Kindle British & Irish Mystery Book Club discussion

The Mystery of Yew Tree House, by Lesley Thomson

"EIGHTY YEARS OF SECRETS.
1940. At Yew Tree House, recently widowed Adelaide Stride is raising her two daughters alone – but it's not just the threat of German invasion that keeps her up at night. She is surrounded by enemies posing
as allies and, while war rages, she grows sure that something terrible is about to happen.

A BODY THAT REVEALS THEM ALL.
2023. Soon after Stella Darnell begins her holiday at Yew Tree House, a skeleton is found in a pillbox at
the bottom of the garden. The bullet hole in the skull tells her that the person was murdered.
This triggers the unravelling of a mystery eighty years in the making. Stella will learn that Adelaide was right to worry – the fighting might have been happening abroad, but the true enemy was always much closer to home..."

Discussion Leader: Bill Kupersmith
Link to Book on Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/4aYDqjC

I read it, but I never really got into the story, cared about the characters or the outcome. The timeline jumped about unexpectedly: The chapter time headings didn't hold for the full chapter, and scene breaks seemed non-existent. This was annoying and jerked me out of the story as I tried to follow leapfrogging scenes. Only a 2 rating from me.

Pat, I haven't finished yet, but agree that it isn't terribly engaging (unless you've read the first 8 books and have become invested in this couple, I suppose) and the time zones could be deliniated better.

Maybe I was spoilt by recently reading
In A Dry Season
In A Dry Season by Peter Robinson (DCI Banks 10) which also deals with a death in WW2-ish only revealed in modern times. The past is in italics and a single narrator. Far more coherent.

Chris wrote: "Pat, I haven't finished yet, but agree that it isn't terribly engaging (unless you've read the first 8 books and have become invested in this couple, I suppose) and the time zones could be deliniat..."

Peter Robinson’s a favourite

Chris, I wondered as well whether starting with the first mystery in the series, following character development throughout, would have given more dimension to the characters and the author's style. Despite that, I think the plot could have been better organized to define the timeline differences. The couple's relationship seemed poorly presented as well; I saw little emotion or even liking between them.

Finished and given it 2 stars.
Bit of a meh read in the end.
Plus the lazy cover illustration-story in Sussex = GWR poster style image of Seven Sisters and Coastguard Cottages. At least Newhaven did get mentioned in the book.

I am giving up at chapter 20 as this one just isn't holding my interest. I am constantly having to re-read chapters because the story line is so fractured and there are too many characters to follow. Stella, Bella and Prunella? not much imagination in naming characters/caravans and they are so poorly presented that i can't identify with anyone and hence, can't remember anyone. I agree with Pat that perhaps if one had read the previous books, the characters might be more engaging.

Since am giving up, 1-star is my rating.

I agree as well. I gave up in Chapter Twelve.