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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

Murder on the Moor by Julianna Deering: a Book Review

by Chautona Havig · 10 Comments

Did he do it?  He’s a philandering cad, but is he guilty of fraud?  Of swindling?  Of murder? 

For months these questions have battered my brain as I’ve sent Madeline on the trail of a new pseudo-mystery in her quest to learn just how to use these skills she’s still only discovering. Franky, my brain needed a rest from murder and mayhem in Rockland.

So, what did I do?

I signed up to be a part of the Celebrate Lit blog tour for Murder on the Moor! There was just one problem. I’d never read any of the Drew Farthering Mysteries, and this certainly wasn’t the first in the series.

Murder on the Moor: review

What’s a gal to do?

Rules of Murder: DeeringI went to buy that first one, of course!  And, shocker of shockers, I’ve already purchased it.  Two and a half YEARS ago.  Ahem.

Look, I didn’t want to have any HUGE spoilers in book… five?  Six?  Whatever this one is.  I can’t recall and I’m too lazy to look it up. But, I pulled up the first book on my kindle and started reading.  It’s a rough sacrifice, reading two books for one review, but a gal’s gotta do what a gal’s gotta do.  Stay tuned for my review of THAT book next week.  For now, let me just state that I strongly recommend reading the series in order. While the mysteries are not interconnected, and the author does a fabulous job of weaving the backstory into the current one without overkill, let’s face it. There are spoilers when you’re this far down the road.

For me, this just means that I’ll enjoy finding out what happened during all those delightful and unexpected little spoilers.  Onto the more interesting bits, shall we?

My review of Murder on the Moor:

Julianna Deering has created a truly delightful series set in the era of mystery’s “Golden Age.” In fact, this series is so well done that I consider it on par with the skills of Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers, and Margery Allingham.  While the language and style of prose fits that of a modern novel, not once did I feel as if I was jerked out of the time period into the present–with either of the novels I read. This so rarely happens that I had to note it right off!

The mystery itself:

Excellent. Ms. Deering led us a merry chase around the Yorkshire moors, throwing just enough red herrings in there to provide a nice feast without so many that it stank up the plot–so to speak. I did guess who did it in the first moment I could have–and why!  However, she made me doubt my thoughts at every. Single. Turn. No joke. Just about the time I was sure that the person who had to be behind it WAS… someone else, even the least likely, most obvious suspect, made me question how I could be so stupid.

This is, in my not-so-humble-opinion, the mark of a great novel. It’s even better than not guessing at all.  If you can hand me the suspect like that (I am usually rather good at picking them out) and make me doubt? That’s a million times better than just throwing up someone at the end who should have been obvious and never was.  Those are fun, too.  But this is my favorite. And she did it in grand style.

Murder on the Moor: DeeringThe cover:

I don’t always review cover art.  After all, it’s not quite fair to the author. He or she doesn’t always have much of a say in it. But KUDOS to Bethany House for this fabulous artwork. Every time I see one–EVERY. TIME. I want to stop and read it.  Right now. And you know what?  Now that I have, I see binge reading in my very, very, like starting MONDAY very near future. The fonts, the almost WPA style artwork. Yeah. It draws you into the era perfectly.

The characters:

Drew Farthering is a delightful mixture of strong, mature man and impish boy who never quite grew up. Think what would happen if you matched Bertie Wooster’s charm and cheekiness with Jeeves’ brains. He’s a delightfully imperfect character, and I thought this book rather showed it extra well. It’s extra fun if the main detective character keeps coming to similar doubtful conclusions just as you do.

Madeline, on the other hand, while cheeky and rather funny herself, is much more understated in it. Her personality helps balance Drew’s more overt personality, but she is no shrinking violet. I rather liked her, and I think she’d enjoy my own Madeline. They’d be great pals, although my Madeline would be much closer to 50 or 60 by the time this book takes place.

Nick, well he’s the token sidekick and like Bunter of Lord Peter Wimsey fame, he’s quite handy in a pinch. I think he gets to have the most fun sometimes, if you want the truth.  Can’t wait to read all the delightful things I’ve missed by not reading books 2-… however many I’ve missed before this one. I’ll be doing that soon.

So… the verdict?

Murder on the Moor is a fabulous tale involving multiple murders (every time you think you’ve seen the last…), down-right scarlet herrings, and more with a subtle message woven through it. That message?  Don’t jump to what you think are the “obvious” conclusions.  People are more complex than a series of clues to be assembled into a puzzle. And I’m not talking about murder at all.  🙂  Five happy, healthy, sparkling stars! Magnified with a glass, of course!

 

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Comments

  1. Andrea says

    March 13, 2017 at 4:15 pm

    Agatha Christie is one of my favorite authors! Dorothy Sayers is a shocking lack in my library, and one which I intend to rectify soon. I love old murder mysteries. 🙂

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      March 15, 2017 at 3:02 am

      If you ever have time, hop on over to YouTube or Amazon or Netflix (I never know who has what anymore) and watch the Lord Peter Wimsey videos with Edward Petherbridge (who I always think of as “Peter Etheridge”) and Harriet Walker. They are SO GOOD. He is the BEST Lord Peter out there. I also have a favorite YouTube video of all of Lord Peter’s proposals to Harriet Vane. It’s a terrible habit of his.

      Reply
  2. Melissa Wardwell says

    March 11, 2017 at 12:48 pm

    Wow, what a great review! (I think I have blogger envy right now… ?)

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      March 12, 2017 at 1:06 am

      Thank you! I really loved this book!

      Reply
  3. Susan (DE) says

    March 11, 2017 at 11:17 am

    Well, it’s interesting. I am reading aloud Clouds of Witness (to the youngest three) right now! So I like Sayers. I always found Christie too TENSE for my taste, though I’ve read a few. And I have enjoyed other classic mysteries. So…not sure. But they do sound interesting.

    Reply
  4. Julianna Deering/DeAnna Julie Dodson says

    March 11, 2017 at 11:15 am

    Thanks for the delightful review. I’ll have to check some of your other posts, too. They look fascinating. 🙂

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      March 12, 2017 at 1:35 am

      Thank you! And thank you for writing one of if not THE best book I’ve read this year. So awesome!

      Reply
      • Julianna Deering/DeAnna Julie Dodson says

        March 12, 2017 at 12:52 pm

        Oh, bless you! You’re so sweet! And, really, your blog looks fabulous. So many interesting posts and reviews. Not that I ever have time or anything, but I am going to make sure I read more of yours. It’s so well done. 😀

        Reply
  5. Andrea Stoeckel says

    March 11, 2017 at 9:29 am

    Strangest price for a kindle book I have seen….probably done just for that

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      March 12, 2017 at 1:37 am

      I wonder if they didn’t do it to make it look like a book from British pounds converted to US dollars. I mean, it works the other way around. It’s kind of cute if they did. Otherwise, someone may have typed something in wrong. Who knows! Usually, it’s .99 at the end, so that saved a few pennies!

      Reply

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The Because Fiction Podcast

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Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 162: A Chat with Author, Nancy Naigle
byChautona Havig

Hey, we’re back after a couple of weeks of vacation, and boy did I need it. And, have I got a fabulous interview for you. Nancy Naigle and I talked about her books, her most recent release, What Remains True as well as her Christmas books and the one I’m most anxious to read, The Shell Collector. Listen in and learn about what Nancy says about this bet she has going on in What Remains True. Great stuff!

Note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.

Need a Great Romantic Read to Wind Up Your Summer Reads?

As I said in the podcast, a while back, someone told me I’d LOVE The Shell Collector–one of those people who recommends books you HAVE to read if they say you do.  So I bought it and it’s been sitting on my shelf ever since. Well, now it’s on my GoodReads shelf, and I’m about to start it (and I optimistically thought I’d be done with it by the time this episode released. Oh, me of too much faith in myself and my time management!)

Author of over thirty books, not to mention a bestselling author who also has movies made of her novels (And The Shell Collector has been optioned! EEEP!), Nancy loves to write Christmas books and small-town stories. Seriously, as we talked, I felt like she was talking about me half the time. We’re so very alike in so many ways. It was fun.

Nancy also pointed out that her first books (if you go WAY back) are not Christian fiction and are a bit spicier than she prefers to write and definitely more than she writes today. So be warned there, but she did assure us that they are all closed-door books.

What Remains True by Nancy Naigle

One woman wants to win a bet. One man wants to become a rodeo champion. One little girl may give them both something even better—from USA Today bestselling author Nancy Naigle.

“A commitment-phobic rodeo star and a divorcée with secrets find love in this wholesome romance. . . . As uplifting as it is sweet.”—Publishers Weekly

Working at a little shop on Main Street in a small town is exactly the break that executive Merry Anna Foster needs following her divorce. She’s made a bet with her ex-husband that she can live on the amount of money she’s giving him in alimony. If she can do it, then Kevin will have to stop complaining and leave her alone. But after three months of this new life, will she even want to leave Antler Creek?

Adam Locklear, bull rider and owner of the local feedstore, is having the best year of his rodeo career. He’s also a bit distracted by the pretty new neighbor living in his old bunkhouse. But Adam has no time for matters of the heart. He’s got his future all mapped out, and that future doesn’t involve a woman just yet. It doesn’t involve parenting a little girl either. However, Carly Fowler still suddenly leaves five-year-old Zan—the daughter Adam didn’t know he had—in his care.

Is it possible that the future holds a life even better than what Merry Anna and Adam had each dreamed of? One that includes both tenderness and even love—not just for each other but for Zan too?

You can learn more about Nancy’s books and movies on her WEBSITE.

Oh, and PSST… I’m loving the audiobook of this one!

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Episode 162: A Chat with Author, Nancy Naigle
Episode 162: A Chat with Author, Nancy Naigle
August 9, 2022
Chautona Havig
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July 26, 2022
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July 22, 2022
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July 19, 2022
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July 12, 2022
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July 8, 2022
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July 5, 2022
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Episode 153: A Chat with Historical Author, Tracie Peterson
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