A Matter of Roses (Faith Abbey Mysteries)

Rating:
Summary: Murder Mystery covers up a sermon
Review: David Mauel should stick to writing about the natural world instead of trying to add his feelings and opinions onto a murder story. The action doesn't occur until so far into the book that one is left wondering what the mystery is. Then he spends so much time going through all the details it gets tiresome. The descriptions are fine, although I am not familiar with Cape Cod, but his writing style would be more fitted to a document in a magazine. There was so much opportunity to make the love between Andrew and Laurel beautiful, but he just dropped it in. Read it if nothing better is handy. I read it only because I agreed to give a report on it for our book club.

Rating:
Summary: Cape Cod, a cliff hanger mystery, conflict of love and faith
Review: If you love Cape Cod, a Matter of Roses is for you. Manuel's style and voice feel like your most comfortable and cherished moccasins. Add to that a stimulating and fun, first rate mystery, and you have a must read novel.

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful gripping suspense novel
Review: The town of Eastport has just had its' first murder in 47 years. The most hated man on the island, a developer naturally, Mac Curtis is found dead by Teal Pond. The murder weapon, a custom made knife he used in Vietnam, is missing, and the trouble has only just begun. There are innumerable suspects, from his wife and partners to a local enviromentalist. The Chief of Police needs help he can't get from his own department, his second in command is a raving egomaniac without the intelligence to match his ego. So, the Chief turns to his childhood friend, the monk, Brother Bartholomew, to help him. Brother Bartholomew has problems of his own, from the past and present, but he agrees to help his old friend.

This was a very suspenseful mystery. You never knew the killer's indentity until the author wanted you to know. There was plenty of action in between. A very fast and enjoyable read.