Bloody Ham by Brian Kavanagh
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Product Details
- Pub. Date: September 2007
- Publisher: Bewrite Books
- Format: Paperback, 180pp
- ISBN-13: 9781905202539
- ISBN: 1905202539
Synopsis
Two startling murders that replicate the death of a mediaeval English king and the discovery of a mysterious ancient tapestry lead Belinda Lawrence and her associate Hazel Whitby into a vortex of suspense involving a bizarre religious cult, an enigmatic academic, a group of monks devoted to aggression and clues to a thrilling conspiracy nearly a thousand years old.
Are the Godwins, self-proclaimed spiritual leaders, really devoted to their religious group?
Is Sir Gerald Taylor, revered university don, as benign as he appears?
What is the origin of the puzzling tapestry discovered in the old country house?
It is the murder of a local villager that ensnares Belinda and Hazel in this web of intrigue and as they follow up each clue they little realise that their own lives are to a greater extent in danger. Although pessimistic, Mark Sallinger, Belinda's lover, is coaxed into aiding the women as they attempt to solve the riddle, a riddle that creates more uncertainty at every turn. And each perilous turn brings the trio closer to an electrifying climax and imminent death.
Following on from Capable of Murder, this is the second in the Belinda Lawrence Mystery Series and continues the lively young Australian's adventures in England with the same degree of wicked humour and heart-stopping excitement.
Customer Reviews
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An Interesting Setting with Entertaining Characters--Recommendedby obxwriter
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December 03, 2008:
**** ½ An Interesting Setting with Entertaining Characters. Recommended.
Review by Douglas Quinn, Author of Blue Heron Marsh, etal.
For those who like an old-fashioned British mystery, rife with night scenes on the Thames, a Jacobean mansion, quirky, entertaining characters and a cutting wit, Bloody Ham is for you.
Kavanagh uses his insider knowledge of the film industry to bring Hollywood to London, with all the big screen politics, film star egos, sexual affairs and (literally) back-stabbing during the creation of an English period piece.
Into this mix comes Belinda Lawrence and her cantankerous friend, Hazel Whitby. Hazel is leasing period silverware to the production company and Belinda gets enlisted as a stand-in for the female lead. Two murders occur on set and Belinda, Hazel and their men friends work, sometimes together, sometimes at odds with one another, to solve the mystery. As an interesting side story, Belinda brings her own personal love interests into the mix. Will she go with the freewheeling Australian, Brad, or her long time, proper, British gentleman, Mark?
I liked the fact that, while one of the murders was solved, the other death (Was it a murder?) was left unresolved. Did someone else get away with something sinister? That is left up to the reader to determine.
I would have given this five stars if I wasn?t nonplused by one of the character?s blabbing to Belinda about her witnessing one of the murders. In my mind, I couldn?t justify the reason except as a device to set up the ending. I wish the author would have come up with a more clever way of leading Belinda to the solution of the mystery.
Bloody Ham is the third book in the Belinda Lawrence series. It is an interesting setting with entertaining characters and I recommend it to all those who like a good solid mystery story.
I Also Recommend: The Catalan Gambit, Spanish Game, Blue Heron Marsh.
An Old English Mansion and Murderby Anonymous
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December 17, 2007: An ancient English mansion, rich in history and filled with an acting cast ends up being a different kind of drama. A true mystery involving murder. Belinda and Hazel are protecting the silver props, when the leading lady dies. Belinda is hired as a backup to the new actress brought in to replace the deceased. Drama on film and in life, leads to more drama. While trying to solve not one, but two murders to save her own skin, Belinda has a personal drama. She has to make a decision about the men in her life. A well written tale that comes at you from several different levels. Review by Wanda C. Keesey (author of Lost In The Mist release date May 2008)
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