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Simon Kirby-Jones Mystery #1
Posted to Death
Amateur sleuth, Simon Kirby-Jones is looking forward to settling into his new home in the quaint British village of Snupperton—despite a few potential challenges. Not only is Simon an American, but he’s also a gay vampire who controls his vampiric urges and sun sensitivity with an effective medication.
Delighted to be in the cozy English village of his dreams, he’s eager to make Snupperton his home, and joins the fundraising committee of the local church. But at the first meeting, an argument breaks out between the town matriarch Lady Prunella Blitherington, and the nosy village postmaster, Abigail Winterton.
When Abigail is found murdered the next day, Simon determines to reveal the murderer in town-- and in the process discovers all the delightfully sordid secrets of Snupperton!
Delighted to be in the cozy English village of his dreams, he’s eager to make Snupperton his home, and joins the fundraising committee of the local church. But at the first meeting, an argument breaks out between the town matriarch Lady Prunella Blitherington, and the nosy village postmaster, Abigail Winterton.
When Abigail is found murdered the next day, Simon determines to reveal the murderer in town-- and in the process discovers all the delightfully sordid secrets of Snupperton!
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
July 1, 2013
Persons in the mood for absurd fluff might add another star -- I was and I almost did, but I wouldn't want to mislead. We are not looking at Dorothy-Sayers depths of characterization, setting, or theme, here.
And also its three sequels, because I was in the mood for fluff, to wit, Faked to Death, Decorated to Death, and Baked to Death, in that order. Readers following the romance-of-sorts will want to take them chronologically.
I swear this book/series must have started with either a dare or a bet on the part of the author. All the tropes of the cozy mystery genre piled atop one another till they threatened to topple over, yet didn't, quite. Gay Southern recent-vampire (but relieved of all the less appetizing parts of his new state by modern medication) academic writer moves to a cozy English village, there to encounter quirky people and cozy English murders, ad lib. The second volume, Faked to Death, takes place at a writers' conference, adding special amusement for me.
Quick reads. I grinned out loud in several places.
Ta, L.
And also its three sequels, because I was in the mood for fluff, to wit, Faked to Death, Decorated to Death, and Baked to Death, in that order. Readers following the romance-of-sorts will want to take them chronologically.
I swear this book/series must have started with either a dare or a bet on the part of the author. All the tropes of the cozy mystery genre piled atop one another till they threatened to topple over, yet didn't, quite. Gay Southern recent-vampire (but relieved of all the less appetizing parts of his new state by modern medication) academic writer moves to a cozy English village, there to encounter quirky people and cozy English murders, ad lib. The second volume, Faked to Death, takes place at a writers' conference, adding special amusement for me.
Quick reads. I grinned out loud in several places.
Ta, L.
September 16, 2015
'The vicar doesn't know I am a vampire. Nor does he know I am gay.'
What's not to love about that opening sentence? I just knew it was going to be a hilarious story and I was right!!
Someone has murdered the village busy body and Dr Simon Kirby-Jones is on the case!! And using all his detecting abilities to solve the crime. Alas he developed his detecting abilities through writing murder mysteries but he doesn't let his lack of investigative skills deter him.
And so he seeks to find out who dunnit and why, and along the way he gets to discover the ins and outs of village life, village love, village mysteries and villagers pasts. Snupperton Mumsley might be a peaceful looking village on the surface with its vicar, ancient church, committees, fetes and village life but what lies beneath?
I enjoyed this. The main character, Dr Kirby-Jones, narrates the story and provides a humorous insight into the people that live in the village. As he settles into village life we get to see what it takes to be a vampire sleuth and how not to upset the vicar.
This is a lovely book, set in a very British village with British humour, albeit from an American vampire, but that just provides an additional dimension of funny.
I really enjoyed this first book in the series it is catchy and engrossing from the word go, right up to the end and provides enough of a back story so that we quickly become familiar with Simon, his past and how he became a vampire living in an English village.
The story has some very amusing supporting characters and the mystery isn't revealed too soon. In fact it kept me guessing for quite a while and I got it wrong in the end. Normally I get it right and so this delighted me because I read a lot of mysteries but this time I didn't see the end coming.
This is book one in the series and I definitely intend to read the others.
What's not to love about that opening sentence? I just knew it was going to be a hilarious story and I was right!!
Someone has murdered the village busy body and Dr Simon Kirby-Jones is on the case!! And using all his detecting abilities to solve the crime. Alas he developed his detecting abilities through writing murder mysteries but he doesn't let his lack of investigative skills deter him.
And so he seeks to find out who dunnit and why, and along the way he gets to discover the ins and outs of village life, village love, village mysteries and villagers pasts. Snupperton Mumsley might be a peaceful looking village on the surface with its vicar, ancient church, committees, fetes and village life but what lies beneath?
I enjoyed this. The main character, Dr Kirby-Jones, narrates the story and provides a humorous insight into the people that live in the village. As he settles into village life we get to see what it takes to be a vampire sleuth and how not to upset the vicar.
This is a lovely book, set in a very British village with British humour, albeit from an American vampire, but that just provides an additional dimension of funny.
I really enjoyed this first book in the series it is catchy and engrossing from the word go, right up to the end and provides enough of a back story so that we quickly become familiar with Simon, his past and how he became a vampire living in an English village.
The story has some very amusing supporting characters and the mystery isn't revealed too soon. In fact it kept me guessing for quite a while and I got it wrong in the end. Normally I get it right and so this delighted me because I read a lot of mysteries but this time I didn't see the end coming.
This is book one in the series and I definitely intend to read the others.
September 3, 2012
Reread. This was a delightful and slightly twisted version of the British village cozy mystery, because Simon is a gay vampire (he can be out in sunlight and doesn’t need to drink blood, as long as he takes his medication) and well-known historian (who secretly writes romances and mysteries under several pseudonyms). Definitely recommended if you enjoy mysteries with a bit of snark and a complicated cast of suspects. (Also, for the wary, I would give this book a no-pepper heat rating – a very safe read.)
November 28, 2015
As a cozy mystery, this one is pretty neat ... and very British *lol*. I mean, the names like Prunella Blitherington, Neville and Letty Butler-Melville, Snupperton Mumsley ... can't get any more British-tone than that!!
The whole 'secrets' within the English small town reminds me of one of Agatha Christie's novels, Murder at the Vicarage, that I read LONG time ago when I was probably still in my late Elementary / early Junior High School. It is intriguing :). The writing feels a bit too formal and a little bit out-dated though (to me personally, anyway). Because of that when I see 'contemporary' terms like DNA, it takes me out of the story a little bit. It's a little bit weird to read.
I absolutely have no idea why Simon is written as a vampire. What's good of Simon being a vampire, if he doesn't really 'act' or 'have' common vampire traits due to the miracle pills that he consumes? The only vampirism that Simon retains is his aversion to garlic. Sure, being a vampire makes him having a super hearing ability, but I'm sure the author can create another device to help that. His being a vampire really doesn't add anything to the story.
Oh, for a small town, they sure have a number of gays ^^
The whole 'secrets' within the English small town reminds me of one of Agatha Christie's novels, Murder at the Vicarage, that I read LONG time ago when I was probably still in my late Elementary / early Junior High School. It is intriguing :). The writing feels a bit too formal and a little bit out-dated though (to me personally, anyway). Because of that when I see 'contemporary' terms like DNA, it takes me out of the story a little bit. It's a little bit weird to read.
I absolutely have no idea why Simon is written as a vampire. What's good of Simon being a vampire, if he doesn't really 'act' or 'have' common vampire traits due to the miracle pills that he consumes? The only vampirism that Simon retains is his aversion to garlic. Sure, being a vampire makes him having a super hearing ability, but I'm sure the author can create another device to help that. His being a vampire really doesn't add anything to the story.
Oh, for a small town, they sure have a number of gays ^^
Shelved as 'dnf'
February 26, 2016I may return but right now I'm not interested in finishing. I love cosy-mysteries add some quirky humour and the opening lines attracted me moth to lamp.
Unfortunately the characters aren't likeable. The appeal of these stories is often the cast, likeable in their eccentricities, odious in ways that promise comeuppance. Here there was a pettiness that overrode charm.
Not entirely sure why Vampires in this setting, all it adds is a connection with one inhabitant that could have been engineered in any number of other ways. The self-satisfied nature of Simon Kirby-Jones felt like a sneer and it stopped me connecting and relating to his narration. I became tired of him before halfway through the book and didn't find anyone else to care about.
I think it's intended as a parody but not extreme enough one for the humour to leap from the page, it's very amdram in plot and nature. Highly likely it's a case of if the humour fits.. I have a lot of affection for old cosies and this felt off without amusing me, didn't hold my interest.
Unfortunately the characters aren't likeable. The appeal of these stories is often the cast, likeable in their eccentricities, odious in ways that promise comeuppance. Here there was a pettiness that overrode charm.
Not entirely sure why Vampires in this setting, all it adds is a connection with one inhabitant that could have been engineered in any number of other ways. The self-satisfied nature of Simon Kirby-Jones felt like a sneer and it stopped me connecting and relating to his narration. I became tired of him before halfway through the book and didn't find anyone else to care about.
I think it's intended as a parody but not extreme enough one for the humour to leap from the page, it's very amdram in plot and nature. Highly likely it's a case of if the humour fits.. I have a lot of affection for old cosies and this felt off without amusing me, didn't hold my interest.
September 28, 2021
Decent little cozy mystery,I liked the MC Simon, a gay vampire writer. The biggest weakness in the story is that almost universally the villagers are dislikeable, except for It's hard for the reader to like a story, when all of the characters are offensive. Simon even compares the English village to small town Mississippi. Which Simon as a gay vampire had little good to say.
“Sounds like where I grew up in Mississippi,” I drawled. “People might know you’re gay, but they gloss right over the fact because it’s not something one mentions in polite society. As long as you don’t make an issue of it or embarrass anyone by bringing your boyfriend home for a visit, it simply is ignored.
June 26, 2019
Simon is a pretty cool vampire not having to feed on human blood. Just having moved to England from the US, Simon found himself involved in solving a murder in his new little village. Someone had killed the woman in the village who was gathering secrets on people and most likely blackmailing them for it. Teaming up with a neighbor, he found out a lot of things including the identity of the killer, so he and the police set up a trap. I wasn't sure who the killer was, so I was a little surprised at the outcome. I love the author's sense of humor in creating some of the stuffy villagers--some of those names really cracked me up!
April 29, 2022
I really enjoy reading cozy mysteries especially those set in a quaint english village.
This book had a really good plot which kept me guessing as to the killer right up to the reveal.
My only question was why the author made the MC a vampire.
Perhaps this will come out in future books
This book had a really good plot which kept me guessing as to the killer right up to the reveal.
My only question was why the author made the MC a vampire.
Perhaps this will come out in future books
February 14, 2011
I loved this series of four very funny mysteries.
The nain character is sort if a male Miss Marple. He lives in a small cottage in a small English village with a weird name, and every time he turns around, he finds a dead body - and solves the mystery.
That's where the similarity ends. Simon Kerby-Jones is male, he's a well known historian and he's gay. He's also got a few secrets. One is that he writes novels under two female names.
The other is that he is a 'new vampire'.
They have these little white pills that they take three times a day which keeps them from having to drink blood; allows them to be out in the sun as long as they wear hats, sunsceeen and sun glasses, and live fairly normal lives. They also deprive the vampires of some of their old powers - the Glamor, shape shifting, and those fun stuff.
Simon also has put himself in a dangerous situation. He's hired the local "baronet" - a hot young man who is the 'lord of the manor", to be his assistant - and the stud turns out not to just be gay, but have a case of extreme hots for our vampire - who feels the same way.
But he can't risk Sir Giles finding out that he's a vampire, so he resists. At the same time, the local police detective - who Simon keeps bumping into because of his habit of finding dead people - is an attractive man who flirts with Simon - but is he gay?
After I read the series from the library, I was lucky enough to find all four books on sale in a local dollar store - in hard cover. Guess what everyone I knew got for presents that year??
I just pulled one of the four books form the shelf this week to add it to this list, and ended up staying up all night, reading it - and living it on third reading - or is it fifth?
The nain character is sort if a male Miss Marple. He lives in a small cottage in a small English village with a weird name, and every time he turns around, he finds a dead body - and solves the mystery.
That's where the similarity ends. Simon Kerby-Jones is male, he's a well known historian and he's gay. He's also got a few secrets. One is that he writes novels under two female names.
The other is that he is a 'new vampire'.
They have these little white pills that they take three times a day which keeps them from having to drink blood; allows them to be out in the sun as long as they wear hats, sunsceeen and sun glasses, and live fairly normal lives. They also deprive the vampires of some of their old powers - the Glamor, shape shifting, and those fun stuff.
Simon also has put himself in a dangerous situation. He's hired the local "baronet" - a hot young man who is the 'lord of the manor", to be his assistant - and the stud turns out not to just be gay, but have a case of extreme hots for our vampire - who feels the same way.
But he can't risk Sir Giles finding out that he's a vampire, so he resists. At the same time, the local police detective - who Simon keeps bumping into because of his habit of finding dead people - is an attractive man who flirts with Simon - but is he gay?
After I read the series from the library, I was lucky enough to find all four books on sale in a local dollar store - in hard cover. Guess what everyone I knew got for presents that year??
I just pulled one of the four books form the shelf this week to add it to this list, and ended up staying up all night, reading it - and living it on third reading - or is it fifth?
July 24, 2012
Posted to Death. Faked to Death. Decorated to Death. Baked to Death. Books by Dean James. I wanted a light mystery series and found this series of 4 books featuring a gay vampire detective- Simon Kirby Jones. "Gay vampire" was the ploy used to differentiate itself from other cozy mysteries but the character was taking anti-vampire pills which defeated the whole purpose. Also, there seemed to be an unbelievably high number of gay characters in each book. Certain characters, dialogue and situations were amusing at first but overall the series was cliché, repetitive and redundant. It was only because I have a completist mindset that I read them all.
September 5, 2021
If you enjoy a classic cozy mystery, you will enjoy this story. Simon Kirby-Jones, despite his very British sounding name, is an American transplant enjoying his life in the small village of Snupperton. Simon is also a vampire, but with the invention of a daily medication he can be out in the sunshine and does not need to feed off people. Simon’s being a vampire results in many bad puns in the book, but is not actually a big part of the story.
When the postmaster, a grating women who has a knack for irritating everyone, ends up murdered, Simon somehow ends up in the middle of the investigation. In the midst of his poking around, he finds out many of the dirty little secrets of his fellow villagers, some big and some small, and all a possible motive for the murder.
There are all the odd characters that you expect to find in a cozy mystery with a mystery that was surprisingly difficult to solve. A really fun read.
When the postmaster, a grating women who has a knack for irritating everyone, ends up murdered, Simon somehow ends up in the middle of the investigation. In the midst of his poking around, he finds out many of the dirty little secrets of his fellow villagers, some big and some small, and all a possible motive for the murder.
There are all the odd characters that you expect to find in a cozy mystery with a mystery that was surprisingly difficult to solve. A really fun read.
March 17, 2022
I can't believe this is the same author that wrote the Cat in the Stacks mysteries. It's much too cutesy and cloying.
October 20, 2022
The version that I read felt like there were a lot of gaps in it - like it was missing portions of the story. Not sure if that was accidental or intentional, but was confusing. The ending as well was abruptly cut off, I feel like there was more to it than where it ended
July 2, 2011
Posted to death is, in this case a book being posted to death :D. It is making its way around some of my friends on Risi and started out in the USA. So far it has travelled 6230 miles (unpon getting to me) and will be heading to England I believe next.
It is a fabulous non challenging wee read and for me I was sold with "it has a gay vampire in it", I do love vampire books and this is a first for me. Simon Kirby-Jones is our star and author himself, he moves to a wee village in England. Filled with busy bodies and all the other antics of a small close knit town Simon finds himself surrounded by drama of all kinds.
With the threat of an expose play based on the village peoples secrets a murder occurs and the book is basically about finding out who done it and revealing the characters of the village (and the secrets they would rather keep quiet).
It is a funny, naughty, intriguing and for me, quick, fun read. The first two lines had me hooked 'The vicar doesn't know I'm a vampire. Nor does he know I'm gay'. That was it for me. The book also has a different take on vampires in that they can do things normal vampires can't and this is due to medication. It gives a brief explanation on it, certainly enough for you to follow it and I would hope in the series follow ups it gives a bit more detail on that. 4/5 for me and I will certainly be looking out for the follow up.
It is a fabulous non challenging wee read and for me I was sold with "it has a gay vampire in it", I do love vampire books and this is a first for me. Simon Kirby-Jones is our star and author himself, he moves to a wee village in England. Filled with busy bodies and all the other antics of a small close knit town Simon finds himself surrounded by drama of all kinds.
With the threat of an expose play based on the village peoples secrets a murder occurs and the book is basically about finding out who done it and revealing the characters of the village (and the secrets they would rather keep quiet).
It is a funny, naughty, intriguing and for me, quick, fun read. The first two lines had me hooked 'The vicar doesn't know I'm a vampire. Nor does he know I'm gay'. That was it for me. The book also has a different take on vampires in that they can do things normal vampires can't and this is due to medication. It gives a brief explanation on it, certainly enough for you to follow it and I would hope in the series follow ups it gives a bit more detail on that. 4/5 for me and I will certainly be looking out for the follow up.
July 17, 2014
Posted To Death: A Simon Kirby-Jones Mystery (Simon Kirby-Jones Mysteries)
by Dean James
Edition: Hardcover
A Fun New Series for Me, August 10, 2011
This review is from: Posted To Death: A Simon Kirby-Jones Mystery (Simon Kirby-Jones Mysteries) (Hardcover)
I started reading this series thinking that I would be putting it down and returning it to the library before I could finish the first chapter. So far the other few books written about vampires have been beyond a bore to me so this book would have to prove itself and fast for me to get to the end.
Let me just say this lovely romp in merry old England with Simon Kirby-Jones has done more than I could have imagined. I enjoyed the imagination of Dean James in writing this book. The fun characters and his whimsical way of entertaining the reader. The originality of Simon and his updated vampirical lifestyle.
I can only give this book the highest recommendation for all cozy mystery lovers out there.
One of the best and most fun books ever!
Read
December 20, 2018Update: Who am I kidding? I'm never going to finish this book.
A gay-vampire-cozy-mystery sounded better than it's turning out to be. Most of the gimmicky named villagers of the gimmicky named village of Snupperton Mumsley (aka suspects) are generally petty and pompous rather than interesting and eccentric. And we don't care much for the mean-spirited victim either.
Since amateur detective Simon Kirby-Jones is taking vampire-control pills, his undead state is pretty much irrelevant to the plot. And except for some leering and a little nudge nudge wink wink, his sexual preference is pretty much irrelevant, too. He is more Miss Marple than Stephanie Plumb.
Nit pick: Alice Roosevelt Longworth is famously quoted as saying "If you haven't got anything nice to say about anybody, come sit next to me." It's not any funnier the way it is mangled on page 17.
A gay-vampire-cozy-mystery sounded better than it's turning out to be. Most of the gimmicky named villagers of the gimmicky named village of Snupperton Mumsley (aka suspects) are generally petty and pompous rather than interesting and eccentric. And we don't care much for the mean-spirited victim either.
Since amateur detective Simon Kirby-Jones is taking vampire-control pills, his undead state is pretty much irrelevant to the plot. And except for some leering and a little nudge nudge wink wink, his sexual preference is pretty much irrelevant, too. He is more Miss Marple than Stephanie Plumb.
Nit pick: Alice Roosevelt Longworth is famously quoted as saying "If you haven't got anything nice to say about anybody, come sit next to me." It's not any funnier the way it is mangled on page 17.
July 19, 2024
Oh dear. Way too many stereotypes of English village life - so much so, it's almost a parody. This suffers from the common problem of an American writer writing about Britain (for example, confusing Oxford and Cambridge), and also it could have done with better editing. Plus the gay PoV character is pretty stereotyped, too - seriously over-camped that it made me cringe - and why the author made him a vampire, but then gave him pills so he didn't do anything vampiric, I really don't know. Don't think I'll be reading any more of this series.
March 2, 2015
This was disappointing. The concept sounded good - I love British mysteries, especially ones set in the countryside. However, the writing let this down. There were too many cases of names being used in dialogue, which I find jarring, i.e. the characters referring to each other by name throughout their conversations.
I didn't feel a connection to the main character, either. The plot was interesting enough to keep me reading, but the ending felt a little flat.
I didn't feel a connection to the main character, either. The plot was interesting enough to keep me reading, but the ending felt a little flat.
July 30, 2010
Gay vampire mystery novel. Sounds like a "what's not to love?" right? Wrong. This was a big dud.
This is a good place to say, too, that I'm really tired of authors who write about vampires, but write characters who are almost unrecognizable as vampires. It's like they want to jump on the vampire bandwagon, but don't want to be inconvenienced by the conventions.
This is a good place to say, too, that I'm really tired of authors who write about vampires, but write characters who are almost unrecognizable as vampires. It's like they want to jump on the vampire bandwagon, but don't want to be inconvenienced by the conventions.
August 21, 2011
My review probably won't carry much weight, as I couldn't finish the book. The story was humorous and I liked the mystery, but ultimately I didn't really care about the characters or what happened. I can't entirely explain why, but I didn't care for this book.
That being said, for those who do enjoy humorous, silly-at-times mysteries, you'll probably like this one.
That being said, for those who do enjoy humorous, silly-at-times mysteries, you'll probably like this one.
March 30, 2015
Amusing, 'cozy' mystery story. Kept me up into the wee small hours to finish it.
Now need to track down the rest of the series.
Now need to track down the rest of the series.
Shelved as 'to-read-yes-own'
January 7, 2016Cozy mystery with gay vampire — Ije liked it, just $.99 worth to try.
February 24, 2023
The review below has also been published on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Lucky me! This book was recommended to me in one of the Facebook groups I’m a member of, and intrigued by the blurb as well as attracted by the minimal ebook price of €0.99, I purchased it right away, opened it, and began reading. I finished it in almost one sitting, too, because this was a fabulous fun read. Right down my lane. A quirky cozy murder mystery set in the quaint little village Snupperton-Mumsley, somewhere down the river Thames, with the right cast of delightfully eccentric Englishmen and -women.
The first-person narrator and main character of this romp is the American Dr. Simon Kirby-Jones, renowned historian and biographer of historical personae, whose success and wealth stem from his secret pastime of writing sultry romance novels as well as hard-boiled suspense fiction using two different noms de plume. Simon has just left Houston to settle down in Snupperton-Mumsley, where he hopes to find time and inspiration for his three writing endeavors. Well, as far as time is concerned, that should be no problem. Because he doesn’t need much sleep. The literary fruits of his pen name productions are not his greatest secret, in fact. No, Simon is… a vampire. Not of the suck-your-blood-until-you’re-dead kind, mind you. Modernity has reached the undead community of vampires as well, so that by swallowing a little pill at regular intervals, they can integrate themselves into the wider community of the living without anyone being the wiser.
In terms of integration, Simon takes his first step in his new home by joining a committee after having been invited by the local vicar. During the first meeting he attends, he has the privilege to make the acquaintance of the village High Society: the handsome yet weak-nerved vicar and his überprotective wife; snobby Lady Prunella Blitherington and her pouting twenty-something-year-old son; the local postmistress, quarrelsome and nosy Abigail Winterton; his neighbor Jane, who to his utter surprise turns out to be a fellow vampire; and many other strong and strange characters with whom we, the readers, expect any average English village to be populated. During the meeting, the tea is as awful as the tensions are high. The reason is of the utmost importancel: the play they need to choose for their next local theatrical production. Charming! And yet, that topic seems vital indeed. Or rather, fatal. Because a few days later, one of them is found strangled in her house: Miss Winterson. Simon doesn’t need more to stick his nose into the whole sorry affair, and suprises abound as he discovers more and more secrets.
This was Agatha Christie on LSD, plot-wise. A decent, well-constructed, almost classical small-village murder mystery with all the usual suspects in place, and yet, if you allow me to pursue my comparison with Miss Christie’s œuvre, with several twists. For one, the main character is no frail yet overclever old lady who has seen it all nor a know-it-all effeminate Belgian detective, but a somewhat naïve American vampire (by the way, even the vampire trope is slightly twisted, in the most enjoyable tongue-in-cheek way). Plus, as if that weren’t enough, he’s as gay as they come. Also so handsome that the local gays are drawn to him like moths to a light source. The dialogs are therefore, even if written in an antiquated style, still bitchy and queer enough to be a pure pleasure to read.
I loved almost everything about this book, to be honest. True, some periods were missing (no idea why), but at the end, I barely noticed it anymore, so engrossed was I in the read. True, the narrator could have been even cattier and sassier to give the whole thing that extra oomph, but I rather liked him as was. The book had all the ingredients I like in a cozy murder mystery (small village, limited number of persons and suspects, nosy amateur sleuth, helpful sidekick), plus a budding romance that will maybe be deepened in the next installments, and a certain gay-ish je-ne-sais-quoi through and through that delighted me no end. This was just pure pleasure, and I’m looking forward to the next lull in the list of books I have to read to purchase books two, three, and four of this series.
Lucky me! This book was recommended to me in one of the Facebook groups I’m a member of, and intrigued by the blurb as well as attracted by the minimal ebook price of €0.99, I purchased it right away, opened it, and began reading. I finished it in almost one sitting, too, because this was a fabulous fun read. Right down my lane. A quirky cozy murder mystery set in the quaint little village Snupperton-Mumsley, somewhere down the river Thames, with the right cast of delightfully eccentric Englishmen and -women.
The first-person narrator and main character of this romp is the American Dr. Simon Kirby-Jones, renowned historian and biographer of historical personae, whose success and wealth stem from his secret pastime of writing sultry romance novels as well as hard-boiled suspense fiction using two different noms de plume. Simon has just left Houston to settle down in Snupperton-Mumsley, where he hopes to find time and inspiration for his three writing endeavors. Well, as far as time is concerned, that should be no problem. Because he doesn’t need much sleep. The literary fruits of his pen name productions are not his greatest secret, in fact. No, Simon is… a vampire. Not of the suck-your-blood-until-you’re-dead kind, mind you. Modernity has reached the undead community of vampires as well, so that by swallowing a little pill at regular intervals, they can integrate themselves into the wider community of the living without anyone being the wiser.
In terms of integration, Simon takes his first step in his new home by joining a committee after having been invited by the local vicar. During the first meeting he attends, he has the privilege to make the acquaintance of the village High Society: the handsome yet weak-nerved vicar and his überprotective wife; snobby Lady Prunella Blitherington and her pouting twenty-something-year-old son; the local postmistress, quarrelsome and nosy Abigail Winterton; his neighbor Jane, who to his utter surprise turns out to be a fellow vampire; and many other strong and strange characters with whom we, the readers, expect any average English village to be populated. During the meeting, the tea is as awful as the tensions are high. The reason is of the utmost importancel: the play they need to choose for their next local theatrical production. Charming! And yet, that topic seems vital indeed. Or rather, fatal. Because a few days later, one of them is found strangled in her house: Miss Winterson. Simon doesn’t need more to stick his nose into the whole sorry affair, and suprises abound as he discovers more and more secrets.
This was Agatha Christie on LSD, plot-wise. A decent, well-constructed, almost classical small-village murder mystery with all the usual suspects in place, and yet, if you allow me to pursue my comparison with Miss Christie’s œuvre, with several twists. For one, the main character is no frail yet overclever old lady who has seen it all nor a know-it-all effeminate Belgian detective, but a somewhat naïve American vampire (by the way, even the vampire trope is slightly twisted, in the most enjoyable tongue-in-cheek way). Plus, as if that weren’t enough, he’s as gay as they come. Also so handsome that the local gays are drawn to him like moths to a light source. The dialogs are therefore, even if written in an antiquated style, still bitchy and queer enough to be a pure pleasure to read.
I loved almost everything about this book, to be honest. True, some periods were missing (no idea why), but at the end, I barely noticed it anymore, so engrossed was I in the read. True, the narrator could have been even cattier and sassier to give the whole thing that extra oomph, but I rather liked him as was. The book had all the ingredients I like in a cozy murder mystery (small village, limited number of persons and suspects, nosy amateur sleuth, helpful sidekick), plus a budding romance that will maybe be deepened in the next installments, and a certain gay-ish je-ne-sais-quoi through and through that delighted me no end. This was just pure pleasure, and I’m looking forward to the next lull in the list of books I have to read to purchase books two, three, and four of this series.
August 7, 2022
I got recommended this from somewhere and can't remember where, but this is a murder mystery set in a small English village when an American vampire writer comes there to live. Three days after he arrives, someone gets killed and he finds himself embroiled in the mystery.
This was a enjoyable little book, I liked the cast of characters, stereotypical or otherwise, I found the mystery engaging and the whole thing that just made me chuckle over and over again. Simon Kirby-Jones was a relatable main character and I liked the descriptions of his little habits and foibles, as well as clues as to how he became a vampire and ended up in the village in the first place.
That said, this book was written in the early 2000s and it shows. There were a few off-colour jokes, a scene where someone tries to tempt Simon by breaking into his house and waiting naked in his bed which I found deeply creepy rather than amusing, and there was a certain character who was treated kindly, but the language around their background really made me stumble a bit.
So I will continue this series and I find it really great as a cosy mystery series with an out gay character, but it was written twenty years ago and it shows.
4 stars!
This was a enjoyable little book, I liked the cast of characters, stereotypical or otherwise, I found the mystery engaging and the whole thing that just made me chuckle over and over again. Simon Kirby-Jones was a relatable main character and I liked the descriptions of his little habits and foibles, as well as clues as to how he became a vampire and ended up in the village in the first place.
That said, this book was written in the early 2000s and it shows. There were a few off-colour jokes, a scene where someone tries to tempt Simon by breaking into his house and waiting naked in his bed which I found deeply creepy rather than amusing, and there was a certain character who was treated kindly, but the language around their background really made me stumble a bit.
So I will continue this series and I find it really great as a cosy mystery series with an out gay character, but it was written twenty years ago and it shows.
4 stars!
April 30, 2023
I picked this up from my Little Free Library as the most ridiculous premise for a book in the box...and one that a friend on the vacation would also appreciate based fully on the kooky factor. It turns out that one of the friends used to sell books from this publishing line as part of their work as a bookseller.
The over-the-top premise somehow was both a little too much and not quite enough, but the pages turned quickly and when they mentioned characters from the earlier chapters that I didn't fully remember, it was kind of nice to not really care that I didn't fully remember them. It was 100% successful as a vacation / plane read and fun little talking point with friends.
The only other highlight was a brief homage to my favorite literary thief Parker.
The over-the-top premise somehow was both a little too much and not quite enough, but the pages turned quickly and when they mentioned characters from the earlier chapters that I didn't fully remember, it was kind of nice to not really care that I didn't fully remember them. It was 100% successful as a vacation / plane read and fun little talking point with friends.
The only other highlight was a brief homage to my favorite literary thief Parker.
The attendant, introduced briefly as Parker, remained quietly in the background, but I could feel the pent-up energy in him. He was ready to spring, I fancied, should anyone pose a threat to his employer. If I should ever have need of a bodyguard, I'd want a Parker on my side. He was big enough, and no doubt strong enough, to get rid of most obstacles in one's way. Even if that meant murder; he certainly looked sinister enough to me.
March 17, 2023
Dr. Simon Kirby-Jones, an American, decided to settle in the small town of Snupperton in England near Oxford to write his romance books. And he is also a gay vampire who controls his urges and sun sensitivity by taking medicine. He has been asked to join the fundraising committee at the church. They are discussing putting on a play and what play to perform. When Abigail Winterton insist that she has the perfect play that she wrote no one is happy especially town matriarch Lady Blithington. Abigail is found dead the next day and the police don't have a clue as to who killed her. Always being a curious type of person, Simon decided to do a little investigating himself with the help of his neighbor Jane who is also a vampire, a very old vampire with a lot more experience then Simon. As they gather clues things slowly begin to come together with some great surprises. I really enjoyed this book It read very smoothly and it had a great mystery. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
March 29, 2024
A fun and different cozy mystery that’s badly in need of a proofreader
This series was recommended to me and I’m so glad I checked it out. It’s a clever and amusing cozy mystery that seems to have tongue firmly planted in cheek and yet still manages to be entertains and tell a clever cozy mystery story while spoofing the genre. And the idea of an American vampire in a small English village is an intriguing conceit.
All the usual cozy mystery tropes are to be found here (plus vampires!) and the only thing that held up my full enjoyment was the dismaying lack of a proofreader. The typos, misspellings, punctuation absences, formatting errors which were plentiful made it difficult in parts to easily read the book. I’m astounded they have not been corrected by this point as this is not a new series. It’s not enough to prevent reading the next book but it is truly something the author should remedy.
This series was recommended to me and I’m so glad I checked it out. It’s a clever and amusing cozy mystery that seems to have tongue firmly planted in cheek and yet still manages to be entertains and tell a clever cozy mystery story while spoofing the genre. And the idea of an American vampire in a small English village is an intriguing conceit.
All the usual cozy mystery tropes are to be found here (plus vampires!) and the only thing that held up my full enjoyment was the dismaying lack of a proofreader. The typos, misspellings, punctuation absences, formatting errors which were plentiful made it difficult in parts to easily read the book. I’m astounded they have not been corrected by this point as this is not a new series. It’s not enough to prevent reading the next book but it is truly something the author should remedy.
March 28, 2018
A modern day Miss Marple. If Miss Marple were male, gay and a vampire. And a writer. So, in other words, not a thing like Miss M. Except for the setting - good old-fashioned English village where murder occurs. Anyway, the story was quirky and fun with a killer that I didn't figure out until around 2/3 through the book. (At least it wasn't like that one 'mystery' that I knew who the killer was before the murder had even happened. ... Don't ask.) Simon is likable enough, if a bit of a dunderhead at times. (The nicest thing for me was seeing LGBT+ diversity in a mystery where the diversity wasn't solely the killer and/or victim.) Short, fun and rather silly - exactly what I wanted to read.
(Though this book would benefit from a good proofreader. The most common trouble is dropped punctuation - with missing periods being the best (worst?) example.)
(Though this book would benefit from a good proofreader. The most common trouble is dropped punctuation - with missing periods being the best (worst?) example.)
January 12, 2022
I was excited to read a gay vampire whodunit and enjoyed it quite a bit, but I had a few issues. The majority were minor/nitpicky issues like complicated/fake sounding names, Simon's speech sounding a bit more British than American or being a tea snob or a countryside village being teeming with handsome gay men (which is actually poked fun at in the book which was quite cute,) but there was a major issue for me which is kind of a series ender for me: Simon proudly declares his family owns one of the largest plantations in the southern US. As a black American, I'm not cool with pride in building a fortune off the suffering of my ancestors and the other enslaved. I don't care if the author later clarifies that his family were not slave owners, choosing to link this character to something deeply connected to atrocities committed against enslaved people is just unacceptable.
September 13, 2020
I finished it, because I wanted to see if I guessed right (yep) and also to see if it got more interesting (nope). Simon may be the most boring vampire in fiction. I mean, the Twilight vampires are laughable, but this guy is just boring. He mentions the "magic little pills" he takes ad nauseum--and sure, they take away the need for blood, but they also apparently remove anything that makes being a vampire interesting (though they can still be killed with stakes and garlic), which made me wonder what the point was in having him be a vampire at all.
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