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Libby Sarjeant #7
Murder Imperfect
The seventh title in the Libby Sarjeant series finds her distracted from involvement with her local pantomime by her friend Harry, who asks her to help a friend of his who has been receiving threatening letters.
At first she believes it to be a simple case of prejudice, but soon Libby uncovers links to particularly nasty crimes in the past, revelations that have catastrophic results.
At first she believes it to be a simple case of prejudice, but soon Libby uncovers links to particularly nasty crimes in the past, revelations that have catastrophic results.
378 pages, Paperback
First published January 3, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
November 10, 2010
Another free book - thanks again.
This is definitely in the "cosy" style of mystery - there is a murder but it happens off-screen and no-one much seems to care. The mystery is mostly about some gay-bashing / poison pen letters unpleasantness. It is set amid small southern English villages where endless cups of tea and glasses of wine are drunk, people call each other 'old trout' and the Rayburn almost always has a kettle gently bubbling away in the background.
I have given this 3 stars but that's 2.5 stars rounded up. This was harder going than it ought to have been. The plot is convoluted and hard to keep track off because of the names of lots of people that the reader never meets. There are essentially 6 main characters and the problems are solved by endless telephone calls or conversations - which are all repeated to others of the 6 who were not on the call or in the sitting room etc. It is like a tv show or film where the characters have to explain the plot to one another or reel off pages and pages of exposition because the author / director couldn't find a way to reveal the plot to the viewer.
On the other hand, I am sufficiently interested to give 1 of the others in the series a try - which is why I rounded up not down.
This is definitely in the "cosy" style of mystery - there is a murder but it happens off-screen and no-one much seems to care. The mystery is mostly about some gay-bashing / poison pen letters unpleasantness. It is set amid small southern English villages where endless cups of tea and glasses of wine are drunk, people call each other 'old trout' and the Rayburn almost always has a kettle gently bubbling away in the background.
I have given this 3 stars but that's 2.5 stars rounded up. This was harder going than it ought to have been. The plot is convoluted and hard to keep track off because of the names of lots of people that the reader never meets. There are essentially 6 main characters and the problems are solved by endless telephone calls or conversations - which are all repeated to others of the 6 who were not on the call or in the sitting room etc. It is like a tv show or film where the characters have to explain the plot to one another or reel off pages and pages of exposition because the author / director couldn't find a way to reveal the plot to the viewer.
On the other hand, I am sufficiently interested to give 1 of the others in the series a try - which is why I rounded up not down.
June 3, 2016
I found this book an absorbing read. Libby is asked to look into some poison pen letters a friend of a friend has been receiving. When Cy is physically attacked Libby wants him to go to the police about it but he isn't keen. Then someone else in Cy's drama group is murdered and Cy is forced to go to the police as it seems the attack on him could be linked to the murder.
Libby wonders if the crimes are linked to events in the past and as she starts to dig deeper into Cy's past and his family she uncovers a convoluted web of connections reaching into the past and affecting the present.
it is difficult to say much about this book without giving away any of the plot. Suffice it to say that many of Libby's close friends become involved in the investigation as well as the police and a cold case review team.
If you like crime novels with interesting backgrounds and believable characters then I can recommend this series. I can also recommend the audio book editions.
Libby wonders if the crimes are linked to events in the past and as she starts to dig deeper into Cy's past and his family she uncovers a convoluted web of connections reaching into the past and affecting the present.
it is difficult to say much about this book without giving away any of the plot. Suffice it to say that many of Libby's close friends become involved in the investigation as well as the police and a cold case review team.
If you like crime novels with interesting backgrounds and believable characters then I can recommend this series. I can also recommend the audio book editions.
August 12, 2017
. Loving this series
I bit the bullet and bought the rest of the books in this series. I really love the characters and am beginning to get a picture of the setting in my mind as I read. I am inn the middle of a very hectic time and love being able to move right into the next book without having to get to know a new place and whole new set of characters. It's like reading one very long book.
I bit the bullet and bought the rest of the books in this series. I really love the characters and am beginning to get a picture of the setting in my mind as I read. I am inn the middle of a very hectic time and love being able to move right into the next book without having to get to know a new place and whole new set of characters. It's like reading one very long book.
November 26, 2010
Crime-solver Libby Sarjeant is a hugely likeable character. Set in the fictional village of Steeple Martin there are poison pen letters, past crimes to sort out and a present-day murder to solve - not to mention a panto to direct - so Libby is certainly kept busy. The story is set around Christmas / New Year time so is a great read to cosy-up with on dark winter evenings.
April 9, 2015
Bit of a change up in story line but good mystery. Characters have personality and continue to adjust their lives around murder. Author has creative ideas which keep series fresh.
September 26, 2023
An interesting crime book a bit like an Agatha Christie and there is nothing wrong with that.
My issue was as this is number 7 in a series I had a few problems with people and things that had happened in previous books. However this can be read as a stand alone, you just mustn't get hung up on a few little details. I must say they seemed to have no real baring on this story.
So an excellent plot - very convoluted and I can imagine with such a huge cast of characters some people will be put off or confused. I had to re read some parts to remind me exactly who was who and how they were related.
However the story trots along at a cracking pace and kept me intrigued throughout. A good read for most, no gore, swearing sex or violence.
My issue was as this is number 7 in a series I had a few problems with people and things that had happened in previous books. However this can be read as a stand alone, you just mustn't get hung up on a few little details. I must say they seemed to have no real baring on this story.
So an excellent plot - very convoluted and I can imagine with such a huge cast of characters some people will be put off or confused. I had to re read some parts to remind me exactly who was who and how they were related.
However the story trots along at a cracking pace and kept me intrigued throughout. A good read for most, no gore, swearing sex or violence.
December 6, 2020
This started well, but there were so many characters. They kept coming, and by the end I had no idea who was who - sons and daughters and grandchildren of this, that and the other! It spoilt what might have been a good story.
May 12, 2020
Always a big cast but this one seemed to have so many more and I was apt to lose track which spoiled the enjoyment a bit.
May 10, 2023
Enjoyable Kent set mystery
November 19, 2010
I haven't read much of the crime genre, but after reading some Agatha Christie, I thought I would give it another shot so I entered for this book on Goodreads Firstreads, and won! And now after finishing 'Murder Imperfect' I am so glad that I won, it was full of suspence and didn't have a predictable plot that many crime novels have these days.
The character of Libby is developed throughout the novel and despite not having read the previous books in this series I got to grips with Libby and her character trates...she is a humerous character who is very true to life and never gives up! I would love to have a life like hers (minus the nearly getting hurt bit). She is truly inspirational and has a great partner in Ben.
The introduction into the investigation of Cy's letter hooked me as I was keen to find out who would do something like that and the link with Patrick just heightened my interest. The plot was unpredictable and I would not have guessed so many coincidents. I loved the fact that in the novel is said 'you would't believe it if it was written in a book' which made me giggle. The conclusion I could not figure out and when it was revealed that Sheila was behind the letters I was gobsmacked! Why would she do such a thing when she knows what it is like to recieve horrible letters herself?!
Overall I think this author should be praised for her works and I will deffinatly be reading more books in her series. I recommend it to anyone who fancies a great read this winter whilst sitting by the fire.
The character of Libby is developed throughout the novel and despite not having read the previous books in this series I got to grips with Libby and her character trates...she is a humerous character who is very true to life and never gives up! I would love to have a life like hers (minus the nearly getting hurt bit). She is truly inspirational and has a great partner in Ben.
The introduction into the investigation of Cy's letter hooked me as I was keen to find out who would do something like that and the link with Patrick just heightened my interest. The plot was unpredictable and I would not have guessed so many coincidents. I loved the fact that in the novel is said 'you would't believe it if it was written in a book' which made me giggle. The conclusion I could not figure out and when it was revealed that Sheila was behind the letters I was gobsmacked! Why would she do such a thing when she knows what it is like to recieve horrible letters herself?!
Overall I think this author should be praised for her works and I will deffinatly be reading more books in her series. I recommend it to anyone who fancies a great read this winter whilst sitting by the fire.
November 12, 2010
Won this through the Goodreads Giveaways.
Although this is the seventh title in the Libby Sarjeant series, it is the first title I've read (after winning it through a Goodreads giveaway) and it was thoroughly enjoyable. Written along the lines of the Mrs Marple and Midsomer Murders styles this is a perfect murder mystery to curl up with on a wet winters night. The story is complex with numerous characters cropping up that the reader never gets to meet but this is frequently solved by the main characters themselves having to remind each other who is who. The story begins with a number of anonymous poison pen letters which rapidly leads to assault and murder and the solving of a fifty year old mystery. Set in a fictional middle England village that reflects the numerous interwoven complexities of village life, this is a very entertaining read that will have you guessing and guessing again as you try to untangle the web of cover ups, lies, and deep deep histories of the residents of Steeple Martin. This is definitely a series I'm going to look out for in the future and I would highly recommend it for all fans of a good middle England murder mystery.
Although this is the seventh title in the Libby Sarjeant series, it is the first title I've read (after winning it through a Goodreads giveaway) and it was thoroughly enjoyable. Written along the lines of the Mrs Marple and Midsomer Murders styles this is a perfect murder mystery to curl up with on a wet winters night. The story is complex with numerous characters cropping up that the reader never gets to meet but this is frequently solved by the main characters themselves having to remind each other who is who. The story begins with a number of anonymous poison pen letters which rapidly leads to assault and murder and the solving of a fifty year old mystery. Set in a fictional middle England village that reflects the numerous interwoven complexities of village life, this is a very entertaining read that will have you guessing and guessing again as you try to untangle the web of cover ups, lies, and deep deep histories of the residents of Steeple Martin. This is definitely a series I'm going to look out for in the future and I would highly recommend it for all fans of a good middle England murder mystery.
March 1, 2017
What a gem of a book! I was lucky enough to receive this as a Goodreads Giveaway. Lesley Cookman is a new author to me, but despite this being the 7th in a series, I was able to follow it fine, knowing that I'll be looking out for the others to catch up now. What endeared me to this book was the location setting, in a fictional village near to Canterbury in Kent. Having lived in this area most of my life, I was checking out my A-Z trying to locate 'Steeple Martin'. I thought I'd worked it out to Chislet or Hoath, but still not sure on either one. There were an awful lot of characters in this story, and I had to concentrate on who everyone was, but they were all mostly nice cosy people, the sort you meet in any small village, making endless pots of tea and delighting in local gossip. I'll need to read the earlier books to find out who the regular cast are, but Libby Sarjeant is a lovely central character, I'm not sure how old she is yet, but see her as midway between Celia Imrie and Judy Dench. Agatha Raisin has a rival!
November 28, 2010
I found this book a little too gentle and slow-paced for my taste. I was a considerable way into the book before I felt I knew the main characters (perhaps not such a problem if you have read previous books in the series) and found there were too many other names which at times made if difficult to follow and relate too. Having said that, although I found it a struggle to get through the first half of the book, by the second half I was hooked and did have to read until the end to find out whodunnit - and I didn't guess before I got there. So not bad if you like the little 'village investigator' type mystery.
Read
March 7, 2013The seventh title in the Libby Sarjeant series finds her distracted from involvement with her local pantomime by her friend Harry, who asks her to help a friend of his who has been receiving threatening letters. At first she believes it to be a simple case of prejudice, but soon Libby uncovers links to particularly nasty crimes in the past, revelations that have catastrophic results.(less)
Book #7
Book #7
February 23, 2013
This took me longer to read than other books in the series. Still an enjoyable read but found the number of characters across the decades a little confusing. I feel the story lacked it's usual pace as Fran didn't get involved until very close to the end and one character's involvement was obvious from quite early on.
February 2, 2013
was OK but I am getting a boit board of the series now and this one does muddle its way through. Will keep going as there is just 1 or 2 more and, being nosy, I need to know whether Libby finallyjumps the broomstick!
February 14, 2015
Too many characters which was confusing, but I like the writing style.
September 25, 2012
2 & 1/2 stars. 1/2 star deducted for dreadful error in saying that the censuses for 1951 and 1961 were checked for info.
Read
March 31, 2013My, so many characters - almost gave up!
July 14, 2022
Listened to on Audible
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews