The Doctor Digs a Grave

Bravo Robin Hathaway! I could not put this book down and took it with me everywhere until I finished it. The characters in Hathaway's first novel are likeable and engaging. At first I was a bit apprehensive about a doctor and his young sidekick, but Hathaway pulls it off beautifully without falling into that formula one might expect with a mentor/student type relationship. The plot moved at a very enjoyable pace with just enough character development to keep the read hooked.I can't wait for the next Hathaway novel.

History, murder, intrigue, humor--it's all there: Robin Hathaway definitely deserves the Agatha award she won this year for Best First Novel. I was entertained and engaged throughout--the mystery was good but I was most intrigued by the characters--subtly rendered, straighforward and--it may sound odd, but "human" is the best way I can put it--no one was screaming their flaws, insecurities, and attributes, but these were all there, revealed slowly, as they are in real life. Can't wait for the next "Doctor" mystery!

In Dr. Andrew Fenimore Robin Hathaway has created a character I really look forward to meeting again, along with his thrift-shop cat, Sal, and his loveable street kid associate, Horatio. This book has a great plot, excellent background, and plenty of fun. A thoroughly engaging read that I have just enjoyed for the second time.

The Doctor Digs a Grave by Robin Hathaway is well-written and thoroughly engrossing, with a fascinating plot and interesting characters. I got a great kick out of the wry (and sly) humor, and the light satire -- on City Society, doctors, PC language, pretentiousness in general, and finally, the punning title of the book. As the book progressed it certainly had me spinning a lot of theories about who-what-when-where. The details were fascinating (the native culture, esp.); the blind alleys were fun, and the resolution of the slipper saga was great! The story was skillfully told and the pacing was very good. The characters were excellently done, effectively drawn, but with precision and economy. The author fully deserved the award she won with the book!! Another thing I should mention is that Hathaway, in the tradition of other great mystery writers, shows that she can tell a tale of crime and punishment without resorting to huge amounts of gratuitous vi! olence, which is the plague of most of our "culture" right now.

What makes this mystery so good is a fine combination of characters, plot, and information. Ms. Hathaway starts with an engaging doctor/detective character. He is equal parts technician, social observer, and old-fashioned doctor. Ms. Hathaway then surrounds the doctor with a diverse mix of associates. This combination creates some very good interactions among people with very different perspectives and social roles. On top of the characters, Ms. Hathaway gives the reader a good solid mystery plot that kept me up late turing the pages. Finally, the book's information about the Lenapes was thoroughly researched and interesting. In the tradition of the best mysteries, it gives the reader a chance to learn something new while being entertained by the observations and activities of interesting people. All in all, I am very pleased to have had a chance to obtain a first edition from this author.