Sold to Miss Seeton

Miss Seeton #19

by Hamilton Crane (Pseudonym)

Purchasing a beautifully carved and sealed oak trunk at an auction, Miss Seeton is unaware that the trunk's stolen contents are more valuable than the trunk itself, and that someone is willing to kill to get them.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy, Cozy Mystery, Detective, Crime, Fiction, British Literature

261 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1995

About the author

Hamilton Crane is the pseudonym adopted by Sarah J. Mason when she was invited to continue the Miss Seeton series originally created by Heron Carvic, who died in 1980. “Hamilton” after her hall of residence at St Andrews University (the big red building behind the 18th green on the Old Course) and “Crane” to continue the bird theme – a crane has a similar form to a heron.

Series:
* Miss Seeton

Reviews

[Andrea]

The Crane version of this author tends to rush the endings, I think, but it's still pleasant enough reading. I am increasingly inclined to skip the Nuttell/Blaine/village gossip sections, however, especially as they add very little to the story, and seem to be there only because the author feels obligated to include them.

[Elaine Tomasso · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank Netgalley and Farrago for an advance copy of Sold To Miss Seeton, the 19th novel in Heron Carvic's series and the 11th to be written by Sarah J. Mason using the pseudonym Hamilton Crane.

It is all quiet in Plummergen with New Year rains keeping everyone frustrated and cooped up indoors. By way of distraction Lady Colveden invites Miss Seeton to an auction where she inadvertently buys an old locked box. In the meantime Superintendent Brinton of Ashford police is trying to solve the murder of an eccentric scientist and Chief Superintendent Delphick is trying to find an absconded prisoner and deal with the subsequent gang warfare.

Sold To Miss Seeton is quite a subdued novel with plenty of scene setting and little real action until the last third of the novel. Miss Seeton's drawings, so essential to the early novels, are like a deus ex machina in this novel - they are drawn, Delphick interprets them immediately and the case is solved. I thought it was disappointing.

I think anyone new to the series would still enjoy the charm of this novel but it is not one of the best in the series.

[Betty · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Miss Seeton books were written around the 1970s. Heron Carvic was the originator and were written by different authors. You can recognize these authors as they all have slightly different methods of writing. When I first read them I would buy a book as soon as I found it. I now find some of the books do not flow freely and it is possible to get mixed up. They being released as e-books. I have enjoyed my visits with my these friends. In the 28th book, Miss Seeton attends an auction and buys a large trunk. The efforts of trying to open the trunk and its contents are fascinating. At the same time, the local police have a couple of murders to solve. Unable to understand Miss Seeton's drawings when she purchased of the trunk, the Oracle is called to interpret them. These subplots are brought together for the story. I recommend this series.

Disclosure: I received a free copy from Prelude Books 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.

[Gail Gassen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Auctions & mystery

Another delightful book! Miss Sexton's first time to an auction, asked by Lady Cloveden, was a thrill for her. So many amazing items that had once belonged to families, was both sad, & exciting to see. Plus what she came home with was even more mysterious. Also there's several murders, & a prison break, that has both Superintendent Brenten, Sargent Foxon, Chief Super Delphick, & Sargent Ranger, deep in investigations. Somehow it becomes all inter twined with Miss S. I love all of these fun & mysterious books of Miss S. The characters are written so good I would expect too be able to go look them up in the little village of Plummergen! This book tho was such a fun one with Miss S herself investigating on her own. The last few books I've read tho seem to be out of order. This book should be after Miss Seeton Stars, which should be the last book where they calibrate Christmas & the Pantomime. I hope that helps. I hope that all who reads this series finds them as funny & enjoyable as I have so Enjoy your read!

[Roberta · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fair to middling mystery. Maybe 2 & 1/2 stars.

The reader must get through the first three chapters without knowing why they are included in the book. After that Miss Seeton attends an auction where she waves her umbrella in the air and accidentally buys an old locked box. The box is eventually opened and Miss Seaton starts to research the contents. The sale of the box has set off a series of events that results in murder and ties into cases that are being investigated locally by Superintendent Brinton all the way up to Chief Superintendent Delphick of Scotland Yard.

While Brinton attributes Miss Seeton's uncanny ability to provide vital clues to psychic ability, except for the incident of a man walking in her house and surprising her housekeeper, Miss Seeton doesn't seem to understand that crimes are being committed. She is constantly embarrassed and confused. Mr. Magoo had myopia, Miss Seaton seems to have senile dementia. I read a couple of Miss Seeton mysteries years ago and remembered them as being much better than this one. It's OK read for a rainy day.

[Vanessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mid - level Miss Seeton mystery that starts off quite strongly (the first three chapters are a very good time) and then just kind of meanders around for a while. This one's a bit shaggy really. Anyway, it's mercifully light on The Nuts, my least favorite characters, so that's a plus!

I received an ecopy from the publishers and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Merrilee Gibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Miss Seeton story starts, unusually, in a prison; the first chapter ends with a cleverly engineered prison break. All right, but what does all this have to do with our Miss Seeton?

We shall see, in the fullness of time. We are finally past Christmas, where the last couple of books have been set, and now into the New Year, which is proving to be a very wet one. Miss Seeton and her good friend Lady Calvedon, unable to tend to their gardens, look for something to do while they wait. The answer is, of course, go shopping!

Well, actually, go auctioneering. Lady Calvedon is looking for a new barometer to replace the one broken by her irate spouse, while Miss Seeton seeks a new blue chapeau to go with her sleek new blue umbrella.

As ever, it seems, when Miss Seeton is involved, things do not go as planned. Miss Seeton blames her fanciful mood and visions of lost riches on The Treasure of Sierra Madre, which she had viewed the previous night. How else to explain her inexplicable urge to splurge on a mysterious locked box of exotic appearance at the auction?

This is another skillfully-constructed and appealing story, featuring Miss Seeton and her friends, including Scotland Yard, and of course the villagers of Plummergan. The intrigue mounts slowly, and the imaginative details are splendid. Another entertaining read!

My thanks to author, publisher, and NetGAlley for providing an advance copy to read and review.

[Lisa Schulz · Rating 5 out of 5]

So enjoyable to read

I'm enjoying my reading of the series of Miss Seeton stories, as continued on by Hamilton Crane. I appreciate her writing of the Miss Seeton adventures, even though Miss Seeton wouldn't realize them as adventures.

[L Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such Fun

This series is such fun. This particular episode is entertaining, but a little strange in the way everything comes out.

[Wendy Theriault · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my favorite Miss Seeton books so far. Full of mystery, whimsy, fun and a pinch of danger.

[Eileen Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's New Year in Plummergen. It's raining and Miss Seeton is bored.
She visits an auction house, bids and wins an intriguing old wooden chest.
Then her troubles begin!
Miss Seeton is Miss Marple lite, but the stories are great fun!
Very highly recommended.
I was given a digital copy of this book by the publisher Farrago via Netgalley in return for an honest unbiased review.

[DelAnne Frazee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: Sold to Miss Seeton- Miss Seeton Mystery Book 19
Author: Hamilton Crane & Heron Carvic
Published: 1-12-2017
Publisher: Farrago
Pages: 233
Genre:Mystery, Thrillers & Suspense
Sub Genre: British Cozy Mystery; Amateur Sleuths; Humor; Hobbies & Crafts
ISBN: 13: 9781911440086
ASIN: B01N7KI3HX
Reviewer: DelAnne
Reviewed For: NetGalley
Rating: 4.5 Stars



I received a copy of "Sold to Miss Seeton" from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.


Description

It isn’t quite 40 days and 40 nights, but the relentless downpour has been blighting the village of Plummergen for over a fortnight, keeping everyone indoors.


Even the ever resourceful Miss Seeton is beginning to experience cabin fever, when her old friend Lady Colveden proposes a welcome shopping expedition, taking in the local auctioneers. Miss S is well aware of the dangers of making any sudden moves at an auction, so how is it that this quiet ex-art teacher becomes the possessor of an ancient padlocked chest, that speaks thrillingly of long-lost treasure?


The mysterious box and its contents will not only lead her to discover a forgotten noble lady – but also a ruthless killer.


Serene amidst every kind of skullduggery, this eccentric English spinster steps in where Scotland Yard stumbles, armed with nothing more than her sketchpad and umbrella!

My Review of "Sold to Miss Seeton"

Filled with much loved characters set in the small village of Plummergen this is a typical British cozy. Using humor as threatht holds it all together, "Sold to Miss Seeton" is a well thought out story filled with twist and turns and much known feeling of cabin fever so that readers empathize with Miss Seeton and the other residents. The mystery surrounds an antique chest that some are willing to kill to possess. Miss Seeton with her usual aplumb rings the villains to justice all while keeping her British cool.


There are so few of the original books available for re-release. I hope Sarah J Mason has some up her sleeve for when they run out. I have come to love this series and do not want to see it end.


My rating for "Sold to Miss Seeton" is 4.5 out 5 stars.





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[Elissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The wrapup of the mysteries held in Miss Seeton's drawing room is well within traditional genre boundaries; the tangled threads thus unraveled, however, defy the cleverest of us to have drawn the conclusions from the clues offered to any but Scotland Yard's computer at the beck and call of The Oracle. While I enjoyed fully the deft interweaving of items in Miss Seeton's drawings with "recent" history (World War II's aftermath was still being felt strongly in Britain when this tale was written) I concluded that even devotees of Jack Crabbe's puzzles could not have pulled this one of of their hats.

Now if you've never read one of the Miss Seeton series of cozy murder mysteries (cosy for our British bretheren, as this is one of their delightful sleuths), much of what I said above makes no sense. And you certainly don't need to have read any to follow the story in this book as each is most carefully set up with appropriate background so it can stand alone. Of course, having gone through the group almost in order (there are some numbering issues IMHO) I can further enjoy some of the subtle byplays among characters near and dear. Outside of the resolution this is a delightful romp (and if you figure it out before the end, I expect you to drop me a note bragging of your expertise!) and fun escape.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Miss Seeton accidentally buys a locked trunk at an auction. Repeated efforts to get it open finally succeed, and Miss Seeton begins a conscientious effort to find the family to whom (she considers) the regalia really belongs. In the meantime, she begins to be bothered by burglers, and she can't think why.

Especially recommended for people who get a good laugh from funny wording. For me that outweighed the radical, completely unheralded change of direction required to explain all the criminal mayhem.

[Bonnye Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

GNAB I received a free electronic copy of this novel from Netgalley, Hamilton Crane, and Farrango in exchange for an honest review. Thank you all, for sharing your work with me!

This novel, based on a character created by Heron Carvic, was originally published October 1st 1995 by Berkley Hardcover. Hamilton Crane has MissEss true to form in this fast read. If you love her, you will not be disappointed by Sold to Miss Seeton. This ending came as a surprise - Thanks, S. J. Mason and Farrango, for bringing life back to an old favorite.

pub date Jan 12, 2017
Farrango

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

The wonderful Miss Seeton is one of my favorite series. In this installment, she goes to an auction and, as usual, mistakenly bids and wins an old wooden chest. She finds old papers, robes and a coronet (crown) inside but then the bodies begin to pile up. In her easy going, slightly bumbling style, Miss Seeton soon has the whole situation under control. This is a wonderful and easy to read series.

[Joyce · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 and ½ stars

It seems like it has been raining in the village of Plummergen forever. As a diversion, Ms. Seeton goes to an auction. She gets a mysterious trunk. At the same time, there is a murderer running around the village.

These are delightful books, a sure fire enjoyable read on a rainy (no pun intended) afternoon. I like British cozy mysteries, and this book is right there with them.

Thank you to Netgalley and Prelude Books for forwarding me a copy of this book to read.

[Karina · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good story, an English village, colorful villagers, a Miss Marple type of heroine, a cosy atmosphere...it has it all and yet, the overall impression is a bit confusing, a bit messy. It reads as if the story isn't ready yet, as if it still needs some good editing....

[Shanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

What mess will Miss Seeton get into next with her brolly? What's in the box, murder and mayham abound in this book!