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Camilla MacPhee #5
The Dead Don't Get Out Much
Remembrance Day is a proud day for Camilla MacPhee's good friend, Mrs. Violet Parnell, one of five thousand Canadian women to go overseas during World War II. But the next day she has vanished. Camilla, with only a few letters and documents to guide her, follows her friend to Tuscany, chasing though historic towns, across high promontories and along steep mountain roads. Vanishing old partisans and Allied aircraft crash sites keep Camilla hopping as she tries to find Mrs. P. before someone with a deadly serious reason to keep the past hidden finds her first. The fifth Camilla MacPhee takes the irascible Ottawa lawyer's adventures to an exotic new locale, with the usual murderous results.
344 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2005
1 person is currently reading
109 people want to read
About the author
Mary Jane Maffini
31 books163 followersAka Victoria Abbott with her daughter Victoria Maffini.
Mary Jane Maffini was born in Sydney, Nova Scotia, and has her BA (Hons) and MLS from Dalhousie University. After a career in libraries such as The Brewers' Association of Canada, Statistics Canada, the Canada Institute for Scientific and Technical Information, and a wonderful ride as a co-owner of Prime Crime Mystery Bookstore, she has settled into a life of crime, surrounded by her two miniature dachshunds, the ghost of her beloved Corgoid Smudge, and her long-suffering husband. She's a former President of Crime Writers of Canada, and a former member of the board of directors of the Canadian Booksellers Association. She's a frequent speaker on writing mysteries and on the importance of Canadian crime fiction. In real life, although she is a member of the Ladies' Killing Circle, she has never killed anyone.
Mary Jane Maffini was born in Sydney, Nova Scotia, and has her BA (Hons) and MLS from Dalhousie University. After a career in libraries such as The Brewers' Association of Canada, Statistics Canada, the Canada Institute for Scientific and Technical Information, and a wonderful ride as a co-owner of Prime Crime Mystery Bookstore, she has settled into a life of crime, surrounded by her two miniature dachshunds, the ghost of her beloved Corgoid Smudge, and her long-suffering husband. She's a former President of Crime Writers of Canada, and a former member of the board of directors of the Canadian Booksellers Association. She's a frequent speaker on writing mysteries and on the importance of Canadian crime fiction. In real life, although she is a member of the Ladies' Killing Circle, she has never killed anyone.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 18, 2023
I didn't enjoy this one much. It wasn't awful, just really quite boring. Hard to stay interested in it. I think even though I like Camilla, the fact that this one took place in another country and really mostly just featured her was the problem. Even though she is a good character, I also enjoy the rest of the cast: Alvin, Violet, her sisters, and all the rest of her friends and foes. In this book, any interaction she had with the usual supporting characters took place over phone calls and it just wasn't enough to keep me entertained. I'm glad these are short enough that it wasn't that big of a deal to just plow through it, but this is far and away the weakest of the series (so far).
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August 21, 2020Finished on the plan home from Ottawa.
April 22, 2021
Good plot.
September 29, 2022
The dead may not get out much, but the elderly sure do get around in this, the 5th book in the Camilla MacPhee mystery series by Canadian author, Mary Jane Maffini. After marching in Canada’s annual Remembrance Day parade, Camilla’s friend, Violet Parnell (Mrs. P) starts behaving strangely. She’s obviously been traumatized, though it’s not clear by what. When Camilla and Alvin (Camilla’s quirky assistant) confront Mrs. P, she seems nearly catatonic. After mumbling something about seeing a dead man, she loses consciousness. Mrs. P’s stay at a hospital is short-lived; she goes AWOL and it’s up to Camilla and Alvin to figure out where she’s gone and why.
When Camilla and Alvin go to Mrs. P’s apartment, they discover it’s been ransacked and they both fear that Mrs. P may be in terrible danger. Other evidence indicates that Mrs. P’s hasty departure relates to events that happened during World War II. Some notes near her phone point to Italy as her destination, so Camilla follows her friend to Tuscany. In her wake, Camilla leaves a cranky Alvin to hold down the fort.
In the land of Chianti and cappuccino, Camilla’s inquiries elicit a mixture of sympathy, bewilderment, and some questionable leads. In addition, the language barrier proves problematic at times and she’s never sure whom to trust. And although black Mercedes appear to be plentiful in Italy, why does she get the feeling that one of them is on her trail? Adding to Camilla’s frustration and feelings of incompetence, when she does corners the feisty octogenarian, Mrs. P manages to give her the slip. Why is her usually kindhearted friend acting like a stranger and rebuffing all of Camilla’s attempts to help her?
Camilla eventually figures out what old photos, aging partisans and a long-ago plane crash have to do with Mrs. P’s disappearance. The denouement is a flashy mix of flames and firearms. THE DEAD DON’T GET OUT MUCH is a frothy read best served with a crunchy biscotti and a cup of your favorite espresso drink.
When Camilla and Alvin go to Mrs. P’s apartment, they discover it’s been ransacked and they both fear that Mrs. P may be in terrible danger. Other evidence indicates that Mrs. P’s hasty departure relates to events that happened during World War II. Some notes near her phone point to Italy as her destination, so Camilla follows her friend to Tuscany. In her wake, Camilla leaves a cranky Alvin to hold down the fort.
In the land of Chianti and cappuccino, Camilla’s inquiries elicit a mixture of sympathy, bewilderment, and some questionable leads. In addition, the language barrier proves problematic at times and she’s never sure whom to trust. And although black Mercedes appear to be plentiful in Italy, why does she get the feeling that one of them is on her trail? Adding to Camilla’s frustration and feelings of incompetence, when she does corners the feisty octogenarian, Mrs. P manages to give her the slip. Why is her usually kindhearted friend acting like a stranger and rebuffing all of Camilla’s attempts to help her?
Camilla eventually figures out what old photos, aging partisans and a long-ago plane crash have to do with Mrs. P’s disappearance. The denouement is a flashy mix of flames and firearms. THE DEAD DON’T GET OUT MUCH is a frothy read best served with a crunchy biscotti and a cup of your favorite espresso drink.
July 17, 2014
Grappa for Everyone!!!, November 20, 2012
By Ellen Rappaport (Florida)
This review is from: The Dead Don't Get Out Much: A Camilla MacPhee Mystery (Paperback)
"The Dead Don't Get Out Much" was a non-stop adventure and in Italy no less.
The story begins with Mrs. Parnell participating in Canada's Remembrance Day parade. A proud day for this CWAC.
Mrs. P's memories of WWII are reawakened in a bewildering instant when she believes to have seen a dead comrade.
Mrs. P goes into a dead faint and is hospitalized until...she goes missing. Camilla questions Dr. Hasheem about her disappearance. Unfortunately, the Doctor has no answers and no one on duty at the hospital witnessed Mrs. P's flight from needed observation.
Camilla with Alvin's assistance starts to piece together the moments leading up to Mrs. Parnell's disappearance. They begin by reading through old letters in a box kept by Mrs. Parnell. Letters from friends telling a story of her past during the war. A past neither Camilla nor Alvin had ever been told about. The question remains why she left in such a hurry and where was she going.
Violets' computer has another shock Camilla and Alvin find although most of Violets' files had been erased. A ticket to Italy had been purchased and Mrs. Parnell is on her way to Italy. Camilla is packed and ready to go and follow her friend ...and this is where the adventure begins.
And what an adventure it was! All over the beautiful and historic towns in Italy, trying to speak to the citizens although limited in Italian and finding a dead end at each turn in her search.
I could not put this book down. It was much more than another page turner for me. The details in Camilla's search and the reality of the Italian landscape brought this thrilling mystery to life.
Loved it and absolutely recommend it to all cozy lovers. Fabulous read!
By Ellen Rappaport (Florida)
This review is from: The Dead Don't Get Out Much: A Camilla MacPhee Mystery (Paperback)
"The Dead Don't Get Out Much" was a non-stop adventure and in Italy no less.
The story begins with Mrs. Parnell participating in Canada's Remembrance Day parade. A proud day for this CWAC.
Mrs. P's memories of WWII are reawakened in a bewildering instant when she believes to have seen a dead comrade.
Mrs. P goes into a dead faint and is hospitalized until...she goes missing. Camilla questions Dr. Hasheem about her disappearance. Unfortunately, the Doctor has no answers and no one on duty at the hospital witnessed Mrs. P's flight from needed observation.
Camilla with Alvin's assistance starts to piece together the moments leading up to Mrs. Parnell's disappearance. They begin by reading through old letters in a box kept by Mrs. Parnell. Letters from friends telling a story of her past during the war. A past neither Camilla nor Alvin had ever been told about. The question remains why she left in such a hurry and where was she going.
Violets' computer has another shock Camilla and Alvin find although most of Violets' files had been erased. A ticket to Italy had been purchased and Mrs. Parnell is on her way to Italy. Camilla is packed and ready to go and follow her friend ...and this is where the adventure begins.
And what an adventure it was! All over the beautiful and historic towns in Italy, trying to speak to the citizens although limited in Italian and finding a dead end at each turn in her search.
I could not put this book down. It was much more than another page turner for me. The details in Camilla's search and the reality of the Italian landscape brought this thrilling mystery to life.
Loved it and absolutely recommend it to all cozy lovers. Fabulous read!
August 27, 2010
As readers of my loosely described reviews are aware, I simply adore Ms. Maffini's series set in Canada and imbued with humor.
This book did not disappoint nor was it in any way predictable. This book is a mystery in the finest tradition with a sleuth that is slightly abrasive but I would love to befriend.
This episode takes place in Canada and Italy. It was a minor travel guide as well as one heck of an accurate portrayal of WWII and the military who served our countries so well.
I would be proud to stand beside Mrs. P. and Camilla the next Remembrance Day!
This book did not disappoint nor was it in any way predictable. This book is a mystery in the finest tradition with a sleuth that is slightly abrasive but I would love to befriend.
This episode takes place in Canada and Italy. It was a minor travel guide as well as one heck of an accurate portrayal of WWII and the military who served our countries so well.
I would be proud to stand beside Mrs. P. and Camilla the next Remembrance Day!
July 4, 2012
This fifth book in the Camilla MacPhee series takes us from Ottawa to Italy where Camilla is tracking Mrs. P. down around the country.
It was a fun lively story with an interesting ending ... I didn't see it coming.
There were lots and lots of characters and towards the end, I had a hard time keeping them straight. I should have done what Camilla did and written them down.
As with Maffini's other books, this one has typos ... surprising considering Maffini is a former librarian.
It was a fun lively story with an interesting ending ... I didn't see it coming.
There were lots and lots of characters and towards the end, I had a hard time keeping them straight. I should have done what Camilla did and written them down.
As with Maffini's other books, this one has typos ... surprising considering Maffini is a former librarian.
January 24, 2009
Hilarious book well written and good plot. The Evanovich of canada is a very apt description of maffini's writing style. I will try to find other books by this author.
June 15, 2014
oh Camilla MacPhee, what a friend you are!!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews