November was a long month and one in which I wasn't able to get to reading as much as I would have liked! That being said, I have FINALLY finished A Fatal Winter. Populated with eccentric, entitled heirs, well-meaning townspeople, and handsome Father Max Tudor, MI5 agent turned Anglican priest, Nether Monkslip is again faced with murder, this time at Chedrow Castle in nearby Monkslip Super Mare. A brief Internet investigation has informed me that "Super Mare" comes from the Latin meaning "upon the sea" and is used to distinguish a village located at the water's edge, much like "by-the-sea." I wish I had looked that up before!
As Max travels home from a conference in London on December 13 he shares a train compartment with Lady Leticia Baynard, widowed twin sister of Lord Oscar Footrustle of Chedrow Castle. Later that day, after enjoying an intimate dinner with the lovely Awena Owen, proprietor of Nether Monkslip's new age store, Max learns that both Lord Footrustle and Lady Baynard have died. Oscar has been unceremoniously stabbed, possibly by one of his family, who are gathered at the castle for the holidays at his invitation. Lady Baynard's death appears to be natural. Max is asked by local authorities to visit the castle in his pastoral capacity to comfort the family while surreptitiously using his investigative skills to sort through the various suspects. Who stands to inherit? Who is insane enough and enraged enough to stab an old man multiple times even after he is dead? Could it be his daughter, Jocasta, the flamboyant has-been actress with the much-younger husband? Or could Lester, Leticia's younger son from Australia be desperate for money? What about Lamorna, the ugly adopted granddaughter suffering from religious delusions?
Malliet has produced another excellent murder mystery. I confess that would have enjoyed it more if I had read it a little faster, but the combination of village sensibilities, crazy relatives, a drafty old castle, and, most of all, Max Tudor, make this a highly recommended read. Max is nice guy with all of the characteristics of a good priest. He is caring, compassionate, and intelligent, yet emotionally vulnerable and still feeling guilty over the death of his former MI5 partner. He is also falling in love with Awena, which adds even more dimension and interest to his character. I'm looking forward to the next installment!
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