Thursday, March 18, 2010

Weeping on Wednesday by Ann Purser


Title: Weeping on Wednesday
Author: Ann Purser
ISBN: 0425201430, Berkley Prime Crime, 2005
Genre: Cozy, Amateur Sleuth, #3 Lois Meade mystery
Rating: B
Source: Paperback Swap

First Line: "Hello?"

The villagers of Long Farnden don't quite know what to think of the Abrahams of Carthanger Mill. Wits have likened the Mill to a setting straight from the Hammer horror films, and rumors have always surrounded the Abrahams. But... when Enid Abraham applies for work at New Brooms, Lois Meade decides to give her a try.

While Lois is making sure her two new employees meet her exacting standards, Lois's husband begins receiving anonymous letters insinuating that his wife is having an affair with a local policeman. People begin disappearing and strange things begin to happen, and Lois wonders if Carthanger Mill holds the key to a terrible secret.

I enjoy this series. Lois is a wild child who grew up, settled down, and now has children who are giving her grief. The Meades are a loving family, and Lois extends that caring behavior to the people who work for her.

It's fun to see this series mature. When I read the first book, I saw it painting itself into a corner by having Lois cleaning the houses in just one village. The second book in the series had her broadening her horizons, but it presented another problem: constantly meeting the policeman in the woods to pass along the information she'd gleaned. This third book in the series addresses that. (You simply cannot get away with something like that when you live in a village!) I'm definitely looking forward to book four. Lois is becoming one of my favorite characters.

7 comments:

  1. I've only read the first of these but am glad to know they address the problems that I could see too. I have about 3 of this series in Mt TBR all from bookmooch but I'm waiting on Tuesday. I normally don't mind reading out of order but even I can't read the days of the week out of sequence :)

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  2. This is another series that I've been aware of but have not picked up as yet. Maybe, again, at some point. I wish I could read all the mystery series that come across my pather or at least sample them. Not possible though. Grrr! Thanks for sharing!

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  3. Ah, I can see I will have to put this on my ´perhaps´-list. The cover is not bad, either.

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  4. I have not heard of these but they sound kind of interesting. Thanks for bringing them to my attention :)

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  5. I'm such a broken record when I'm here -- I actually own the first two in the series -- AND I started the first one on vacation a couple of years ago and then got distracted. I need to dig through the shelves and rediscover these novels.

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  6. Bernadette-- I agree. Reading the days of the week out of order would be shocking. ;)

    Kay-- You're welcome! I'd rather have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to books than the opposite!

    Dorte-- I have one of those Perhaps lists, too. :)

    Sheila-- You're welcome!

    Beth-- You might enjoy them. :)

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  7. I'm definitely adding this series to my wish list.. Sounds good.

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