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Susan Wren #3
Family Practice
For Chief of Police Susan Wren, investigating a homicide comes with the territory, but when a young friend gets caught in the crossfire, the former big-city cop's routine work becomes a personal mission.
When Dr. Dorothy, the dictatorial eldest sister of the five Barringtons (four of whom are doctors practicing together), is shot in her office, the greater part of the tragedy is the critical wounding of the most vulnerable innocent bystander--eleven-year-old Jen Bryan. To make it worse for Susan Wren, Jen was in her care that weekend, while her mother was out of town.
As with any homicide investigation, Susan begins her search for the killer with the victim's family, and finds that looks can be deceiving when it comes to the successful, respected Barringtons. Once the facade of a proud and unified family is shattered by Dr. Dorothy's murder, a Pandora's box is opened, and the little Kansas community is plunged into fear and danger. At the center is Susan Wren, never quite accepted in her police job as a woman and an outsider; now with double reason to find and stop the killer.
When Dr. Dorothy, the dictatorial eldest sister of the five Barringtons (four of whom are doctors practicing together), is shot in her office, the greater part of the tragedy is the critical wounding of the most vulnerable innocent bystander--eleven-year-old Jen Bryan. To make it worse for Susan Wren, Jen was in her care that weekend, while her mother was out of town.
As with any homicide investigation, Susan begins her search for the killer with the victim's family, and finds that looks can be deceiving when it comes to the successful, respected Barringtons. Once the facade of a proud and unified family is shattered by Dr. Dorothy's murder, a Pandora's box is opened, and the little Kansas community is plunged into fear and danger. At the center is Susan Wren, never quite accepted in her police job as a woman and an outsider; now with double reason to find and stop the killer.
- GenresMysteryCozy Mystery
301 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
52 people are currently reading
58 people want to read
About the author
Charlene Weir
12 books17 followersCharlene Weir was born in Nortonville, Kansas. She grew up in Hutchinson, Kansas. After graduating from nurses' training she attended the University of Oklahoma and worked as a public health nurse. She is the creator of "Susan Wren", police chief in Hampstead, Kansas.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
August 14, 2024
The setup seems pretty interesting, but the execution was lacking. This resulted in a book that had fantastic build up, but poor payoff.
The premise is as follows: Dr. Dorothy Barrington, matriarch of the Barrington family, is gunned down at her practice during an appointment with a young girl, Jen, that Susan (the main character and police detective) is baby sitting. A cast of characters are introduced including the Barrington siblings and their spouses, disgruntled patients of Dorothy's, and the staff at the clinic. A lot of them have motives, and Susan has to work out who the killer is.
It's a classic murder mystery, whodunit style novel that does not deviate from the formula. That in itself is not what I had an issue with. The writing is slow and often runs in circles, the characters become less and less interesting the more you know about them, and the book ends up being really unsatisfying due to the way the killer was revealed.
There is an interesting plot line about that offers a glimpse of how interesting the plot could have been, but it's discarded as quickly as it is introduced with seemingly little consequences despite it being cited as a motive for murder.
Overall, a story that is lacking due to slow progression and story lines not following through.
The premise is as follows: Dr. Dorothy Barrington, matriarch of the Barrington family, is gunned down at her practice during an appointment with a young girl, Jen, that Susan (the main character and police detective) is baby sitting. A cast of characters are introduced including the Barrington siblings and their spouses, disgruntled patients of Dorothy's, and the staff at the clinic. A lot of them have motives, and Susan has to work out who the killer is.
It's a classic murder mystery, whodunit style novel that does not deviate from the formula. That in itself is not what I had an issue with. The writing is slow and often runs in circles, the characters become less and less interesting the more you know about them, and the book ends up being really unsatisfying due to the way the killer was revealed.
There is an interesting plot line about that offers a glimpse of how interesting the plot could have been, but it's discarded as quickly as it is introduced with seemingly little consequences despite it being cited as a motive for murder.
Overall, a story that is lacking due to slow progression and story lines not following through.
February 27, 2021
PROTAGONIST: Susan Wren, police chief
SETTING: Kansas
SERIES: #3
RATING: 3.0
WHY: Four members of the Barrington family practice medicine together; the eldest, Dorothy, is shot and killed in the offices and a young patient is injured. Susan Wren, chief of police, tries to untangle the complicated family dynamics, feeling sure that the murderer is soMeone close to the group. There are far too many suspects, at least 6, with just enough information on each to make them suspects but not enough to figure out the murderer. I felt cheated when the perp revealed themselves, rather than the investigative team. I'm not inclined to continue with the series.
SETTING: Kansas
SERIES: #3
RATING: 3.0
WHY: Four members of the Barrington family practice medicine together; the eldest, Dorothy, is shot and killed in the offices and a young patient is injured. Susan Wren, chief of police, tries to untangle the complicated family dynamics, feeling sure that the murderer is soMeone close to the group. There are far too many suspects, at least 6, with just enough information on each to make them suspects but not enough to figure out the murderer. I felt cheated when the perp revealed themselves, rather than the investigative team. I'm not inclined to continue with the series.
August 6, 2024
Chief of police Susan Wren is off to see the ballet with her newfound friend, but first of all she must take her to the doctor to check out her fever. Well…all of a sudden a murder takes place in the doctor’s office, her friend gets shot & is near death. Who wanted to kill Dr. Dorothy? Keep reading to find out.
December 16, 2023
A Prescription for Murder
Great book, I couldn't stop reading it. Its was a murder after, after. It just didn't stop. The whole family was messed up. What's going on between Susan and Parkhaurst!!
Great book, I couldn't stop reading it. Its was a murder after, after. It just didn't stop. The whole family was messed up. What's going on between Susan and Parkhaurst!!
July 20, 2025
It was okay, nearly everyone was shifty enough to have done it and there were little threads that ultimately had nothing to do with the case at hand.
I suppose that's more realistic than most cozy mysteries where the "wrong" suspect is usually trying to hide learning ballet or raising kittens.
I suppose that's more realistic than most cozy mysteries where the "wrong" suspect is usually trying to hide learning ballet or raising kittens.
May 29, 2018
Good series, except I started with the later books.
May 25, 2021
Promising premise, but the main character is rather bland.
February 6, 2025
The storyline is interesting but it is slow to unfurl and that makes it feel repetitive at times due to the nature of the crimes.
March 13, 2025
For me this was a good one!
August 26, 2025
Excellent mystery. This is s new to me author. I have the set and am thoroughly enjoying it. It was written before cell phones and the internet. Procedures were different. Very exciting.
January 15, 2018
I just love the Susan Wren series. This is not a disappointment
September 8, 2008
FAMILY PRACTICE - Good
Weir, Charlene - 3rd in Susan Wren series
Once again, murder hits close to home for Kansas police chief Susan Wren. This time an eleven-year-old girl in Susan's care is critically wounded when Dr. Dorothy Barrington, the eldest of the four Barrington physicians in family practice, is gunned down in her own office.
As her only witness struggles for each breath in hospital, Susan's investigation opens a Pandora's box of dark, tormented secrets in the prominent, respected Barrington family. A second life is claimed, followed by a third, and the former big-city cop must follow a grisly trail to a truth as tragic as the crimes.
I'm really enjoying this series; I like her writing, her protagonist and her sense of place. I shall definitely read more.
Weir, Charlene - 3rd in Susan Wren series
Once again, murder hits close to home for Kansas police chief Susan Wren. This time an eleven-year-old girl in Susan's care is critically wounded when Dr. Dorothy Barrington, the eldest of the four Barrington physicians in family practice, is gunned down in her own office.
As her only witness struggles for each breath in hospital, Susan's investigation opens a Pandora's box of dark, tormented secrets in the prominent, respected Barrington family. A second life is claimed, followed by a third, and the former big-city cop must follow a grisly trail to a truth as tragic as the crimes.
I'm really enjoying this series; I like her writing, her protagonist and her sense of place. I shall definitely read more.
August 23, 2009
This series just keeps getting better. Family Practice centers around a family, four doctors who run a clinic together and one who is the "outcast". When the oldest and the matriarch of the family is killed while examining Police Chief Susan Wren's friend, 11-year old Jen who is also critically injured the chase is on to catch a killer. Charlene Weir just keeps piling on clues and adding twists and turns to this book until I wasn't sure who the murderer was but I couldn't wait to find out. I'm really looking forward to the next in the series.
September 8, 2007
Police chief Susan Wren is babysitting a girl when she develops a sore throat and needs to see the doctor. Susan takes the girl in, only to hear gunshots from the exam room. Susan arrives in time to find the doctor dead and the girl dying.
She has to struggle to keep her own personal feelings under control while she finds a killer. But the good doctor had lots of enemies--mostly her own family.
CMB
She has to struggle to keep her own personal feelings under control while she finds a killer. But the good doctor had lots of enemies--mostly her own family.
CMB
June 3, 2024
Chief Susan Wren #3
April 8, 2010
a silly little mystery
June 2, 2010
Do not usually enjoy books where the victim is a child, but this one kept it light
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews