Sainted Murder

by Jo A. Hiestand

Book Overview

Unholy Event - Winter's chill hits the Derbyshire uplands hard, bu the busy preparations for December's annual St. Nicholas festival are in full swing in the village of Bramwell. The celebration is... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0373266014
• ISBN13: 9780373266012
• Release Date: January 2007
• Publisher: Worldwide
• Length: 281 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.

Customer Reviews

A great mystery, great writing

Having read Jo Hiestand's wonderful first book, Death of an Ordinary Guy, I had high expectations for this one. I'm pleased to say that that this is a fine series that is getting even better with each book! The setting, the characters, the lyrical descriptions carried me away into another world, an English village frozen in time and bound by traditions and secrets. Investigator Brenna Taylor is a fabulous character. She's sensitive and smart, with her life complicated by dealing with her attraction to her boss. Although I loved the resolution, I hated to see this book end because it meant I wouldn't be spending any more time with Brenna. I'm a strong fan of this series, and I hope I get to satisfy my craving for Hiestand's writing for a long, long time.

Sainted Murder

I very much enjoyed the characters and descriptions in this book. It was very hard for me to put down once I got started and I am looking forward to the next installment in the series. Ms. Hiestand has a knack for putting you in the middle of the story with her wonderful imagination. Paula Harris, long-time friend. (Huntsville, AR).

A good mystery and beautiful writing!

This American author was introduced to all things British during a college trip, and many since then. Her descriptive writing was so beautiful I just had to read on. Here's how she tells me about the sounds of the church: "It was the hinges that first startled me--great, metal things groaning into the stillness like an atmospheric prerequisite of a gothic novel. The disturbance echoed against cold stone and hard wood; it multiplied into a dozen voices that tumbled down the aisles or rolled up the tower steps, dying as they nudged a bell into song. A deep tone, soft as an angel's voice, sighed from the tower and cajoled sympathetic ripples from neighboring bells. In the ringing chamber below, their ropes swayed as if pulled by invisible hands, the sallies dancing ghost-like in the dark." (Now isn't that grand?) The story is set in what seemed like an ancient English village. A dead body is found in St. Nicholas Church--on December 6, St. Nicholas Day. These villagers really get into this St. Nicolas Day thing, baking bread for the poor and the elderly, wrapping gifts to give with the bread. This December 6, however the bread and gift distribution and church celebration were cancelled by the police. My favorite line in the book is by the church's secretary, talking to Sgt. (Miss) Taylor, about the bad winter road conditions: "I always say, for all the fancy gadgets the police has these days, a car's a car. And you still can't drive on ice." One murder, one fire, and then more deaths and fires in this small town where there has been a lot of "inter-breeding" of lives, loves, fortunes and secrets. Oh, yes, a love/lust between two police officers and a lot of other flirting. I'm going to be watching for the next mystery--for the story and for her wonderful way with words. Armchair Interviews says this is a good writer, intriguing characters and a lot of confusing clues that will keep you guessing wrong. What more can you ask?