High Rhymes and Misdemeanors: A Poetic Death Mystery

"High Rhymes and Misdemeanors" by Diana Killian is the first book in the "Poetic Death Mystery Series" and it is a great start. Killian develops her characters beautifully.Scholastic - looking, "serious-minded" Grace Hollister, who is in her early 30's,is an American teacher at St. Anne's Academy for Girls. While on vacation in England's Lake District, to study and explore the historical sites of her favorite poets, she rescues the submerged form of Peter Fox, lying face down in a stream.Grace soon discovers that she, herself, is unwittingly submersed in a mystery, as she seeks to recover a relic of Lord Byron's, which will shed profound literary light on his life. Although, many parts of this novel read a little too much like a "Gothic Romance," Diana Killian's magnificent command of prose and dialogue carry it to the next level. I was so impressed with her choice of words. "The stream chattered merrily over the rocks, undeterred by the motionless form of the man lying facedown in the shallow water," and thus begins Chapter 1. One reviewer, discussing a different mystery writer, was perturbed over the constant use of the words, "muttered," etc.= and started to underline them and counted over a 100. Killian could tutor that author because I was amazed at the different words of action as she variously indicated dialogue. Truly brilliant writing, which I believe is only going to get better with intricate, fresh plots. I will definitely await her next "Grace and Peter" book!

I was not expecting a dissertation of the poets, but rather an entertaining, page turner cozy mystery, with enough poetic references thrown in to please mystery reading poetic fans. Diana Killian delivers on that expectation.The story takes place in England's Lake District. Those who like the cozy British influence in mysteries will not be disappointed with the British country side and old stately homes falling into disrepair, complete with secret passageways and family crypts. The main characters are Grace Hollister, an usually sensible American schoolteacher and literary scholar and Peter Fox, handsome, dashing local antique dealer with a questionable past. They meet when Grace runs upon Peter's "body" face down in a stream and by all appearances dead. Grace winds up saving Peter and thus their adventure and unlikely relationship begins.Normally, cautious Grace and adventurous Peter could seem like an unlikely sleuthing team. Their relationship lights an adventurous fire in Grace's normally all too predictable life and brings an element of "routine" to Peter's not so predictable life. It's a case of seemingly opposites attract, but with an entertaining freshness.I found the characters well written and developed enough to be real people in an interesting, yet vague and not clearly defined relationship. I won't tell you what happens between Grace and Peter, but enough happens that there is already a next book in the series to come out in October 2004. This book has a tease chapter for the next book "Verse of the Vampyre, A Poetic Death Mystery". After reading the chapter, I'm looking forward to reading the next one too.Our online cozy forum had not schecduled this as a regular group read this year, but I have certainly recommended it to every one in the group.moderator, Mystery Most Cozy

As a mystery writer, I need a rollicking good book to end a day filled with conjuring murder and mayhem. High Rhymes and Misdemeanors filled that need perfectly! Grace and Peter are truly a dynamic duo. I had more fun following them as they tried to solve a murder, and laughed my you-know-what off as they bumped into characters that were hilarious. Diana Killian has a unique talent to keep you wondering who the killer is while you have fun just watching the great cast she created.I'm going to have to buy all her books now! And so should you!

Wow! Who is Diana Killian and where has she been?I just loved this book. I haven't read such a purely fun novel in what seems like ages. It's witty, romantic and action-packed, as frothy and refreshing as ice cold champagne, a sort of screwball update of TO CATCH A THIEF (I could almost picture Cary Grant playing the male lead). The heroine, Grace, a sassy (but classy) vacationing American schoolteacher on vacation in England, may be a thoroughly modern gal, but this is simply a good old-fashioned mystery. Words like "romp" and "skullduggerry" come to mind...It's the kind of mystery they say nobody wants to read anymore, but "they" are wrong.I, for one, want to read them, and I hope Ms. Killian writes plenty more. I'll certainly be waiting for her next one. Angst is out, and fun is back!Janet in Bangor

Californian Grace Hollister knew she could do the research for her doctorate in the Romantic poets just as easily at home, but she felt it would be more fun to do it on her first trip to Britain with fellow teacher Monica. But from the beginning, things don't work out as planned. Monica deserts Grace to go off with a professor she knew from her college days in the UK. Then Grace saves the life of a mysterious man, who doesn't seem the least bit surprised that someone tried to murder him, but doesn't know who and won't explain why.Thus begins a madcap adventure that has so many twists and turns that readers can't skip even a paragraph. Adding to the fun for the readers are the lighthearted banter and the budding romance between Grace and the enigmatic Peter Fox, who admits to a past that makes him "of interest" to the police but insists that he has reformed.Anyone interested in the life and poetry of Byron will find much of interest in this book. But that's not a prerequisite for enjoyment.At some points, it's hard to take all of the action seriously.(How many different times does Grace get kidnapped and have to escape?) But the read is so fast and so delightful that you won't realize any faults until after you've read the last page -- and by then you don't mind a bit. The only problem is that the publisher promises the next book in the series in October 2004, a whole year away. I don't want to wait that long to continue the future adventures of Grace and Peter.