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Dorothy Martin #16
The Gentle Art of Murder
A Crash Course in Murder
One late-summer evening, Dorothy Martin and her husband, retired chief constable Alan Nesbitt, are guests at Sherebury University’s party to introduce the new teaching assistant, sculptress Gillian Roberts. However, when the lift breaks down during a tour of the sculpture department, a corpse is discovered. John Chandler, head of the art department, was stabbed in the back with a chisel and thrown down the lift shaft.
Dorothy and Alan become involved in the ensuing investigation. Alan reaches out to his police contacts while Dorothy puts her sleuthing skills to good use by interviewing the locals. But when another member of the art faculty goes missing and Gillian receives threatening phone calls, it seems the killer still has something to hide and may very well strike again…
One late-summer evening, Dorothy Martin and her husband, retired chief constable Alan Nesbitt, are guests at Sherebury University’s party to introduce the new teaching assistant, sculptress Gillian Roberts. However, when the lift breaks down during a tour of the sculpture department, a corpse is discovered. John Chandler, head of the art department, was stabbed in the back with a chisel and thrown down the lift shaft.
Dorothy and Alan become involved in the ensuing investigation. Alan reaches out to his police contacts while Dorothy puts her sleuthing skills to good use by interviewing the locals. But when another member of the art faculty goes missing and Gillian receives threatening phone calls, it seems the killer still has something to hide and may very well strike again…
296 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2015
291 people are currently reading
271 people want to read
About the author
Jeanne M. Dams
46 books217 followersJeanne M. Dams lives in South Bend, Indiana. The Body in the Transept, which introduced Dorothy Martin, won the Agatha Award for Best First Novel. Dams is also the author of Green Grow the Victims and other Hilda Johansson mysteries published by Walker & Company.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
December 13, 2021
Sherebury, England. Present day. Jeanne M Dams’ The Gentle Art of Murder (Dorothy Martin, #16) finds ex-pat Dorothy Martin and her British husband, retired police detective, Alan Nesbitt checking into crimes, even a possible murder, at their hometown Sherebury University art department. Enter: corpse located “at the bottom of lift shaft.” Dorothy and Alan employ their ‘sleuthing skills’ and their hometown knowledge to assist the local law officials as the crimes continue tied only to the art department. I felt that this mystery is solved with much discussion, personal viewpoints versus actual investigation. It seemed tedious to me. There is one part where Dorothy gets sick with flu-type symptoms, and this part served no purpose to me regarding solving this local mystery unless I completely missed the point which I do not believe I did. It reminded me when my teacher would write ‘rambling’ or ‘unnecessary’ on my paper. I do enjoy this series, but this was, obviously, not a favorite of mine. 3.5 stars.
August 9, 2015
One of my favorite series. The only thing stopping me from giving 5 stars is the rather hurried conclusion of the book with an inadequate (to me) explanation of how a certain event came about. I actually went back to re-read the last three pages in the back just in case I'd missed it. Here's to #17!
August 1, 2015
The Gentle Art of Murder by Jeanne M. Dams.
There's a party at the Sherebury University in the Art Dept. to which Dorothy and Alan have been invited. Gillian Roberts is being introduced as the new teaching assistant in the sculpting dept.
Dorothy soon finds that all is not a bed of roses in the university due to some ill feelings towards John Chandler Dept. head. It seems there are going to be major cut backs that will put difficult limits on all the art depts.
During a tour Dorothy finds herself in an elevator stuck between floors which brings on her claustrophobia almost causing her to panic. Soon, but not soon enough for Dorothy, they are rescued from their enclosure to find a body at the bottom of the elevator shaft. And so Dorothy and Alan ,retired Police chief, find themselves involved in another baffling murder case.
An excellent addition to a wonderful series. True to life characters and family life situations.
There's a party at the Sherebury University in the Art Dept. to which Dorothy and Alan have been invited. Gillian Roberts is being introduced as the new teaching assistant in the sculpting dept.
Dorothy soon finds that all is not a bed of roses in the university due to some ill feelings towards John Chandler Dept. head. It seems there are going to be major cut backs that will put difficult limits on all the art depts.
During a tour Dorothy finds herself in an elevator stuck between floors which brings on her claustrophobia almost causing her to panic. Soon, but not soon enough for Dorothy, they are rescued from their enclosure to find a body at the bottom of the elevator shaft. And so Dorothy and Alan ,retired Police chief, find themselves involved in another baffling murder case.
An excellent addition to a wonderful series. True to life characters and family life situations.
February 17, 2024
"A CRASH COURSE IN MURDER"
"One late-summer evening, Dorothy Martin and her husband, retired chief constable Alan Nesbitt, are guests at Sherebury University's party to introduce the new teaching assistant, sculptress Gillian Roberts. However, when the lift breaks down during a tour of the sculpture department, a corpse is discovered. John Chandler, head of the art department, was stabbed in the back with a chisel and thrown down the lift shaft.
"Dorothy and Alan become involved in the ensuing investigation. Alan reaches out to his police contacts while Dorothy puts her sleuthing skills to good use by interviewing the locals. But when another member of the art faculty goes missing and Gillian receives threatening phone calls, it seems the killer still has something to hide and may very well strike again ..."
~~back cover
Another charming cozy English mystery. This one, of course, has it's own particular twists and turns, and once again ... I didn't see the ending coming. A very unique plot, centering around a truly depraved character.
"One late-summer evening, Dorothy Martin and her husband, retired chief constable Alan Nesbitt, are guests at Sherebury University's party to introduce the new teaching assistant, sculptress Gillian Roberts. However, when the lift breaks down during a tour of the sculpture department, a corpse is discovered. John Chandler, head of the art department, was stabbed in the back with a chisel and thrown down the lift shaft.
"Dorothy and Alan become involved in the ensuing investigation. Alan reaches out to his police contacts while Dorothy puts her sleuthing skills to good use by interviewing the locals. But when another member of the art faculty goes missing and Gillian receives threatening phone calls, it seems the killer still has something to hide and may very well strike again ..."
~~back cover
Another charming cozy English mystery. This one, of course, has it's own particular twists and turns, and once again ... I didn't see the ending coming. A very unique plot, centering around a truly depraved character.
January 9, 2022
There are times when I really enjoy a book in this series but give it 4 stars because I feel the solution comes too suddenly in the end if you know what I mean. I can't say that about The Gentle Art of Murder as the ending was really so logical and the bit in the plot I queried had a rational explanation a couple of pages later.
Jeanne always finds slightly different settings for her tales although nearly always set in or around the same geographical area but her explanations and descriptions bring everything to life so well that you don't get tired of the similarities which are there. Her backgrounds are always relevant and integral to the story and the time she spends in research of so many different subjects is obvious.
This book is set in an artistic background where resources have been cut to the bone and the head of faculty is found dead at the bottom of a lift shaft. There are reasons why anyone of the current not to mention former staff could have been to blame since he was obnoxious to everyone he dealt with. An added mystery is the time of death as it indicates that he had been missing for several weeks first. All is not as it seems however.
Jeanne always finds slightly different settings for her tales although nearly always set in or around the same geographical area but her explanations and descriptions bring everything to life so well that you don't get tired of the similarities which are there. Her backgrounds are always relevant and integral to the story and the time she spends in research of so many different subjects is obvious.
This book is set in an artistic background where resources have been cut to the bone and the head of faculty is found dead at the bottom of a lift shaft. There are reasons why anyone of the current not to mention former staff could have been to blame since he was obnoxious to everyone he dealt with. An added mystery is the time of death as it indicates that he had been missing for several weeks first. All is not as it seems however.
August 16, 2022
5/5 this book was phenomenal. Absolutely had no idea where it was going to turn when events would be taken care of. Audibly gasped several times I loved how realistic it was. No crazy batshit happened like in some murder mysteries do. But this was something that would legitimately happen.
June 20, 2019
Fun story line. A bit dry, but it was a good English mystery
Read
November 30, 2018Miniseries: A Dorothy Martin Mystery
May 29, 2019
I love the Dorothy Martin mysteries! This read did not disappoint!
August 31, 2015
Like any business, universities must make money to survive, and departments that bring in the most money are favored above those which don’t. Even worse are departments that themselves need money to maintain their standards. Such is the case in the art department at Sherebury University. Declaring that funding to some of the programs would be cut and suggesting that they make do with inferior supplies did not win any accolades for the department head. But still, a new person was added to the staff. As guests at a party to welcome this new member, Dorothy and her husband Alan find more than nibbles and drinks at the affair: a body is discovered at the bottom of the lift shaft. Off on another sleuthing adventure, this one is full of twists and turns along the way before things are finally sorted out. With the delightful characters we have come to know and love in this series, this mystery is highly entertaining, even if a few ends are left dangling. Suffice it so say that truth will out and crime does not pay.
July 4, 2016
Not very good at all, in my opinion. A poor person's Agatha Christie. As well as suffering from lacklustre plotting, dull characterisation and plodding prose, I have difficulty with writing that can't get even clichés correct: 'just deserts' instead of 'just desserts'. Wouldn't bother with it or anything else by this author.
July 17, 2015
I have enjoyed her other mysteries much more. The author left holes in the conclusion of the mystery. She never explains how a certain event could have happened.
May 9, 2021
I really enjoyed this book, but I missed who attacked Braithwaite.
May 22, 2021
I love reading anything by Jeanne Dams and this book was no exception. It is so hard to put them aside when life tells me I must preform some of my obligatory tasks.
And as usual, there is wonderful prose that I don't want to forget.
This time Dorothy and Alan are there when the body of the head of the fine arts department at a college is found at the bottom of an elevator shaft. As he was slashing the budgets of each department, he was VERY unpopular and there are any number of people who might want to murder him. They take under their wing a TA who is in danger and shortly after another instructor disappears. Fortunately, they have contacts in many various areas who are able to help them shed light on parts of the puzzle.
There is only one problem with the story and I don't want to give away any spoilers. But one of the attacks on people in the book is never fully explained. I can speculate, but can't know for certain.
That being said, another winner of a book. At some point I need to make a list of all Ms. Dams's Dorothy Martin Mysteries and check off what I have read and what I haven't as I need to find all the rest.
Two passages from this book that I found worth recording as I believe them but could never state so beautifully:
There is no music at the early Eucharist. I love our superb choir, but there are times of simple solemnity of the lovely old Book of Common Prayer is exactly what I need. Then, too, there is profound peace in a place where God has been worshipped for centuries. Whatever cares and woes have been brought to this place in the past hundreds of years are cured now, their sufferers at rest in the church yard, or in heaven, depending on one’s beliefs. Certainly they are in distress no more. The short years of a human lifetime are as nothing compared to the enduring stones of the great church. ~ p. 72
Aeons ago when I was in high school, I read an assigned book of which I remember almost nothing.One thing stuck with me though. The author mused about the nature of time, and its lack of consistency. It flows at different rates, depending upon the circumstances. The approach of something dreaded makes the clock whirl. Awaiting something desired slows times to a near stop. When one is bored the day passes endlessly, but a week of boring days is gone in the blink of an eye. ~ p. 187
And as usual, there is wonderful prose that I don't want to forget.
This time Dorothy and Alan are there when the body of the head of the fine arts department at a college is found at the bottom of an elevator shaft. As he was slashing the budgets of each department, he was VERY unpopular and there are any number of people who might want to murder him. They take under their wing a TA who is in danger and shortly after another instructor disappears. Fortunately, they have contacts in many various areas who are able to help them shed light on parts of the puzzle.
There is only one problem with the story and I don't want to give away any spoilers. But one of the attacks on people in the book is never fully explained. I can speculate, but can't know for certain.
That being said, another winner of a book. At some point I need to make a list of all Ms. Dams's Dorothy Martin Mysteries and check off what I have read and what I haven't as I need to find all the rest.
Two passages from this book that I found worth recording as I believe them but could never state so beautifully:
There is no music at the early Eucharist. I love our superb choir, but there are times of simple solemnity of the lovely old Book of Common Prayer is exactly what I need. Then, too, there is profound peace in a place where God has been worshipped for centuries. Whatever cares and woes have been brought to this place in the past hundreds of years are cured now, their sufferers at rest in the church yard, or in heaven, depending on one’s beliefs. Certainly they are in distress no more. The short years of a human lifetime are as nothing compared to the enduring stones of the great church. ~ p. 72
Aeons ago when I was in high school, I read an assigned book of which I remember almost nothing.One thing stuck with me though. The author mused about the nature of time, and its lack of consistency. It flows at different rates, depending upon the circumstances. The approach of something dreaded makes the clock whirl. Awaiting something desired slows times to a near stop. When one is bored the day passes endlessly, but a week of boring days is gone in the blink of an eye. ~ p. 187
October 2, 2023
Dorothy and Alan are pleased when Gillian, a friend of a friend, gets a job as a teaching assistant at a prestigious art college near their home. They happily take a tour of the strangely-proportioned college building with her, only to be stymied by an elevator that stops abruptly between floors while they are in it. But when they learn that the elevator has been stopped by the body of the college’s Head, which has a chisel in his back and which apparently has been in the elevator shaft for some weeks, they realize that once again they have stumbled into a murder - and one which might soon strike close to home…. I like Ms. Dams’ cozy series, set in contemporary England and featuring ex-pat American Dorothy Martin and her husband, retired police chief Alan Nesbitt; they are both older, presumably in their 70s (or nearing it anyway) and their skills and contacts complement each other nicely. Some of the books are better than others in this series; this entry is more of a favourite because I like the art college setting, the usual academic rivalries (albeit here formed by practitioners of different types of artistic endeavor) and the fact that the couple stays close to home for once (many of the books are set in different towns in the UK). A pleasant diversion; recommended.
June 15, 2024
Dorothy and Alan are invited to the Sherebury University art department where young Gillian Roberts is being welcomed as a teaching assistant. Gillian is taking them on a tour when the elevator stops midfloor. Dorothy is claustrophobic, but finally the fire department arrives and gets them out. However, it appears that there is a dead man at the bottom of the elevator shaft. From there, things get worse. Gillian has overheard an argument by two senior people, and then someone begings trashing one of the art rooms on a daily basis, and Gillian has gotten nasty phone calls. Gillian moves into Dorothy and Alan's house where she can be safer than being by herself in her small apartment. When one of the teachers disappears after not showing up at a party for him, they are all worried.
Of course, Dorothy and Alan finally solve the case.
Of course, Dorothy and Alan finally solve the case.
May 27, 2019
Dorothy Martin and her husband are invited to a small reception for new teachers at the local art college, and are present when a dead body is found. The police have trouble determining how the man died. He had so many enemies it doesn't seem plausible that he died of natural causes; besides, there's a tool sticking out of his back. The really odd thing is that he seems to have been in Greece during the time he was being murdered, if murder it was, in England. The totally bewildering stunt that has both police and amateurs stumped didn't seem too obscure to me, nor did the ending satisfy.
June 6, 2023
Dorothy & Alan are at the university, arts department, where their friend Gillian is taking up a teaching job. She takes them on a tour, the elevator breaks down, giving Dorothy a claustrophobic fit, and when they finally get out, there is a body at the bottom of the elevator shaft. Things just keep getting worse -- there is a really nasty member of the faculty who sets his sights on Gillian, and another faculty member goes missing. Dorothy & Alan get involved of course, and aid the police, and try to keep Gillian safe.
December 15, 2023
Dorothy Martin and her husband, retired DCI Alan Nesbitt are invited to a cocktail party at Sherebury Art Department. The cocktail party is welcoming new teaching assistant Gillian Roberts. Unfortunately, during a tour of the art department, a body is discovered at the bottom of an elevator or lift shaft. Soon, both Dorothy and Alan become involved in the investigation. Soon another art teacher has gone missing and his art studio has been vandalized. At the same time, teaching assistant Gillian Roberts is receiving threatening phone messages.
September 27, 2019
Although I'm obviously jumping in to a familiar series, it was easy to enjoy myself among the retired school teacher and her ex-cop husband as they enjoy life in an English town. Small details of places and people kept the story grounded, and the pets were cute. It amused me to see the end -- I was smug that I had solved the key mystery ages ago, and then the villain confessed to all as he cracked up. So not a great "mystery" story, but an enjoyable cosy.
May 24, 2022
The Case of the Red Herring
This was quite well done. Mystery, mayhem and murder. Alan and Dorothy are involved in tracking down a killer and bringing him/her to justice. Along the way the clues include a lift (elevator), art knife, photographic developer, return ticket from Greece a bit of violence and a few other things that fit together nicely. Gilly, the sculptor student teacher, is involved and a welcome addition to the whole plot. Good story!
This was quite well done. Mystery, mayhem and murder. Alan and Dorothy are involved in tracking down a killer and bringing him/her to justice. Along the way the clues include a lift (elevator), art knife, photographic developer, return ticket from Greece a bit of violence and a few other things that fit together nicely. Gilly, the sculptor student teacher, is involved and a welcome addition to the whole plot. Good story!
April 10, 2022
Just when you think you got it...here comes a fork in the road
You think, "I know where this is going", then, maybe not. Another fine mess! As usual Alan and Dorothy have lots of clues but no proof! Again, as usual, I learn more about the UK. I can envision the vistas,ancient buildings! And I learned a lot about Fine Art! Where will Dorothy and Allan take me next??
You think, "I know where this is going", then, maybe not. Another fine mess! As usual Alan and Dorothy have lots of clues but no proof! Again, as usual, I learn more about the UK. I can envision the vistas,ancient buildings! And I learned a lot about Fine Art! Where will Dorothy and Allan take me next??
August 5, 2022
Another Dorothy Saves The Day
Good book and interesting plot. But the endings in this series leave much to be desired. The books are chock full of details, descriptions and background Then the ending comes and it is abrupt that it feels like the author was in a race against time to finish it. Every book has ended thus. . Leaves one with unanswered questions.
Good book and interesting plot. But the endings in this series leave much to be desired. The books are chock full of details, descriptions and background Then the ending comes and it is abrupt that it feels like the author was in a race against time to finish it. Every book has ended thus. . Leaves one with unanswered questions.
August 23, 2025
A pleasant surprise. These books can veer into the “cozy” genre a bit more than I like, but this one is fairly restrained, and the story is quite good. The frame of it all is the arts community: sculptors, painters, printmakers, and the like, so it of course found a willing reader in me, and I was not disappointed.
June 22, 2021
Art Wins
I have read many of the books about Dorothy, now.
Always delightful, interesting stories
Nice, clean stories, that may leave you puzzled, but often, you know who you want to be the ‘bad’ guy.
I have read many of the books about Dorothy, now.
Always delightful, interesting stories
Nice, clean stories, that may leave you puzzled, but often, you know who you want to be the ‘bad’ guy.
June 24, 2021
Excellent
I am so/so fan of this series, so I judge each one individually. This one is quite good.
Yes, there are red herrings, which I am not fond of, but what are you going to do?
I am so/so fan of this series, so I judge each one individually. This one is quite good.
Yes, there are red herrings, which I am not fond of, but what are you going to do?
July 12, 2021
Such excellence and elegance once again!
The plots continue to twist and turn with each book. The characters are marvelous, and how dearly, how very dearly I would treasure Tea with Jeanne M. Dams. Cheers!
The plots continue to twist and turn with each book. The characters are marvelous, and how dearly, how very dearly I would treasure Tea with Jeanne M. Dams. Cheers!
September 2, 2022
I find the whole tone of Jeanne Dams Dorothy Martin series has changed lately. Dorothy just isn’t her perky self. Well, I guess she is getting old. I am too, so I should be able to sympathize with her.
There are still a few to read so hope she gets some of her spunk back.
There are still a few to read so hope she gets some of her spunk back.
December 11, 2023
Good Art Murder
This Dorothy Martin mystery taught the reader lots about the art world. The author has obviously done much research to make the entire story quite believable. It was obvious from the beginning who the murderer was but not how he did it.
This Dorothy Martin mystery taught the reader lots about the art world. The author has obviously done much research to make the entire story quite believable. It was obvious from the beginning who the murderer was but not how he did it.
March 23, 2018
Not one of the better ones. I had a hard time getting into this one and the last one. All the other previous ones were great. The last two not so much. I hope the last few are better.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews