Sonnet of the Sphinx

Poetic Death Mystery #3

by Diana Killian

For one of Innisdale's residents, a priceless sonnet means poetic license to kill. . . .Grace Hollister's stay in England's picturesque Lake District has proven doubly fruitful -- the American literary scholar just sold her first book, and her romance with charming antiques dealer and ex-jewel thief Peter Fox has begun a new chapter. Sorting through a hoard of papers found in an old farmhouse, Grace and Peter discover an old letter that refers to a lost Shelley sonnet, "Sate the Sphinx." Before Grace can start tracking down this poetic treasure, though, Peter's shady past rears its head -- a particularly ugly head, belonging to a menacing Turk who's eager to see Peter dead.

But there's plenty more trouble in store. Suddenly Grace and Peter are suspects in a murder investigation, and someone has tried his level best to kill her -- not once, but twice. The hieroglyphics are on the wall: unless Grace can unravel an inscrutable riddle and unearth the villain amid a cache of likely suspects, her story might be at an end. . . .

Genres: Mystery, Romance, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, British Literature, Mystery Thriller, Historical

336 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published March 28, 2006

About the author

Author of the Poetic Death series and the Mantra for Murder series.

Reviews

[Marcy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grace Hollister, an American literary scholar and Peter Fox, a former jewel thief now antique dealer are living and working in England's Lake District when Grace discovers a letter which hints at the existence of a lost, never before published sonnet by Shelley. As her search ensues, so do murder and mayhem. Even as they are both suspects in 2 murders, two attempts are made on Grace's own life. I thoroughly enjoyed this fun read for the writing, the great sense of place and the interesting characters. My only wish would have been for more information about the Romantic poets and/or Egyptology - both of which happen to play a small, but intriguing role in this cozy mystery.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Antique dealer and former thief Peter Fox is being threatened by a corrupt Turkish policeman from his past, but Grace Hollister, an American academic and his assistant, is preoccupied by clues to a lost Shelley sonnet. Also on the track of the sonnet is a mysterious Japanese businessman. Then Grace stumbles over the body of the Turk, and police attention focuses on her and Peter. The police don't believe that someone is stalking Grace, or if they do they think it must be Peter. But Grace knows that he is not a murderer. At least she certainly hopes so.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

another great story set in England's Lake District, Grace Hollister American English professor and Peter Fox English Antique dealer and maybe reformed thief hunt for a missing sonnet by Shelley.
Great plot interesting characters.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[HatGirl8]

5/6/2006 ; 3/6/2009 Reread 10/22/2018 ; 2/15/19

Also find this in the box set Metaphors and Murder (The Poetic Death)

[LJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

First Sentence: All week the priests and religiosi wound up and down the baked streets, praying for rain.

Grace Hollister is an American literature teacher with a love for the Romantic Poets. Peter Fox is an ex-jewel thief who is now an antiques dealer. They live in a small town within England's Lake District.

Peter bought the contents of an old farmhouse and, going through them, they find an old letter which refers to a lost sonnet by Shelly. However, they are interrupted by a threatening visit from a man who knew Peter when he was imprisoned in Turkey. When the man is found dead, Peter is a suspect. But who is trying to kill Grace?

I've not read this author before and was concerned she might be too cozy for my taste. I'm happy to say I was wrong.

There are wonderfully evocative descriptions that both add to the appeal of the location and to the suspense of the story. Both the outdoor and the indoor locations come to life.

I enjoy the author's voice. There is wonderful, subtle humor, appreciated that a character realized the coincidence of an event and enjoyed her analogies: "Grace's brain continued to spin sweet airy fantasy as though someone had left a cotton candy machine on overdrive."

Grace is a character with whom I could identify on many levels. She may get herself into situations, but it never feels as though she is too stupid to live. She keeps her head and gets herself out of danger, never expecting someone to come to her rescue. Peter is intriguing and someone about whom I want to know more, but it is always grace in the lead of the story.

The plot was good, but not perfect. There were hints to events in previous books which became annoying as no background information was provided. Although there seemed to be several threads, they were all tied up at the end and I certainly never identified the killer.

With the combination of a strong sense of place, excellent dialogue, great characters, literary information, good suspense, and unexpected killer and a wonderful ending, I so enjoyed the book, I've ordered the others in the series so I may start at the beginning.

SONNET OF THE SPHINX (Ama Sleuth-Grace Hollister/Peter Fox-England-Cont) - VG
Killian, Diana - 3rd in series
Pocket, 2006, US Paperback - ISBN: 0743466802

[Mark Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Peter has to produce an item he doesn't know where is or get dragged back to Turkey. Meanwhile, Grace thinks she's found a lead on a previously unknown Percy Shelley sonnet. This is a bit slower than the previous two stories in the series, but it's still a fun romp with great characters.

Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.

[Nancy]

Grace looks for a lost Shelley sonnet, is pushed off the road into a lake and survives a fire set to her house. She and Peter finally "get together". Historical society head is murderer, using another name. Grace is going back to LA for a visit with her family.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keep hoping she will write another in this series but so far no luck!

[Virginia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Agree with the reviewer in not really caring about the people. Can't see the romance going forth, and I would never want to double date with them!

[Jbuckwal · Rating 3 out of 5]

story was ok, but I didn't care about the people

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great series!

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good series about the ongoing romance with Grace Hollister and charming ex-jewel thief Peter Fox. Here Grace is searching for a lost Shelley sonnet.

[Lora · Rating 4 out of 5]

good whodunnit.

[a. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Holy drawn out story line batman. Longer than it needed to be. Disappointing book after such a strong first book.