A Nasty Bit of Murder

Dr. Jean Montrose #1

by C.F. Roe

While on a visit at Lord Aviemore's estate, Doctor Jean Montrose is able to call upon her forensics expertise when she discovers the lord's lifeless body.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Scotland, Medical, Cozy

288 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published December 1, 1992

About the author

aka Francis Roe

Reviews

[Pamela Mclaren · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dedicated female doctor finds herself caught between her family and helping to solve a murder in which only she can uncover the vital clues.

Dr. Jean Montrose has a busy practice that includes home visits and as the story opens, she has received a call to the home of the Lumsden family. Six-month-old Magnus has suffered medical challenges since his birth; mother, Stella, was deathly sick during the pregnancy and delivered the baby prematurely. Then shortly after birth, Magnus developed epilepsy.

But things take a very strange turn when Jean arrives to find that the baby has been murdered. Stella left the house to get groceries; her sister was supposed to have stayed to watch the baby but didn't. The father, Dempster Lumsden, the future Lord Aviemore, has disappeared on his latest alcoholic binge. And the neighbors all seem to have a reason for hating Dempster.

But Dempster's continuing nonappearance puts him in a bad light. Could he be the murderer? The police are ready to believe so, but Jean is not sure. And then Dempster turns up dead.

A Nasty Bit of Murder is the first in a series created by C.F. Roe, himself a physician. Dr. Montrose is a dedicated doctor who truly cares for all her family and patients, and because of that, she takes her time in taking action. And that is why this story is not only a great mystery but a compelling one as well. It is a believable and exciting story, and very good reading.

[Betsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best mysteries I've read! I was shocked at the reveal. This is the first book in Dr. Jean series and I need to read them all! If you plan to read the series, I recommend you start here because it establishes the characters so well.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

First in a series of eight. A good start. Looking forward to the next one.

[Brent Seheult · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

[Sienna · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars

This is an instance where I believe the book was inventive and well written for its time but because I read so many books from mine that the quality is to different for me to find it intriguing. I felt the writing was strongly telling instead of showing. Twists and drama predictable if not simple. Also again this book has infidelity of multiple characters. I’m looking to read one mystery where it doesn’t show up. Finally the doctor turned detective has drama in her own life and the multiple threads didn’t work together or happen in a way that combined them in any conclusive way. Honestly weren’t related I’m pretty sure Jeans marriage trouble didn’t need to happen.

All characters have prejudice, disdain, etc and it just made the tone dreary on top of the already pretty violent murders. One involving a child’s head being smashed in.

[Helen Campbell · Rating 2 out of 5]

This mystery, set in Scotland, features Dr. Jean Montrose, known to the locals as the Wee Doc. The novel is well-written but is so full of negativity that it is depressing. The murder victim, for instance, is a baby whose head has been smashed against the wall next to his crib. Only the Doc, and possibly her two daughters, have any redeeming qualities. All the other characters are prejudiced, greedy, selfish, or violent. Not a fun read.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A difficult topic with the murder of a baby. An interesting set of characters, all with possible motives. I wanted to like Dr. Jean, as she is the MC, but gosh, here's a woman so smart in some ways and ignorant in other ways. Like what is going on in her family right under her nose. And when bad things happen in her family, she blames everything on herself. 3 stars for the mystery, but 0 stars for Dr. Jean.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Dr. Jean Montrose had made her house calls to Lord Aviemore's estate many times. Only this time, the visit was dreadfully different. Inside the elegant mansion the damaged and lifeless body of the blue-blooded heir was a terrible sight. Detective Inspector Doug Niven of the Perth police suspected the victim's father, Dempster Lumsden, ex-playboy, confirmed alcoholic, and unfaithful husband to his beautiful society wife. But with Dempster mysteriously missing, Dr. Jean Montrose -- a tiny dynamo of a physician, who combined an expertise in forensics with a skill in snooping -- turned her experienced eyes toward the Lumsden's glittering circle of young aristocrats. What she found beneath the golden facade of the Scottish gentry were tarnish souls and shocking sins ... but what she searched for was the one heart dark enough to kill."
~~back cover

Expertly written! Each chapter presented a further look at one of the suspects, always in a way that made them look like the murderer ... until the next chapter. Perhaps the murderer should have been obvious, but I didn't figure it out until his or her identity was revealed at the very end.

Nice subplots as well.

[Cindy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dr. Jean Montrose is a doctor who's house call is prompted not by illness, but by the sudden death of a baby. However, it become clear that this is not a case of crib death, but a murder.

I liked the mystery element of it, although as a mother I hate the thought of someone killing a baby. But Dr. Jean's personal life is a mess and I didn't really sympathise with her at all. She never stands up to her nasty family. This is the first in a series, and I read a few more, but I'm not interested in continuing further.