my delight, I found only three split infinitives.
What Makes This Book Reviewer Grumpy?
It took far longer to read this book than I normally do, as I got bogged down in all the superfluous language, and unnecessarily lengthy description of places, furnishings, people, feelings, and behaviors.
The huge number of sentences beginning with the conjunctions “and” (123) and “but” (49) was extremely distracting - and I didn't count all of them. Most of them involved two sentences that should have been one sentence with a conjunction in the middle.
There were a few sentence fragments that should have been included in the preceding sentence;
Incorrect verb tense: using “showed” instead of “shown”;
Improper placement of the word "only" within a sentence -- it changes the meaning of the sentence;
Statements ending with question marks led me to re-read them to be sure I hadn't missed something.
There was a large cast of quirky characters that included a kleptomaniac aunt, a self-absorbed cousin, an impertinent housekeeper who I kept wishing would be fired, and many others. The character development was superb, but annoyingly well-described. Unfortunately, with the exception of Freddie, the self-absorbed cousin, all the characters spoke in nonessential, archaic, flowery language.
More and more common these days is the inclusion of public health information in novels: this time it was comments about tobacco use, such as the reference to a man who "looked as he did" because his health was “shot” after a lifetime of smoking. On a separate topic, and much to my delight, I found only three split infinitives.
What Makes This Book Reviewer Grumpy?
It took far longer to read this book than I normally do, as I got bogged down in all the superfluous language, and unnecessarily lengthy description of places, furnishings, people, feelings, and behaviors.
The huge number of sentences beginning with the conjunctions “and” (123) and “but” (49) was extremely distracting - and I didn't count all of them. Most of them involved two sentences that should have been one sentence with a conjunction in the middle.
There were a few sentence fragments that should have been included in the preceding sentence;
Incorrect verb tense: using “showed” instead of “shown”;
Improper placement of the word "only" within a sentence -- it changes the meaning of the sentence;
Statements ending with question marks led me to re-read them to be sure I hadn't missed something.
May 27, 2017
I received an advance electronic copy of this book from NetGalley.
Apparently this is a Kindle re-issue of a book that was originally published some years ago, and is part of a series. I have not read any other books in the series; perhaps if I had, the rather extensive cast of characters and their shenanigans might have been easier to follow.
The writing is enjoyable, but I had some trouble following all of the plot twists and story elements that piled up into an ever-enlarging heap. I had some trouble keeping all of the various characters and their relationships straight. There is a vicar who is lost in the past, an elderly rich man with a trophy wife who apparently doesn't much like him, a snarky housekeeper, a woman trying to stage a play, a kleptomaniac, a young man and his mother? aunt? and an unattractive spinster who would like to ensnare the young man. Oh, and there is the protagonist, Ellie, her husband, and their children who are off at their grandparents' home for the duration of the book.
Ellie's long-missing father shows up unexpectedly, arriving in England from a stay in Germany, carrying the supposed urn with his recently-deceased lady love Harriet's ashes, which he is supposed to turn over to the woman's family. The urn is in Ellie's car when the absent-minded vicar drives off with it, and the hunt is on. Clues are revealed that indicate Harriet was not what she seemed to be (is she, in fact, actually dead?) and there was something not quite right about her story and the entire situation in Germany.
The final resolution to the story and where all the pieces fit in I could not explain to save my life, so I will leave it to other readers to figure out for themselves.
Apparently this is a Kindle re-issue of a book that was originally published some years ago, and is part of a series. I have not read any other books in the series; perhaps if I had, the rather extensive cast of characters and their shenanigans might have been easier to follow.
The writing is enjoyable, but I had some trouble following all of the plot twists and story elements that piled up into an ever-enlarging heap. I had some trouble keeping all of the various characters and their relationships straight. There is a vicar who is lost in the past, an elderly rich man with a trophy wife who apparently doesn't much like him, a snarky housekeeper, a woman trying to stage a play, a kleptomaniac, a young man and his mother? aunt? and an unattractive spinster who would like to ensnare the young man. Oh, and there is the protagonist, Ellie, her husband, and their children who are off at their grandparents' home for the duration of the book.
Ellie's long-missing father shows up unexpectedly, arriving in England from a stay in Germany, carrying the supposed urn with his recently-deceased lady love Harriet's ashes, which he is supposed to turn over to the woman's family. The urn is in Ellie's car when the absent-minded vicar drives off with it, and the hunt is on. Clues are revealed that indicate Harriet was not what she seemed to be (is she, in fact, actually dead?) and there was something not quite right about her story and the entire situation in Germany.
The final resolution to the story and where all the pieces fit in I could not explain to save my life, so I will leave it to other readers to figure out for themselves.
June 24, 2017
Poor Ellie. The Trouble With Harriet shows Murphy's Law (of romantic vacations w/the spouse) in action!
Imagine the scene. You're going shopping for a trip to Paris, The City of Lights, with your husband. You step out of a shop with that 'just bought something neat' glow and a grubby woman offers to tell your fortune. She tells you about your past and present, enough to make those little hairs on the back of even the most practical skeptic stand on end. And the last thing she tells you, in no uncertain terms, is the trip to Paris is a B.A.D. idea.
(And that's just in the first chapter!) Slap on those seat belts, kiddies, cause the ride gets even bumpier from here!
Morley (Ellie's Dad) does show up on the doorstep, with the ashes of his wife, Harriet. He's out of his mind sad, and Ellie can't turn him away. What an open heart Ellie has! Her father was little more than a *ahem* 'donor' for all he's been in her life ... yet she takes him in.
And then the urn disappears, only to be replaced by more questions about the whole situation.
Now, I've used a roller coaster analogy a couple of times with books before, and it is most appropriate here. There's the big belly drop at the beginning - check. But there's hardly a second to breathe, because the ups, downs, twists and turns continue. You might have been scared at first, but at the end, you're raring to go again!
Lucky for readers, this Ellie Haskell mystery is part of a series!!! Well, bring it. Bring them all! Because we live in the country, the internet has been spotty at best for the last couple of weeks, and I've got lots of (no internet) time to read. Looking forward to my next Ellie Haskell book!
Imagine the scene. You're going shopping for a trip to Paris, The City of Lights, with your husband. You step out of a shop with that 'just bought something neat' glow and a grubby woman offers to tell your fortune. She tells you about your past and present, enough to make those little hairs on the back of even the most practical skeptic stand on end. And the last thing she tells you, in no uncertain terms, is the trip to Paris is a B.A.D. idea.
(And that's just in the first chapter!) Slap on those seat belts, kiddies, cause the ride gets even bumpier from here!
Morley (Ellie's Dad) does show up on the doorstep, with the ashes of his wife, Harriet. He's out of his mind sad, and Ellie can't turn him away. What an open heart Ellie has! Her father was little more than a *ahem* 'donor' for all he's been in her life ... yet she takes him in.
And then the urn disappears, only to be replaced by more questions about the whole situation.
Now, I've used a roller coaster analogy a couple of times with books before, and it is most appropriate here. There's the big belly drop at the beginning - check. But there's hardly a second to breathe, because the ups, downs, twists and turns continue. You might have been scared at first, but at the end, you're raring to go again!
Lucky for readers, this Ellie Haskell mystery is part of a series!!! Well, bring it. Bring them all! Because we live in the country, the internet has been spotty at best for the last couple of weeks, and I've got lots of (no internet) time to read. Looking forward to my next Ellie Haskell book!
June 14, 2017
The book begins with a fortune-teller’s prophecy. She waves Ellie over with a comment about having luck in her face. As Ellie started to walk away, she talked about Ellie’s mother and how she died! Then she talked about her father who was not around often. It was enough to pull her in. The reading continued until she got to the part about a trip across the water. Ellie then remembered she had to pack for France! But the gypsy looked upset and warned her against making that trip! Then Ellie rushed off home to pack.
As predicted, Ellie’s trip is not the smooth-sailing she had hoped for. Her father shows up, after his absence of many years, with an urn containing the ashes of his lady love, Harriet. He was supposed to give the ashes to her relatives. But the ashes disappear and Ellie gets involved in hunting for them and figuring out what was really going on. Something just isn’t quite right here?
This book was provided to me at my request by NetGalley, and my comments reflect my honest opinion. The book itself is meant to be a fun, quirky read, and it does accomplish that quite well! Like some other reviewers, I was not familiar with this series when I received this reissue and it took some getting used to. But the humor and the crazy situations were typical of why I love reading cozy mysteries. Now that I’m more familiar with this author, I’m going to track down her other books and catch up! I definitely recommend this book. I think the readers will really enjoy it.
As predicted, Ellie’s trip is not the smooth-sailing she had hoped for. Her father shows up, after his absence of many years, with an urn containing the ashes of his lady love, Harriet. He was supposed to give the ashes to her relatives. But the ashes disappear and Ellie gets involved in hunting for them and figuring out what was really going on. Something just isn’t quite right here?
This book was provided to me at my request by NetGalley, and my comments reflect my honest opinion. The book itself is meant to be a fun, quirky read, and it does accomplish that quite well! Like some other reviewers, I was not familiar with this series when I received this reissue and it took some getting used to. But the humor and the crazy situations were typical of why I love reading cozy mysteries. Now that I’m more familiar with this author, I’m going to track down her other books and catch up! I definitely recommend this book. I think the readers will really enjoy it.
September 29, 2017
The Trouble with Harriet is different from many cozy mysteries that start with a crime to immediately draw the reader in. Instead the reader is enticed with more personal events—a chance meeting with a gypsy, a prospective getaway trip to France, and the appearance of a surprise visitor.
Replete with quirky characters displaying a flair for the dramatic, this book reads like a play from the era of Arsenic and Old Lace. I can picture cousin Freddy climbing with little ado through the living room window to make his entrance. Ellie’s father possesses a penchant for the dramatic. The Hoppers, who resemble stacking Russian dolls, are the things comedy is made of. The vicar in his dotage who rarely remembers what he should be doing provides all kinds of interesting possibilities. This book is quite enjoyable and would make an amusing theatrical production, featuring a play within a play.
The mystery develops gently during the course of the book, but with the reader unaware of it. It begins simply, but adds complexity as the book progresses. The Trouble with Harriet is an enjoyable book in an enjoyable series.
I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Random House (Alibi) for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Replete with quirky characters displaying a flair for the dramatic, this book reads like a play from the era of Arsenic and Old Lace. I can picture cousin Freddy climbing with little ado through the living room window to make his entrance. Ellie’s father possesses a penchant for the dramatic. The Hoppers, who resemble stacking Russian dolls, are the things comedy is made of. The vicar in his dotage who rarely remembers what he should be doing provides all kinds of interesting possibilities. This book is quite enjoyable and would make an amusing theatrical production, featuring a play within a play.
The mystery develops gently during the course of the book, but with the reader unaware of it. It begins simply, but adds complexity as the book progresses. The Trouble with Harriet is an enjoyable book in an enjoyable series.
I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Random House (Alibi) for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 22, 2017
Princess Fuzzypants here:
Ellie is at it again. This time her long lost father has returned to her, kaboshing her romantic plans for a getaway with her husband. Her father is carrying with him the ashes of his true love to give to her family in England. He did not know Harriet long but he is totally bereft at her loss. Harriet isn't the only thing to get "lost", The absent minded vicar steals Ellie's car with the urn in it thereby starting a crazy chase to find the missing car and ashes.
But Ellie senses there is something wrong with the story. Too many odd occurrences make it more than coincidence. Nothing and nobody, including Harriet, is quite what they are supposed to be. And you know when Ellie and company get involved in the weird and wonderful, there is going to be lots of wacky humour.
Written not unlike a melodrama that swings into theatre of the absurd, the characters and the books are highly entertaining. Ellie is a down to earth person who bravely attempts to make sense of the craziness that swirls around her. It is great fun for the reader to accompany her.
I give this five purrs and two paws up.
Ellie is at it again. This time her long lost father has returned to her, kaboshing her romantic plans for a getaway with her husband. Her father is carrying with him the ashes of his true love to give to her family in England. He did not know Harriet long but he is totally bereft at her loss. Harriet isn't the only thing to get "lost", The absent minded vicar steals Ellie's car with the urn in it thereby starting a crazy chase to find the missing car and ashes.
But Ellie senses there is something wrong with the story. Too many odd occurrences make it more than coincidence. Nothing and nobody, including Harriet, is quite what they are supposed to be. And you know when Ellie and company get involved in the weird and wonderful, there is going to be lots of wacky humour.
Written not unlike a melodrama that swings into theatre of the absurd, the characters and the books are highly entertaining. Ellie is a down to earth person who bravely attempts to make sense of the craziness that swirls around her. It is great fun for the reader to accompany her.
I give this five purrs and two paws up.
September 23, 2017
Ellie Haskell is back! She is quickly becoming my favorite cozy mystery heroine. And that handsome husband of hers, Hmmm, Hmmm. This story was delightful from beginning to end. Ellie and Ben are supposed to be off to France for a romantic getaway while the kids are with the grandparents. Then, just as they are about to leave, Ellie’s long-lost father shows up on their doorstep, with a broken heart and an urn. Seems he fell in love with Harriet while in Germany and then she died in a car accident. Meanwhile, the new vicar’s wife is putting on a play with Cousin Freddy as its star and objects are disappearing from the house. And who was the doom predicting gypsy?
As usual, the author has gathered up a quirky bunch of characters and the type of happenings that could only take place in an English village. The vicar’s wife is a force of nature but she has to be to keep up with her very absent-minded husband. Not only do we meet Ellie’s father but her kleptomaniac aunt as well. The storyline has something new for the reader on every page but she manages to flawlessly wrap it all up at the end. I highly recommend this book if you like to have some fun along with your mystery.
As usual, the author has gathered up a quirky bunch of characters and the type of happenings that could only take place in an English village. The vicar’s wife is a force of nature but she has to be to keep up with her very absent-minded husband. Not only do we meet Ellie’s father but her kleptomaniac aunt as well. The storyline has something new for the reader on every page but she manages to flawlessly wrap it all up at the end. I highly recommend this book if you like to have some fun along with your mystery.
June 10, 2017
I have managed to read this series backwards. I like the stories and the characters. This is a book that is being re-released.
This book starts out with Ellie and her husband Ben getting ready to go on a vacation in France. Well the day before they leave she meets a gypsy who tells her not to go. Her dad suddenly shows up and turns her family life upside down. He is upset due to the death of Harriet who he fell madly in love for. We slowly learn of the whole story and meet some of her family when they come for the ashes. At one point the ashes disappear. Several people are after the ashes.
A lot was going on in the book so I was not able to guess some of the events. I did guess a couple but I won't say what so that I won't ruin it for others.
It was a nice read. i look forward to reading some of the other books in the series and at the rate I am going completely in the wrong order.
I received this book for free from netgalley to read in exchange for my honest review. The opinions in this review are 100% my own.
This book starts out with Ellie and her husband Ben getting ready to go on a vacation in France. Well the day before they leave she meets a gypsy who tells her not to go. Her dad suddenly shows up and turns her family life upside down. He is upset due to the death of Harriet who he fell madly in love for. We slowly learn of the whole story and meet some of her family when they come for the ashes. At one point the ashes disappear. Several people are after the ashes.
A lot was going on in the book so I was not able to guess some of the events. I did guess a couple but I won't say what so that I won't ruin it for others.
It was a nice read. i look forward to reading some of the other books in the series and at the rate I am going completely in the wrong order.
I received this book for free from netgalley to read in exchange for my honest review. The opinions in this review are 100% my own.
May 12, 2017
In The Trouble with Harriet by cozy mystery author Dorothy Cannell, Ellie Haskell's father arrives in Chitterton Fells just as Ellie and Ben are set to depart on a long overdue vacation. Morley Simons, missing since Ellie's mother passed away many years before, has brought the mortal remains (in an urn) of his beloved Harriet to hand over to her cousins, but through a series of mishaps, is unable to do so. Throughout the story, the vicar is obsessed with St. Ethelwort, his wife is consumed with her play - Murder Most Fowl, and cousin Freddy is busy trying to keep his visiting mother, Ellie's kleptomaniac Aunt Lulu, out of trouble. Very engaging, and once again I was treated to several laugh out loud moments whilst reading Ellie's latest adventure. Nicely written cozy mystery, and I do recommend it to anyone looking for a light cozy. It's part of a series, but can certainly be read as a standalone. A+
May 20, 2017
(Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review an advanced copy of this book)
The Trouble With Harriet is the first book by author Dorothy Cannell I have read. This is in the Ellie Haskell Mystery Series and is easily a stand alone book. The story has a fast pace, many colorful characters, and is a cozy mystery. The story begins with a question, “How’d you like to have your fortune told by a true Gypsy?” This is the question which Ellie hears and starts the mystery which progresses throughout the story. Ellie is skeptical until the old woman follows up with information about Ellie that is personal. I don’t post spoilers about the events in the book, but if it does have some suspense and some of the characters deliver some humor.
And about Harriet…you must read the book to find out…which character is Harriet…or is Harriet even alive???
The Trouble With Harriet is the first book by author Dorothy Cannell I have read. This is in the Ellie Haskell Mystery Series and is easily a stand alone book. The story has a fast pace, many colorful characters, and is a cozy mystery. The story begins with a question, “How’d you like to have your fortune told by a true Gypsy?” This is the question which Ellie hears and starts the mystery which progresses throughout the story. Ellie is skeptical until the old woman follows up with information about Ellie that is personal. I don’t post spoilers about the events in the book, but if it does have some suspense and some of the characters deliver some humor.
And about Harriet…you must read the book to find out…which character is Harriet…or is Harriet even alive???
February 8, 2018
Fun and Games
A bubbling, fun episode in the Ellie Haskell mystery series. The series is highly entertaining not only for the funny, twisted plots, but for Ellie's inciteful, slightly sardonic narration. In this installment, Ellie's father (who can be best described as unique) ,comes to visit bearing the remains of his beloved Harriet to turn over to her relatives. Of course, all is not what it seems, and things quickly become complex and intertwined, so much so that at some points one almost needs a scorecard to keep up. Fastpaced, hysterical scenes pile on top of one another as the plot races to an unthought of, but perfectly logical conclusion. This is a delightful series, and I look forward to reading others.
A bubbling, fun episode in the Ellie Haskell mystery series. The series is highly entertaining not only for the funny, twisted plots, but for Ellie's inciteful, slightly sardonic narration. In this installment, Ellie's father (who can be best described as unique) ,comes to visit bearing the remains of his beloved Harriet to turn over to her relatives. Of course, all is not what it seems, and things quickly become complex and intertwined, so much so that at some points one almost needs a scorecard to keep up. Fastpaced, hysterical scenes pile on top of one another as the plot races to an unthought of, but perfectly logical conclusion. This is a delightful series, and I look forward to reading others.
April 20, 2020
Ellie Haskell's father suddenly reappears in her life, bearing with him an urn containing the ashes of Harriet, the love of his life, or so he says. Ellie had always thought her long-deceased mother was the love of his life, which means she's not too well disposed to Harriet anyway. There are a number of suspicious characters lurking around Ellie's house, even if you omit her kleptomaniac aunt, and many of the neighbors, including household help Mrs. Malloy, are involved in the play that's being put on by the new vicar's energetic wife--she wrote it herself. Harriet's three cousins appear to collect the urn, only to find that it's mysteriously missing. And that's only the start of Ellie's problems.
June 10, 2018
A humorous mystery!
Ellie Haskell and her quirky family are at it again with a puzzling story this time. If you can keep all the characters straight, this is a laughable story, although it is all a bit too far-fetched. Ben, Ellie’s husband is a bit too perfect to believe...he puts up with crazy situations, all while being a perfect host, husband and chef extraordinaire. I have enjoyed the Ellie Haskell series, they are funny in spite of the drama, but found myself speed reading to get through some of draggy spots in this book.
Ellie Haskell and her quirky family are at it again with a puzzling story this time. If you can keep all the characters straight, this is a laughable story, although it is all a bit too far-fetched. Ben, Ellie’s husband is a bit too perfect to believe...he puts up with crazy situations, all while being a perfect host, husband and chef extraordinaire. I have enjoyed the Ellie Haskell series, they are funny in spite of the drama, but found myself speed reading to get through some of draggy spots in this book.
December 23, 2024
This is my second foray into this series and it finally clicked that it’s primarily comedy, and only secondarily cozy mystery. Alas, the style of comedy doesn’t align with my sense of humor, so while I appreciate the whimsical characters in the British small town setting, and the mysteries are quirky and fun, the stories drag for me because I find the long interludes between action boring rather than funny. Readers whose sense of humor matches the author’s style will no doubt love these books, though, as they are well-written.
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