Rating: 
Summary: Needs more work
Review: I'm still trying to finish this book, desperately hoping it gets better. An avid reader of many fiction and non-fiction genres, I very rarely give up on a book entirely. However, I am 100+ pages into this one and still have no feeling for any of the characters. The cumbersome cast of extended family members breeze in and out of the text, neither adding to the storyline nor developing their characters. While the main character's internal thoughts and reflections read fairly well, conversations between characters feel aimless and meandering. This may be attributable to the author's inexperience. I am a big fan of this and similar genres. I want to like this book, but it has not impressed me yet.
Rating: 
Summary: For fans of Laurell K. Hamilton
Review: In Brennan County, Michigan lies the sleepy town of Sevyrn. However, the normal looking hamlet actually serves as the seat of power for Clan Beltene, a group of Druids hiding their power from the world. The head of the clan is Rhiannon Beltene who makes decisions on behalf of her entire community while being a very popular author of vampire novels. New sheriff Dan Thorpe immediately faces a series of murders in which the victim's blood is drained from their necks, contains puncture marks, and their body is embalmed. A companion note states that the corpses are courting gifts of love to Rhiannon. Since Dan is involved in family business, the clan initiates him as a clan member in a ceremony called the "welcoming." This allows him access to all Beltene business. As the body count rises, Rhianon's life becomes endangered by a deadly but unknown obsessed being. Anyone who enjoys Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter or the Diana Tregarde series will gain much pleasure from reading MURDER FOR BELTENE as well as previously released related short stories. The story line contains much information involving the occult, but never loses sight of the superbly developed who-done-it. This combination provides a crossover appeal to fans of horror, urban fantasy, and mystery. Sandra Brewer has created a unique lead character and family that will make her a fan favorite.
Rating:
Summary: This family gives new meaning to the term "eccentric".
Review: It only takes a few pages of Murder for Beltene to realize that these are definitely characters worth spending an evening with! The Clan Beltene, a family of Welsh druids, has lived in Michigan since before Michigan was part of the United States. But you won't see them running around the woods in long robes; they've adapted to the modern world quite well, bringing their unique family perspective to such occupations as doctor, county prosecutor, judge, artist, even vampire novelist. Even without the mystery, this book would be enjoyable for the characters. The mystery - who's leaving embalmed bodies around the town in honor of Rhiannon Beltene, best-selling author of vampire novels and reluctant head of the Beltene clan? Is this murder spree leading up to an attack on Rhiannon? Will the family castle soon be under seige? Sandra Brewer paints an interesting, and accurate, picture of life in a small Michigan town, peopling it with the type of "characters" so many of our little villages seem to have in abundance. They're goofy, cantankerous, and very real. And lest anyone think this is only a book for fans of horror, fantasy, or vampire novels, let me set you straight on that. I don't read horror or vampire novels, and not much fantasy, but I enjoyed Murder for Beltene and I'll be waiting for the next installment on this unique family. Yes, there is material about druids and vampires, but it fits in so well with today's society that I'm not left rolling my eyes. I have, however, been tempted to pull out my Atlas of Michigan and try to figure out just where "Up North" Sevyrn really is. This is a novel for fans of hometown mysteries, too.
Rating: 
Summary: Fun, funny first mystery. Hope there are more!
Review: On her way to the store for her nightly soft ice cream cone fix, Rhiannon Beltene finds a dead body on the path that cuts through her family's woods. The victim's anonymity alone is strange in the quiet town of Sevyrn, located in Brennan County in Michigan's Upper peninsula. However, the circumstances of his death -- Drained of blood with puncture wounds in the neck, the body appears to have been killed by a vampire. -- make it clear that Rhi, a successful writer of vampire fiction, has acquired a rather dangerous admirer. As the start to bodies appear regularly Rhi finds herself forced to deal with Brennan County's new Sheriff who has serious reservations about one of Rhi's cousins. Trysan sleeps in a coffin and enjoys vampire fantasies. Despite a pressing deadline for her next novel, Rhi is forced to set her writing aside to assist the investigation and comes to accept her responsibilities as "The Beltene" or head of Clan Beltene, a family of Welsh descent that has been in Brennan County since the 1780s. The mystery itself takes a back seat to the mystery of the Beltene family and as the reader meets an interesting assortment of clan members -- from mercenaries to lawyers to Catholic priests to long practicing (definately not "neo") Druids -- it quickly becomes clear that nothing is quite as it appears. Brewer's characters are funny, intelligent, and more than a little odd . . .. This is Brewer's first novel featuring the Beltene clan, and with any luck, it won't be the last such book that we get from Brewer.
Rating:
Summary: Fun, funny first mystery. Hope there are more!
Review: On her way to the store for her nightly soft ice cream cone fix, Rhiannon Beltene finds a dead body on the path that cuts through her family's woods. The victim's anonymity alone is strange in the quiet town of Sevyrn, located in Brennan County in Michigan's Upper peninsula. However, the circumstances of his death -- Drained of blood with puncture wounds in the neck, the body appears to have been killed by a vampire. -- make it clear that Rhi, a successful writer of vampire fiction, has acquired a rather dangerous admirer. As the start to bodies appear regularly Rhi finds herself forced to deal with Brennan County's new Sheriff who has serious reservations about one of Rhi's cousins. Trysan sleeps in a coffin and enjoys vampire fantasies. Despite a pressing deadline for her next novel, Rhi is forced to set her writing aside to assist the investigation and comes to accept her responsibilities as "The Beltene" or head of Clan Beltene, a family of Welsh descent that has been in Brennan County since the 1780s. The mystery itself takes a back seat to the mystery of the Beltene family and as the reader meets an interesting assortment of clan members -- from mercenaries to lawyers to Catholic priests to long practicing (definately not "neo") Druids -- it quickly becomes clear that nothing is quite as it appears. Brewer's characters are funny, intelligent, and more than a little odd . . .. This is Brewer's first novel featuring the Beltene clan, and with any luck, it won't be the last such book that we get from Brewer.
Rating:
Summary: Fair, not great
Review: The Beltene family was an enjoyable idea, but there really wasn't much plot to go with this. There's really not much in the way of mystery, certainly not much in the way of plot development. I think Hoffman's "The Thread That Binds The Bones" did this concept much better.
Rating:
Summary: Fair, not great
Review: The Beltene family was an enjoyable idea, but there really wasn't much plot to go with this. There's really not much in the way of mystery, certainly not much in the way of plot development. I think Hoffman's "The Thread That Binds The Bones" did this concept much better.
Rating:
Summary: an occult Charlotte MacLoad
Review: This book is great fun. Ms. Brewer writes a good mystery with wonderful excentric people. She creates a whole new background that seems just like the people and places that you know but with a lovely twist. I'm sorry if I misspelled Charlotte MacCload's name but she truely reminds me of the New England excentrics of Charlotte's books. Sorry I never give up any of the books intimate pieces - well why read a book that's been thoroughly spoiled. But I highly recommend spending time with the Beltenes as great fun and time well spent! - Sr. Cyndy
Rating:
Summary: Welsh Conundrums
Review: Transplant an extremely (make that very extremely) long-lived Welsh family to the far north of Michigan and have them spend the next two centuries settling in until they have a county all their own. Throw in a serial killer who thinks he is a vampire undertaker, and you have the basic material for Sandra Brewer's first mystery novel, 'Murder for Beltene.' You can blame the first part on Grandmama. She performed a Druid sacrifice in 71 AD and in doing so founded the Beltene family. Now they are here in the U.S., and anxious to preserve their anonymity. Rhiannon Beltene, as the eldest unchanged family member, is the temporal head of the Beltene clan. A task for which she has little liking. What Rhiannon does like to do is write vampire fiction, as which she does extremely well. Unfortunately, our serial killer has decided to leave Rhiannon a set of blood-drained corpses as gifts. Not only does this attract the unwelcome presence of the tabloids, but now Rhiannon must also deal with the new sheriff of Brennan County. Daniel Thorpe is not an overly difficult man, but he has not been in the Beltene realm long enough to be properly Welcomed (make that bespelled), and is thus denied access to information that would help him to solve the case. Rhiannon's problem is managing a family of rowdy characters, solving the problem of Daniel Thorpe, and keeping the family secret from becoming front-page news. Sheriff Thorpe's problem is finding a serial killer who produces bloodless corpses out of nowhere. The reader's challenge is dealing with a magic besprinkled mystery story without drowning in a welter of Welsh forenames. There are a few moments when this becomes a cozy tale for the terminally tongue twisted. Do not get me wrong! Given the relative impossibility of the basic premise of Brewer's story, this is still genuinely interesting and enjoyable fiction. This is an intentionally humorous story, and the Welsh overload simply makes it more fun. Fortunately, Brewer provides and extensive list of characters, with pronunciation. Maps are supplied as well, but all to no avail. The story is a good deal more about the Beltene family and the town of Sevyrn than it is about the killings. The only real flaw is that Brewer is a bit too fond of red herrings. This tale screams 'first of a series,' and I am looking forward to further adventures among the Druids of Northern Michigan.
Rating:
Summary: Welsh Conundrums
Review: Transplant an extremely (make that very extremely) long-lived Welsh family to the far north of Michigan and have them spend the next two centuries settling in until they have a county all their own. Throw in a serial killer who thinks he is a vampire undertaker, and you have the basic material for Sandra Brewer's first mystery novel, 'Murder for Beltene.' You can blame the first part on Grandmama. She performed a Druid sacrifice in 71 AD and in doing so founded the Beltene family. Now they are here in the U.S., and anxious to preserve their anonymity. Rhiannon Beltene, as the eldest unchanged family member, is the temporal head of the Beltene clan. A task for which she has little liking. What Rhiannon does like to do is write vampire fiction, as which she does extremely well. Unfortunately, our serial killer has decided to leave Rhiannon a set of blood-drained corpses as gifts. Not only does this attract the unwelcome presence of the tabloids, but now Rhiannon must also deal with the new sheriff of Brennan County. Daniel Thorpe is not an overly difficult man, but he has not been in the Beltene realm long enough to be properly Welcomed (make that bespelled), and is thus denied access to information that would help him to solve the case. Rhiannon's problem is managing a family of rowdy characters, solving the problem of Daniel Thorpe, and keeping the family secret from becoming front-page news. Sheriff Thorpe's problem is finding a serial killer who produces bloodless corpses out of nowhere. The reader's challenge is dealing with a magic besprinkled mystery story without drowning in a welter of Welsh forenames. There are a few moments when this becomes a cozy tale for the terminally tongue twisted. Do not get me wrong! Given the relative impossibility of the basic premise of Brewer's story, this is still genuinely interesting and enjoyable fiction. This is an intentionally humorous story, and the Welsh overload simply makes it more fun. Fortunately, Brewer provides and extensive list of characters, with pronunciation. Maps are supplied as well, but all to no avail. The story is a good deal more about the Beltene family and the town of Sevyrn than it is about the killings. The only real flaw is that Brewer is a bit too fond of red herrings. This tale screams 'first of a series,' and I am looking forward to further adventures among the Druids of Northern Michigan.
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