I love gorillas and all things related to them. I bought this book even though I don't have kids! I liked that it discusses Dian Fossey and the mountain gorillas, as well as world-famous Koko. I was just so pleased to see gorillas described as they truly are. A book like this could inspire children to want to help save these gentle giants. I sure hope so, anyway.

This is one of Barnard's best. After you have long finished the book, you can't get the sound of beating and flapping wings out of your head.

Wolfgang Gottlieb Mozart is an aging and neglected composer who, in 1830, is summoned to Kensington Palace to give piano lessons to eleven year-old Princess Victoria, the niece of King George IV. Mozart takes an immediate liking to the charming Victoria and sensing that her life may be in danger, decides to try to protect her. After King George IV dies, Princess Victoria becomes heir apparent to the throne and William IV is the new king. The book has a light-hearted tone. Victoria, Mozart and William IV are an extremely likeable trio and the plot is nicely resolved.

Former renowned actress Caroline Fawley enjoys her life as a kept woman living in Marsham Village with two of her three children. Caroline enjoys the weekend visits of her married lover Marius Fleetwood, who pays her bills including residing at the luxurious Alderley Mansion.

Accompanied by Marius, Caroline attends her oldest daughter Olivia's opera performance. Marius sneaks away as he usually does when he comes to an opera, but plans to return just prior to curtain call. Olivia is a success, but Marius fails to return. The next day, the police ask Caroline to look at the murdered corpse of an elegantly dressed man, who she identifies as Marius. As she worries about the future, the truths she believed about her lover begins to prove false, making her wonder about her beloved and why anyone wanted him dead.

Though the story line takes its time to introduce the players, readers will relish the wait for once the plot shifts into gear, it never slows down until the end. The characters are fully developed even those who are off stage like Marius' wife so that the audience has a feel for what motivates the cast though much of what is learned about the victim proves untrue. Robert Barnard provides the audience with an entertaining mystery that emphasizes the main and support cast.

Harriet Klausner

I found reading this novel to be exceptionally enjoyable. The plot is well crafted and the characters are interesting and well delineated. This book combines both a serious study of human nature with a clever wittiness that is a trademark of the author. The mystery itself is adequate, neither overly shocking nor contrived. It is really two novels in one with a spare writing style that I like; it's both a mystery and a social commentary.

As a long-time fan of the mystery novels of Robert Barnard, I can tell you that he has come up with yet another of his intriguing plots, full of twists and turns, feints and misleading hints. The tale centers on ex-actress Caroline Fawley, the mistress of the punning title: she is mistress of the grand house 'Alderley' as well as the mistress of a grocery-chain tycoon who set her up in that house.

One of Barnard's great talents is his eye for detail, and in this case some of the more telling details come from the world of opera, something that Barnard obviously knows and loves. Olivia Fawley, Caroline's eldest daughter, is a budding opera star making her Opera North début as Leonora in Verdi's 'La Forza del Destino.' An important plot point hinges on the timing, on opening night, of Olivia's appearances onstage.

There are vivid descriptions of Leeds, the novel's locale, just as earlier in Barnard's career he infused his novels set in Norway with details of that country's milieu. One comes away with a lively sense of place.

In spite of his being quite a prolific writer, Barnard continues to come up with fresh ideas and produce effective character studies, both reasons I continue reading him.

Recommended.

Scott Morrison

Robert Barnard is an Englishman who has been a professor both in Australia and Norway (and both locales have turned up in his books). Since sometime in the '70s he has been publishing mystery novels. The novels are characterized mostly by their dryly satiric tone. They are very funny, and very biting. For the most part, he seems to have eschewed the continuing series format, although he has published several books featuring Scotland Yard's Perry Trethowan, and a couple more featuring a character first introduced in the Trethowan books, Charlie Peace (who has a small role in Death and the Chaste Apprentice). Given that the non-series books feature one-off detectives, he is more free than usual to turn his sights on the foolishness and incompetence of the crime-fighters, as well as that of the criminals, and in several of his books a main object of satire is the police.

Death and the Chaste Apprentice is not his best book, but it's a solid book, and also a bit less savage than some of his works. The Chaste Apprentice of the title is also the title character of a fictional Jacobean comedy which is being staged at an arts festival near London. The arts festival is held in part in an old inn, and we are introduced to the cast of the play, staying at the Inn, a couple of classical singers who are also performing at the festival, and the manager of the Inn, a rather odious, snoopy, Australian (Barnard really seems to have it in for Australia). Barnard spends some time setting up the complex dynamics of the characters: a young actor who seems to be falling for the Russian singer, an alcoholic actress, the leading couple of the play, who are married to each other but engage in very public adultery, the incredibly self-centred Indian singer and his manager, the tyrannical conductor of the opera, the eccentric director of the play, and of course the Inn's manager, who alienates everyone with his snooping and his know-it-all attitude. Then, as the play opens, a murder occurs, and the police have to investigate. Naturally, the investigation reveals a variety of unpleasant secrets which don't have anything to do with the murder, before finally ending with a slight twist and a nicely logical solution. (Actually one of Barnard's stronger mystery plots: many of his books, while still thoroughly entertaining, have very strained solutions.)

The true pleasure of this book, as with all Barnard, is the sly sarcastic asides which pepper the descriptions of the characters and events. At the same time, the characters are mostly rather sympathetic, even when somewhat flawed: this is not always true with Barnard, as I have read books of his which feature literally no likable characters. This book is also interesting for the snippets of information about Jacobean drama as well as 19th century opera.

Robert Barnard is usually a treat to read. And "Death and the Chaste Apprentice" is no exception. Bernard is quite prolific in his writing/subject matter and often chooses literary characters or subjects about which to write. In this work, we find the London suburb of Ketterick presenting its annual fine arts festival, "The Chaste Apprentice" being the theatrical entry (an "easily forgotten" Elizabethan drama!). Des Capper, the obnoxious Aussie host of The Saracen's Head Hotel, where the play is being presented and where the actors themselves are residing, is found stabbed in the back--a rather symbolic gesture, as it were, due to Capper's zeal to "unearth the hidden" from the cast and company. It appears that all the cast members have their own alibies--as he certainly died during the performance! Or so we think. Barnard is always quite clever with his story line--and plethora of literary allusions and references. He also introduces young Charlie Peace, who is to be featured in later Barnard stories. This book is fraught with clever theatrical references and idioms and moves along at a fast pace. Barnard's wit and expertise show through readily. Not a "deep" book, but certainly a worthwhile one, especially if you like British mysteries with a twist of wry! (Billyjhobbs@tyler.net)

Political enthusiasts in particular should enjoy this Robert Barnard mystery, in which a shrewd superintendent inquires into the death of James Partridge, a quiet, well-mannered Tory, who, before his untimely demise, represented East Bootham, Yorkshire, in the House of Commons. Was it murder or suicide? Are Partridge's family and friends grieving, or moving on with their lives with suspicious quickness? Did any of his potential successors -- or their contributors -- benefit disproportionately from Partridge's death? Barnard's book smoothly resolves these questions even as it gives the reader the unique flavor of a parliamentary by-election. Worth reading.

Many of Robert Barnard's books are satire. It is such a trick to not go too far when writing satire, and I have yet to observe him putting a foot wrong. This somewhat elderly book is no exception.

Somewhat elderly, because it was first published in 1986, a lifetime and a half ago, when it comes to politics, in Britain--or the US! None of the higher-ups are named in this book, so it's a safe read, anyway, except for the damage you may do to yourself by laughing too hard!

The Tory MP for East Bootham (a dreary little place that is a casualty of the economic wars and located in far Yorkshire) James Partridge by name, has apparently committed suicide by jumping off a bridge into the Thames. Or did he?

Mixing the events taking place behind the scenes leading up to the new by-election for Partridge's replacement with the very subtle investigation of his death by the about-to-be-retired Superintendant Sutcliffe of the London Police, allows the reader to see many sides of what could be a one-dimensional picture. There is also, of course, the ever present media, digging ever deeper into backgrounds and foregrounds.

In the end, the Superintendant solves the puzzle, which will leave you chuckling as you finish the tale, even though justice is probably not well-served. But then, this IS about politics. Remember?

One of the best things about the consistently good Robert Barnard is his ability to delve into unlikely venues as the settings for his mysteries. In this case, he juxtaposes a Roman Catholic parish in the north of England with the world of small-time tabloid journalism. Barnard peoples his parish of St. Catherine's with a variety of eccentric and believable characters and adds a masterly repugnant villain -- reporter Cosmo Horrocks -- to stir up a pot of parochial passions and hidden crimes.

Some of the more memorable characters in "Unholy Dying" are the beleaguered and persecuted Fr. Pardoe, the primly observant Miss Preece-Dembleby, the malevolent Doris Crabtree, and the frighteningly dysfunctional Norris family. My only quibble with the novel is that some of these characters are so finely drawn that I regretted not learning more about them after they made their all-too-brief appearances.

The book has two scenes that are Barnard at his absolute best. The first is the interview between Superintendent Mike Oddie and the Bishop of Leeds. This passage is must reading for anyone who has ever suffered from the arrogance of power and longs to see what happens when it's deflated and derailed. The other scene is the climax of the novel. Although I could see where the investigation of Horrocks' murder was leading, Barnard's terrifying and shocking conclusion caught me unprepared and left me riveted.

While riding a train, West Yorkshire Chronicle reporter Cosmo Horrocks overhears two people discussing the scandalous behavior of the local Catholic priest. Apparently, Father Christopher Pardoe had an affair with nineteen-year old single mother Julie Norris, a parishioner, leaving her pregnant. Also Somebody stole parish money with the Father being the most likely thief. Cosmo, a nasty gossip-mongering "journalist" who would distort any lie to spice up a report, sees a great story in Shipley, England.

Cosmo heads to the small town to confront the various players such as Julie, Father Pardoe, Julie's estrange parents and brother, and other parishioners. After exposing the priest and the teen, an unknown assailant kills the odious Cosmo. Police Inspector Mike Oddie and Sergeant Charlie Peace begin to investigate the homicide. The only problem is anyone who ever met the disgusting man including his family, his staff on the newspaper, and the impacted people in Shipley have motives to wanting Cosmo dead.

UNHOLY DYING is a great police procedural that shows why Robert Barnard is one of the top mystery writers around. His latest work is fabulous because the quaint cast makes the entertaining police investigation so much more fun to follow. The tabloid journalism that attacks Father Pardoe based on rumor and no substance augments a great plot in which everyone except the police are suspects, but the real killer is in plain sight yet impossible to identify.

Harriet Klausner

If the mysteries of Robert Barnard are more a snack than a meal, they are savory, salty and a touch on the bitter side. In this one Barnard has created a British village rampant with small-minded hypocrites, petty and pompous. The great fun of the book is not in deft plotting (it's fairly ordinary) but in the take-no-prisoners descriptions of the shallowness and pretentions of small-town life in the 1970s. There is nothing sly about Barnard's ill regard for his villagers; he loathes all characters who are not police officers (and he's not overly kind about most of them either). Some of the references are dated (Enoch Powell is hardly as rich a punchline now as he was then), but there is sufficient wit and sarcasm that has traveled well.

Robert Barnard deserves to be more famous than he is. A Little Local Murder is a top-notch mystery, seething with interesting, pathetic, and ridiculous personages, each of whom in his own way believes that the world revolves around him! It is an English village mystery with plenty of discussion of village life in AND out of doors; one really gets the sense of 'being there'. Barnard is extremely witty but he takes his books seriously (which cannot be said for all writers, who think that the way to entertain is to make everything a joke.) It's a pleasure to read an author of such shining and perceptive intelligence.

Fans of British country mysteries will find a lot to enjoy here: a quaint village in the clutches of provincial attitudes, a quirky Anglican priest, ruins of a castle, a church fete on the village meadow, etc. Barnard's narrator is a feisty,opinionated teacher and it is a pleasure to see all of this through her cynical eye. But the plot is wanting and a mystery in this style without a delectable, twisty plot is just an Angela Thirkell novel.

If you like a good mystery and a good comedy but have a difficuly time finding the two together, then this is the book for you! Barnard is an expert and combining a very intriguing mystery with the highest (and sometimes lowest) comedy i have ever read. He is truly and artist. This book is rich in intrigue, laughs, and suspense until the very last sentence (and I do mean the VERY last sentence so don't read it first or everything will be ruined!!) Anyway, I highly recommend this book to anyone with a love of mystery and a great sense of humor!

Barnard,in my opinion ,is not a top echelon crime writer but he can be relied on for solid,well crafted mysteries and he shows a great deal of versatility as to setting and characters.
This takes place in contemporary Leeds ,in Yorkshire,and the protagonist is Matt Harper,former pro soccer player turned local radio pundit and front man on a local TV news show.He is about to move into a new house with his partner and her two children by a former marriage when he discovers the bones of a child in the attic.The child had been dead for some time and the local police are unable to allocate major resources to resolving the mystery.A symathetic black policeman,Charlie Peace(who has figured in other Barnard tales)feeds Harper information assuming correctly that he will be driven to devote time and energy to the case for personal reasons.This is because the case dates back to the late 60's when Harper was briefly resident in the area and has some vague recollections of knowing some of the people who may have been involved .
patiently he sets about tracing the children with whom he played back then and finds they have all to some extenyt been affected by memories of what transpired that summmer,The baby had died through the agency of one of these children and the malign influence of an "offstage" adult
The book is interesting rather than gripping and this sis the gap between an author who is purchased and one who is borrowed from the local library.
I will happlily give my time to Mr Barnard-for his neat plots ,effective characterisation and quiet compassionate social observation.I am reluctant to part with my sheckels for someone who does not-and he does not--move me at a level other than the cerebral.

Good fare if you like Britsh mysteries with a foot in the modern ,but not seamy,,world

After a child's skeleton is found in the attic of Matt Harper, who has just bought into a neighborhood in Leeds, England after living there briefly as a boy, he shadows the investigation by a well-meaning detective sergeant who has a baby of his own, and delves back into his brief past in the neighborhood, which coincides with the approximate death of the infant in his attic. This means reconnecting with the neighborhood children, now adults, and forcing some organization on his hazy memories. He knows he feels unsettled and discomfited by that particular time, but can't quite grasp why.

I've never read Mr. Barnard before this book, but judging by the size of his name on the cover relative to the title, he must be terribly well known. This was an interesting book with a little bit of a muddled end, but it was well written otherwise and I plan to read him again. It would give away too much to say why I felt the end was muddled, but one key explanation didn't hold up for me. Nonetheless, it wasn't THE key explanation and so the story was hardly ruined. And maybe I'm just being picky. One thing I can say about Mr. Barnard's writing is that he does dialogue very, very well. I especially liked the way the children were written and the way he captured their banter.

A note of relief: there are many, many names and places to keep straight. In the hardcover, and hopefully the paperback as well, there is a map of the neighborhood. It really helps.

Robert Barnard's Bones in the Attic is an enjoyable mystery, a quick read to sink into when you've got a few hours to kill. The story of a discovery of a child's bones in an attic and the unraveling of the mystery behind them that follows is certainly nothing unique here. While this probably won't be a book you rush out and tell everyone about, it certainly is a pleasant read.