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Honour the Dead
'A page-turner rife with historical details and timeless intrigue' - Kirkus Reviews Six English survivors of the Great War – four men and two women – converge on Lake Como, Italy in 1921. The one corpse and one killer... Psychiatrist Joseph Barnett is treating wealthy socialite Penelope Jones for schizophrenia at a sanitarium in Como. She is convinced someone is trying to kill her. Penelope is married to war veteran Alexander Cavendish, hero of the Battle of the Somme. Barnett knows – and hates – Cavendish from the trenches where both were officers during the one was trying to save lives, the other take them. Both men had been wounded and treated at a hospital in Amiens where Bartlett met and later married Rose who worked there as a nurse. But why does Rose also harbour an intense animosity towards Cavendish? John Anthony Miller’s fifth crime novel Honour the Dead is a Rubik’s Cube of a murder case. Everyone is a suspect, there are motives to spare – readers will go dizzy trying to solve it... Motivated by a life-long love of travel and history, John Anthony Miller's books are normally set in exotic locations during eras of global conflict. Characters must cope and combat, overcoming their own weaknesses as well as the catastrophes spawned by tumultuous times. He's the author of To Parts Unknown, When Darkness Comes, In Satan's Shadow, and All the King's Soldiers. He lives in southern New Jersey with his family.
286 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 1, 2018
56 people are currently reading
1715 people want to read
About the author
John Anthony Miller
19 books343 followersJohn Anthony Miller writes all things historical—thrillers, mysteries, and romance. He sets his novels in exotic locations spanning all eras of space and time, with complex characters forced to face inner conflicts—fighting demons both real and imagined. Each of his novels is unique: a Medieval epic, five historical mysteries, two Cold-War thrillers, two 1970’s cozy mysteries, a Revolutionary War spy novel, seven WWII thrillers, and The Castle on the Cliff. He lives in southern New Jersey.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
March 9, 2019
Title : Honour The Dead
Author: John Anthony Miller
Genre: Historical Mystery
Pages:341
Endeavour Media
book synopsis
Six English survivors of the Great War – four men and two women – converge on Lake Como, Italy in 1921. The result: one corpse and one killer...
Psychiatrist Joseph Barnett is treating wealthy socialite Penelope Jones for schizophrenia at a sanitarium in Como. She is convinced someone is trying to kill her.
Penelope is married to war veteran Alexander Cavendish, hero of the Battle of the Somme. Barnett knows – and hates – Cavendish from the trenches where both were officers during the battle: one was trying to save lives, the other take them.
Both men had been wounded and treated at a hospital in Amiens where Bartlett met and later married Rose who worked there as a nurse. But why does Rose also harbour an intense animosity towards Cavendish?
My thoughts
Rating: 4
Would I recommend it ? yes
Will I give this author a second try ? yes
What got me to pick it up was when it said Six arrived - five survive , because it kind of give off the vibes of something I would of picked up if written by Agatha Christie , it kind of was like something she would of wrote but it was also different in some ways. Over all it was still good to read , the characters was and where engaging and complex. Especially Penelope Jones because there was times I thought she was just plain crazy , and there was times I thought if someone was trying to kill her it has to be someone close to her . As for the story it self it, the story plot was well written and tricky enough to keep the best guessing, but with enough clues to let the reader play along. The story came to life as did the characters and that is something that definitely reminds me of Agatha Christine. I can see it as a TV mini-series if they could and would do it right , with that said I want to think Netgalley for letting me read and review it exchange for my honest opinion.
Author: John Anthony Miller
Genre: Historical Mystery
Pages:341
Endeavour Media
book synopsis
Six English survivors of the Great War – four men and two women – converge on Lake Como, Italy in 1921. The result: one corpse and one killer...
Psychiatrist Joseph Barnett is treating wealthy socialite Penelope Jones for schizophrenia at a sanitarium in Como. She is convinced someone is trying to kill her.
Penelope is married to war veteran Alexander Cavendish, hero of the Battle of the Somme. Barnett knows – and hates – Cavendish from the trenches where both were officers during the battle: one was trying to save lives, the other take them.
Both men had been wounded and treated at a hospital in Amiens where Bartlett met and later married Rose who worked there as a nurse. But why does Rose also harbour an intense animosity towards Cavendish?
My thoughts
Rating: 4
Would I recommend it ? yes
Will I give this author a second try ? yes
What got me to pick it up was when it said Six arrived - five survive , because it kind of give off the vibes of something I would of picked up if written by Agatha Christie , it kind of was like something she would of wrote but it was also different in some ways. Over all it was still good to read , the characters was and where engaging and complex. Especially Penelope Jones because there was times I thought she was just plain crazy , and there was times I thought if someone was trying to kill her it has to be someone close to her . As for the story it self it, the story plot was well written and tricky enough to keep the best guessing, but with enough clues to let the reader play along. The story came to life as did the characters and that is something that definitely reminds me of Agatha Christine. I can see it as a TV mini-series if they could and would do it right , with that said I want to think Netgalley for letting me read and review it exchange for my honest opinion.
April 18, 2019
Six persons still reeling from the madness of World War I descend on a lunatic asylum in Lake Como, Italy, in 1921, but one of them will be murdered. Is it Dr. Joseph Barnett, a brilliant psychiatrist who was scarred and crippled in the Great War? His one-time nurse, Rose, who became a renowned poet and Barnett’s wife? Barnett’s new patient, paranoid socialite Penelope Jones, who is worth a fortune? In this case, just because you’re paranoid may not necessarily mean no one wants to kill you. Is it Jones’ father, the wealthy international real-estate tycoon Wellington Jones? Or perhaps his loyal assistant, William Cain? Or is it Jones’ debonair husband, Alexander Cavendish, who is not the unblemished war hero he’s assumed to be?
That’s no spoiler; it’s on the book jacket. Author John Anthony Miller doesn’t reveal the victim until halfway into the book, building suspense the entire time, filling in details. The novel has plenty of twists, and, even though I saw the end coming, I thoroughly enjoyed the ride.
In the interest of full disclosure, I was given a copy of the book by NetGalley and BooksGoSocial in exchange for an honest review.
That’s no spoiler; it’s on the book jacket. Author John Anthony Miller doesn’t reveal the victim until halfway into the book, building suspense the entire time, filling in details. The novel has plenty of twists, and, even though I saw the end coming, I thoroughly enjoyed the ride.
In the interest of full disclosure, I was given a copy of the book by NetGalley and BooksGoSocial in exchange for an honest review.
February 13, 2019
Honour the Dead is an historical fiction mystery. The story takes place at Lake Como in 1921. The characters are six survivors of the Great War. When a body is found, the mystery begins. It's well written and has plenty of twists and turns to keep you reading. The characters are engaging and complex. Overall it's an okay read. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
December 14, 2021
A great place to find revenge, plots, foiled murder attempts, maniacs and suicides. Whose the manipulator what's real & what's staged? You'll pick thru the pieces and put it together as it unravels on the very last pages...
February 4, 2019
In 1921 Penelope Jones has been committed to a sanitarium in Como as her family believe she has tried to commit suicide while she believes that someone is trying to kill her. By coincidence various people who took part in the Great War live in the area or who converge on the area, including her Psychiatrist Joseph Barnett.
Several months later a body is discovered in the water but why, and who is the guilty party is for the local police to discover.
An entertaining well-written mystery with enough clues thrown in to eventually determine who is guilty and why.
A NetGalley Book
Several months later a body is discovered in the water but why, and who is the guilty party is for the local police to discover.
An entertaining well-written mystery with enough clues thrown in to eventually determine who is guilty and why.
A NetGalley Book
March 21, 2019
Is Penelope, mad, bad - or both. She is in an asylum after a suicide attempt which she insists was someone trying to kill her. While in there there are several more attempts on her life - or delusional nightmares - which are they - people are confused. After her gambling, womanising husband is murdered she insists that it was him who was trying to kill her to pay his debts to a London gangster.
A really good read.
A really good read.
July 26, 2019
Lake Como in the Italian Alps, 1921.
The body of Alexander Cavendish, a First World War British war hero (and serial philanderer), is found floating face down in the lake. Cavendish is the husband of Penelope Jones, a wealthy young socialite, who being at the nearby Lakeside Sanitarium following a suicide attempt. Como Carabinieri Police detectives Falcone and Minelli are assigned to the investigation and are soon presented with a varied cast of suspects. These include: Penelope's father and his male secretary; a London loan shark and his enforcer; and, a famous British poet and her psychiatrist husband who suffers from shell shock. Cavendish was carrying on an affair with Penelope's best friend and several other married women. Their spouses are potential suspects too. All of these people have motive to want Cavendish out of the way. He does not attract any sympathy, being cast as a thoroughly despicable man, perhaps adversely affected by his war service. Consequences of the War loom large in the background and cast a pall over the idyllic surroundings at Lake Como. Even Inspector Falcone carries a war-related burden in his personal life.
This is an excellent atmospheric whodunnit murder mystery, with a satisfying reveal as the killer is identified by Inspector Falcone a la Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot It's also a neat blend of the best of Agatha Christie type characters with a Patricia Highsmith ultimate conclusion, following a brief courtroom scene.
Recommended as an easy-to-read entertaining read.
(I received a review copy of this book from BooksGoSocial via Netgalley. The comments about it are my own.)
December 9, 2020
Heiress Penelope Jones is soon to be admitted to a sanatorium on the shores of Lake Como. Erratic behavior and suicide attempts have pushed her over the edge. Her loving father, Wellington Jones and husband, Alexander Cavendish are by her side, desperate for this treatment to work. Dr. Barnett thinks he may be able to get to the root cause of what ails her---he soon finds out Penelope's main dilemma, she is convinced someone is trying to kill her.
Wartime secrets emerge, interconnecting the lives of Dr. Barnett, his poet wife, Rose and his new patient and her family. The past liaisons brings up unpleasant memories of events. Will the parties involved be able to set aside these drudged up emotions, or will they lead to further tragedy? Gambling debts and crumbling real estate investments push some of the parties to take desperate measures--does it include murder?
Author Miller weaves a fascinating tale of intrigue and deadly intentions on the luxurious shores of Lake Como. Who's lying, and who is set on taking revenge? Will we ever know the truth? A page turning whodunit, highly recommended!
Wartime secrets emerge, interconnecting the lives of Dr. Barnett, his poet wife, Rose and his new patient and her family. The past liaisons brings up unpleasant memories of events. Will the parties involved be able to set aside these drudged up emotions, or will they lead to further tragedy? Gambling debts and crumbling real estate investments push some of the parties to take desperate measures--does it include murder?
Author Miller weaves a fascinating tale of intrigue and deadly intentions on the luxurious shores of Lake Como. Who's lying, and who is set on taking revenge? Will we ever know the truth? A page turning whodunit, highly recommended!
December 30, 2019
4.5 stars.
Honour the Dead is a smart period mystery featuring a cast of interesting characters, several of whom were traumatized by their experiences in the First World War. While more slow paced than what I usually read, I really enjoyed it. I felt the story depicted the period exceptionally well. I’ve recommended it to family members.
A rifle is central to to the plot, and the author has a character use one for skeet shooting. This is ridiculous, as only shotguns are ever used for this purpose. Research should have revealed this to the writer. A murder mystery should not make mistakes with means of killing.
Also, there is an incident of poisoning which is never explained. We never learn what sort of poison was used or how it could ever have been introduced to the food it was in.
Honour the Dead is a smart period mystery featuring a cast of interesting characters, several of whom were traumatized by their experiences in the First World War. While more slow paced than what I usually read, I really enjoyed it. I felt the story depicted the period exceptionally well. I’ve recommended it to family members.
A rifle is central to to the plot, and the author has a character use one for skeet shooting. This is ridiculous, as only shotguns are ever used for this purpose. Research should have revealed this to the writer. A murder mystery should not make mistakes with means of killing.
Also, there is an incident of poisoning which is never explained. We never learn what sort of poison was used or how it could ever have been introduced to the food it was in.
December 8, 2018
I absolutely adore a well-written historical mystery and I can wholeheartedly recommend Honour the Dead. It's not only set in one of my favourite eras, but the book has a fantastic cinematic setting in Lake Como, Italy. The plotting is wonderful; tricky enough to keep the best guessing, but with enough clues to let the reader play along. This would make an excellent drama, as the characters are so well-drawn and rounded and the writing is so vivid. This is a story of consequences, and haunting aftermath, which rings down the years. Lovers of murder mysteries will adore this. Get it now.
October 6, 2019
A gripping murder mystery tale, designed keep the reader guessing and complete with a twist at the end. I enjoyed it greatly as I'm sure fans of the genre also will. One of the better reads so far this year.
October 15, 2021
I loved it and want more!!!!! I love a great murder mystery and this is great!!!!!
December 27, 2018
The Coffee Pot Book Club Historical Fiction Book Of The Year Award 2018 — Finalist.
“Honour the dead, rejoice with the living…”
Psychiatrist, Joseph Barnett, has heard that phrase more times than he cares to remember. He returned from the Great War, a broken man. He had seen things he wished no man would ever have to see. His broken body is nothing compared to the nightmares that keep him up at night and interrupt his daytime. However, he is determined to overcome the horrors and help the lost souls at his sanitarium in Como find themselves again.
The last thing he expects is to have the wife of the man who haunts his every waking moment and tortures his night, committed to his sanitarium. Penelope Jones has, on the face of it, everything anyone would ever want. She is successful, wealthy and the celebrated wife of a war hero. So what on earth possessed her to attempt suicide? And why does she insist that it was not attempted suicide, but attempted murder?
Drawn into a tangled web of deceit, Joseph has to confront his own demons while trying to determine the truth before it is too late.
Honour the Dead by John Anthony Miller is a fast-paced historical thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat and leave you asking — who is the killer?
The sanitarium in Como is the epitome of peace. It is far away from the horrors of the Battle of the Somme. Nevertheless, Miller provides a gripping account of those horrifying 141 days in northern France through cleverly and skilfully written flashbacks. Joseph is a character that I sympathised with greatly, he is a kind and gentle man who has been to Hell and witnessed the most harrowing of incidents. When Joseph suffers these terrible flashbacks, he is once again a dazed and confused young man who cannot make sense of what he is seeing. The fear, the taste of death is particularly harrowing. Miller writes these scenes with compassion but also integrity. They were very real in the telling, which made them all the more distressing.
Joseph is haunted by the actions of one sadistic British officer, who sent young men to their death again and again, more times than not with a gun pointed at their backs. Honour the dead, is a phrase that Joseph and indeed I felt makes a mockery of their pointless deaths, as these men did not die with honour, how could they when they were being sent to their slaughter? Como is as much a refuge for Joseph as it is for his patients. It is here that he can heal, and I really hoped that he would. It was a pleasure to learn more about him, and I certainly enjoyed the emotional and incredible personal journey that he takes on the long road to peace, — if such a thing even exists after witnessing so much butchery.
Miller has a keen eye for historical detail, and he shows much sensitivity and understanding of mental health issues. Miller is careful to keep the understanding of these issues in the historical context of the time this book is set in. The knowledge of schizophrenia was very much in its infancy, so there are these exciting new theories in this story, and for me, it was interesting how quickly these theories were becoming a diagnosis.
There are five suspects in this book, each with their own fascinating story to tell. I am not going to give away the plot, but they all have a motive for murder. I found myself becoming an amateur detective as I tried to put the pieces together, which made this story wonderfully engaging. When I thought I had everyone figured out, and when I thought I knew who the killer was, Miller would throw another curveball and I would have to change my mind and read on to find out if I was right.
Miller writes with incredible energy, and this book is vastly entertaining. Honour the Dead is utterly compelling from start to finish. If you enjoy a good murder mystery with a fabulous historical backdrop, then this book is for you.
I Highly Recommend.
Review by Mary Anne Yarde.
The Coffee Pot Book Club.
“Honour the dead, rejoice with the living…”
Psychiatrist, Joseph Barnett, has heard that phrase more times than he cares to remember. He returned from the Great War, a broken man. He had seen things he wished no man would ever have to see. His broken body is nothing compared to the nightmares that keep him up at night and interrupt his daytime. However, he is determined to overcome the horrors and help the lost souls at his sanitarium in Como find themselves again.
The last thing he expects is to have the wife of the man who haunts his every waking moment and tortures his night, committed to his sanitarium. Penelope Jones has, on the face of it, everything anyone would ever want. She is successful, wealthy and the celebrated wife of a war hero. So what on earth possessed her to attempt suicide? And why does she insist that it was not attempted suicide, but attempted murder?
Drawn into a tangled web of deceit, Joseph has to confront his own demons while trying to determine the truth before it is too late.
Honour the Dead by John Anthony Miller is a fast-paced historical thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat and leave you asking — who is the killer?
The sanitarium in Como is the epitome of peace. It is far away from the horrors of the Battle of the Somme. Nevertheless, Miller provides a gripping account of those horrifying 141 days in northern France through cleverly and skilfully written flashbacks. Joseph is a character that I sympathised with greatly, he is a kind and gentle man who has been to Hell and witnessed the most harrowing of incidents. When Joseph suffers these terrible flashbacks, he is once again a dazed and confused young man who cannot make sense of what he is seeing. The fear, the taste of death is particularly harrowing. Miller writes these scenes with compassion but also integrity. They were very real in the telling, which made them all the more distressing.
Joseph is haunted by the actions of one sadistic British officer, who sent young men to their death again and again, more times than not with a gun pointed at their backs. Honour the dead, is a phrase that Joseph and indeed I felt makes a mockery of their pointless deaths, as these men did not die with honour, how could they when they were being sent to their slaughter? Como is as much a refuge for Joseph as it is for his patients. It is here that he can heal, and I really hoped that he would. It was a pleasure to learn more about him, and I certainly enjoyed the emotional and incredible personal journey that he takes on the long road to peace, — if such a thing even exists after witnessing so much butchery.
Miller has a keen eye for historical detail, and he shows much sensitivity and understanding of mental health issues. Miller is careful to keep the understanding of these issues in the historical context of the time this book is set in. The knowledge of schizophrenia was very much in its infancy, so there are these exciting new theories in this story, and for me, it was interesting how quickly these theories were becoming a diagnosis.
There are five suspects in this book, each with their own fascinating story to tell. I am not going to give away the plot, but they all have a motive for murder. I found myself becoming an amateur detective as I tried to put the pieces together, which made this story wonderfully engaging. When I thought I had everyone figured out, and when I thought I knew who the killer was, Miller would throw another curveball and I would have to change my mind and read on to find out if I was right.
Miller writes with incredible energy, and this book is vastly entertaining. Honour the Dead is utterly compelling from start to finish. If you enjoy a good murder mystery with a fabulous historical backdrop, then this book is for you.
I Highly Recommend.
Review by Mary Anne Yarde.
The Coffee Pot Book Club.
November 14, 2021
Book Review
Basic Details:
Book Title: Honour the Dead
Subtitle:
Author: John Anthony Miller
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Part of a series?
Order in series:
Best read after earlier books in series?
Available: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...
Overall score:
I scored this book 5/5
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Short Summary of the book:
Lake Como, just after the great war. Penelope has lost her mother and her brother. Now she struggles with her mental health and is admitted to a sanitorium. While her psychiatrist attempts to treat her symptoms of schizophrenia, her husband is shot dead. Who has done this?
What I liked about the book:
The book is suspenseful with many twists and turns. A real page-turner.
What I didn’t like about the book:
I really loved the book.
My favourite bits in the book:
Where Penelope’s wit and intellect shines through her illness.
My least favourite bits in the book:
I enjoyed the entire book.
Any further books in the series? Any more planned by this author?
This is the first book I have read by this author and I really enjoyed it. I understand he has written many more.
What books could this be compared to and why?
This is a great crime novel. It is a real page-turner and action-packed.
Recommendation:
In summary, I would recommend this book for the following readers:
Children No
Young Adult Maybe
Adult Yes
If you like murder mysteries full of suspense, this may be the book for you.
I’m certainly looking forward to reading more by this author.
Book Description by Author:
Six English survivors of the Great War – four men and two women – converge on Lake Como, Italy in 1921. The result: one corpse and one killer...
Psychiatrist Joseph Barnett is treating wealthy socialite Penelope Jones for schizophrenia at a sanitarium in Como. She is convinced someone is trying to kill her.
Penelope is married to war veteran Alexander Cavendish, hero of the Battle of the Somme. Barnett knows – and hates – Cavendish from the trenches where both were officers during the battle: one was trying to save lives, the other take them.
Both men had been wounded and treated at a hospital in Amiens where Bartlett met and later married Rose who worked there as a nurse. But why does Rose also harbour an intense animosity towards Cavendish?
John Anthony Miller’s fifth crime novel Honour the Dead is a Rubik’s Cube of a murder case. Everyone is a suspect, there are motives to spare – readers will go dizzy trying to solve it...
Motivated by a life-long love of travel and history, John Anthony Miller's books are normally set in exotic locations during eras of global conflict. Characters must cope and combat, overcoming their own weaknesses as well as the catastrophes spawned by tumultuous times. He's the author of To Parts Unknown, When Darkness Comes, In Satan's Shadow, and All the King's Soldiers. He lives in southern New Jersey with his family.
About the Author:
Motivated by a life-long love of travel and history, John Anthony Miller sets his novels in unique locations that span the globe and all eras of space and time. In the exotic settings he so vividly describes, he creates complex characters who combat inner conflicts, confronting weaknesses often spawned by tumultuous times, fighting demons both real and imagined. He’s the author of eight historical thrillers and mysteries, as well as his latest novel The Widow’s Walk. He lives in southern New Jersey with his family.
Basic Details:
Book Title: Honour the Dead
Subtitle:
Author: John Anthony Miller
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Part of a series?
Order in series:
Best read after earlier books in series?
Available: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...
Overall score:
I scored this book 5/5
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Short Summary of the book:
Lake Como, just after the great war. Penelope has lost her mother and her brother. Now she struggles with her mental health and is admitted to a sanitorium. While her psychiatrist attempts to treat her symptoms of schizophrenia, her husband is shot dead. Who has done this?
What I liked about the book:
The book is suspenseful with many twists and turns. A real page-turner.
What I didn’t like about the book:
I really loved the book.
My favourite bits in the book:
Where Penelope’s wit and intellect shines through her illness.
My least favourite bits in the book:
I enjoyed the entire book.
Any further books in the series? Any more planned by this author?
This is the first book I have read by this author and I really enjoyed it. I understand he has written many more.
What books could this be compared to and why?
This is a great crime novel. It is a real page-turner and action-packed.
Recommendation:
In summary, I would recommend this book for the following readers:
Children No
Young Adult Maybe
Adult Yes
If you like murder mysteries full of suspense, this may be the book for you.
I’m certainly looking forward to reading more by this author.
Book Description by Author:
Six English survivors of the Great War – four men and two women – converge on Lake Como, Italy in 1921. The result: one corpse and one killer...
Psychiatrist Joseph Barnett is treating wealthy socialite Penelope Jones for schizophrenia at a sanitarium in Como. She is convinced someone is trying to kill her.
Penelope is married to war veteran Alexander Cavendish, hero of the Battle of the Somme. Barnett knows – and hates – Cavendish from the trenches where both were officers during the battle: one was trying to save lives, the other take them.
Both men had been wounded and treated at a hospital in Amiens where Bartlett met and later married Rose who worked there as a nurse. But why does Rose also harbour an intense animosity towards Cavendish?
John Anthony Miller’s fifth crime novel Honour the Dead is a Rubik’s Cube of a murder case. Everyone is a suspect, there are motives to spare – readers will go dizzy trying to solve it...
Motivated by a life-long love of travel and history, John Anthony Miller's books are normally set in exotic locations during eras of global conflict. Characters must cope and combat, overcoming their own weaknesses as well as the catastrophes spawned by tumultuous times. He's the author of To Parts Unknown, When Darkness Comes, In Satan's Shadow, and All the King's Soldiers. He lives in southern New Jersey with his family.
About the Author:
Motivated by a life-long love of travel and history, John Anthony Miller sets his novels in unique locations that span the globe and all eras of space and time. In the exotic settings he so vividly describes, he creates complex characters who combat inner conflicts, confronting weaknesses often spawned by tumultuous times, fighting demons both real and imagined. He’s the author of eight historical thrillers and mysteries, as well as his latest novel The Widow’s Walk. He lives in southern New Jersey with his family.
November 3, 2018
Honor the Dead, by John Anthony Miller, is a cleverly written historical murder mystery that will hook you in the first page and all the while keep you guessing right until the end. It was so good, despite grandkids visiting, I read it in three evenings. Granted, the third evening I read until 2:00AM because I HAD to finish.
The book opens with a death reported at Lake Como by the Milan, Italian newspaper. The reader is given only the basic facts, no names are released. Skip backward two months to a sanitarium at Lake Como where Penelope Cavendish, a wealthy English aristocrat, has just been admitted after a recent suicide attempt. Only, Penelope insists that someone is trying to kill her.
Dr. Joseph Barnett is a well-known and respected doctor who is taking on Penelope’s difficult case. He is sure with time he can help her recover. She is severely depressed over the death of her mother, at a young age, and then her brother during the Great War. She also is delusional at times and feels threatened by those around her.
Her father, Wellington Jones, is at Lake Como to lend Penelope, the only child he has left, the support she needs to recover. It seems he will do anything to protect her. Her husband, Alexander Cavendish, is also a wealthy aristocrat and war hero and also wants his wife better. So who would want her dead?
Nothing is as it seems and Mr. Miller is adept at weaving half-truths, lies and using misdirection to keep the reader on their toes. There are plenty of suspects and ample motives to go around. The facts are revealed slowly and the tension builds as the police work to solve the crime. Do the police even have the right suspects? So much was running through my mind when I was trying to work out who the killer was. I kept second guessing myself and you will to. I suspect, in the end you will be truly surprised.
Honor the Dead is not your typical murder mystery. Largely because of the way in which the plot was executed. Which, by the way, is ingenious. There are more reasons and I want to tell you all of them. Yet, if I do, it will spoil the fun for others. I hate spoilers and I refuse to do them!
The cast of characters is wonderful, with a lot of depth, and they fit the plot splendidly. I love it when an author is mindful of the characters and plot. This attention to detail allowed me to become deeply invested with the characters, both good and bad. It is ones of those rare books that has you rushing to the end to see what happens, then disappointed when you get there because there is no more to read.
In short, the book exceed my expectations. It should appeal to a variety of readers. Therefore, I highly recommend it to lovers of murder mysteries, thrillers and historical fiction.
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for my honest review. For more of my reviews, and author interviews, see my blog at www.thespineview.com.
The book opens with a death reported at Lake Como by the Milan, Italian newspaper. The reader is given only the basic facts, no names are released. Skip backward two months to a sanitarium at Lake Como where Penelope Cavendish, a wealthy English aristocrat, has just been admitted after a recent suicide attempt. Only, Penelope insists that someone is trying to kill her.
Dr. Joseph Barnett is a well-known and respected doctor who is taking on Penelope’s difficult case. He is sure with time he can help her recover. She is severely depressed over the death of her mother, at a young age, and then her brother during the Great War. She also is delusional at times and feels threatened by those around her.
Her father, Wellington Jones, is at Lake Como to lend Penelope, the only child he has left, the support she needs to recover. It seems he will do anything to protect her. Her husband, Alexander Cavendish, is also a wealthy aristocrat and war hero and also wants his wife better. So who would want her dead?
Nothing is as it seems and Mr. Miller is adept at weaving half-truths, lies and using misdirection to keep the reader on their toes. There are plenty of suspects and ample motives to go around. The facts are revealed slowly and the tension builds as the police work to solve the crime. Do the police even have the right suspects? So much was running through my mind when I was trying to work out who the killer was. I kept second guessing myself and you will to. I suspect, in the end you will be truly surprised.
Honor the Dead is not your typical murder mystery. Largely because of the way in which the plot was executed. Which, by the way, is ingenious. There are more reasons and I want to tell you all of them. Yet, if I do, it will spoil the fun for others. I hate spoilers and I refuse to do them!
The cast of characters is wonderful, with a lot of depth, and they fit the plot splendidly. I love it when an author is mindful of the characters and plot. This attention to detail allowed me to become deeply invested with the characters, both good and bad. It is ones of those rare books that has you rushing to the end to see what happens, then disappointed when you get there because there is no more to read.
In short, the book exceed my expectations. It should appeal to a variety of readers. Therefore, I highly recommend it to lovers of murder mysteries, thrillers and historical fiction.
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for my honest review. For more of my reviews, and author interviews, see my blog at www.thespineview.com.
March 27, 2020
Description
Six English survivors of the Great War – four men and two women – converge on Lake Como, Italy in 1921. The result: one corpse and one killer...
Psychiatrist Joseph Barnett is treating wealthy socialite Penelope Jones for schizophrenia at a sanitarium in Como. She is convinced someone is trying to kill her.
Penelope is married to war veteran Alexander Cavendish, hero of the Battle of the Somme. Barnett knows – and hates – Cavendish from the trenches where both were officers during the battle: one was trying to save lives, the other take them.
Both men had been wounded and treated at a hospital in Amiens where Bartlett met and later married Rose who worked there as a nurse. But why does Rose also harbour an intense animosity towards Cavendish?
John Anthony Miller’s fifth crime novel Honour the Dead is a Rubik’s Cube of a murder case. Everyone is a suspect, there are motives to spare – readers will go dizzy trying to solve it...
Motivated by a life-long love of travel and history, John Anthony Miller's books are normally set in exotic locations during eras of global conflict. Characters must cope and combat, overcoming their own weaknesses as well as the catastrophes spawned by tumultuous times. He's the author of To Parts Unknown, When Darkness Comes, In Satan's Shadow, and All the King's Soldiers. He lives in southern New Jersey with his family.
My Review
Honour the Dead's ARC was provided free in exchange for my honest opinion. Well, I have to tell you it is a great suspenseful mystery you must read.
Well written with believable characters this is one of those mystery books you do not want to miss. The book has enough twists and turns to keep you engrossed until the very end. Great riveting story.
Six English survivors of the Great War – four men and two women – converge on Lake Como, Italy in 1921. The result: one corpse and one killer...
Psychiatrist Joseph Barnett is treating wealthy socialite Penelope Jones for schizophrenia at a sanitarium in Como. She is convinced someone is trying to kill her.
Penelope is married to war veteran Alexander Cavendish, hero of the Battle of the Somme. Barnett knows – and hates – Cavendish from the trenches where both were officers during the battle: one was trying to save lives, the other take them.
Both men had been wounded and treated at a hospital in Amiens where Bartlett met and later married Rose who worked there as a nurse. But why does Rose also harbour an intense animosity towards Cavendish?
John Anthony Miller’s fifth crime novel Honour the Dead is a Rubik’s Cube of a murder case. Everyone is a suspect, there are motives to spare – readers will go dizzy trying to solve it...
Motivated by a life-long love of travel and history, John Anthony Miller's books are normally set in exotic locations during eras of global conflict. Characters must cope and combat, overcoming their own weaknesses as well as the catastrophes spawned by tumultuous times. He's the author of To Parts Unknown, When Darkness Comes, In Satan's Shadow, and All the King's Soldiers. He lives in southern New Jersey with his family.
My Review
Honour the Dead's ARC was provided free in exchange for my honest opinion. Well, I have to tell you it is a great suspenseful mystery you must read.
Well written with believable characters this is one of those mystery books you do not want to miss. The book has enough twists and turns to keep you engrossed until the very end. Great riveting story.
June 21, 2019
Miller’s insightful, well-plotted fifth murder mystery is set in Lake Como, a quiet, serene town in Italy. Psychiatrist Joseph Barnett, a WWI veteran, is struggling with PTSD when Penelope Jones, wife of Alexander Cavendish: a man Bernett utterly despises, arrives at his sanitarium in Italy to get treatment for schizophrenia. Penelope suffers from delusions and claims someone is trying to kill her. With a vast amount of wealth at stake and her husband’s shady dealings, it’s hard to totally dismiss Penelope’s claims as one of her delusions. After a person gets killed, it becomes imperative for Bernett to find out the truth.
Over the course of various intriguing happenings, Miller offers real insight into the psychology of a schizophrenic individual as well as the mental anguish that both the patient and the family go through because of the condition. The prose is remarkably fresh and seamlessly reveals characters’ desires, fears, and insecurities. On a deeper level, this seemingly straightforward story deals with universal themes of secrets, greed, and revenge in the face of deception.
Miller uses a lovely setting to lighten the story’s dark bits. The narrative is smoothly paced with high suspense in the back, and readers will have a hard time putting down this well-crafted mystery. The identity of the killer is not hard to guess, but traditional mystery fans will be pleased with the fascinating whodunit plot. Readers keen on well-written traditional mysteries will be well rewarded.
Over the course of various intriguing happenings, Miller offers real insight into the psychology of a schizophrenic individual as well as the mental anguish that both the patient and the family go through because of the condition. The prose is remarkably fresh and seamlessly reveals characters’ desires, fears, and insecurities. On a deeper level, this seemingly straightforward story deals with universal themes of secrets, greed, and revenge in the face of deception.
Miller uses a lovely setting to lighten the story’s dark bits. The narrative is smoothly paced with high suspense in the back, and readers will have a hard time putting down this well-crafted mystery. The identity of the killer is not hard to guess, but traditional mystery fans will be pleased with the fascinating whodunit plot. Readers keen on well-written traditional mysteries will be well rewarded.
November 28, 2018
I have read all of John Anthony Miller’s other books which were set during World War 2 and enjoyed them all immensely. This new novel is set during a different time period. The action takes place in 1921 and rather than wartime France, it is set in, or around a sanitarium by Lake Como in Italy.
There, some English survivors of the First World War have converged, and all of the characters have been affected by the recent war adversely in different ways. What they have suffered shapes the events of the story and drives it along. I won’t give the plot away, but as well as being an excellent period murder mystery, it is also a very powerful indictment of war.
There, some English survivors of the First World War have converged, and all of the characters have been affected by the recent war adversely in different ways. What they have suffered shapes the events of the story and drives it along. I won’t give the plot away, but as well as being an excellent period murder mystery, it is also a very powerful indictment of war.
January 23, 2023
Yes... a well written mystery.
I found this book enjoyable and interesting throughout. I was actually fooled almost until the very end. I never suspected the Irish loanshark or his associate, I leaned toward Rose until her last interview with the Italian detectives. After that, the eventual true guilty person began to materialize to me. Interesting... I would recommend this book.
I found this book enjoyable and interesting throughout. I was actually fooled almost until the very end. I never suspected the Irish loanshark or his associate, I leaned toward Rose until her last interview with the Italian detectives. After that, the eventual true guilty person began to materialize to me. Interesting... I would recommend this book.
March 24, 2019
"This is a fabulous book especially for those who are looking for a story that is instantly engrossing this captivating novel ticks all the boxes. Don't be fooled by the sedate opening scenes - this little nugget packs a wallop that has a few surprising twists and turns that will satisfy the best of arm-chair detectives .!
October 27, 2021
I was born in 1929 and I know this book has accurate details. I felt like I was in the story experiencing it first hand because this book is so well written. I just could not put it down, every page held my interest. I definately recommend reading Honour the Dead.
November 27, 2018
I liked this book! It held my interest and the characters had depth and were likeable. It wasn't obvious who the perpetrator(s) were! Had a hard time putting it down.
October 1, 2023
“Honour the dead, rejoice with the living.”
Is somebody going to kill Penelope Jones? Will she succumb to the fear and desperation of feeling haunted by one or more would-be killers?
Penelope’s husband has a checkered present. He is recognised as a war hero.
In the sanatorium on the edge of Lake Como, her psychiatrist Dr Barnes works towards finding her underlying mental trouble. Dr Barnett suffers from PTSD after being wounded at the Somme.
John Anthony Miller sets up his historical thriller as a chess master would set up his board. His characters are realistic and suffering humans, but Penelope is layered and impenetrable, whereas her husband is twisted by the war.
The investigating police detective, Falcone, is intelligent and shows insight, which brings me to a slight mistake that caught my attention.
“Falcone paused, looking up from his notebook. “What exactly is schizophrenia?” he struggled to pronounce the word.” (p. 158).
Any Italian with respect for himself would have no trouble pronouncing schizophrenia. With common words like schizzo (stain) and frenesia (frenzy), he would be able to put two and two together and understand the word, even if the illness were unknown to him. Perhaps one could change the dialogue to fit his ability.
Is somebody going to kill Penelope Jones? Will she succumb to the fear and desperation of feeling haunted by one or more would-be killers?
Penelope’s husband has a checkered present. He is recognised as a war hero.
In the sanatorium on the edge of Lake Como, her psychiatrist Dr Barnes works towards finding her underlying mental trouble. Dr Barnett suffers from PTSD after being wounded at the Somme.
John Anthony Miller sets up his historical thriller as a chess master would set up his board. His characters are realistic and suffering humans, but Penelope is layered and impenetrable, whereas her husband is twisted by the war.
The investigating police detective, Falcone, is intelligent and shows insight, which brings me to a slight mistake that caught my attention.
“Falcone paused, looking up from his notebook. “What exactly is schizophrenia?” he struggled to pronounce the word.” (p. 158).
Any Italian with respect for himself would have no trouble pronouncing schizophrenia. With common words like schizzo (stain) and frenesia (frenzy), he would be able to put two and two together and understand the word, even if the illness were unknown to him. Perhaps one could change the dialogue to fit his ability.
May 9, 2019
A well constructed murder mystery, which begins with the admission of a patient, Penelope Jones, to a sanitarium, suffering from delusions of people trying to murder her. She is from a wealthy family and she has also married a man, Alexander Cavendish, who also comes from wealth. The husband is always in debt and Penelope is continually paying off his debts.
The story is set a few years after WWI in Lake Como. All of the characters are suffering from mental and/or physical ailments as a result of "The Great War". I recognize Dr. Barnett, chief psychiatrist at the facility, as the central character.
The story is full of deceit, hatred, unfaithfulness, greed and self-preservation at any price. Ultimately, the patient's husband is murdered in the area and the real mystery begins. As Dr. Barnett attempts to get Penelope to open up, he is virtually unsuccessful, but feels there is something about her he can't quite figure out.
Eventually, Penelope stands trial for her husband's murder and a verdict is reached.
I also felt that the author did a fine job in introducing the 2 police officials who are investigating the murder and they perform a thorough investigation.
The story is set a few years after WWI in Lake Como. All of the characters are suffering from mental and/or physical ailments as a result of "The Great War". I recognize Dr. Barnett, chief psychiatrist at the facility, as the central character.
The story is full of deceit, hatred, unfaithfulness, greed and self-preservation at any price. Ultimately, the patient's husband is murdered in the area and the real mystery begins. As Dr. Barnett attempts to get Penelope to open up, he is virtually unsuccessful, but feels there is something about her he can't quite figure out.
Eventually, Penelope stands trial for her husband's murder and a verdict is reached.
I also felt that the author did a fine job in introducing the 2 police officials who are investigating the murder and they perform a thorough investigation.
October 14, 2021
Disappointing
The outline of the plot of this book would lead a great writer to write an excellent book. An excellent writer would have written a fabulous book. This work was okay at best. Maybe it's because I have been listening to Agatha Christie while driving. She would have taken this plot to a sublime place. My other, newer, favorite Tana French would have done incredible things with this plot. The writing was wooden, the elements of the mystery disjointed and none of the characters fully developed. May I point out how annoying the repetitive flashbacks were?
I saw this work listed somewhere online and I clicked on it. (The cover art was very attractive.) I saw that it was free on Kindle. So, I downloaded it to read when I could. I don't regret doing so, but I remember my father's advice -- don't judge a book by its cover and you get what you pay for.
The outline of the plot of this book would lead a great writer to write an excellent book. An excellent writer would have written a fabulous book. This work was okay at best. Maybe it's because I have been listening to Agatha Christie while driving. She would have taken this plot to a sublime place. My other, newer, favorite Tana French would have done incredible things with this plot. The writing was wooden, the elements of the mystery disjointed and none of the characters fully developed. May I point out how annoying the repetitive flashbacks were?
I saw this work listed somewhere online and I clicked on it. (The cover art was very attractive.) I saw that it was free on Kindle. So, I downloaded it to read when I could. I don't regret doing so, but I remember my father's advice -- don't judge a book by its cover and you get what you pay for.
May 4, 2024
This was such a thrilling read that had me on the edge of my seat. There were so many twists and turns.
February 14, 2025
This is a murder mystery set in the beautiful landscape of Lake Como. And the scenery is probably my favourite thing about this book. The descriptions are tranquil and beautiful; at odds with the plot.
Penelope Jones has been committed to a mental institution in 1920. She is a wealthy socialite who has a diagnosis of schizophrenia, at the time a very misunderstood illness. She is suffering from the delusion that someone is trying to kill her. Multiple attempts have been made on her life. Or have they?
Penelope’s husband, the womanising gambler Alexander Cavendish is murdered outside of the cabin he is renting by the hospital. Who did it? Nobody likes the man. His father-in-law, Wellington Jones, and Wellington’s PA/PI, Mr Cain are prime suspects. As are Penelope’s doctor and his wife, Joseph and Rose Barnett, who knew Cavendish from the war and had every reason to want him dead. And then, there’s the gangster and his henchman to whom Cavendish owes a lot of money.
I liked the mystery. There were times I was ripping through the pages. But, also, there were times it felt like the same thing was being said for the umpteenth time. For example, Penelope and her claims of people trying to kill her got a little boring at times. I wanted the story to move on. I liked the conclusion, and I still wasn’t sure until the end. Although, I did have a pretty good idea about what was going on.
A good, solid read. Quick and easy.
Penelope Jones has been committed to a mental institution in 1920. She is a wealthy socialite who has a diagnosis of schizophrenia, at the time a very misunderstood illness. She is suffering from the delusion that someone is trying to kill her. Multiple attempts have been made on her life. Or have they?
Penelope’s husband, the womanising gambler Alexander Cavendish is murdered outside of the cabin he is renting by the hospital. Who did it? Nobody likes the man. His father-in-law, Wellington Jones, and Wellington’s PA/PI, Mr Cain are prime suspects. As are Penelope’s doctor and his wife, Joseph and Rose Barnett, who knew Cavendish from the war and had every reason to want him dead. And then, there’s the gangster and his henchman to whom Cavendish owes a lot of money.
I liked the mystery. There were times I was ripping through the pages. But, also, there were times it felt like the same thing was being said for the umpteenth time. For example, Penelope and her claims of people trying to kill her got a little boring at times. I wanted the story to move on. I liked the conclusion, and I still wasn’t sure until the end. Although, I did have a pretty good idea about what was going on.
A good, solid read. Quick and easy.
May 25, 2019
This book opens with at the finding of a body on the shores of Lake Como. The identity of the body yet to be revealed. The narrative then focuses on the events leading up to the murder and its investigation. The cast of characters is small and yet there are connections that make them all possible suspects. I am finding it very difficult to give an overview without giving away the plot line.
There is an emphasis on the recently finished World War I and its impact on the protagonists. There is also a Shakespearean thread running through it.
I think the book took a long while to reach into my mind and capture my imagination but it became very readable. I think the author managed the twists and turns and the potential suspects well giving some things away but not everything. I loved the characterisation, particularly of the Detective. I am not convinced he managed the mental illness side of the plot quite as well.
The trial and verdict was a bit of a let down - it left me with many questions but the final twist made me smile.
I am not totally convinced by the book but in the end was a reasonably good read.
There is an emphasis on the recently finished World War I and its impact on the protagonists. There is also a Shakespearean thread running through it.
I think the book took a long while to reach into my mind and capture my imagination but it became very readable. I think the author managed the twists and turns and the potential suspects well giving some things away but not everything. I loved the characterisation, particularly of the Detective. I am not convinced he managed the mental illness side of the plot quite as well.
The trial and verdict was a bit of a let down - it left me with many questions but the final twist made me smile.
I am not totally convinced by the book but in the end was a reasonably good read.
October 18, 2021
This novel is in DESPERATE need of an honest and unsentimental editor. The story itself is contrived but workable. In the hands of an author who didn't take themselves so seriously, it could have been quirky and fun. In the hands of Mr. Miller, it is nearly unreadable. I nearly tapped out at multiple points when my eyes got sore from so much rolling, however, I take my duty as a book giveaway winner seriously, so I carried on. The pacing is awful (this book was pushed as a murder mystery, but there is no murder until the literal halfway point), the characters are incredibly flat despite pages and pages of superfluous details, entire passages can be completely skipped without affecting anything (all italicized passages are entirely skippable), words treated as homonyms that simply are not, intense detail given to scenery and locations but not even a simple Google search to verify the symptoms, treatment, or prognosis of the mental illness used as a plot point, repeated call backs to things that happened half a page earlier, and rampant mysogeny. It's a frustrating mess of a read.
October 29, 2024
This is a gripping historical murder mystery, set just after WWI in Lake Como, Italy. Six survivors of this Great War find themselves drawn together including a wealthy heiress – who believes someone is trying to kill her – and a Psychiatrist - suffering with PTSD - whose flashbacks bring home the painful atrocities of war and the many innocent lives lost along the way.
Author Miller weaves a gripping, realistic tale that kept me turning the pages. The author’s rich, descriptive and creative writing made me feel as if I were there, in Lake Como, a place I have yet to experience.
The storyline is intriguing and the many twists and turns really kept me guessing until the very end. This is a fabulous read, well researched and cleverly written and is completely worthy of 5 stars.
This is the first book I have read from John Anthony Miller and I look forward to reading more from this talented author.
Author Miller weaves a gripping, realistic tale that kept me turning the pages. The author’s rich, descriptive and creative writing made me feel as if I were there, in Lake Como, a place I have yet to experience.
The storyline is intriguing and the many twists and turns really kept me guessing until the very end. This is a fabulous read, well researched and cleverly written and is completely worthy of 5 stars.
This is the first book I have read from John Anthony Miller and I look forward to reading more from this talented author.
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