A Malignant House

by Fay Sampson

Overview

The second in a fascinating new mystery series - Suzie Fewings, a keen family history researcher, is delighted to be given access to a chest of old documents at the local stately home, Hereward Court. She tries to ignore disturbing rumours about the owner, Floridus Hereward, but when she’s threatened by a sinister visitor to the house, the police are bafflingly unhelpful . . .

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780727868275
Publisher:	Severn House
Publication date:	02/01/2010
Series:	Suzie Fewings
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	5.60(w) x 8.60(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Fay Sampson, three-time nominee for "The Guardian" Children's Fiction Prize, is the author of many books, including the Pangur Ban Celtic Fantasies "Shape-Shifter," "Pangur Ban the White Cat," "Finnglas of the Horses," and "Finnglas and the Stones of Choosing,"

Editorial Reviews

Cozy fans with a genealogical bent will best appreciate Sampson's bland second mystery to feature family researcher Suzie Fewings (after 2009's In the Blood). When Suzie requests permission from Floridus Hereward of Hereward Court to post a transcript of a rare 1821 census on the Internet, she's stunned by his wife inviting her to the house to view the original and other old papers. The thrill of the Hereward's document trove is mitigated by the strange household's cold ambience and by the rumors Suzie's teenage son, Tom, relates of Floridus being a fascist. Tom and his friend Paul Shino, a black refugee from a place called Matoposa, find evidence of a vile racist group inhabiting huts on the Hereward estate. Warnings and threats follow. Visits to the police produce talk but no action until Suzie's final visit to Hereward Court brings matters to a surprising, if somewhat silly, conclusion. (Feb.)

Publishers Weekly

Suzie Fewings, an avid genealogist, is tracing her family history. When she gains access to the documents in a chest at Hereward Court, the local manor, she is ecstatic. The lady of the manor even lets Suzie take documents home to transcribe and post on the Web, but rumor has it that the lady's husband, Floridus Hereward, is involved in disturbing activities. Suzie's son, Tom, and a friend break into Hereward Court to obtain evidence. Then Suzie receives threats from a sinister visitor who comes to her home. The fact that the police seem unwilling to help confuses her, but it is obvious that someone wants her to stay away from the manor. The Herewards appear to be decent people, but someone is putting Suzie's family in danger. This traditional cozy with an engaging cast of quirky characters will appeal to genealogists as well as fans of British cozies in the classical tradition.

Booklist