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Formats
Paperback Book Details
  • 11/2012
  • 9781480225992 1480225991
  • 348 pages
  • $12.15
Ebook Details
  • 09/2012
  • B009GCYQ58
  • 346 pages
  • $2.99
John Spencer Yantiss
Author, Illustrator
Murder By Bequest: A Sherrod Colsne Mystery
On a frigid Friday afternoon in February, Eleanor Harkness shows up at the door of the “granite palace,” Sherrod Colsne’s New York townhouse. Her unexpected yet incredibly timely appearance not only knocks Colsne’s normally unflappable assistant, Monty Weston, off stride, but takes both of them down a winding path of romance, past and present, and decades-old, bitter hatred. Though only four days actually elapse in the telling, Murder by Bequest is a story spanning over twenty-five years, three continents, and two primary cultures, and surrounding America’s foremost family of wealth, and social and political position.
Reviews
http://www.amazon.com/Murder-Bequest-Sherrod-Colsne-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B009GCYQ5

4.0 out of 5 stars Finely Crafted October 16, 2014

By S.A. Molteni

Format:Paperback

Murder by Bequest by John Spencer Yantiss is a finely crafted novel in the vein of Sherlock Holmes.

The story begins with Eleanor Harkness visiting detective Sherrod Reynard Colsne and his assistant, Montague Boyd 'Monty' Weston in their New York City, "Granite Palace" to discuss employing them to find her father's killer.

The book is written from Monty's point of view and spreads over many years and many continents, although the book details just four days. Throughout the story other characters are murdered and the mystery of who the true killer is becomes all the more imperative to solve.

Descriptively detailed with the sights ands sounds of New York, Europe and India, it is evident that the author is well-traveled and offers a believable story with well-developed, realistic characters.

I would recommend this to anyone who likes a good murder/mystery. This book certainly delivers a fine storyline as well as a neatly tied up ending that is well worth read.

http://www.amazon.com/review/R2Q1BNFS8AZXYU/ref=cm_cr_pr_viewpnt#R2Q1BNFS8AZXYU?

Rating: 4/5

Exceedingly good read for any fans of Nero Wolfe, Sherlock Holmes, and Mary Russell adventures., August 4, 2014

By 

R. D. Yantiss

Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: Murder by Bequest (Sherrod Colsne Mysteries Book 1) (Kindle Edition)

A great read for detective/mystery lovers. Another in the vein and legacy of Sherlock Holmes, Nero Wolf, Mary Russell, Solar Pons, etc. A true "page turner" - very difficult to put down until after the final page. Sherrod Reynard Colsne and assistant/partner/friend, Montague (Monty) Boyd Weston, along with Rivers, butler and old and dear friend of Colsne, and Henri Bonet, Colsne's exceedingly gifted chef, provide a similar theater of living and atmosphere to that in Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin, their entourage of characters, and New York City environment, although the "Granite Palace" of Colsne is an even larger, and of course more modern, dwelling than the luxurious brownstone of Wolfe. And Colsne is the opposite of Wolfe in physical fitness and health, and yet is still as eccentric as his predecessor. Also all of the main characters and most of the supporting characters of the tale are similarly well developed and filled out as are those of the Wolfe series and Mary Russell series, and better than those of the Holmes tales.

There is a bit of philosophy at the beginning of the book by the 'editor'/author that you may or may not be in agreement with. However, if you do not agree, certainly do not allow this to dissuade you from experiencing this great story, nor so any of the succeeding tales in the series. Basically, if you enjoy or love the Holmes and Wolfe series and adventures, you should certainly enjoy the Sherrod Colsne series of novels, novelettes, and short stories.

Disclaimer: Although I am related to the author, John Spencer Yantiss, I am at the same time an avid and true lover of good, well written, and riveting mysteries, especially the detective genre, and those that incorporate history, geography, intrigue, science, and which have fully developed characters, scenery, and timelines, and which leave the reader in suspense to the end. I would not give a strongly positive review for any book if I did not feel it warranted it, no matter who the author was. Therefore this review truthfully reflects ONLY my opinion of the book - its contents, style, intrigue and suspense factors, and quality of writing - but NOT of the person who created it. Though they may also warrant praise of their character and virtues, this is not a part of this review or of any of my reviews or ratings.

That being stated, I most definitely recommend Murder By Bequest and the other Sherrod Colsne books and stories.

-RDY

http://www.indianbookreviews.com/2014/08/04/vengeance-thy-name-is-woman-2/

Review of Murder by Bequest; John Spencer Yantiss; Amazon Digital Services – Kindle Edition 2012; pp 346

- Shana Susan Ninan

Sherrod Reynard Colsne (pronounced kōn, with silent “l” and “s”) and Montague Boyd “Monty” Weston, the protagonists of Yantiss’ Murder by Bequest reminds me of Sherlock Holmes and Watson. And, rightly so. The author’s style of writing, the tone and treatment of the plot, the visual appetite of the story, luring murder mysteries, and of course, the Holmes-ian dialogues.

Criss-crossing three continents, are the lives of an American aristocratic family’s past. And the past certainly caught up with them. When multiple murders haunt the Harkness family, we’re pulled into a murder spiral. After the murder of Bertrand Wellman Harkness, IV, his elder daughter Eleanor Catherine Harkness, hires the two detectives to solve the puzzle. Their presence on home turf isn’t well-taken, and they end up having to almost prise open mouths to get closer to the murderer.

Colsne and Weston, put Eleanor up at Colsne’s Townhouse, as she’s desperate to get away from the clutches of her large and imposing family, including her mother, Camille. The next couple of days are packed with more murders and plots, scrutinized investigation by Colsne and then a superb climax. I thought I’d stop breathing, at one point, towards the end of the story and the book!

John Spencer Yantiss was born to parents of Anglo-Scotch-Irish, and Lithuanian descent. In 1993 he began writing classic detective mysteries, based on the character Sherrod Reynard Colsne, in the transatlantic and cumulative tradition of Sherlock Holmes and Nero Wolfe. He’s musician and singer, he started piano lessons at age 5, and began writing poems and songs at age eight.

 

 

Rating: 9.3/10 (3 votes cast)

Formats
Paperback Book Details
  • 11/2012
  • 9781480225992 1480225991
  • 348 pages
  • $12.15
Ebook Details
  • 09/2012
  • B009GCYQ58
  • 346 pages
  • $2.99
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