A Matter of Roses by
David Manuel
A Faith Abbey Mystery
Time Warner - July 2001
ISBN: 0446609889 - Paperback
Private Sleuth
Reviewed by Barbara
Buhrer, MyShelf.com
Buy
a Copy
After an unnamed violent
storm of the century ravages the Cape Cod coast, the body of MacCurtis,
real estate developer, is found murdered on Teal Pond, disemboweled by
the knife he had made in Vietnam.
At a recent reception
announcing a competition for the rose of the Centennial, Curtis had assembled
the judges and competitors for the prize rose. When Sarah Tomlinson -
an obsession from Vietnam days - rebuffed him, he lost control and demonstrated
his special knife and the method he used to implement it. All who were
at the reception are suspects.
Eastport's Chief of
Police, Dan Burke, calls on his old friend, Brother Bartholomew to help.
Meeting Allison, his love from years ago, again, Bartholomew is experiencing
a spiritual crisis in his commitment to God. Together with his fellow
monk, Brother Ambrose, Bartholomew and Burke seek out the killer.
This is a suspenseful
story with beautiful descriptions of the Cape Cod areas, its ocean, atmosphere,
and country. The passages concerning life at the Abbey are most informative.
The characters are well presented, made very real. Bartholomew's quandary
is treated with sensitivity. It is a well-written, well-constructed plot
with enough suspects to keep the reader guessing until the end.
|