The Primrose Pursuit: 6 (Francis Oughterard) - Tapa dura

"The research is unobtrusive but impeccable... Anyone who enjoyed Mapp and Lucia will love this good-tempered satirical little book with its middle-class manners, relaxed eccentrics and tough core."--Historical Novels Review "I really enjoyed this novel and I valued seeing Primrose from her own point of view... The world of animals is well developed and expanded in this novel, without overwhelming the plot and from a characterisation and relationship stance this novel has surprising depths. I hope there will be further novels in this series."--Cross Examining Crime "With multiple narrators that of Maurice, Bouncer and Primrose, not forgetting the correspondence between Emily, the school secretary and her friend Agnes enjoying life in Tobago, this tale of village life set in the late 1950's is a delight. Witty, clever, and cunningly plotted, it is a joy to read. Highly recommended."--Lizzie Hayes "Promoting Crime Fiction "

Primrose Oughterard, an eccentric artist living in East Sussex, has recently taken custody of her dead brother's cat and dog, Maurice and Bouncer. The brother - the Revd Francis Oughterard - has had the misfortune to murder one of his parishioners, and (aided and abetted by his pets and sister) had devoted much of his time to concealing the crime and escaping the gallows (which he did). Following his heroic death rescuing another parishioner from impalement on a gargoyle, his sister feels duty-bound to take responsibility for the two animals. The arrangement results in a number of questionable entanglements including the usual mishaps of murder, foiled intentions, concealment of evidence - plus a peculiar manoeuvre on the cliff at Beachy Head.