Lessons in Murder is Claire McNab's first novel. Set in a Sydney High School, it revolves around the murder of the son of a prominent politician, who is found in his classroom with a drill embedded in his head. Enter Detective Inspector Carol Ashton, described as a cool blonde with a spectacular career. She is also spectacularly closeted, maintaining a rigid division between her work and personal life that even her partner, Sergeant Mark Bourke, cannot break through. This barrier begins to crumble, however, when she meets Sybil Quade, who is suspiciously linked to the murder victim. As further deaths occur, accompanied by threatening letters and phone calls, Sybil becomes the prime suspect and Carol struggles with her growing attraction toward her. Although entertaining enough, Lessons in Murder, is the source of many irritations. Ashton's introspective self-pity, her romantic pining for Sybil, and Sybil's inability to resist the domineering attentions of Terry Clarke, are annoying distractions from the narrative. The climax is cliched, which is not surprising given that this novel faithfully follows (if not establishes) the conventions of lesbian detective fiction. Murder, an emotionally repressed detective, and romance between the two main characters are all now standard features of this genre. When first published, this novel may have been exciting and unique, but twelve years on, it has been superceded by the work of other authors.

First of all, I did enjoy reading this book. Claire McNab's Carol Ashton is a good detective and the mysterious death of a teacher killed by a Black and Decker power drill is a captivating plot. But at the same time I was a little disappointed at what I determined to be a lack of character development for the two main characters: Carol and Sybil. What makes them tick as a human being? What are their fears and ambitions? Maybe this can be attributed to the minimal numbers of pages as more attention was paid to the mystery itself? Who knows. This book(let) is a short one and definately a fast read. Under normal circumstances I don't consider myself to be a fast reader but I finished in two sittings.

These flaws won't deter me from reading other books in this series. Actually tonight I'm beginning the second installment and it appears that we get to explore some of Carol's past. Maybe I'll have the opportunity to learn more about Carol aside from her detective skills and lust for Sybil.

This is a very interesting book. The characters are real and down to earth- believeable. There is much anticipation for Carol from one moment to the next to get closer to solving who and why the teacher was killed.

The third in the Carol Ashton series sees the formidable Inspector and her faithful sidekick, Sergeant Bourke, on the trail of a serial killer dubbed the Orange Strangler. In this book, Carol Ashton finally reveals herself to be the highly competent and experienced police officer she is meant to be, as McNab concentrates on the hard slog of policing, rather than on the private life of the Detectoive Inspector. Furthermore, when private interludes are included, they are realistic and almost free of the self-indulgent whining found in McNab's earlier novels. Unfortunately, the solution to this crime is obvious quite early in the piece, and certainly way before the climax. Nevertheless, this is a well written and engrossing book

Death Down Under is the movie shoot where Sybil is working, the Orange Strangler is the serial killer Carol is hunting. No connection? Hang onto your koala, it gets more and more interesting! I found myself going back to check up on people as I tried to guess the culprit, which I did - 2 paragraphs before the arrest! Enjoy!

Is it my imagination or is Carol Ashton becoming non-descript as she - and the series - grows older? There wasn't much to this book - not much plot, not much mystery, not much character development. I keep reading the books in this series because hope springs eternal - that Claire McNab will be able to find the writing skills she exhibited in the first three or four outings, that Carol Ashton will develop into a real person, that her character will grow and become interesting once again. But once again, I was disappointed.

If you want to read a decent book by Claire McNab, read her new series featuring Denise Cheever. That is where McNab seems to be putting her creative writing to best use these days.

Having read all titles in this series - and been frustrated by the last few -- I began this latest with high hopes. Hopes that Carol Ashton would finally begin putting together the experiences and lessons of the past and display some personal insight;. hopes that Carol and Sybil would finally have a real conversation about the nature of their relationship and feelings for each other; hopes that there would be a love scene that didn't read like "Slam, bang, thank-you-mam;" hopes that Carol would move from being the thoroughly frustrating character she became as the series progressed. I was much too optimistic (my fault, I admit) and once again had a mystery wherin I knew who the killer was pretty darn quick, .. The promise of the series best titles -- "Lessons In Murder,""Fatal Reunion," "Body Guard," and "Inner Circle" -- has been wasted. I gave No.14 three stars only because of the initial promise it showed.

This is Detective Inspector Carol Ashton's 10th outing, and the author seems to have grown bored with the series. Yes there's a murder, yes Ashton is asked to solve it, and yes she does just that. But it all seems so lackluster - as if the author is obligated to write another and just can't seem to get into it.

This addition to the Detective Inspector Carol Ashton mysteries is one of the best. Loose ends in Carol's personal life come together. As always, Claire McNab weaves a tale of intrigue and suspense. I have read all of the previous books featuring the premier lesbian detective, and have never been let down! I highly recommend this book!

Detective Inspector Carol Ashton is a protaganist who has outlived her plot. This story's ending was so abrupt and illogical, it left this reader feeling disappointed and betrayed.

And speaking of betrayal, ever since Carol parted ways with her better half, Sybil, several episodes ago, this series has been heading down hill. It would be merciful if McNab would wrap up this project and put it to rest. That would leave her more time to develop her other series starring Denise Cleever who, unlike Carol, still has a heart.

I gave this book two stars because it's Clair McNab whose prose is beautiful and dialog crisp and believable. Her books are easy to read. Yes, Clair McNab can write. I just wish she would. Solving the mystery relied on interviewing one lying suspect after another until Carol solves the murder through grinding police work. I will admit to being kept guessing until the end as to the identity of the murderer. And I was thankful that we were not subjected another scene of Carol blundering into the perpetrator and nearly being killed as she was in her previous two outings.

With regard to Carol's arid personal life, this book like her last two before it was flat. There has been little in the way of character development of Carol's latest love interest. Leota Woolfe who was introduced in the previous book, "Under Suspicion", shows up in Australia for the perfunctory love scene (read sex without much emotional impact). I have yet to discover what Leota sees in Carol or vise versa. Yet, ...Leota proclaims her love for Carol. Huh? And it seems that Carol continues to have "feelings" for her former lover, Sybil, but never acts on or even muses over them. I am very tired of this unresolved and un-addressed non-relationship. But McNab seems content to let this old love hang like clouds over Sydney harbor. I had hoped for more.

A native Aussie, Claire McNab, now living in Los Angeles, is the author of thirteen Detective Inspector Carol Ashton mysteries and two Denise Cleever mysteries, Murder Undercover and Death Understood. Her next Denise Cleever mystery is due out in the fall of 2001 and is entitled Out Of Sight. Claire McNab presently teaches fiction writing in the UCLA Extension program in Writing.

As its title implies, Death Club, the latest mystery featuring Carol Ashton as lead crime fighter, is set at the Whitlew Country Club. Gussie Whitlew is throwing a huge golf tournament entitled The Whitlew Challenge. Gussie Whitlew is a fashion designer who is fantastically wealthy and is used to her own way. When her leading challenger, Fiona Hawk, is found dead on the fourth hole of the course, the tournament is thrown into disarray. Carol is on the case, and her special gift for tracking that reveals clues and draws out witnesses other officers would miss:

"Carol smiled. 'I don't scream,' she said. 'It doesn't go with my position.' He made an amused sound, then said, 'You can call me Vinny, if you like. I haven't been Vincent Goss for a long, long time.' He raised one hand to knock his knuckles gently against the side of his head. 'Scrambled,' he said. 'Before I had problems, I was a university lecturer. Economics. Isn't that a laugh?'"

Indeed, one of Claire McNab's strongest suits is her development of character. She has an uncanny understanding of human nature. It reminds this reviewer of Jane Marple's statement that people are "not so very different." Death Club proves this point over and over, as Carol Ashton instinctively ferrets out the bare details of the case. McNab is wonderful at keeping the reader guessing until the very end of the story. Carol does most of the dirty work herself, including the postmortem, wiring herself up, and even placing herself in danger for a final denouement.

McNab leads her readers on a merry chase. Her style is sassy, fun, and is full of chills and spills. She knows her craft, and isn't afraid to stretch a little to flesh out her characters. Carol Ashton is steady, takes no nonsense from those around her, but isn't afraid to have doubts about herself and her relationships. She is a strong woman with keen insight who keeps us glued and guessing.

Claire McNab has lost the plot - the series started well but the story lines now seem to take second place to the inspector's private life. Carol Ashton while proclaiming a wish to stay with Sybil can't seem to pass up an oportunity to sleep with any woman that comes along. The sex scenes have become functional & unappealing. A shame.

This Detective Inspector Ashton's 11th outing. It could be interchanged with several of the previous outings. Someone is murdered, Ashton catches the case, she solves case, her personal life remains static. I keep hoping that Ashton will grow as a person, but she remains the same book after book. After finishing this one, I promised myself to read number 12 and if it wasn't an improvement, I will stop reading the series and move on - much as I wish Carol Ashton would.

In Detective Inspector Carol Ashton's ninth outing, she must find a serial killer who sends each potential victim a similar letter. The killer is careful and doesn't give Ashton much to go on other than the letters. The author has gotten stale in her last few outings, Ashton seems locked into a relationship that doesn't give her much satisfaction, but she can't seem to let go of it either. The procedural part of the book remains well done, but the author has got to do something with her character's personal life or risk losing her following.