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Verity Birdwood #5
Stranglehold
Max Tully, controversial, irrepressible superstar, is finally settling down. Or is he? his scapegrace son Douglas and adoring daughter Wendy certainly think so. So does his estranged third wife, the artist Berwyn Kyte. And his long-time mistress and sparring partner Isa Truby.
But Max loves surprises. And now he's planning one that will outdo everything yet.
When Verity Birdwood comes on the scene she soon realises that this time, Max has gone too far. Cool, logical Birdie's no stranger to murder. But as routine investigation becomes a hunt for a killer, and terror stalks Max's house by the sea, she finds herself caught in a web that nearly costs her her life.
But Max loves surprises. And now he's planning one that will outdo everything yet.
When Verity Birdwood comes on the scene she soon realises that this time, Max has gone too far. Cool, logical Birdie's no stranger to murder. But as routine investigation becomes a hunt for a killer, and terror stalks Max's house by the sea, she finds herself caught in a web that nearly costs her her life.
- GenresMystery
247 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1993
38 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Rowe
34 books46 followersAlso known as: Mary-Anne Dickinson, Mary Anne Dickinson, Emily Rodda
Winner of the Dromkeen Medal (1995).
Jennifer June Rowe is an Australian author. Her crime fiction for adults is published under her own name, while her children's fiction is published under the pseudonyms Emily Rodda and Mary-Anne Dickinson. She is well known for the children's fantasy series Deltora Quest, Rowan of Rin, Fairy Realm and Teen Power Inc., and recently the Rondo trilogy.
Rowe was born in Sydney, Australia, and raised with two younger brothers on Sydney's North Shore. Her father was Jim Oswin, the founding general manager of ATN7 in Sydney, and was responsible for classic 1960s TV shows such as My Name's McGooley, What's Yours? and The Mavis Bramston Show. She attended the Abbotsleigh School for Girls on the upper North Shore of Sydney.
She attained her Master of Arts in English Literature at the University of Sydney in 1973. Her first job was assistant editor at Paul Hamlyn publishing. She later worked at Angus and Robertson Publishers where she remained for fourteen years as Editor, Senior Editor, Managing Director, Deputy Publisher and finally Publisher. During this time she began writing children's books under the pseudonym Emily Rodda.
Winner of the Dromkeen Medal (1995).
Jennifer June Rowe is an Australian author. Her crime fiction for adults is published under her own name, while her children's fiction is published under the pseudonyms Emily Rodda and Mary-Anne Dickinson. She is well known for the children's fantasy series Deltora Quest, Rowan of Rin, Fairy Realm and Teen Power Inc., and recently the Rondo trilogy.
Rowe was born in Sydney, Australia, and raised with two younger brothers on Sydney's North Shore. Her father was Jim Oswin, the founding general manager of ATN7 in Sydney, and was responsible for classic 1960s TV shows such as My Name's McGooley, What's Yours? and The Mavis Bramston Show. She attended the Abbotsleigh School for Girls on the upper North Shore of Sydney.
She attained her Master of Arts in English Literature at the University of Sydney in 1973. Her first job was assistant editor at Paul Hamlyn publishing. She later worked at Angus and Robertson Publishers where she remained for fourteen years as Editor, Senior Editor, Managing Director, Deputy Publisher and finally Publisher. During this time she began writing children's books under the pseudonym Emily Rodda.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 14, 2020
I rather enjoy Jennifer Rowe's elegantly-plotted murder mysteries, and her central character, the scrappy ABC researcher Verity 'Birdie' Birdwood. I'd probably say this is my least favourite of the series, partly because I don't think it builds the same 'spirit of place' as the grim Lamb to the Slaughter nor boasts the balls-out melodrama of Murder by the Book. Perhaps it's also partly that (unlike Grim Pickings, where key clues are boldly dangled in front of the reader without our realising it), there is vital information only revealed to Birdie very late in the piece, making it tougher for the armchair detective to match her powers of observation.
Counter-argument: this is still great fun. Birdie, usually the outsider, is here an old family friend, upending the usual construct of these novels. Rowe still interlaces times, dates, locations with ease, spinning a complicated web in which everyone seems like a suspect, but no-one seems truly guilty. And, the more I think about it, there are some sophisticated uses of crime fiction tropes here, perfectly placed to catch the reader. A suspect with a seemingly ironclad alibi we're reminded of too often. Another suspect to whom all the clues point but who has no motive. Another obvious suspect who seems surely too obvious. Another suspect who appears to have the motive but to whom no clues really point. Rowe knows we're paying attention, and she's determined to make us work.
Long live Verity Birdwood!
Counter-argument: this is still great fun. Birdie, usually the outsider, is here an old family friend, upending the usual construct of these novels. Rowe still interlaces times, dates, locations with ease, spinning a complicated web in which everyone seems like a suspect, but no-one seems truly guilty. And, the more I think about it, there are some sophisticated uses of crime fiction tropes here, perfectly placed to catch the reader. A suspect with a seemingly ironclad alibi we're reminded of too often. Another suspect to whom all the clues point but who has no motive. Another obvious suspect who seems surely too obvious. Another suspect who appears to have the motive but to whom no clues really point. Rowe knows we're paying attention, and she's determined to make us work.
Long live Verity Birdwood!
October 30, 2023
As much as I love Jennifer Rowe and her Verity Birdwood series, I think this is my least favourite in the series. I love a bottle episode but the lurking cats and the cloying humidity set a very uncomfortable scene.
That Birdie knew the players in this game didn't help matters either - everyone was singularity unpleasant, and Birdie wasn't at her best either. It was nice to see more of her family relationships, and her thought process.
But the remoteness of the victim played against the book in this one. I found it hard to care about the victim or the motive for the murder, or the second, less intentional death.
The rest of the series I finished in a rush, but this one felt slow and ungainly.
The third wish was a nice ending but a little too pat for the usual dark series.
That Birdie knew the players in this game didn't help matters either - everyone was singularity unpleasant, and Birdie wasn't at her best either. It was nice to see more of her family relationships, and her thought process.
But the remoteness of the victim played against the book in this one. I found it hard to care about the victim or the motive for the murder, or the second, less intentional death.
The rest of the series I finished in a rush, but this one felt slow and ungainly.
The third wish was a nice ending but a little too pat for the usual dark series.
August 19, 2014
Verity Birdwood has known Max Tully and his family all her life. The now retired 70-year-old radio personality has just decided to marry for the fourth time--to his young housekeeper Mai. Neither his daughter, his son, nor his third wife (the divorce isn't final) is crazy about the idea, nor for that matter is Mai's husband, who shows up angry and drunk. But when Verity finds a dead body, all the stakes are higher than even Max's immense fortune.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews