Book Review: Sonnet of the Sphinx

Reviewed By: Pat Reid - RAM

Sonnet of the Sphinx     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Diana Killian
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Woman Main Character   Amateur Sleuth   Cozy
Series: Poetic Death Mystery # 3
Pocket Books, Division of Simon & Schuster, Inc., 2006, 325 pps.

Grace Hollister is enjoying an extended stay in England in a village in the Lake District. Nearly two years earlier along with Peter Fox, Grace was involved in a search for a lost book by Lord Byron. The book that Grace wrote based on that adventure is soon to be published. Grace has been invited to speak at the annual Romantic literature conference held at Amberent Hall in nearby Carlisle.

Life is almost perfect for Grace Hollister. She lives in a quaint cottage in a picturesque village. Peter Fox runs Rogue’s Gallery and Grace enjoys helping him with his antique business. Although she is aware that Peter has a shady background and spent time in a Turkish prison she has come to terms with the fact that she will probably never know all the details of his background and decides to just enjoy her time with Peter.

Rogue’s Gallery has bid on the contents of Mallow Farm and is the successful bidder. Grace is helping Peter unpack and organize the contents of the crates and boxes from Mallow Farm. Grace stumbles upon a letter written by John Mallow to his girl friend in 1943 while the country is at war. This letter leads Grace to believe that John Mallow has uncovered a lost Shelly sonnet. Before she can investigate the rest of the boxes the new owner of Mallow Farm convinces Peter that he has made a mistake in selling the contents of the farm and makes an offer to buy everything back. It is an offer that Peter can’t refuse.

Grace is not about to give up and soon begins an investigation into the life of John Mallow and becomes totally fascinated with the man. Hayri Kayaci, formerly a guard at the prison where Peter Fox was held in Turkey, appears on the scene and threatens both Grace and Peter.

Murder rears its ugly face in the small village and Grace’s life is in jeopardy not once but a number of times. Will Grace and Peter come out of this complicated situation safely? Is there really a lost Shelly sonnet? You will have to read Sonnet of the Sphinx for the answer to these questions.

I would suggest that you read the previous Diana Killian books that involve Grace and Peter prior to reading Sonnet of the Sphinx.

Pat Reid - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Pat Reid - RAM