Miss Seeton's Finest Hour

This novel is a joy! We finally find out some of the reasons Miss Seeton is the way she is! As a'prequel', this one is very well done, and fits with all that we already know about Miss Seeton. I was finished with it far too soon, and still would like to know more about Miss Seeton. She is an interesting and quirky character. Even if you haven't read the other Miss Seeton books, you will find much to enjoy here. Hamilton Crane (aka Sarah J. Mason) weaves a wonderful plot, full of twists and turns. All of her Miss Seeton books, and her own series the Trewley and Stone stories, are very tightly plotted and well written. A very enjoyable read!

For people already aquainted with Miss Seeton, this is a must read about an earlier time in Miss Seeton's life. I have had little success with character series going "back" in time with the latest book but this one is very well done.

Prime Minister Churchill arouses England's patriotism in the upcoming Battle of Britain against Nazi Germany. However, suspicions of treachery and sabotage run high throughout the countryside in the summer of 1940. When the Ministry of Information, Subsection P(F/S) learns that an art teacher Miss Emily Seeton seems to be sketching military secrets, they investigate. Mr. Steptoe arrives and explains that his office is the Publicity and Fact Sheet subsection of the Information Ministry. He "borrows" several of Emily's drawings of the area. Soon the officials debate whether Emily is spying for the Nazis because she seemed to know in advance the plans behind the Miracle at Dunkirk. After proving her loyalty to her country, Major Haynes hires Emily to sketch the workers at the Spitfire Factory where escalating sabotage on a minor scale seems to have occurred. Emily quickly realizes that someone is more than just a traitor. That unknown individual will murder to insure the success of his quest, which Emily believes is personal and not misguided loyalty to Hitler. The twenty-second Miss Seeton novel actually takes place prior to the previous books (five authored by Heron Carvic, three by Hampton Charles, and fourteen by Hamilton Crane). MISS SEETON'S FINEST HOUR is indeed the first case for the amateur detective. Ms. Crane ingeniously describes the disposition of a young Emily that cleverly fits the personality of Emily in her future tales. The story line's feel for the hysteria yet courage of 1940 England adds to the overall depth of the tremendous novel. The who-done-it is intriguing, but the characterization of a young Emily turns this tale into Ms. Crane's finest hour.Harriet Klausner