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Mrs. Malory Mysteries #7
Mrs. Malory: Death of a Dean
The venerable Englishwoman tries to help her old friend, actor David Beaumont, the prime suspect in the murder of his brother, the much-hated Dean of Culminster Cathedral and the one man standing between him and the family estate. Reprint.
176 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
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125 people want to read
About the author
Hazel Holt
63 books72 followersHazel Holt is a British novelist. She studied at King Edward VI High School for Girls in Birmingham, England, and then Newnham College, Cambridge. She went on to work at the International African Institute in London, where she became acquainted with the novelist Barbara Pym, whose biography she later wrote. She also finished one of Pym's novels after Pym died.
Holt wrote her first novel in her sixties, and is a leading crime novelist. She is best known for her "Sheila Malory" series. Her son is the novelist Tom Holt.
Holt wrote her first novel in her sixties, and is a leading crime novelist. She is best known for her "Sheila Malory" series. Her son is the novelist Tom Holt.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
February 20, 2023
Not a true "fair play" mystery, but I find myself loving this series for the sharp characterization and clever plots. Usually I am annoyed when certain clues are withheld until near the end, but with Holt I don't mind. With this one, she did such a marvelous job of peeling back layers of character and continually surprising the reader with revelations that made complete sense. I can't go into detail or I'll enter into spoiler territory but I really find these to be richly detailed stories. All I will say is, don't take anything for granted.
I also want to point out that these stories are indeed very rich without being very long--under 200 pages. I had begun to tire of some of the "bloat" in newer mysteries that don't advance character or the plot, they just take up space. I'm finding this approach very refreshing.
I also want to point out that these stories are indeed very rich without being very long--under 200 pages. I had begun to tire of some of the "bloat" in newer mysteries that don't advance character or the plot, they just take up space. I'm finding this approach very refreshing.
January 2, 2014
This one was a good one. Two deaths and one of them was murder for sure. Sheila has to get to the bottom of things before her life long friend is indicted for the deed. She goes horseback riding with the departed's daughter and does some nosy cold calling too. Love it! I notice that at the end of each of these Holt Mrs. Malory series, Hazel tends to put a 180 degree detail to what we THINK the innocent but suspected character would do. A twisted angle by one of the key protagonists which has little to do with the crime, but which is perceptive to human's duplicity. This is always at the very end, after the solve or reveal. This time it was that the heartily defended one actually did sneak and take the easy way out, about something else entirely. Easy and entertaining reads. Enjoyed!
November 8, 2021
Mrs. Malory visits old friend and actor David Beaumont and finds that Beaumont is struggling financially as acting jobs dry up and the bank, which holds the mortgage on his cottage, is getting impatient.
It's a case of an inheritance that is near but so far away — the family home that his brother and he inherited from his father would be worth good money but their father also willed that his long-time housekeeper (the boys' former nanny) could stay in the house until her death, unless she chooses to move. As the house is huge, it makes since that the brothers relocate her to a cottage where she can live out her days, but the elderly woman insists that as their father willed that she stay in the house, that is what she needs to do.
So Beaumont turns to his brother, Dean of Culminster Cathedral. He refuses — sadly, as expected — and then Nanny dies. As she was old and wandering in a dark house, no one questions her death. There is hope once again for Mrs. Malory's friend, but even then, his brother refuses to work with his brother or sell the old family house.
And then, the Dead of Culminster, is discovered death and police determine that it is murder.
Because of his financial woes, David Beaumont appears to be a key suspect. Mrs. Malory goes into action and starts questioning her friends and fellow villages and before she is through, she finds that everyone had a reason to hate the man and perhaps kill him.
This typical cozy follows its familiar path but somehow I got a bit tired of it all. The police seem to have sat back and waited for Mrs. Malory to do their work — and no one looked at the finances of the murder victim — which seems to be pretty typical of murder investigations, as well as who benefited from the victim's death, enemies beyond the family, etc. I still enjoyed the story — its a fun, easy read — but if you are looking for a realistic story, and perhaps I shouldn't hold a cozy mystery to that, this will not offer it.
It's a case of an inheritance that is near but so far away — the family home that his brother and he inherited from his father would be worth good money but their father also willed that his long-time housekeeper (the boys' former nanny) could stay in the house until her death, unless she chooses to move. As the house is huge, it makes since that the brothers relocate her to a cottage where she can live out her days, but the elderly woman insists that as their father willed that she stay in the house, that is what she needs to do.
So Beaumont turns to his brother, Dean of Culminster Cathedral. He refuses — sadly, as expected — and then Nanny dies. As she was old and wandering in a dark house, no one questions her death. There is hope once again for Mrs. Malory's friend, but even then, his brother refuses to work with his brother or sell the old family house.
And then, the Dead of Culminster, is discovered death and police determine that it is murder.
Because of his financial woes, David Beaumont appears to be a key suspect. Mrs. Malory goes into action and starts questioning her friends and fellow villages and before she is through, she finds that everyone had a reason to hate the man and perhaps kill him.
This typical cozy follows its familiar path but somehow I got a bit tired of it all. The police seem to have sat back and waited for Mrs. Malory to do their work — and no one looked at the finances of the murder victim — which seems to be pretty typical of murder investigations, as well as who benefited from the victim's death, enemies beyond the family, etc. I still enjoyed the story — its a fun, easy read — but if you are looking for a realistic story, and perhaps I shouldn't hold a cozy mystery to that, this will not offer it.
May 7, 2022
Sheila Malory’s actor friend David Beaumont comes to visit her from Stratford, where he might be about to lose the perfect cottage that he bought there as he has fallen on hard times (not unusual for actors) and can’t afford the mortgage. His brother Francis has done very well for himself in the Church of England, becoming the Dean of a nearby town, but Francis is a sanctimonious jerk who refuses to help his brother in his hour of need. When Francis dies suddenly, it takes little time for the coroner to determine that he was poisoned, and since David had been in his company at the time of his last meal *and* quarreled very loudly with his brother while there, he is very obviously the main suspect. But Sheila is convinced of his innocence, and begins to probe other possibilities: the doormat wife, the cowed son and daughter, and possibly a few others who had no cause to love Francis…. This is the seventh Mrs. Malory novel, and fits in quite nicely with the rest of the series: in this one, we are mostly in Sheila’s own territory, with her son and her friends all around her, and with a murder victim who, well, let us say will not be missed by many. I very much enjoy the Miss Marple quality to these tales, complete with small English village and an amateur “sleuth” who just happens to know everybody; I also find it quite nostalgic to return to the 1990s setting - that does not seem terribly long ago to me, but more than a quarter century has passed since the publication of these books! I don’t believe it’s necessary to have read the previous books in order, since while various characters recur there is little change in their relationships and the author provides enough background to those relationships to keep the reader straight; recommended.
February 20, 2017
Sheila Malory is visiting her old friend David Beaumont when she finds out he may have to sell his lovely house in Stratford on Avon because of financial difficulties. These difficulties could be solved if David's brother, Francis - the Dean of Culminster - was willing to sell the big house that they jointly own. Unfortunately Francis is unwilling to sell.
David comes to stay with Sheila to try and persuade Francis to change his mind as Culminster isn't far from where Sheila lives in Taviscombe. The book paints a picture of a very dominant and unpleasant man. Francis controls his two adult children, Adrian and Mary and his downtrodden wife Joan. Hardly anyone is upset when Francis is found dead in suspicious circumstances.
I almost didn't want the murderer found as I felt so sorry for all the obvious suspects. The solution is actually a surprise when it comes and I definitely didn't spot what was going on. I like Sheila Malory as a character and the low key mysteries in this series make a change from tense psychological thrillers.
David comes to stay with Sheila to try and persuade Francis to change his mind as Culminster isn't far from where Sheila lives in Taviscombe. The book paints a picture of a very dominant and unpleasant man. Francis controls his two adult children, Adrian and Mary and his downtrodden wife Joan. Hardly anyone is upset when Francis is found dead in suspicious circumstances.
I almost didn't want the murderer found as I felt so sorry for all the obvious suspects. The solution is actually a surprise when it comes and I definitely didn't spot what was going on. I like Sheila Malory as a character and the low key mysteries in this series make a change from tense psychological thrillers.
April 12, 2011
Another good one. I think another reason why I like these is they are "gentle". There's no graphic descriptions of the deaths and the endings, for the most part, stop when the murderer is revealed. There's no screaming and yelling and fighting. They are very like Miss Marple in that quiet village feeling. A little old lady is found dead at the bottom of the bottom of the stairs and a church person is poisoned and the suspects are all members of the family. So which one did it? The unhappy daughter, the browbeaten wife, the neurotic son, or the financially strapped brother. All are hiding secrets.
June 2, 2016
The first I have read of the series and thoroughly enjoyed the characters. A cozy British mystery with a delightful "curious" woman who loves feeding clues to the detectives.
September 11, 2024
"Mrs. Sheila Malory and actor David Beaumont have been friends since their salad days. Less green today, David is scrambling to save his charming, much-mortgaged cottage located across from the famed Royal Shakespeare Theatre. When his brother, the hated Dean of Culminster Cathedral, refuses to give him a loan, David's last hope is his family's stately home. But that can't be sold until his stubborn old nanny moves -- or dies.
"As luck would have it, she does. Her death appears to be an accident -- until someone poisons the Dean. And David is the prime suspect. Called upon to solve this family tragedy, Mrs. Malory soon has her own list of suspicious characters -- from the Dean's mousy wife to his librarian daughter to his very nervous son ... all of whom had reasons to want the Dean dead.
"But, as Mrs. Malory discovers, the evil men do lives after them -- an evil that may be much closer than she realizes."
~~back cover
What an unexpected denouement! Who would have ever suspected ... suffice it to say, the least, last person suspected. But leading up to the solution turns over a lot of rocks, and the Dean's death occasions a lot of rejoicing, which of course only strengthens the suspicion.
I do think this is one of Ms. Holt's best books of the series -- at least so far.
"As luck would have it, she does. Her death appears to be an accident -- until someone poisons the Dean. And David is the prime suspect. Called upon to solve this family tragedy, Mrs. Malory soon has her own list of suspicious characters -- from the Dean's mousy wife to his librarian daughter to his very nervous son ... all of whom had reasons to want the Dean dead.
"But, as Mrs. Malory discovers, the evil men do lives after them -- an evil that may be much closer than she realizes."
~~back cover
What an unexpected denouement! Who would have ever suspected ... suffice it to say, the least, last person suspected. But leading up to the solution turns over a lot of rocks, and the Dean's death occasions a lot of rejoicing, which of course only strengthens the suspicion.
I do think this is one of Ms. Holt's best books of the series -- at least so far.
August 11, 2022
I am really enjoying this series. Mrs. Malory invites an actor friend in a bit of a pickle to stay with her for a bit. Suspicious deaths occur in his circle. As Mrs. Malory chats with people in her village she discovers facts which lead to learning what happened.
December 1, 2022
There is a lot going on in this one. There are multiple people who want the Dean dead for several reasons. This makes for a very interesting book. (By the way I thought I knew who the murderer was, but I was completely wrong. A bout of insomnia had me finishing this book in one
February 7, 2021
Very British. Didn't appreciate one female character referred to as a "doormat." But I managed to get past it. Will read more of the series.
March 16, 2024
has you guessing up to the end. Good book of the series
November 15, 2024
A tad far-fetched, but what do I know of British law? The characters were good, as was the dialogue. I learned two new words. So not always lost. Still… The ending…
February 28, 2017
Love this series!
Each book brings the reader back into the English countryside and it is difficult to return to the real world. Mrs. Malory is so much like many middle-aged women, it's almost like visiting a good friend.
Each book brings the reader back into the English countryside and it is difficult to return to the real world. Mrs. Malory is so much like many middle-aged women, it's almost like visiting a good friend.
March 5, 2015
I love Mrs. Malory and have read most of her series, but somehow missed this 1996 book. Isn't it great when you find the original "check out" label in the library when they used to stamp books? This particular book seems now to be checked out about once a year...so I guess I get 2015. Anyway, as usual the plot is well formed and the mystery hinges on family connections of the main characters. I love the way Hazel Holt, now 88, who wrote her first novel in her 60's, commands English so well and never leads the reader down a trail of MacGuffins and dead ends only to solve the plot with a Deus ex machina. She is above that!
November 20, 2015
Mrs Malory applies her usual nosiness, to the question of who killed Francis the dean of the cathedral in Culminister. As usual she notices details that others overlook. This is another pleasant tale of Sheila Malory and the denizens of the village of Taviscombe. Intermixed with the the tale of her friend David and his hated brother Francis are the pleasant daily details of life in a small village. A pleasant cozy mystery.
November 2, 2015
This is the 7th book in the Sheila Mallory series and want a good mystery this one was, it really did have me guessing until the very end! There are some interesting characters in the book and I love how Hazel Holt spends alot of time on character development so that these characters are very clear and I have no trouble picturing them as I am reading the book.
December 29, 2014
this was a good one. wasn't sure 'who did it' til the reveal. actually like that it is a quiet figuring out of things, and not a big, tense, life-threatening reveal, as is more common in mysteries. Just read it a second time. Thought i remembered who did it, but i t was someone else!
April 18, 2011
When the Dean of Culminster Cathedral is murdered, Mrs. Malory's good friend David, the Dean's brother, is the prime suspect. She finds out what really happened and clears David's name.
October 13, 2012
My favorite of the Mrs. Malorys, so far.
August 16, 2013
Not a college dean but a cathedral dean. A thoroughly despicable dean at that, and we are all glad he died.
March 31, 2011
guessed early but that didn't diminish it, good cozy
December 19, 2011
fine read with great imagination.
March 27, 2017
The Dean here refers to the Dean of a Church of England Cathedral. Shelia Malory and the family of David and Francis Beaumont have known each other since childhood. David is a good friend, but Francis, now Dean of the Church, has never gotten along with the other two. Now David, visiting Sheila must ask his brother for financial help. Just after David’s visit to Francis, Francis is poisoned. David is the chief suspect. Sheila must help David prove his innocence.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews