“Actually—” Oh, dear, this was most embarrassing. It sounded so—so aggressive. But she must be exact. “Actually I was a little angry—at his rudeness, you know—so I poked him in the back…”When Miss Seeton walks out after a performance of Carmen and witnesses a real-life stabbing, all she can recall is a shadowy figure. But how could she have guessed that her latest artistic endeavor is a … latest artistic endeavor is a picture-perfect portrait of the killer?
Her sketch puts her in a perilous position, for back at her recently inherited cottage in Plummergen village, she’s fated to be a sitting duck . . . for murder most foul!
Meet Miss Emily D. Seeton: retired art teacher Miss Seeton steps in where Scotland Yard stumbles. Armed with only her sketch pad and umbrella, she is every inch an eccentric English spinster and the most lovable and unlikely master of detection.
What people are saying about Miss Seeton:
“Miss Seeton is a hoot! I was torn between laughter and eye rolling with each page turn. The characters are loveable and thoroughly British. This is a perfect specimen of classic British mystery.“
“What a joy Miss Seeton is. Why did I wait so long to read them? Splashy characters, lovely setting, and just plain funny.”
“I’ve become a Miss Ess addict. Great characters that get better with each book. A must for anyone who loves a good British cozy with a twist, and surprising revelations of what a good brollie can do in a pinch.”
“What a great series. This is one of the best in English light reading mysteries.”
“All of the Miss Seeton books are a delight. Just fun reading.”
“LOVED this – the writing style is clever and unfolds much like a wonderful farce or a comedy of errors. You’ll just fall in love with Miss Seeton – she’s now my favorite British maiden aunt, and the supporting cast is a lot of fun too.”
“Very entertaining. Better than Miss Marple. Can’t wait to read more.”
“Heron Carvic’s inspired gentle satire of such elderly lady detectives as Miss Marple and Miss Silver is simply hilarious. Miss Seeton floats blithely through life, oblivious to the fact that she and her trusty umbrella are foiling bad guys at every turn.”
“Miss Seeton is a delightful sendup of the amateur sleuth. If your doctor has prescribed laughter as the best medicine, run and buy the entire series as fast as you can.”
“I fell in love with the character of Miss Seeton. It was a breath of fresh air compared to what is being written today.”
“How could you not love Miss Seeton?? So innocent, and kind. But, don’t mess with her and her trusty umbrella!!”
“She drove me crazy then and she drives me crazy now, and yet, I will probably read the whole series again on my Kindle. There is something absolutely mesmerizing about this delightful lady . . . Will she ever wake up to the world? “
Editorial reviews:
“A most beguiling protagonist! ” New York Times
“Miss Seeton gets into wild drama with fine touches of farce . . . This is a lovely mixture of the funny and the exciting.” San Francisco Chronicle
“This is not so much black comedy as black-currant comedy . . . You can’t stop reading. Or laughing.” The Sun
“Depth of description and lively characters bring this English village to life.” Publishers Weekly
“Fun to be had with a full cast of endearingly zany villagers. . . and the ever gently intuitive Miss Seeton.” Kirkus Reviews
“Miss Seeton is the most delightfully satisfactory character since Miss Marple.” Ogden Nash
“I think, on the whole, Miss Seeton is the most loveable and entertaining of any of today’s fiction detectives. May she live forever.”
London Mystery Selectionmore
What I guess is not called a cozy mystery. In the tradition and pattern of the great English mystery writers. Loved it and am starting another.
Reading this first in the series set me on a hunt for the other 20 or so! Might bankrupt me, but the entertainment is worth it. 🙂
It makes a very special reading. I loved it.
Didn’t like the spiritism so I only read a few pages and then quit
This book was a delight.
Always like Miss Seetons twists and turns. Had not read this 1st story so it was a real treat.
Enjoyed the Miss Seaton books very much.
Loved it
Easy reading, but main character’s combination of improbably excessive innocence with intelligence and people-savvy was difficult to swallow
Outstanding cozy
This delightful book is very well written and witty, with amusing characters and plot. Miss Seeton is a very proper teacher who through no fault of her own manages to stir up endless trouble in an English village.
This whole series is delightful. Miss Seeton is definitely unique to the world of spies and her innocence is part of her charm. I love how she bumbles through and comes out a winner.
Picture Miss Seeton by Heron Carvic is the first book in this series and set the scene for the following books. I actually listened to the new audio book that I got from Audible but couldn’t find that option here on Goodreads.
I confess that I read this book many, many years ago; and I had forgotten most of the story so it was fun to start this series from the beginning. The narrator, Phyllida Nash, did a good job with the narration as she kept a steady pace and added emphasis, emotions and clear enunciation throughout the book.
I do enjoy this series as Miss Seeton’s life and adventures always provides me with an enjoyable and engrossing read. The gossips in the village are just quirky enough to cause me to laugh out loud often as Miss Seeton goes blithely along her own way solving a mystery, saving a life and yet never quite understanding how she does it,
I voluntarily reviewed an audio book from Prelude Books Ltd. via Audible. All of the above opinions are my own.