What do you think?
Rate this book
The Witch at Wayside Cross
Should you find yourself in need of a discreet investigation into any sort of mystery, crime or puzzling circumstances, think of Jesperson and Lane . . .
Jesperson and Lane have just solved their first major case when a man bangs violently on their door - and almost immediately drops dead. The police rule death by natural causes, but the detectives are determined to find out what really happened . . .
Mr Manning was screaming about witches before his death.
The case takes them to Mr Manning's Norfolk home, a land of mysterious Shrieking Pits and ancient knowledge. Mr Manning was himself a member of the enigmatic School of Ancient British Wisdom, and not the first to suffer a similar fate. Local gossip suggests that he was secretly engaged to one of the three lovely sisters who reside at Wayside Cross - but which one? Are they really witches, as the gossips also claim?
And what does all this have to do with the mysterious Shrieking Pits and a mother desperate to find her missing baby?
Jesperson and Lane, at your service.
'One of the SF and fantasy & horror field's most urbane - and much under-appreciated- writers' Love Reading
Paperback
Published June 14, 2018
6 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Tuttle
272 books409 followers(Wife of Colin Murray) aka Maria Palmer (house pseudonym).
Lisa Tuttle taught a science fiction course at the City Lit College, part of London University, and has tutored on the Arvon courses. She was residential tutor at the Clarion West SF writing workshop in Seattle, USA. She has published six novels and two short story collections. Many of her books have been translated into French and German editions.
Lisa Tuttle taught a science fiction course at the City Lit College, part of London University, and has tutored on the Arvon courses. She was residential tutor at the Clarion West SF writing workshop in Seattle, USA. She has published six novels and two short story collections. Many of her books have been translated into French and German editions.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 31, 2017
https://lynns-books.com/2017/08/26/th...
I only fairly recently read and enjoyed the first Curious Affair book in the series and so I was more than happy to discover that the second was available to request. The Witch at Wayside Cross was a really enjoyable, gothic feeling story that for me established this series as one that I definitely want to continue reading.
The Somnambulist and the Psychic Thief was a great start to series, I had a few niggles but overall I enjoyed it, I had fun, and it was great to get back to Victorian era detecting. The second in series builds on the original premise, it takes the mystery outside of the streets of London and carries our main characters into the depths of the countryside where they are beset on all sides by folklore, shrieking pits, ghosts and witches not to mention a good bit of good old fashioned murder.
We start the story with a man arriving at a late hour at the door of Jesperson and Lane. The man is quite obviously in the grips of terror and after pointing an accusing finger at Lane and calling her a witch promptly drops dead. Charles Manning, although a relatively young man in good health appears to all intents to have had a massive heart attack. Jesperson suspects poisoning may be involved and following a trail of crumbs locates Charles brother who ends up giving the pair of would-be detectives their next case. They swiftly travel to the village of Aylmerton and begin to track down Manning’s friends and acquaintances which turn into a most unlikely bunch.
There are plenty of characters in this episode. Revered Ringer and his puritanical wife are where our duo take up rooms when they arrive in the village. Charles also stayed at the Vicarage and his belongings await his return. It seems that the Reverend liked Charles and tried to dissuade him from associating with Felix Ott. Ott is a folklore advocate who wants to establish a school to teach ancient beliefs before they’re lost to time. Of course the Reverend is strongly opposed to anything relating to superstition that opposes the Christian belief. On top of this we make the acquaintance of the Bulstrode Sisters, a coven no less – the elder sister being familiar with remedies and being befriended by a Crow make it easy to see where the whispers of witchcraft spring from. Could it be that Charles become romantically entangled with one of them. As you can see lots of potential leads to follow.
I have to say that I loved the set up for this story, it takes its time a little but was a delicious build up, creepy settings, whisperings, talk of evil doings, country lanes, dark nights, foreboding forests and hints at the supernatural – not to mention fairy rings with red and white spotted mushrooms. Come on. I loved every minute of it and couldn’t get enough. Plus, there’s this whole Holmes/Watson vibe going on here – the detecting isn’t the same, don’t get me wrong, but there’s something about the era that makes me think of Conan Doyle not to mention that this story has the Baskerville Vibe going on with the move out of the City and into the country and Lane has become our very own Watson – at least that’s the way I’m reading things. She’s the one who narrates and she’s also the one who ends up in situations, dealing with issues, maybe even stumbling upon things by accident whilst Jesperson is off somewhere doing his thing.
Now, niggles. Well, not much to mention to be honest. I think I would have preferred this if the mystery hadn’t doubled up to become two mysteries – I liked the focus of the first and in a way I think I would have enjoyed it if the supernatural possibilities therein had played out in that plot arc to become something more. As it is we have a second mystery which feels a little bit latched on at this point although it could be that all these elements are building into something more – at the moment it feels a little bit like there’s a struggle going on to blend the supernatural elements into the tale although, as I say, it could all be part of a bigger plan.
I think this series is developing really well, I like the characters, although there’s clearly something mysterious with Jesperson that hasn’t yet been revealed (or at least I suspect there is) and I very much look forward to seeing what comes next.
Finally – do me a favour and just look at those two covers – I love em!
I received a copy courtesy of the publisher through Netgalley for which my thanks. The above is my on opinion.
I only fairly recently read and enjoyed the first Curious Affair book in the series and so I was more than happy to discover that the second was available to request. The Witch at Wayside Cross was a really enjoyable, gothic feeling story that for me established this series as one that I definitely want to continue reading.
The Somnambulist and the Psychic Thief was a great start to series, I had a few niggles but overall I enjoyed it, I had fun, and it was great to get back to Victorian era detecting. The second in series builds on the original premise, it takes the mystery outside of the streets of London and carries our main characters into the depths of the countryside where they are beset on all sides by folklore, shrieking pits, ghosts and witches not to mention a good bit of good old fashioned murder.
We start the story with a man arriving at a late hour at the door of Jesperson and Lane. The man is quite obviously in the grips of terror and after pointing an accusing finger at Lane and calling her a witch promptly drops dead. Charles Manning, although a relatively young man in good health appears to all intents to have had a massive heart attack. Jesperson suspects poisoning may be involved and following a trail of crumbs locates Charles brother who ends up giving the pair of would-be detectives their next case. They swiftly travel to the village of Aylmerton and begin to track down Manning’s friends and acquaintances which turn into a most unlikely bunch.
There are plenty of characters in this episode. Revered Ringer and his puritanical wife are where our duo take up rooms when they arrive in the village. Charles also stayed at the Vicarage and his belongings await his return. It seems that the Reverend liked Charles and tried to dissuade him from associating with Felix Ott. Ott is a folklore advocate who wants to establish a school to teach ancient beliefs before they’re lost to time. Of course the Reverend is strongly opposed to anything relating to superstition that opposes the Christian belief. On top of this we make the acquaintance of the Bulstrode Sisters, a coven no less – the elder sister being familiar with remedies and being befriended by a Crow make it easy to see where the whispers of witchcraft spring from. Could it be that Charles become romantically entangled with one of them. As you can see lots of potential leads to follow.
I have to say that I loved the set up for this story, it takes its time a little but was a delicious build up, creepy settings, whisperings, talk of evil doings, country lanes, dark nights, foreboding forests and hints at the supernatural – not to mention fairy rings with red and white spotted mushrooms. Come on. I loved every minute of it and couldn’t get enough. Plus, there’s this whole Holmes/Watson vibe going on here – the detecting isn’t the same, don’t get me wrong, but there’s something about the era that makes me think of Conan Doyle not to mention that this story has the Baskerville Vibe going on with the move out of the City and into the country and Lane has become our very own Watson – at least that’s the way I’m reading things. She’s the one who narrates and she’s also the one who ends up in situations, dealing with issues, maybe even stumbling upon things by accident whilst Jesperson is off somewhere doing his thing.
Now, niggles. Well, not much to mention to be honest. I think I would have preferred this if the mystery hadn’t doubled up to become two mysteries – I liked the focus of the first and in a way I think I would have enjoyed it if the supernatural possibilities therein had played out in that plot arc to become something more. As it is we have a second mystery which feels a little bit latched on at this point although it could be that all these elements are building into something more – at the moment it feels a little bit like there’s a struggle going on to blend the supernatural elements into the tale although, as I say, it could all be part of a bigger plan.
I think this series is developing really well, I like the characters, although there’s clearly something mysterious with Jesperson that hasn’t yet been revealed (or at least I suspect there is) and I very much look forward to seeing what comes next.
Finally – do me a favour and just look at those two covers – I love em!
I received a copy courtesy of the publisher through Netgalley for which my thanks. The above is my on opinion.
December 28, 2017
Another fine outing for the paranormal Sherlock Holmes-analog Jesperson & Lane detective team!
A stranger pounds on their front door, staggers inside, cries "Witch", and promptly dies. Fortunately, Jesperson is able to connect with the dead man's brother, who retains Jesperson and Lane to find out what happened to his late brother.
The only clues are the dead man himself, plus the content of his pockets. The London police coroner declares that the man perished from a heart attack, nothing suspicious here, and closes the case.
This time the adventure takes place in the English countryside. This series is set in Victorian times. So, I found it interesting to see the attitudes of the country gentry and also the country servant class.
I won't even mention the role played by shrieking pits in this fascinating case full, to be sure, of red herrings!
A stranger pounds on their front door, staggers inside, cries "Witch", and promptly dies. Fortunately, Jesperson is able to connect with the dead man's brother, who retains Jesperson and Lane to find out what happened to his late brother.
The only clues are the dead man himself, plus the content of his pockets. The London police coroner declares that the man perished from a heart attack, nothing suspicious here, and closes the case.
This time the adventure takes place in the English countryside. This series is set in Victorian times. So, I found it interesting to see the attitudes of the country gentry and also the country servant class.
I won't even mention the role played by shrieking pits in this fascinating case full, to be sure, of red herrings!
September 28, 2020
This is a poor man's Sherlock Holmes novel. Jesperson and Lane a couple of Private Investigators end up investigating deaths and child kidnap in Victorian Norfolk.
In the end because of the lack of character development of any character in the book I did not care for any one in the book. I couldn't wait for the pair to solve the crime/mystery and head back to London.
On the plus side the inciting incident of a dying man on your own doorstep could not be any better and it was only when the Private Investigators get to Norfolk and meet the three mysterious Bulstrode sisters does the book go downhill.
The sisters aren't that mysterious and it was difficult to tell one from the other.
A book I struggled with and won't return to two underwhelming main characters.
In the end because of the lack of character development of any character in the book I did not care for any one in the book. I couldn't wait for the pair to solve the crime/mystery and head back to London.
On the plus side the inciting incident of a dying man on your own doorstep could not be any better and it was only when the Private Investigators get to Norfolk and meet the three mysterious Bulstrode sisters does the book go downhill.
The sisters aren't that mysterious and it was difficult to tell one from the other.
A book I struggled with and won't return to two underwhelming main characters.
February 6, 2018
I am a fan of the two main characters, but found this story less satisfying than the previous book. I felt there was little chance of the reader working out the plot and several characters were introduced, but then left very sketchy. A focus on food eaten over descriptions of other, in my opinion, more interesting things like the landscape, characters, house interiors, I don't know it just wasn't as satisfying as I had hoped. Rather throwaway, which I'm very sad about because I really admire the writer from previous works.
December 23, 2018
Like the first book in this series, this is a Victorian detective story with an occult theme and a strong debt to Arthur Conan-Doyle. This time there is a Baskerville-like relocation from London to rural England, in this case investigating some murders in the small Norfolk village of Aylmerton and also investigating the village's mysterious Shrieking Pits (apparently a real thing). It was a reasonable good book to read, although I was a bit disappointed that the plot did rely on two completely unconnected crimes happening to occur almost simultaneously, which felt a bit unlikely.
January 11, 2018
I enjoyed the first book in this series, but I liked this one a good deal more, perhaps because, the protagonists' backgrounds already established, the plot leaps out of the first chapter and doesn't let up till the end. Celtic legends, a witch's garden, a Crowleyesque figure (Ott seems like a play on Iff, Crowley's idealized fictional self), and enough atmosphere for several novels. Well paced and satisfying in its conclusions. First rate.
April 8, 2018
Interesting story with unexpected elements of fairies, witchcraft, romance and poisoning. The twist ending was quite abrupt though and unsatisfactory to me. But the story was exciting and drew me in.
October 16, 2018
The first book in this series was a solid 3.5⭐ for me and number 2 was even better - very enjoyable read.
May 25, 2019
Picking up where the first book left off, this novel sees our intrepid detectives with a dead man in their hall. The police chalk it down to natural causes, but they aren't so sure. The trail leads them to a small village in Norfolk and more mysteries sprout up as they investigate.
I didn't really enjoy this one as much as its predecessor. There was no single villain with the presence or charisma of Mr Chase and the three mysteries never really gelled that well for me. I'm also surprised that the discussion of Lane's abilities were never mentioned at all, given their importance in the first. In fact, there was very little here to count as supernatural.
I found Di Lane less engaging as a protagonist in this one too. She seemed to miss obvious clues and was generally a bit slower on the uptake than I would have expected of her. I also found Jesperson slightly more annoying as well.
Despite being negative in this review, I still read the book avidly and, for the most part, enjoyed it. I'll look out for the next book in the series, but won't jump at it.
I didn't really enjoy this one as much as its predecessor. There was no single villain with the presence or charisma of Mr Chase and the three mysteries never really gelled that well for me. I'm also surprised that the discussion of Lane's abilities were never mentioned at all, given their importance in the first. In fact, there was very little here to count as supernatural.
I found Di Lane less engaging as a protagonist in this one too. She seemed to miss obvious clues and was generally a bit slower on the uptake than I would have expected of her. I also found Jesperson slightly more annoying as well.
Despite being negative in this review, I still read the book avidly and, for the most part, enjoyed it. I'll look out for the next book in the series, but won't jump at it.
July 9, 2019
Two things I really like about these books - one, that so far the relationship between Jesperson and Lane is purely platonic, and it really works; and two, that the books end in the moment and then carry on straight into the next story.
November 13, 2019
Always refreshing to discover interesting new characters. Loving the offbeat themes and adventures. What’s next?
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews