The Cambridge Plot

Rosie Gilchrist #5

by Suzette A. Hill

Rosy Gilchrist and her hesitant sidekicks, Felix Smythe and Professor Cedric Dillworthy, are visiting Rosy to attend a Newnham reunion, and Felix and Cedric to attend preparations for the unveiling of a statue of the latter’s old tutor. But plans for the statue are far from set in stone, and the meddling Gloria Biggs-Boothby is determined to see it created by another artist. It’s inconvenient, then, when he turns up dead…


As Rosy and her associates become increasingly embroiled in events, they face a number of teasing is the deaf and frail Emeritus Prof. Aldous Phipps quite as benign as he seems? Is the Bursar a secret misogynist with a rooted aversion to large women (e.g. to Gloria)? And who is the unwitting husband that Dr John Smithers is so busy cuckolding?

288 pages, Hardcover

Published July 19, 2018

About the author

Suzette A. Hill was born in Eastbourne, Sussex, in 1941. She is a graduate of Nottingham and Newcastle-upon-Tyne Universities. Hill taught English literature all her professional life. At age sixty-four and retired, she tried her hand at a short story - just to see what writing fiction felt like, and to her surprise a quintet of humorous novels (Reverend Francis Oughterard series) was the result.

Reviews

[Rose A · Rating 3 out of 5]

An undemanding easy read (which was just what I was looking for) but not my favourite from the series. People were far too inclined to confess - it didn’t seem plausible. Cedric and Felix remain excellent.

[Trevor Smith · Rating 1 out of 5]

I should have put it down. Every character sounded the same. I could not tell you with any certainty who the protagonist was. The only redeeming quality was an occasional mention of Cambridge monuments or establishments that brought back happy memories for me.

[David Grieve · Rating 4 out of 5]

A witty and enjoyable murder mystery that pokes fun at a number of 1960s middle class stereotypes as it goes along. Felix and Cedric make a great double act, albeit they are caricatures, and Rosy Gilchrist ends up playing second fiddle to them. The plot is fairly simple and takes a while to get going and, as with the characters, everything is slightly blown out of proportion and unlikely. Providing you are willing to suspend disbelieve you should enoy it.

[Claudouse Montrec · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not something special but rather an easy and pleasant read. I wanted to read a story set in Cambridge to revive my good memories of the city and I'd say it quite paid off. I'd appreciate it if anyone had to suggest any other interesting novels taking place in Cambridge. It's my favourite place in England.

[Daniel Kukwa · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a neat little package of wit that pokes fun at stuffy British-ness in the 1960s, but the pace is glacial; it felt like it was taking an inordinately long time to read such a short book. Ironically, once the murders begin, it actually becomes a less interesting book. The novel is worth it for the double act of Cedric & Felix...they deserve a series of novels all to themselves.

[Dawn Tyers · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the third in a series I think and maybe I’d have enjoyed it more if it wasn’t the first I’d read. It took a long time to get going and the characters seemed a little flimsily drawn, so much so that none of them seemed prime. On the plus side it was quite humorous in places and Cambridge was vividly described. Doubt I will read further instalments.

[Helen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sorry, not one I'd recommend. I thought it would be about the way the 3 main characters suss out a crime, but they are almost completely incidental to what's discovered. A few too many far-fetched co-incidences.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my, I love love love these books! So pithy and quick! Love the settings and the characters are fun, no other way to put it! Can't wait for the next book!!!

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF

[Cindy Norris · Rating 2 out of 5]

Blegh, the cover was more interesting than the book.

[Sheila · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not for me. Supercilious characters and no real plot line. Just couldn’t get into it.

[Renita D'Silva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun