The Past Never Dies

Miss Riddell #3

by P.C. James

A baffling burglary. A suspicious death. Can an up-and-coming amateur sleuth sort coincidence from crime?

Northern England, 1954. Miss Pauline Riddell is determined to stay busy. Grieving for her fiancé killed in Korea, the churchgoing young woman welcomes the distraction of viewing a priceless religious treasure on loan to her local cathedral. But when her inspector friend approaches her for unofficial assistance, she’s horrified to learn the artifact on exhibit is a replica… and the original has gone missing.

Bent on ferreting out the truth, Miss Riddell is hampered by orders to conceal any hint of the theft to the public. And as she doggedly tries to discover if there’s a link to the body found outside a nearby pub, she runs afoul of demanding nationalists, incensed Catholics, and angry activists.

Can she untangle the mess of motives before the relic is lost forever?

The Past Never Dies is the evocative third book in the Miss Riddell Cozy Mysteries series. If you like daring damsels, quirky casts of characters, and rich historical details, then you’ll love P.C. James’s enchanting enigma.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery

258 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 23, 2022

Reviews

[D.B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love mysteries, and while they are not my primary genre, I do enjoy them. I've enjoyed watching Miss Riddell solve puzzles; this one's better than the last. What sets these apart from others I have read the historical accuracy. The author has paid attention to detail when writing, and these are brilliantly written. If you like mysteries and are looking for a casual, cozy mystery that doesn't overtax the brain, this book and series are for you.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars

The Past Never Dies is the third book in the Miss Riddell’s Cozy Mystery Adventures series by P.C. James.
Miss Riddell’s Cozy Mystery Adventures is a ten-book boxset that follows amateur sleuth, Pauline Riddell on many adventures. The series spans about 35 years, and several countries, making for an interesting read.
With plenty of (historical) cozy mysteries, crime & investigation, intrigue, interesting characters, and dramatic developments- Miss Riddell is kept very busy, and takes us along for the ride.
The Series Contains:
-In the Beginning, There Was a Murder (Book #1)
-Then There Were… Two Murders? (Book #2)
-The Past Never Dies (Book #3)
-A Murder For Christmas (Book #4)
-Miss Riddell and the Heiress (Book #5)
-Miss Riddell and the Pet Thefts (Book #5.5)
-Miss Riddell’s Paranormal Mystery (Book #6)
-The Girl in the Gazebo (Book #7)
-The Dead of Winter (Book #8)
-It’s Murder, On a Galapagos Cruise (Book #9)

Happy Reading…

Thank you, P.C. James!

[Adrian Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This latest book in the Miss Riddell series changes things up. Yes, there's a suspicious death and a grieving mother who deserves answers. But the main plot centers around amateur sleuth Pauline Riddell's efforts to help recover a stolen national artifact, the Lindisfarne Gospels.

I really enjoyed the way James brought 1950's England to life. The grim post-war period with its economic and social woes is convincingly depicted.

Without spoiling the story, I also appreciated the challenges Pauline faces as she tries, unofficially, to help Inspector Ramsay navigate a web of possible motives and suspects. This book should appeal to cozy mystery fans everywhere and is a worthy addition to the growing series.

[Carol Amorosi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grew up on Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple books. So why is it I never wondered what Miss Marple was like in her youth? P.C. James answers my question with the Miss Riddell series, and the latest, The Past Never Dies, delivers. Pauline Riddell is sharp. She is curious, maybe a bit nosey, but she gets the job done. This latest book challenges some of her beliefs, but will Miss Riddell persevere and discover who is behind the murder? Will she find the lost relic? Grab a cup of tea and enjoy the mystery.

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Pauline and Inspector Ramsay are rapidly becoming one of my favorite teams. The only thing that I missed was what happened to Jem. He was prominently in the last book but nothing was ever mentioned again. Did he find a new home? If so, where?

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Will review series when completed

[Angela · Rating 2 out of 5]

I felt this book was convoluted. I never fully understood the final outcome. I'm continuing with the next book but will have to see where it goes before committing to the rest of the series.

[Maria do Socorro Baptista · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muita confusão em torno de uma relíquia histórica, de grupos de manifestantes, e uma morte suspeita, com a protagonista mais uma vez se colocando no meio ao tentar solucionar o mistério. Muito bom.

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite enjoyable.

P.C. James is fully fleshing out Miss Riddell in each volume. It is fun to watch her grow as a human into the person she will become by the end of the series. I look forward to the next book in her adventure.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

love these books

Another fast and fabulous read by PC James. Love these Miss Riddell books. It’s not necessary to read these in order but it’s fun to do.

[Maritza · Rating 2 out of 5]

P.C. James series of Miss Riddell are very well-written, with true character development and reasonable mysteries. However, it has no cosy-elements, no desserts. or meals or detective dogs or small town vibes, or nosy neighbors. In fact, why should these elements be included? I mean, this is MY problem, looking for cosy-reads and their naive situations. These are enjoyable from a light-mystery point of view. I wish to continue reading more of P.C. James books.