St. Martin's Press nourishes the mystery genre's roots by giving out an annual Malice Domestic Award for what it labels "Best First Traditional Mystery." The hero of its 1997 winner would certainly seem to fit that category: at first glance, Dr. Andrew Fenimore could come straight from a book by Agatha Christie or Dorothy Sayers. A Philadelphia physician who dabbles in criminal investigation, Dr. Fenimore manages to be both sharp and soothing as he digs, literally, into the mystery of why the body of a recently deceased young Native American woman came to be buried, sitting up, in an ancient tribal graveyard. It's only as we become better acquainted with Dr. Fenimore and his colorful band of associates that we see what Robin Hathaway is really up to: she uses the boundaries of the traditional mystery to contain a very modern story about social and cultural change. But of course that's also what Sayers and Christie were up to in their time. Welcome to the club, Robin Hathaway. --Dick Adler


From School Library Journal
YA-Hathaway introduces sleuth cardiologist Dr. Andrew Fenimore, whose expert medical knowledge helps unravel the mysterious death of a Lenape woman. When Fenimore spots a street kid named Horatio unsuccessfully trying to bury his dead cat in a public park on Philadelphia's affluent Society Hill, he befriends the youth and offers to help him lay his pet to rest in what is rumored to be an ancient burial ground of the Lenape. Descendants of this East Coast tribe still live in the eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey area. While burying the animal, the doctor and Horatio stumble upon the body of a young girl who is buried in an upright position facing east as is traditional with the Lenape. From this curious discovery, Hathaway's novel weaves the forgotten culture of this tribe, the doctor's unconventional avocation as a P.I., and a cast of lovable but eccentric characters into a well-crafted tale of suspense. Young adults will enjoy this witty novel that illuminates in wonderful detail the little-known ways of the Lenape and introduces a physician-detective who is expected to reappear in forthcoming novels.Pat Bangs, Fairfax County Public Library, VACopyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Kirkus Reviews
Dr. Andrew Fenimore, a late-30s bachelor, has an unlikely double professionmedical doctor and private eye. He practices both from an old-fashioned office in his Philadelphia home, comforted by cat Sal and assisted by nurse-secretary Mrs. Doyle, a holdover from his late fathers practice. Into this serene milieu comes Hispanic teenager Horatio, caught by a park guard while trying to bury his catkilled in an automobile accident observed by Andrew. The doctor remembers a tiny Lenape Indian burial ground in a nearby alley, and he and Horatio arrange to meet there that night. Horatio leaves after the burial in the alleybut Andrew, whos seen something suspicious, gets a bash on the head for his trouble. A call to his old friend Inspector Dad Rafferty of the Philadelphia police quickly uncovers the body of a Lenape named Joanne Field, a.k.a. Sweet Grass, recently reported missing by her fianc Ted Hardwick, son of a prominent Main Line family headed by Dr. Nat Hardwick. Sweet Grass was last seen leaving the emergency room of the local hospital, complaining of feeling ill but refusing further treatmentthis after a pre-wedding barbeque hosted by her future in-laws. It takes all Andrews knowledge of blood chemistry and herbal properties to pin down Sweet Grasss killerbut not before, with Horatios help, he narrowly escapes his own death. Newcomer Hathaway (winner of St. Martins Malice Domestic Award for the Best First Traditional Mystery of 1997) maintains an easygoing, unpretentious touch even with her complex plot, Native Indian lore, heavily technical medical background, and nebbishy but nice hero. Lovers of hospital drama, in particular, will welcome a return visit. -- Copyright ©1998, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.


Review
"A perfect combination of the old and the new. The plot is as mysterious as old-fashioned mysteries, but the telling is sleek and fashionable and right up to date. The novel has charm, wiles, and its own underplayed style of humor. Robin Hathaway is a real find."-- Ed Gorman, Mystery Scene

"Newcomer Hathaway maintains an easygoing, unpretentious touch even with her complex plot. Native Indian lore, heavily technical medical background, and nebbishy but nice hero. Lovers of hospital drama, in particular, will welcome a return visit."-- Kirkus Reviews

FROM THE PUBLISHER

When the somewhat unfashionable physician Andrew Fenimore spots a teenage boy trying unsuccessfully to bury his beloved cat in Philadelphia's posh Society Hill, he befriends the lonely youth and leads him to what is rumored to be an ancient Indian burial ground of the Lenape Indians. The two stumble across a body while digging, but this is not what surprises them. The young woman who is buried there is sitting in an upright position and facing east, as is customary with the Lenape, but her death is obviously a very recent one. When the identity of the woman is discovered to be that of the fiancee of an old colleague's son, Fenimore quickly finds himself buried in the investigation to uncover the cause of the woman's untimely death.

FROM THE CRITICS

School Library Journal

YA-Hathaway introduces sleuth cardiologist Dr. Andrew Fenimore, whose expert medical knowledge helps unravel the mysterious death of a Lenape woman. When Fenimore spots a street kid named Horatio unsuccessfully trying to bury his dead cat in a public park on Philadelphia's affluent Society Hill, he befriends the youth and offers to help him lay his pet to rest in what is rumored to be an ancient burial ground of the Lenape. Descendants of this East Coast tribe still live in the eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey area. While burying the animal, the doctor and Horatio stumble upon the body of a young girl who is buried in an upright position facing east as is traditional with the Lenape. From this curious discovery, Hathaway's novel weaves the forgotten culture of this tribe, the doctor's unconventional avocation as a P.I., and a cast of lovable but eccentric characters into a well-crafted tale of suspense. Young adults will enjoy this witty novel that illuminates in wonderful detail the little-known ways of the Lenape and introduces a physician-detective who is expected to reappear in forthcoming novels.-Pat Bangs, Fairfax County Public Library, VA

Kirkus Reviews

Dr. Andrew Fenimore, a late-30s bachelor, has an unlikely double professionþmedical doctor and private eye. He practices both from an old-fashioned office in his Philadelphia home, comforted by cat Sal and assisted by nurse-secretary Mrs. Doyle, a holdover from his late fatherþs practice. Into this serene milieu comes Hispanic teenager Horatio, caught by a park guard while trying to bury his catþkilled in an automobile accident observed by Andrew. The doctor remembers a tiny Lenape Indian burial ground in a nearby alley, and he and Horatio arrange to meet there that night. Horatio leaves after the burial in the alleyþbut Andrew, whoþs seen something suspicious, gets a bash on the head for his trouble. A call to his old friend Inspector Dad Rafferty of the Philadelphia police quickly uncovers the body of a Lenape named Joanne Field, a.k.a. Sweet Grass, recently reported missing by her fianc￯﾿ﾽ Ted Hardwick, son of a prominent Main Line family headed by Dr. Nat Hardwick. Sweet Grass was last seen leaving the emergency room of the local hospital, complaining of feeling ill but refusing further treatmentþthis after a pre-wedding barbeque hosted by her future in-laws. It takes all Andrewþs knowledge of blood chemistry and herbal properties to pin down Sweet Grassþs killerþbut not before, with Horatioþs help, he narrowly escapes his own death. Newcomer Hathaway (winner of St. Martinþs Malice Domestic Award for the þBest First Traditional Mystery of 1997þ) maintains an easygoing, unpretentious touch even with her complex plot, Native Indian lore, heavily technical medical background, and nebbishy but nice hero. Loversof hospital drama, in particular, will welcome a return visit.