‘Murder Most Bookish’ by Anthea Fraser.

Published by Joffe Books,
24 November 2025.
ASIN: BOFXXYS527.
Originally published as
Brought to Book in 2003. 

This is the first book in a series featuring Rona Parish who is a successful biographer. She lives in a tall, narrow house in a quiet street in the market town of Marsborough with her husband Max Allerdyce who is an artist. Rona’s twin Lindsey calls Max, Rona’s ‘semi-detached husband,’ as they have been married for 4 years but inhabit two separate houses. The problem being that they both work from home. Max paints with music playing at full volume, and Rona needs quiet when she is writing. Rona’s parents, Avril and Tom had been appalled by the arrangement, but odd though it maybe it seems to be working fine. 

Rona has received a letter from the wife of bestselling author Theo Harvey, who has recently died in mysterious circumstances, asking her to write his life story. Despite the reservations put forward by her husband Max, Rona is intrigued by the Theo Harvey’s two-year writing block, from which he emerged with a totally different style of writing.    

While Rona is turning the matter over in her head, Lindsey, turns up. She is a solicitor and works for Chase Mortimer. Lindsey is now divorced from husband Hugh, but he has now got back in touch and wants to meet up. 

The story is full of well-defined characters who jump off the page. Although Lindsey and Rona are alike in looks, mannerisms and voices they are completely different in character.  Particularly where men are concerned. Then there is Barnie Trent who produces Chiltern Life magazine, to which Rona regularly contribute articles. She and Barnie have a good working relationship, but his temper is legendary. The twins’ parents, mother Avril is a sort of faded woman with a discontented expression, in contrast I liked their father, Tom. 

This is an excellent read, with great characters and of course ‘Murder’. I enjoyed it enormously and highly recommend it.
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Reviewer: Lizzie Sirett

Anthea Mary Fraser was born in 1930. Her mother was a published novelist, and Anthea began composing poems and stories before she could write. At the age of five she announced that she wanted to be an author. Her first professional publications were short stories. Her first novel was published in 1970, and her first significant success was with her 1974 novel Laura Possessed, which had a paranormal theme, and was followed by 6 other similarly themed novels. She then wrote some romantic suspense stories before turning to writing crime fiction. She has created two mystery novel series, the first featuring Detective Chief Inspector David Webb' with the Shillingham police. There are 16 novels in this series. The second series features 'Rona Parish', a biographer and freelance journalist. Anthea Fraser served as secretary of the Crime Writer’ Association  from 1986 to 1996. She has also published five novels under the pen name 'Vanessa Graham'.