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Everybody's a Suspect #3
Everybody Called Her A Saint
Who would want to kill the sainted Twila Belk?
. . .Especially since she had footed the bill for an Antarctica cruise with 48 of her “closest friends?”
But when a search team discovers the body of the murdered benefactress on Brown Bluff Island, an unlikely duo joins forces to solve the heinous crime.
Though once engaged, Reverend James Burton and Psychologists Julie West are no longer even on speaking terms. Can their mutual love and admiration for a dear, departed friend allow them to set aside their animosities long enough to bring Twila’s killer to justice?
. . .Especially since she had footed the bill for an Antarctica cruise with 48 of her “closest friends?”
But when a search team discovers the body of the murdered benefactress on Brown Bluff Island, an unlikely duo joins forces to solve the heinous crime.
Though once engaged, Reverend James Burton and Psychologists Julie West are no longer even on speaking terms. Can their mutual love and admiration for a dear, departed friend allow them to set aside their animosities long enough to bring Twila’s killer to justice?
- GenresMystery
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
1 person is currently reading
26 people want to read
About the author
Cecil Murphey
166 books58 followersCecil Murphey has written or coauthored more than one hundred books, including the autobiography of Franklin Graham, Rebel with a Cause. A collaborator on the bestseller Gifted Hands with Dr. Ben Carson, Cecil resides in Georgia.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 4, 2021
Psychologist Julie West loves minister James Burton, but won't marry him after he confesses to her the worst thing he ever did. She says he must atone for his action, but he can't bring himself to do it. Both are invited on a cruise by their friend Twila, who has chartered the whole ship for her friends and patients. Only Julie knows that Twila is facing a death sentence from a dreadful disease. When the elderly woman is murdered, finding a motive is the hard part--the psychiatrist was a devout, genuinely loving person who made lives better. Working with the ship captain, Julie and Burton find a criminal, but only when Burton confesses to the people he wronged can the couple move on to a life together.
December 31, 2025
This is the third murder mystery involving the Reverend James Burton and his psychologist side-kick, Julie West. The first was not bad, the second was good, and the third IMO hit it out of the park.
Julie West has recently broken off her engagement with her fiance James Burton when her best friend begs her to go on a group trip booked to cruise through Antarctica. Among that group is, you guessed it, her ex. On the cruise, someone is found to be murdered (this is a murder mystery after all) and Julie reluctantly teams up with James to solve the mystery. Will they reconcile while also investigating who-done-it? You'll have to read it to find out.
The reason I gave the book a 5-star rating was because it was one of those rare books that after I stopped reading it, I actively missed the two main characters. That doesn't happen for me very often, but after reading 3 books about these two, I had become quite invested in them both. The author did such a great job of bringing them to life.
Julie West has recently broken off her engagement with her fiance James Burton when her best friend begs her to go on a group trip booked to cruise through Antarctica. Among that group is, you guessed it, her ex. On the cruise, someone is found to be murdered (this is a murder mystery after all) and Julie reluctantly teams up with James to solve the mystery. Will they reconcile while also investigating who-done-it? You'll have to read it to find out.
The reason I gave the book a 5-star rating was because it was one of those rare books that after I stopped reading it, I actively missed the two main characters. That doesn't happen for me very often, but after reading 3 books about these two, I had become quite invested in them both. The author did such a great job of bringing them to life.
December 30, 2019
This story was a little confusing for me. A lot was going on and I found myself having to reread some passages.
June 21, 2010
Of course, when I reviewed Everybody Loved Roger Harden and Everybody Wanted Room 623, you knew it was inevitable that the final book of Cecil Murphey’s ‘cozy mysteries’ would also find its way into these spaces. But even if I hadn’t read the first two, I believe this one would’ve shown up anyway. ‘Cuz, as the A1 Steak Sauce people say, “Yeah…it’s that good.”*
In this final installment, our heroic duo, Julie West and James Burton, embark on an Antarctic voyage at the request of their mutual friend, psychiatrist Twila Belk. Startling to discover, Julie and Burton aren’t on speaking terms. Mm hmm, something has happened since Room 623 that has sent Julie through the ceiling and she has broken their engagement. More on this later.
Early in the voyage, Twila is murdered. This presented me with a problem. In real life, Twila Belk—yes, Cec did it again; he killed off a friend—is Mr. Murphey’s esteemed assistant. The delightful Ms. Belk is actually the person who sent me the book. Which, in and of itself is fine; however, when I read of her demise on the first page…and then looked down at the return address on the envelope in which the book arrived…well, it was a little eerie. You get it, right? Enough on that.
As I said prior to digressing, early in the voyage, Twila is murdered. Clearly, the only possible suspect is among the other 45 passengers on the ship, all of whom are friends and/or patients—former and current—of Twila’s. No coincidence; Twila had chartered the boat and paid everyone’s passage, for one reason or another. So, as we’d expect, with the unofficial blessing of the ship’s captain, Julie and Burton set about investigating the murder. This, of course, is complicated by their strained relationship, which they have to shelve to do honor to Twila’s memory.
Mr. Murphey succeeds in pulling off another intricate whodunit, again in the first-person through Julie’s eyes. The gripper of this tale, though, has nothing to do with the investigation, or even with Twila’s murder. It has to do with Julie and Burton. If you read my review of Roger Harden, you’ll recall each person on the island had a secret known only to Roger and the respective individual. During that investigation, everyone’s secret came to light. Everyone’s except Burton’s. It’s this secret that, when he tells it to Julie, unravels their relationship. Want to know what it is? Hah!
You. Will. Never. Guess. This. One.
If you read either of the first two cozy mysteries, you’ll leave this earth at the end of your life incomplete unless you’ve read Everybody Called Her a Saint. If you haven’t read either of the first two, you can still enjoy this final mystery—but you’ll be oh-so-much-happier to have read Roger Harden and Room 623, first.
Yeah…they’re all that good.
* Yes, yes, I know the A1 slogan is actually, “Yeah, it’s that important.” Allow me a little artistic license, would you, please?
In this final installment, our heroic duo, Julie West and James Burton, embark on an Antarctic voyage at the request of their mutual friend, psychiatrist Twila Belk. Startling to discover, Julie and Burton aren’t on speaking terms. Mm hmm, something has happened since Room 623 that has sent Julie through the ceiling and she has broken their engagement. More on this later.
Early in the voyage, Twila is murdered. This presented me with a problem. In real life, Twila Belk—yes, Cec did it again; he killed off a friend—is Mr. Murphey’s esteemed assistant. The delightful Ms. Belk is actually the person who sent me the book. Which, in and of itself is fine; however, when I read of her demise on the first page…and then looked down at the return address on the envelope in which the book arrived…well, it was a little eerie. You get it, right? Enough on that.
As I said prior to digressing, early in the voyage, Twila is murdered. Clearly, the only possible suspect is among the other 45 passengers on the ship, all of whom are friends and/or patients—former and current—of Twila’s. No coincidence; Twila had chartered the boat and paid everyone’s passage, for one reason or another. So, as we’d expect, with the unofficial blessing of the ship’s captain, Julie and Burton set about investigating the murder. This, of course, is complicated by their strained relationship, which they have to shelve to do honor to Twila’s memory.
Mr. Murphey succeeds in pulling off another intricate whodunit, again in the first-person through Julie’s eyes. The gripper of this tale, though, has nothing to do with the investigation, or even with Twila’s murder. It has to do with Julie and Burton. If you read my review of Roger Harden, you’ll recall each person on the island had a secret known only to Roger and the respective individual. During that investigation, everyone’s secret came to light. Everyone’s except Burton’s. It’s this secret that, when he tells it to Julie, unravels their relationship. Want to know what it is? Hah!
You. Will. Never. Guess. This. One.
If you read either of the first two cozy mysteries, you’ll leave this earth at the end of your life incomplete unless you’ve read Everybody Called Her a Saint. If you haven’t read either of the first two, you can still enjoy this final mystery—but you’ll be oh-so-much-happier to have read Roger Harden and Room 623, first.
Yeah…they’re all that good.
* Yes, yes, I know the A1 slogan is actually, “Yeah, it’s that important.” Allow me a little artistic license, would you, please?
February 27, 2016
Enjoyable mystery with enjoyable characters. The murderer was a little obvious almost from the start but it wasn't so obvious it spoiled the story. There is a strong Christian overtone in this story so if that isn't something you enjoy, this one is not for you.
July 23, 2012
It wasn't until the very end that I was able to guess the secret we first suspected in the first book. Well played, Cecil Murphey. Well played.
August 15, 2012
Just more of the same light-hearted whodunit-ness that the first two novels delivered, not that there's anything wrong with that.
December 2, 2012
Light murder mystery located on a cruise to Antarctica. Burton and Julie are estranged due to a big secret of Burton's.
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March 9, 2016The characters are poorly written, their interactions horrible; just was a bad read all around.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews