28 June 2007.
ISBN: 978-1-84529-581-3 (HB)
Set in the 1950s in the village of Molehill in Surrey, the Vicar Francis Oughterard seeks only a quiet life following his move from an inner-city parish. But his peaceful existence is soon shattered when Elizabeth Fotherington returns from Italy and constantly appears on his doorstep. Her visits are unpredictable and frequently accompanied by gifts - but when the knitting starts, madness is only a hair’s breadth away.
The removal of Elizabeth Fotherington poses an important question for Maurice, her cat – where will he lay his head, or rather where will he get food and lodging in the style to which he has become accustomed.
Meanwhile the disappearance of Reginald Bowler, the local bank manager, poses a similar question for his dog Bouncer. So, Maurice sets about acquiring then both a suitable new home.
With the demise of Elizabeth Fotherington life for the Reverend Francis Oughterard has become fraught with problems, his nerves stretched to breaking point, with officious policeman poking round, uninvited guests, and to cap it all a visit from Horace Clinker the ‘mad’ bishop. Poor FO is smoking furiously and chomping his special humbugs at the same time.
The narrative is fresh and sparkling; told from the points of view of Maurice the cat, Bouncer the dog and the vicar. Bouncer’s most earnest hope is that Maurice will fall off the damn gatepost. Just when I thought that I had run the gauntlet of amazing names up popped Flirty-Girty, a Pomeranian who has annexed the affections of William, a Great Dane of immense dignity and proportion.
I loved this book and was thrilled to discover the
second in the series already in print, which I instantly obtained, and found
just as enthralling. Very highly recommended.
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Reviewer: Lizzie Hayes
Suzette A. Hill was born in Eastbourne, Sussex, in 1941; but has lived in many locations - the Midlands, Nottingham, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Berkshire - and finally in retirement in Ledbury, Herefordshire. Although being an English graduate of two universities and having taught ‘Eng. Lit.’ all her professional life, she never contemplated doing any creative writing herself. It was only when she was sixty-four and well retired, that out of idle curiosity she thought she might try her hand at a short story - just to see what writing fiction felt like. And to her ongoing surprise A Load of Old Bones plus its four sequels was the result. A Little Murder (pub. Allison & Busby) is the first in a new series featuring Rosie Gilchrist and followed by The Venetian Venture & A Southwold Mystery. The Primrose Pursuit (2016), the first book to feature Primrose Oughterard, is a link to the original ‘Bones’ series.
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