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Elizabeth MacPherson #6
Missing Susan
Edgar Award winner Sharyn McCrumb brings you her sixth Elizabeh MacPherson mystery novel.
The unsinkable Elizabeth is on tour of England's most famous murder sites, when Rowan Rover, the group leader, is quietly asked to commit murder. He does, of course, but not without misgivings--not the least of which is having Elizabeth MacPherson, canny observer and all-around murder spoiler, on his tail...
"Sharyn McCrunb is definitely a rising star in the New Golden Age of mystery fiction. I look forward to reading her for a long time to come."
Elizabeth Peters
From the Paperback edition.
The unsinkable Elizabeth is on tour of England's most famous murder sites, when Rowan Rover, the group leader, is quietly asked to commit murder. He does, of course, but not without misgivings--not the least of which is having Elizabeth MacPherson, canny observer and all-around murder spoiler, on his tail...
"Sharyn McCrunb is definitely a rising star in the New Golden Age of mystery fiction. I look forward to reading her for a long time to come."
Elizabeth Peters
From the Paperback edition.
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1991
41 people are currently reading
387 people want to read
About the author
Sharyn McCrumb
116 books1,127 followers
Sharyn McCrumb, an award-winning Southern writer, is best known for her Appalachian “Ballad” novels, including the New York Times best sellers The Ballad of Tom Dooley, The Ballad of Frankie Silver, and The Songcatcher. Ghost Riders, which won the Wilma Dykeman Award for Literature from the East Tennessee Historical Society and the national Audie Award for Best Recorded Books. The Unquiet Grave, a well-researched novel about West Virginia's Greenbrier Ghost, will be published in September by Atria, a division of Simon &Schuster.
Sharyn McCrumb, named a Virginia Woman of History by the Library of Virginia and a Woman of the Arts by the national Daughters of the American Revolution, was awarded the Mary Hobson Prize for Arts & Letters in 2014. Her books have been named New York Times and Los Angeles Times Notable Books. In addition to presenting programs at universities, libraries, and other organizations throughout the US, Sharyn McCrumb has taught a writers workshop in Paris, and served as writer-in-residence at King University in Tennessee, and at the Chautauqua Institute in western New York.
Sharyn McCrumb, an award-winning Southern writer, is best known for her Appalachian “Ballad” novels, including the New York Times best sellers The Ballad of Tom Dooley, The Ballad of Frankie Silver, and The Songcatcher. Ghost Riders, which won the Wilma Dykeman Award for Literature from the East Tennessee Historical Society and the national Audie Award for Best Recorded Books. The Unquiet Grave, a well-researched novel about West Virginia's Greenbrier Ghost, will be published in September by Atria, a division of Simon &Schuster.
Sharyn McCrumb, named a Virginia Woman of History by the Library of Virginia and a Woman of the Arts by the national Daughters of the American Revolution, was awarded the Mary Hobson Prize for Arts & Letters in 2014. Her books have been named New York Times and Los Angeles Times Notable Books. In addition to presenting programs at universities, libraries, and other organizations throughout the US, Sharyn McCrumb has taught a writers workshop in Paris, and served as writer-in-residence at King University in Tennessee, and at the Chautauqua Institute in western New York.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
June 17, 2022
Elizabeth MacPherson/Dawson cozies by Sharyn McCrumb confound because they are a little off-kilter. Not quite mysteries, generally speaking, although there usually is a murder, not quite always 'solved', although sometimes someone does solve it - never Elizabeth herself - but the murder is never the focus, and while there is a lot of action, it primarily is through insult or satiric conversation, diary entries or letters, despite the dialogue occurring in interesting settings through which the multiple characters walk about. Nobody is evil, generally, but everyone is plenty annoying the way many relatives are when you have to accommodate their presence and opinions when you don't quite get along. As the series progressed, Elizabeth graduated from college, is lovesick a few times, meets her man and marries him, moved to Scotland, is a qualified forensic anthropologist and somehow walks past, around, under and over every murder happening in front of her nose. Occasionally, she actually realizes one has happened or is about to happen - yet she gets it wrong.
It's very amusing.
I wish the writing was better. Too often I come across clunky sentences (frankly, since I'm not a writer and am no expert on grammar, I can't explain why I get jarred, but I do). However, these novels are fun and interesting, and the author is not afraid to mix up her styles of cozy presentation.
This one is for bibliophiles, particularly those who adore murder mysteries and authors, and those who enjoy fan touring. There are real-life tours available where fans can go on buses which take readers to houses, streets, pubs, etc. where either a famous character or author actually lived or ate. As you can imagine, Britain can provide such a fan with a billion such tours. To really get your money's worth on literary tours, it has always appeared to me the fan must memorize every sentence in every book by an author they adore, plus read multiple biographies about the author and memorize every line of those, and to really do it right, find and memorize every arcane fact and rumor ever printed or mentioned throughout history about the book and author. Then, go on a tour which takes you to all the locations with other fans seated around you, and proceed to argue, disagree and ventilate with everyone around you about the facts you learned about your author or adored character.
I love books and characters, and I find it interesting, sometimes, to trouble myself to learn more about the author. I REALLY don't care to drive by a house that the author used as a plot device or memorize the second sentence in chapter ten. The absolute dullest moment I can imagine is to waste time on staring at a square of sidewalk on an ordinary street because that's where a character got shot or deserted or whatever in a famous book.
This novel, sigh, is an itinerary of a fan tour by tourist bus, with amusing conversation.
Murder mystery bibliophiles who undertake a tour in southern England around various locations where a variety of mystery writers lived, wrote and died, as well as where genuine murders from real life were committed by 14th-century aristocrats and commoners, up to the present day are humorously portrayed in 'Missing Susan'. The tourists are not professional literature researchers, but avid admirers and titillated readers of murders, real and fictional.
Unknown to them, an uncle of one of the tourists has approached the guide with an offer he finds difficult to refuse. The uncle has a niece he wants killed. He is willing to pay thousands to have it done. While the guide mulls the offer over during the tour, Elizabeth is getting to know her fellow travelers and enjoying herself with as much shopping as she can squeeze into their crowded itinerary. Eventually, the guide decides to do it, but as he really is not a murderer, his tentative strikes at the oblivious victim go terribly wrong. Basically, the people who are near the lady tend to get hurt in the oddest accidents.
I enjoyed the last chapter very much.
It's very amusing.
I wish the writing was better. Too often I come across clunky sentences (frankly, since I'm not a writer and am no expert on grammar, I can't explain why I get jarred, but I do). However, these novels are fun and interesting, and the author is not afraid to mix up her styles of cozy presentation.
This one is for bibliophiles, particularly those who adore murder mysteries and authors, and those who enjoy fan touring. There are real-life tours available where fans can go on buses which take readers to houses, streets, pubs, etc. where either a famous character or author actually lived or ate. As you can imagine, Britain can provide such a fan with a billion such tours. To really get your money's worth on literary tours, it has always appeared to me the fan must memorize every sentence in every book by an author they adore, plus read multiple biographies about the author and memorize every line of those, and to really do it right, find and memorize every arcane fact and rumor ever printed or mentioned throughout history about the book and author. Then, go on a tour which takes you to all the locations with other fans seated around you, and proceed to argue, disagree and ventilate with everyone around you about the facts you learned about your author or adored character.
I love books and characters, and I find it interesting, sometimes, to trouble myself to learn more about the author. I REALLY don't care to drive by a house that the author used as a plot device or memorize the second sentence in chapter ten. The absolute dullest moment I can imagine is to waste time on staring at a square of sidewalk on an ordinary street because that's where a character got shot or deserted or whatever in a famous book.
This novel, sigh, is an itinerary of a fan tour by tourist bus, with amusing conversation.
Murder mystery bibliophiles who undertake a tour in southern England around various locations where a variety of mystery writers lived, wrote and died, as well as where genuine murders from real life were committed by 14th-century aristocrats and commoners, up to the present day are humorously portrayed in 'Missing Susan'. The tourists are not professional literature researchers, but avid admirers and titillated readers of murders, real and fictional.
Unknown to them, an uncle of one of the tourists has approached the guide with an offer he finds difficult to refuse. The uncle has a niece he wants killed. He is willing to pay thousands to have it done. While the guide mulls the offer over during the tour, Elizabeth is getting to know her fellow travelers and enjoying herself with as much shopping as she can squeeze into their crowded itinerary. Eventually, the guide decides to do it, but as he really is not a murderer, his tentative strikes at the oblivious victim go terribly wrong. Basically, the people who are near the lady tend to get hurt in the oddest accidents.
I enjoyed the last chapter very much.
November 15, 2016
I read this book because the characters embark on a mystery tour of many of England's historical sights. If you're looking for directions to the aforementioned sights, this book gives you all the roads taken to reach them. Although there is a murder-for-hire story line, the plot is silly and almost non existent. I've read and enjoyed many of Ms. McCrumb's books, especially the ones set in Appalachia, but I won't be reading the next in this series.
June 27, 2017
I liked some parts of it, specifically all the references to British geography and history, true crime, and crime fiction. However, the plot was rather dumb, reminding me of a Hallmark Mystery Channel movie. I much prefer her Appalachian mysteries.
May 30, 2022
I just found this book incredibly boring. Nothing really happened, it certainly wasn’t a mystery, and then it just ended. The characters were unlikable and completely over the top. The concept of the tour was weird…who would pay money for a tour that had not even decided where it was going? And most of the people on the tour were not even interested in the “theme.” I really don’t understand what the author was trying to do with this.
May 18, 2012
"The unsinkable Elizabeth MacPherson is on tour, traveling with a charmingly gruesome caravan of Americans visiting England's most famous murder sites. The cantankerous and condescending guide, Rowan Rover, thinks he's shockproof -- until a mild-mannered American businessman on his Jack the Ripper walk asks a small favor: since Rowan knows so much about murder, would he mind committing one, for a nice, fat fee?
"Surprised at himself, Rowan agrees to eliminate the unsuspecting Susan. It's not that he doesn't have misgivings; he does. But he's already cashed the check; he desperately needs the money; and, well, there are rules about gentlemen's agreements, aren't there?
Enter Elizabeth MacPherson, canny observer and all-around murder spoiler. No would-be assassin needs her on his tail. But there she'll stay until the end of the tour or the completion of Rowan's mission -- whichever comes first ..."
~~back cover
Who writes these things? This is so misleading! Yes, Elizabeth joins a tour of famous murder sites. Yes, everyone else on the tour is American. Yes, Rowan Rover is approached by an American businessman and offered $50K to murder his niece Susan, & make it look like an accident. Yes, Rowan -- the wet ineffectual -- desperately needs the money, what with several ex-wives clamoring for their alimony and not to mention the debts he's run up. And so he cashes the check, a feat accomplished by shutting his eyes tight and refusing to think about the consequences of his actions. (Do we see a pattern here?)
The remainder of the story is about his increasingly frantic attempts to complete his assignment, all ill thought out and unsuccessful. With each botched try -- each of which results in one of the other members of the tour becoming ill or injured -- our Rowan becomes more frantic, as time is beginning to run out. And he doesn't want to contemplate his future should he fail, and not be able to return the down payment he's already spent.
I won't spoil the ending for you. You can probably work it out for yourself, as the plot mooches along toward thickening.
Our Elizabeth is entirely superfluous to the plot -- thrown in as window dressing. The whole thing would have gone on just the same had she not been there. She did fill the function of being quite knowledgeable about the various murders down through the centuries -- a nice foil to Rowan, whose knowledge was just short of encyclopedic.
"Surprised at himself, Rowan agrees to eliminate the unsuspecting Susan. It's not that he doesn't have misgivings; he does. But he's already cashed the check; he desperately needs the money; and, well, there are rules about gentlemen's agreements, aren't there?
Enter Elizabeth MacPherson, canny observer and all-around murder spoiler. No would-be assassin needs her on his tail. But there she'll stay until the end of the tour or the completion of Rowan's mission -- whichever comes first ..."
~~back cover
Who writes these things? This is so misleading! Yes, Elizabeth joins a tour of famous murder sites. Yes, everyone else on the tour is American. Yes, Rowan Rover is approached by an American businessman and offered $50K to murder his niece Susan, & make it look like an accident. Yes, Rowan -- the wet ineffectual -- desperately needs the money, what with several ex-wives clamoring for their alimony and not to mention the debts he's run up. And so he cashes the check, a feat accomplished by shutting his eyes tight and refusing to think about the consequences of his actions. (Do we see a pattern here?)
The remainder of the story is about his increasingly frantic attempts to complete his assignment, all ill thought out and unsuccessful. With each botched try -- each of which results in one of the other members of the tour becoming ill or injured -- our Rowan becomes more frantic, as time is beginning to run out. And he doesn't want to contemplate his future should he fail, and not be able to return the down payment he's already spent.
I won't spoil the ending for you. You can probably work it out for yourself, as the plot mooches along toward thickening.
Our Elizabeth is entirely superfluous to the plot -- thrown in as window dressing. The whole thing would have gone on just the same had she not been there. She did fill the function of being quite knowledgeable about the various murders down through the centuries -- a nice foil to Rowan, whose knowledge was just short of encyclopedic.
October 20, 2021
While it is not my favorite, this is a good Elizabeth MacPherson novel. Elizabeth's husband is making a seal trip for work and she signs up for a murder mystery tour of England. The trip is led by a scholar whose life is a financial disaster. He agrees to kill a Minneapolis heiress who is on the trip. The trip is often hilarious and the ending makes an unpredictable turn. It was a fun read.
July 27, 2021
EDIT: I finished this book and am even more disappointed. I expected a cat-and-mouse style game of attempted murderer vs sleuth, but got a cheap comedy with an abrupt end. The ending makes both main characters even more unlikeable than expected.
I picked this book up as a treat because I usually love McCrumb's works. Even the one I liked the least somehow still kept me interested with its ties to the past and descriptions of the area. However, I'm struggling to even finish this one and can hardly believe the same person who wrote my favorite ballad novels wrote this too.
All the main characters come off as unlikeable from the start. I remember liking Elizabeth more other books, but she comes off like the most insensitive true crime fan who acts like a snob over actual deaths. If this book were adapted for modern times, she'd definitely be listening to some overzealous white women butcher a crime retelling on their podcast. Rowan is no better. He is also a know-it-all in the most insufferable way, and none of his background or opinions we get to know paint him in any sort of good light. I can't try to feel for his dilemma at all because I just can't care. Points for making Susan annoying as a twist, but she's too annoying even for a sense of humor or motivation.
The other reason Susan drives me up a wall is because I've lived in the Twin Cities my whole life. If McCrumb can detail all the historical crimes in this book so well, or go into wonderful depths on the history and nature of Appalachia, she can at least look up whether Minnesota has drought restrictions or get her areas of town correct.
I picked this book up as a treat because I usually love McCrumb's works. Even the one I liked the least somehow still kept me interested with its ties to the past and descriptions of the area. However, I'm struggling to even finish this one and can hardly believe the same person who wrote my favorite ballad novels wrote this too.
All the main characters come off as unlikeable from the start. I remember liking Elizabeth more other books, but she comes off like the most insensitive true crime fan who acts like a snob over actual deaths. If this book were adapted for modern times, she'd definitely be listening to some overzealous white women butcher a crime retelling on their podcast. Rowan is no better. He is also a know-it-all in the most insufferable way, and none of his background or opinions we get to know paint him in any sort of good light. I can't try to feel for his dilemma at all because I just can't care. Points for making Susan annoying as a twist, but she's too annoying even for a sense of humor or motivation.
The other reason Susan drives me up a wall is because I've lived in the Twin Cities my whole life. If McCrumb can detail all the historical crimes in this book so well, or go into wonderful depths on the history and nature of Appalachia, she can at least look up whether Minnesota has drought restrictions or get her areas of town correct.
April 26, 2022
Rowan Rover is broke. Too many ex-wives, too much child support, and too much love for the contents of a booze bottle combined to bring him to his fiscal knees. A former teacher, Rover scrapes what money he can by leading walking tours of sites in the UK where famous murders occurred. It’s not a lot of money, but it’s steady.
Rover leads such a group in the spring when an American approaches him. It seems that the American’s sister plans to visit England in the fall as part of a tour group interested in murder sites and other mystery-related places. The American offers rover a significant amount of money if Rover can find a way to kill his niece and make it look like an accident. Rover accepts, but when fall comes, he is horrified at the thought of what he agreed to.
Still, the tour group came, and Rover, a former criminologist, is the tour guide. The always-talking Susan is one of the group members as is Elizabeth MacPherson. Newly married, Elizabeth is unhappy that her marine-biologist husband is on another research vessel leaving his new wife at home in Scotland. That helped her decide to do the murder tour.
I loved the way this ended. It’s so clever you need to read it. It’s not essential that you start at the beginning of the series, but it’s more fun if you do.
Rover leads such a group in the spring when an American approaches him. It seems that the American’s sister plans to visit England in the fall as part of a tour group interested in murder sites and other mystery-related places. The American offers rover a significant amount of money if Rover can find a way to kill his niece and make it look like an accident. Rover accepts, but when fall comes, he is horrified at the thought of what he agreed to.
Still, the tour group came, and Rover, a former criminologist, is the tour guide. The always-talking Susan is one of the group members as is Elizabeth MacPherson. Newly married, Elizabeth is unhappy that her marine-biologist husband is on another research vessel leaving his new wife at home in Scotland. That helped her decide to do the murder tour.
I loved the way this ended. It’s so clever you need to read it. It’s not essential that you start at the beginning of the series, but it’s more fun if you do.
November 26, 2017
This was given by a friend who knows I like murder mysteries. It was all about a group of travelers on a bus in England. It was pretty realistic and it often reminded me of my recent bus trip to Branson, Mo. The book tour had a travel guide, Rowan, who was a bit of an authority on the history of murders and locations. He was hired to kill a passenger, whom everyone hated during their trip because she was so annoying and talkative. I found the story interesting and amusing. There was a lot to learn about the sights in England, as well.
February 2, 2013
I laughed out loud reading this funny yet deadly serious mystery set in the English countryside. I also loved the Jack the Ripper tour woven into the plot since English mysteries are my favorite genre. It was the first book I read by Sharyn McCrumb and now having read all her novels except the race car ones I still remember how engaging this one was.
January 23, 2016
Edgar Award winner Sharyn McCrumb brings you her sixth Elizabeth MacPherson mystery novel. The unsinkable Elizabeth is on tour of England's most famous murder sites, when Rowan Rover, the group leader, is quietly asked to commit murder. He does, of course, but not without misgivings--not the... Shelfari.com If you love England you will love this travel log. However, the plot is a bit weak.
March 19, 2009
I enjoy reading mystery series and had high hopes for this series. The earlier books were okay, but this particular book was pretty silly, without even a real mystery. Also I find the romantic relationship that has been central to the series very odd--I don't quite get what they see in each other.
March 27, 2018
We read this for a mystery book but I think it was more of a comedy. I wavered between 2 and 3 but a lot of the dialogue was annoying and all the characters were very idiosyncratic so I opted for a 2 because it really was just ok.
Read
April 15, 2020Elizabeth MacPherson goes on a mystery tour in England with a group of crime enthusiasts. The tour guide has been hired to off one of the participants, Susan--but unfortunately for him and fortunately for her, he keeps missing.
December 28, 2017
Mildly entertaining. I like her Ballad series books, but I won't be reading another of the Elizabeth McPherson series.
February 27, 2012
Cute premise for a book and I enjoyed how it all ended but it was very slow going and hard to get in to.
October 5, 2012
Interesting! Very different sort of murder mystery. And the first one where I was thoroughly rooting for the demise of the intended victim!
January 16, 2013
Not quite enough plot or character development to really hook me.
April 24, 2015
not as good as her other books
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 5, 2016
Lacking adventure, suspense, and just an ok book.
August 30, 2019
I feel that this story could have gone in several different directions that would have been so much more interesting.
September 24, 2019
Although I still admire the author’s ability to create characters, this mystery was a bit dated in both style and crime. The side stories and travel descriptions outshone the crime itself.
June 16, 2022
a hapless tour guide (in debt) is paid to off a woman that is to be on his upcoming murder tour. for one hundred pages there is character development/travel log before he begins to make an attempt at getting rid of her, and the reader knows his efforts will fail 'cause there are a hundred pages to go.
May 15, 2021
An enjoyable mixture of true crime and amateur sleuthing through the prism of Hollywood and the BBC unfolds on a murder mystery tour in the British Isles. A 5 star book but for the tediousnes of the would-be murderer and the unsatisfactory resolution decided upon by MacPherson.
December 10, 2021
I really love this book.
July 26, 2025
Such an interesting premise, and I loved the murder / mystery tour - I would SO be in for doing this tour, but.... the book just didn't really do it for me. There was not enough action until the last quarter, and the way the characters talked and acted felt so one dimensional.
October 28, 2025
I really enjoyed this book.
The story, the events, the main character and the other characters. Not to mention that most of the book happens during a tour of England. I enjoyed that tour through the eyes of our characters.
The story, the events, the main character and the other characters. Not to mention that most of the book happens during a tour of England. I enjoyed that tour through the eyes of our characters.
October 24, 2017
Very witty
I very much enjoyed this latest book from Sharyn Mccrumb! There were twists and turns and a lot of humor.
I very much enjoyed this latest book from Sharyn Mccrumb! There were twists and turns and a lot of humor.
July 17, 2018
Definitely entertaining and funny
Want to read
August 25, 2019hardback
I think there are 9 books in this series.
I think there are 9 books in this series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews