From Publishers Weekly
In Brett's fourth chatty, genteel Fethering mystery (after 2002's The Torso in the Town), Carole Seddon finds herself a member of the Bracketts Trust, which is responsible for the upkeep of Bracketts, former home of West Sussex litterateur Esmond Chadleigh. Tension arises between the Trust's new director, Gina Locke, who represents the new world of "management structures," and former trustee Sheila Cartwright, who's from the old school of local volunteers. While they wrangle over Bracketts's future, a skeleton turns up in the garden. Though it's obviously been there a long time, Sheila does her best to keep this disturbing find quiet. When a female American academic shows up to research a new biography of Chadleigh, she's stonewalled by the Trust's dawdling biographer-elect and grandson of the author, Graham Chadleigh-Bewes. Clearly something more than mere footnotes is being concealed. Eager to ferret out the truth, the uptight Carole is unable to rely on her usual partner-in-detection, the liberated Jude Nichols, since Jude is looking after a dying former lover. At times, subtle character interaction, at which Brett excels, threatens to take over the novel, but the mystery gathers steam after another, fresher body appears. Even Jude and lover have a part to play in its resolution, and Brett provides a shocking revelation or two at the end to bring a proper ending to a proper story. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From AudioFile
The latest in Brett's Fethering mysteries involves the discovery of a skeleton buried ninety years ago and a murder that occurs during the course of the novel. This quiet mystery features Carole Seddon and her neighbor, Jude, who have combined on other occasions to solve crimes. Geoffrey Howard's rendering is satisfactory, with small, almost undetectable, distinctions among the English characters' voices. The voice of the female American academic does not come across as authentic--at first sounding like that of a New York taxi driver and subsequently wavering between a more subtle New York accent and one that is indistinguishable from those of the English characters. Overall however, Howard narrates with clarity and pacing that suits the gentle nature of the writing. S.S.R. © AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

From Booklist
The kitchen garden of a stately home in the Sussex village of Fethering is the final resting place for two bodies: one buried there during World War I and newly discovered; the other landing in the ground 90 years later, the result of a single gunshot. Brett delivers a deft mixture of history-mystery and contemporary thriller in this latest installment in his Fethering series starring the prickly, fiftysomething amateur sleuth, Carole Sedden, who is on site for the discovery of both bodies. Carole has been asked to serve on the board of trustees for a stately home once inhabited by one of the most famous Catholic poets of the Great War. Brett, who sends up backstage backbiting in his Charles Paris theatrical mysteries, applies the same caustic wit to the desperate gamesmanship of board meetings and village politics. The appearance of an American professor who wants to write a biography of the Catholic poet throws the board into a satisfyingly snide uproar. The contemporary murder is a feat of planning, a sort of mirror image of the locked-room puzzle in which the killing takes place in the open air, with Sedden walking right next to the victim. Another marvelous mix of social satire and traditional cozy. Connie Fletcher
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Booklist
Another marvelous mix of social satire and traditional cozy.

Book Description
When a human skeleton is unearthed, Carole and Jude must risk tarnishing the sterling reputation of a beloved author to learn whether his sword was mightier than his pen.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

The life of noted man of letters Esmond Chadleigh - poet, children's author, essayist, fantasist - is celebrated in the halls of the Bracketts House. However, despite the efforts of the house's trustees, most of Chadleigh's work remains out-of-print - leaving the once famous literary figure out-of-sight and out-of-mind...and Bracketts out-of-funds.

An American literature professor with a big interest in Chadleigh - and an even bigger bankroll from the university where she's tenured - can keep Bracketts running, in exchange for assistance on her Chadleigh biography. But the mistrustful trustees are afraid the biographer is only interested in rooting out the skeletons in Chadleigh's closet - especially after uncovering one in his garden.

Now, Carole and Jude must risk tarnishing the sterling reputation of a beloved author to learn whether his sword was mightier than his pen.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

In Brett's fourth chatty, genteel Fethering mystery (after 2002's The Torso in the Town), Carole Seddon finds herself a member of the Bracketts Trust, which is responsible for the upkeep of Bracketts, former home of West Sussex litterateur Esmond Chadleigh. Tension arises between the Trust's new director, Gina Locke, who represents the new world of "management structures," and former trustee Sheila Cartwright, who's from the old school of local volunteers. While they wrangle over Bracketts's future, a skeleton turns up in the garden. Though it's obviously been there a long time, Sheila does her best to keep this disturbing find quiet. When a female American academic shows up to research a new biography of Chadleigh, she's stonewalled by the Trust's dawdling biographer-elect and grandson of the author, Graham Chadleigh-Bewes. Clearly something more than mere footnotes is being concealed. Eager to ferret out the truth, the uptight Carole is unable to rely on her usual partner-in-detection, the liberated Jude Nichols, since Jude is looking after a dying former lover. At times, subtle character interaction, at which Brett excels, threatens to take over the novel, but the mystery gathers steam after another, fresher body appears. Even Jude and lover have a part to play in its resolution, and Brett provides a shocking revelation or two at the end to bring a proper ending to a proper story. (Aug. 5) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Library Journal

Home Office retiree Carole Seddon and her unconventional neighbor, Jude (Death on the Downs), become involved in another murder case when a skeleton is found on the grounds of Bracketts House, once home of a noted author. Unfortunately, any hint of scandal could mean the end of promised new funds for the impoverished museum. Another noteworthy series addition from the prolific author. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

AudioFile

Simon Brett is unique in the audio world in that he can both write an engaging mystery AND narrate it in a convincing fashion. (Before becoming a full-time writer, Brett had a successful career in broadcasting.) In this adventure retired civil servant Carole Seddon struggles with the secrets of the Chadleigh family, whose Elizabethan home is about to become a museum honoring the literary efforts of a second-rate early-twentieth-century poet. Simon Brett captures the very souls of the characters and makes them vividly real for listeners. His only faulty portrayal is that of the American professor, whose accent is never quite right. Listeners will find the quirky characters interesting and even the meetings of the board of trustees for the museum a source of clues. D.L.G. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine

Kirkus Reviews