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A Will to Murder
When wealthy and eccentric patriarch James Boyle dies a peculiar death, the DA declines to investigate, convinced that the victim died of natural causes. Yet even the police are stunned when members of the Boyle family gather at the estate of Rollingwood for the reading of James' will--and begin to die, one at a time. Only when long-lost relative Bradley Smith appears, along with reporter Eric Maxwell, do the mysterious deaths finally receive a proper investigation. Even so, no one is prepared for the lunacy that hides beneath the mansion's bizarre facade.
- GenresMystery
319 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 14, 2011
14 people want to read
About the author
Hilary Thomson
2 books1 followerWriter who doesn't have as much time to read as she would like.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 8, 2012
The cover of this book intrigued me. Edward Steichen's famous photograph of actress Gloria Swanson promised a story from the flapper era and the font of the title and author's name reminded me of works that have to do with mysticism, so it's no wonder I expected an old-fashioned mystery with maybe some ghosts or at least a nice spooky seance. Out of these three I only got the old-fashioned mystery, and then only partially.
From the very beginning I could see that this book resembles one of Agatha Christie's cozy mysteries and the small-town setting, the multiple suspects who all have a motive, the extremely rich family with many secrets, and the amateur detective who just happens to be at the right place at the right time immediately endeared it to me. Another thing I saw right away was that the author has a real knack for setting the scene and characterization: in just a few short paragraphs I knew what sort of man James Boyle was and understood his reactions to what was going on. In fact, this continued throughout the book with the rest of the characters as well and made the book that much more enjoyable. I did have some trouble deciding at first when the book was set because the elderly gentleman in his bowler hat being driven around by a chauffeur hinted at a historical mystery but the clearly modern details indicated a much more recent time. The writing also reminded me of a bygone era with its thorough descriptions of places and people as well as a level of familiarity that never crossed into the intimate as it often does nowadays.
I appreciated the idea of having a portion of the story told from the point of view of a child. This provides a perspective an adult wouldn't have and Ms. Thomson seems to have a pretty good grasp on the complexities of a child's life to which we adults are often oblivious. I even missed the boy telling his version of the story when it was the adult's turn.
One of the things that pleasantly surprised me was how funny this book was. On one hand there's nothing humorous about death but the characters and their interactions brought me so many laughs I'm tempted to categorize this book as a satirical mystery. Not only is the dialogue clever, but the author managed to present her characters' peculiarities with such keen attention to detail that I applaud her for how observant she is and for her skill in bringing it to the page.
One of the things that dampened my enthusiasm for this book had to do with connecting the dots of the plot. It just didn't flow as smoothly as I would have liked it to. For example there was the matter of Eric's girlfriend appearing in the beginning of the book in a seemingly non-sequential role and then halfway through it turns out that somehow she's become an influential figure. I really did a double-take because I had no idea how that happened. The characters being alternately referred to by their first and last names was also troublesome. I'm not very good with names to begin with so feeling like an already populous cast has suddenly doubled did nothing for my comfort level. I often had to reread the paragraphs to figure out who was who and what it is they were doing.
A good mystery is supposed to leave the reader suspecting at least a few people and A Will To Murder succeeded at that. I of course got it all wrong, as usual, although in hindsight the identity of the murderer shouldn't have surprised me as much as it did. Oh well, better luck next time.
This was a very enjoyable and quick read and I would readily recommend it to any fan of mystery, especially one who can appreciate a few laughs on the side.
Read more of my reviews at Bibliophile's Corner
From the very beginning I could see that this book resembles one of Agatha Christie's cozy mysteries and the small-town setting, the multiple suspects who all have a motive, the extremely rich family with many secrets, and the amateur detective who just happens to be at the right place at the right time immediately endeared it to me. Another thing I saw right away was that the author has a real knack for setting the scene and characterization: in just a few short paragraphs I knew what sort of man James Boyle was and understood his reactions to what was going on. In fact, this continued throughout the book with the rest of the characters as well and made the book that much more enjoyable. I did have some trouble deciding at first when the book was set because the elderly gentleman in his bowler hat being driven around by a chauffeur hinted at a historical mystery but the clearly modern details indicated a much more recent time. The writing also reminded me of a bygone era with its thorough descriptions of places and people as well as a level of familiarity that never crossed into the intimate as it often does nowadays.
I appreciated the idea of having a portion of the story told from the point of view of a child. This provides a perspective an adult wouldn't have and Ms. Thomson seems to have a pretty good grasp on the complexities of a child's life to which we adults are often oblivious. I even missed the boy telling his version of the story when it was the adult's turn.
One of the things that pleasantly surprised me was how funny this book was. On one hand there's nothing humorous about death but the characters and their interactions brought me so many laughs I'm tempted to categorize this book as a satirical mystery. Not only is the dialogue clever, but the author managed to present her characters' peculiarities with such keen attention to detail that I applaud her for how observant she is and for her skill in bringing it to the page.
One of the things that dampened my enthusiasm for this book had to do with connecting the dots of the plot. It just didn't flow as smoothly as I would have liked it to. For example there was the matter of Eric's girlfriend appearing in the beginning of the book in a seemingly non-sequential role and then halfway through it turns out that somehow she's become an influential figure. I really did a double-take because I had no idea how that happened. The characters being alternately referred to by their first and last names was also troublesome. I'm not very good with names to begin with so feeling like an already populous cast has suddenly doubled did nothing for my comfort level. I often had to reread the paragraphs to figure out who was who and what it is they were doing.
A good mystery is supposed to leave the reader suspecting at least a few people and A Will To Murder succeeded at that. I of course got it all wrong, as usual, although in hindsight the identity of the murderer shouldn't have surprised me as much as it did. Oh well, better luck next time.
This was a very enjoyable and quick read and I would readily recommend it to any fan of mystery, especially one who can appreciate a few laughs on the side.
Read more of my reviews at Bibliophile's Corner
January 16, 2012
James Boyle likes things his way. He loves to show off his car to the small town, but a normal excursion into town he is shocked to hear a loud thumping noise. Imagine his dismay when he realizes the rap music is coming from his own car. James dies, from shame or a heart attack, it's hard to say.
The family begins to come out of the woodwork for the reading of James' will. He was very wealthy. His two daughters, Rose and Jac, arrive with their families. His sister Katherine lived with him and assumes she will be the main beneficiary. His son, who also lives with him, and hasn't worked a day in his life, also assumes he will be the main beneficiary. The reading of the will, though, is delayed as they wait on other family to arrive.
Lance and Collette arrive, children from James' long lost sister, and Bradley Smith with his reporter friend, Eric Maxwell. Bradley didn't know he had any family living until he gets the notice from the lawyer. He also brings his two cats, much to the chagrin of the family, who have a dog.
When the will is read, there is stunned silence. Arthur, the only child of Rose, receives a penny - the only grandchild to get anything. Rose and Jac do not receive anything and Katherine is the beneficiary. But the will reading stops when Jac begins to throw a tantrum.
Not long after the will reading, another death occurs. Each time someone dies, the will changes and someone else dies. With such an eccentric family, there are many mishaps, embarrassing moments and mischief as they begin to know one another. As the deaths pile up, all declared natural by the medical examiner, Eric begins to question and investigate. With that much money at stake, no one is safe.
A Will for Murder is charming, fascinating and thoroughly entertaining. It reminded me so much of the game Clue, as different people died in different rooms and you want to know, who did it? I was sad to see it end. Hilary Thomson is a very gifted writer, with an attention to detail and well-depicted characters that keep the pages flowing seamlessly. I can't wait to see what she has in store next!
The family begins to come out of the woodwork for the reading of James' will. He was very wealthy. His two daughters, Rose and Jac, arrive with their families. His sister Katherine lived with him and assumes she will be the main beneficiary. His son, who also lives with him, and hasn't worked a day in his life, also assumes he will be the main beneficiary. The reading of the will, though, is delayed as they wait on other family to arrive.
Lance and Collette arrive, children from James' long lost sister, and Bradley Smith with his reporter friend, Eric Maxwell. Bradley didn't know he had any family living until he gets the notice from the lawyer. He also brings his two cats, much to the chagrin of the family, who have a dog.
When the will is read, there is stunned silence. Arthur, the only child of Rose, receives a penny - the only grandchild to get anything. Rose and Jac do not receive anything and Katherine is the beneficiary. But the will reading stops when Jac begins to throw a tantrum.
Not long after the will reading, another death occurs. Each time someone dies, the will changes and someone else dies. With such an eccentric family, there are many mishaps, embarrassing moments and mischief as they begin to know one another. As the deaths pile up, all declared natural by the medical examiner, Eric begins to question and investigate. With that much money at stake, no one is safe.
A Will for Murder is charming, fascinating and thoroughly entertaining. It reminded me so much of the game Clue, as different people died in different rooms and you want to know, who did it? I was sad to see it end. Hilary Thomson is a very gifted writer, with an attention to detail and well-depicted characters that keep the pages flowing seamlessly. I can't wait to see what she has in store next!
February 24, 2012
Death by rap music.
A promising start to an interesting premise and funny story. Unfortunately, I just couldn't get myself into it. It is really hard for me to enjoy a book when I can't relate to at least one character. Before continuing, let me say that I did not finish the book. I read about 40% of it and then gave up. I don't do that very often but with limited reading time these days, I just can't continue with a book I am not enjoying. Perhaps I was just not in the mood for this type of humorous, slapstick mystery.
So, the premise: A family comes together in the large house of their wealthy father, who has just died of a heart attack because someone blasted rap music out of his car during a drive through town. He basically died of embarrassment. The family is there to hear his will and perhaps find out if the music was put in the car as a joke or for the purpose of murder. More deaths and crazy family relations ensue.
I had a hard time making sense of the dialogue. The way these characters speak was unbelievable to me, their reactions seemed forced and unrealistic. It made it hard to sympathize with them or understand them.The family is supposed to come from a wealthy home and so it seemed to me that the author was trying very hard to make them all sound like snobby stuck up rich folk. They seemed more like caricatures of the wealthy crazy East Coast family that you would see in a sitcom.
The things they said sometimes made no sense at all, especially the parents speaking to their kids, or the way they interacted with the help. It wasn't believable to me and believable dialogue is so important to my reading enjoyment. It is the way I get into a story, relate to characters, and feel a part of what is happening. If this doesn't happen, I lose interest.
Perhaps the caricatures are meant to be, actually I am sure they are. This isn't a serious murder mystery and scenes are definitely there for laughs, but they just didn't work for me. I couldn't find the humour in it, but I am sure this would be perfect for others. My sister would find it hilarious.
A promising start to an interesting premise and funny story. Unfortunately, I just couldn't get myself into it. It is really hard for me to enjoy a book when I can't relate to at least one character. Before continuing, let me say that I did not finish the book. I read about 40% of it and then gave up. I don't do that very often but with limited reading time these days, I just can't continue with a book I am not enjoying. Perhaps I was just not in the mood for this type of humorous, slapstick mystery.
So, the premise: A family comes together in the large house of their wealthy father, who has just died of a heart attack because someone blasted rap music out of his car during a drive through town. He basically died of embarrassment. The family is there to hear his will and perhaps find out if the music was put in the car as a joke or for the purpose of murder. More deaths and crazy family relations ensue.
I had a hard time making sense of the dialogue. The way these characters speak was unbelievable to me, their reactions seemed forced and unrealistic. It made it hard to sympathize with them or understand them.The family is supposed to come from a wealthy home and so it seemed to me that the author was trying very hard to make them all sound like snobby stuck up rich folk. They seemed more like caricatures of the wealthy crazy East Coast family that you would see in a sitcom.
The things they said sometimes made no sense at all, especially the parents speaking to their kids, or the way they interacted with the help. It wasn't believable to me and believable dialogue is so important to my reading enjoyment. It is the way I get into a story, relate to characters, and feel a part of what is happening. If this doesn't happen, I lose interest.
Perhaps the caricatures are meant to be, actually I am sure they are. This isn't a serious murder mystery and scenes are definitely there for laughs, but they just didn't work for me. I couldn't find the humour in it, but I am sure this would be perfect for others. My sister would find it hilarious.
January 17, 2012
In A Nutshell:
When wealthy but slightly nutty patriarch James Boyle dies suddenly, his relatives congregate at the family home for the reading of the will. As more questions arise about the true cause of Boyle's death, and more and more relatives begin dropping like flies, utter chaos ensues.
Thoughts:
I can't remember the last time I had so much fun reading a book. The over the top wacky story line reminded me of one of my all time favorite movies; Arsenic & Old Lace. The pure chaotic insanity of the characters and some of the situations that unfold in A Will To Murder garnered me so many genuine laugh out loud moments that i have lost track of them all.
Yes there were a LOT of characters to try and keep track of (a little bit difficult to do for the first third of the book), but it was worth it in the end because the author had planted such a huge goofy grin on my face that none of that seemed to matter.
Hands down my favorite character was Arthur. His sections of the book were among the most entertaining. I vote for another book featuring Arthur and his adventures with Flopsy & Mopsy.
Bottom Line:
A wild and wacky mystery that's bound to be one of my favorite reads of the year.
My YT Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/Bookgasmic
My blog: http://ravingbookaddict.blogspot.com/
When wealthy but slightly nutty patriarch James Boyle dies suddenly, his relatives congregate at the family home for the reading of the will. As more questions arise about the true cause of Boyle's death, and more and more relatives begin dropping like flies, utter chaos ensues.
Thoughts:
I can't remember the last time I had so much fun reading a book. The over the top wacky story line reminded me of one of my all time favorite movies; Arsenic & Old Lace. The pure chaotic insanity of the characters and some of the situations that unfold in A Will To Murder garnered me so many genuine laugh out loud moments that i have lost track of them all.
Yes there were a LOT of characters to try and keep track of (a little bit difficult to do for the first third of the book), but it was worth it in the end because the author had planted such a huge goofy grin on my face that none of that seemed to matter.
Hands down my favorite character was Arthur. His sections of the book were among the most entertaining. I vote for another book featuring Arthur and his adventures with Flopsy & Mopsy.
Bottom Line:
A wild and wacky mystery that's bound to be one of my favorite reads of the year.
My YT Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/Bookgasmic
My blog: http://ravingbookaddict.blogspot.com/
March 22, 2012
The first murder is quite unusual, but then the first half of the book is fairly slow and really I was about ready to put it down. I just didn't care and didn't like any of the characters, and tehre were a lot of them to keep straight. That being said, I'm glad I persevered. The second half flew by with dead bodies piling up and maybe I finally started to get the humour of the book too. I just wish the whole book had been as enjoyable as the second half.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews