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kathydavie's review against another edition
3.0
Twenty-first chronologically and twenty-second in the publication order in the Faith Fairchild cooking mystery series in the Faith Fairchild cooking mystery series and usually revolving around Faith, a chef, mother, and wife. The focus is on another family on Sanpere Island and their family dramas over The Birches.
My Take
It's a tale of inheritance and the family battles it can inspire. It's not just Aunt Priscilla's house, but worries that a number of characters have or about which they've heard. The Fairchilds are on the periphery in this tale, although young Ben has his place in the sun in this. The boy is growing up.
Page includes a few red herrings and has left a number of loose threads. Other than that it's a typical Page novel with the fun coming in with the contestants at The Birches. It's not one of Page's better stories although it really is funny to read the lousy behavior and the sucking up done by various family members. How can they not realize how easy it is to see through it? The Body in the Birches does bring up a twisty question about inheriting a family property that everyone has become accustomed to using. Home. A memory people want to hang onto. There is a nifty solution that Page mentions that sounds very practical.
As for the loose threads and unbelievable scenes, Page doesn't make me believe the romance that crops up. It's just suddenly there. Yes, Page has been pushing at Sophie's subconscious with those jealous thoughts, but even those aren't realistic as Page hasn't included Sophie thinking positive thoughts about her supposed love interest. The complication of Ian was "interesting", but lame in the romance arena. I'd have liked an explanation of Rory's obnoxious behavior over the summer. What's revealed at the end of the story doesn't jive with his actions. I have to wonder why the food-loving Faith doesn't make Zach's acquaintance? And what's with that gun in the Lexus Babs insists that Sophie take to Sanpere Island? Then there are the little melodramas. Enough to make me think about some eye-rolling and hope that future Faith Fairchild stories don't continue like The Body in the Birches.
Marian's surprise illness puts a damper on things as does Ben's surge of independence as he grows toward adulthood. It's a minefield of worry for Faith as she tries to suppress her worries about her son and her worries about her mother-in-law.
Oh, boy. Seems Tom is more and more unhappy about Faith's involvement in murder. That case in The Body in the Piazza, 21, was almost the last straw.
Huh. I've always wondered what fairy cakes were.
The Story
It makes for good gossip on the island as the contest over who gets The Birches starts when family gathers to duke it out. It's better than watching TV as the island soap opera begins.
One that turns tragic as people begin to die.
The Characters
The much-put-upon Sophie Maxwell, a lawyer who loves to cook, made some bad choices, but is available to hold her mother's place at The Birches. Babs Proctor Maxwell Rothenstein Williams Harrington is her mother and the oldest sibling; she's on her fourth husband, Ed Harrington. Ian Kendall was that bad choice. A British lawyer with the morals of a snake.
Great-aunt Priscilla Proctor McAllister inherited The Birches and has placed Uncle Paul McAllister in charge of choosing who inherits it in turn. Sophie's great-grandparents, Josiah and Eleanor Proctor, had built The Birches as a summer cottage in the late 1800s. Bev Boynton is the family housekeeper and cook who comes to The Birches with the family every summer. Marge Foster will step in for Bev. Will Tarkington is Uncle Paul's abrasive nephew from Georgia and a trained EMT.
The rest of the family
Simon is Babs' brother, and he's married to Dierdre. The twins, Forbes, a lawyer, and Felicity, the perpetually engaged, are their only children. Barclay "Barks" Smythe-Jones is Felicity's current jerk of a fiancé. (Mary and Daniel were Babs and Simon's parents.) The tie-dye-loving Sylvia is Babs and Simon's cousin. Sylvia's children are the gorgeous Autumn, the manipulative Rory Proctor, and the frustrated, young Daisy. Each has a different father, and Sylvia believes in leaving her children to live their lives as they choose unless she needs their attention.
The core characters of the series include:
Faith, caterer of her own business, Have Faith, is married to the Reverend Thomas Fairchild, and they have two children: the fifteen-year-old Ben and the twelve-year-old Amy. Marian and Dick Fairchild are Tom's parents. Craig, Betsey, and Robert (Michael is his partner) are Tom's siblings. The Reverend Lawrence Sibley is Faith's father. Her sister Hope is married to Quentin, another lawyer, and they have a son. Niki Theodopoulos is Faith's assistant and co-owner.
Ursula Lyman Rowe has a family cottage, The Pines, to which her family comes for the summer. She's invited the Fairchilds to stay while their cottage is being added onto. Pix Miller is Ursula's daughter and Faith's best friend and neighbor in Aleford, Massachusetts. Sam, a lawyer, is Pix's husband. Their children are Mark (married to Becca), Samantha, and Dan. Henry and Arthur are the Miller's golden retrievers. (Dusty had died in January.) Gert Prescott is Ursula's housekeeper at The Pines. The childless Arnie, Pix's brother, is an orthopedic surgeon, married to Claire. Dana Cameron is a surprise for the whole family.
Sanpere Island inhabitants include:
The Laughing Gull Lodge (the Lodge) is…
…one of the premier inn-restaurants in the area and has changed hands frequently over the years. The current owners are the Otises who are hoping that putting their son, Derek, in charge will settle him down. Tyler, one of Nan and Freeman (he calls the dances) Hamilton's grandsons, is a friend of Ben's and both will be working as dishwashers at the Lodge. Mandy Hitchcock is working in the kitchen and will give the boys rides to and from. Leilah is Mandy's mother; Dwayne is her abusive, supposedly disabled father. Sally is a friend of Mandy's near Waterville. The excellent Chef Zach Hale is getting increasingly frustrated.
Seth Marshall was the Fairchilds' original builder of their summer cottage and is building the addition this summer. A single man, Faith enjoys his broad knowledge of the island. Forrest "Fod" Nevells is a local guy who's a wizard at restoring cars. Paul has hopes for his vintage 1973 Triumph Stag. Margie is Fod's wife. Chris Knight is a sailing buddy of Tom's; Kathy is his wife. Dr. Edwin Ricks is a well-known New York psychiatrist who has retired to Sanpere Island. He volunteers with the ambulance corps. Steve Johnson is the harbormaster; Roberta is his wife. Sergeant Earl Dickinson is the go-to detective on Sanpere. Robbie Gray is a fisherman; Kathy is his wife. Captain Robertson will take the Prescott contingent on a puffin tour.
Gillian had been a sympathetic neighbor in London.
The Cover and Title
The cover is gorgeous with its white background and the birches creating a border. The perspective is as a body lying on the ground and looking up with those tall, tall birches reaching to the sky.
The title is the first murder at The Birches, The Body in the Birches.
My Take
It's a tale of inheritance and the family battles it can inspire. It's not just Aunt Priscilla's house, but worries that a number of characters have or about which they've heard. The Fairchilds are on the periphery in this tale, although young Ben has his place in the sun in this. The boy is growing up.
Page includes a few red herrings and has left a number of loose threads. Other than that it's a typical Page novel with the fun coming in with the contestants at The Birches. It's not one of Page's better stories although it really is funny to read the lousy behavior and the sucking up done by various family members. How can they not realize how easy it is to see through it? The Body in the Birches does bring up a twisty question about inheriting a family property that everyone has become accustomed to using. Home. A memory people want to hang onto. There is a nifty solution that Page mentions that sounds very practical.
As for the loose threads and unbelievable scenes, Page doesn't make me believe the romance that crops up. It's just suddenly there. Yes, Page has been pushing at Sophie's subconscious with those jealous thoughts, but even those aren't realistic as Page hasn't included Sophie thinking positive thoughts about her supposed love interest. The complication of Ian was "interesting", but lame in the romance arena. I'd have liked an explanation of Rory's obnoxious behavior over the summer. What's revealed at the end of the story doesn't jive with his actions. I have to wonder why the food-loving Faith doesn't make Zach's acquaintance? And what's with that gun in the Lexus Babs insists that Sophie take to Sanpere Island? Then there are the little melodramas. Enough to make me think about some eye-rolling and hope that future Faith Fairchild stories don't continue like The Body in the Birches.
Marian's surprise illness puts a damper on things as does Ben's surge of independence as he grows toward adulthood. It's a minefield of worry for Faith as she tries to suppress her worries about her son and her worries about her mother-in-law.
Oh, boy. Seems Tom is more and more unhappy about Faith's involvement in murder. That case in The Body in the Piazza, 21, was almost the last straw.
Huh. I've always wondered what fairy cakes were.
The Story
It makes for good gossip on the island as the contest over who gets The Birches starts when family gathers to duke it out. It's better than watching TV as the island soap opera begins.
One that turns tragic as people begin to die.
The Characters
The much-put-upon Sophie Maxwell, a lawyer who loves to cook, made some bad choices, but is available to hold her mother's place at The Birches. Babs Proctor Maxwell Rothenstein Williams Harrington is her mother and the oldest sibling; she's on her fourth husband, Ed Harrington. Ian Kendall was that bad choice. A British lawyer with the morals of a snake.
Great-aunt Priscilla Proctor McAllister inherited The Birches and has placed Uncle Paul McAllister in charge of choosing who inherits it in turn. Sophie's great-grandparents, Josiah and Eleanor Proctor, had built The Birches as a summer cottage in the late 1800s. Bev Boynton is the family housekeeper and cook who comes to The Birches with the family every summer. Marge Foster will step in for Bev. Will Tarkington is Uncle Paul's abrasive nephew from Georgia and a trained EMT.
The rest of the family
Simon is Babs' brother, and he's married to Dierdre. The twins, Forbes, a lawyer, and Felicity, the perpetually engaged, are their only children. Barclay "Barks" Smythe-Jones is Felicity's current jerk of a fiancé. (Mary and Daniel were Babs and Simon's parents.) The tie-dye-loving Sylvia is Babs and Simon's cousin. Sylvia's children are the gorgeous Autumn, the manipulative Rory Proctor, and the frustrated, young Daisy. Each has a different father, and Sylvia believes in leaving her children to live their lives as they choose unless she needs their attention.
The core characters of the series include:
Faith, caterer of her own business, Have Faith, is married to the Reverend Thomas Fairchild, and they have two children: the fifteen-year-old Ben and the twelve-year-old Amy. Marian and Dick Fairchild are Tom's parents. Craig, Betsey, and Robert (Michael is his partner) are Tom's siblings. The Reverend Lawrence Sibley is Faith's father. Her sister Hope is married to Quentin, another lawyer, and they have a son. Niki Theodopoulos is Faith's assistant and co-owner.
Ursula Lyman Rowe has a family cottage, The Pines, to which her family comes for the summer. She's invited the Fairchilds to stay while their cottage is being added onto. Pix Miller is Ursula's daughter and Faith's best friend and neighbor in Aleford, Massachusetts. Sam, a lawyer, is Pix's husband. Their children are Mark (married to Becca), Samantha, and Dan. Henry and Arthur are the Miller's golden retrievers. (Dusty had died in January.) Gert Prescott is Ursula's housekeeper at The Pines. The childless Arnie, Pix's brother, is an orthopedic surgeon, married to Claire. Dana Cameron is a surprise for the whole family.
Sanpere Island inhabitants include:
The Laughing Gull Lodge (the Lodge) is…
…one of the premier inn-restaurants in the area and has changed hands frequently over the years. The current owners are the Otises who are hoping that putting their son, Derek, in charge will settle him down. Tyler, one of Nan and Freeman (he calls the dances) Hamilton's grandsons, is a friend of Ben's and both will be working as dishwashers at the Lodge. Mandy Hitchcock is working in the kitchen and will give the boys rides to and from. Leilah is Mandy's mother; Dwayne is her abusive, supposedly disabled father. Sally is a friend of Mandy's near Waterville. The excellent Chef Zach Hale is getting increasingly frustrated.
Seth Marshall was the Fairchilds' original builder of their summer cottage and is building the addition this summer. A single man, Faith enjoys his broad knowledge of the island. Forrest "Fod" Nevells is a local guy who's a wizard at restoring cars. Paul has hopes for his vintage 1973 Triumph Stag. Margie is Fod's wife. Chris Knight is a sailing buddy of Tom's; Kathy is his wife. Dr. Edwin Ricks is a well-known New York psychiatrist who has retired to Sanpere Island. He volunteers with the ambulance corps. Steve Johnson is the harbormaster; Roberta is his wife. Sergeant Earl Dickinson is the go-to detective on Sanpere. Robbie Gray is a fisherman; Kathy is his wife. Captain Robertson will take the Prescott contingent on a puffin tour.
Gillian had been a sympathetic neighbor in London.
The Cover and Title
The cover is gorgeous with its white background and the birches creating a border. The perspective is as a body lying on the ground and looking up with those tall, tall birches reaching to the sky.
The title is the first murder at The Birches, The Body in the Birches.
mg_in_md_'s review against another edition
3.0
I read a hardback version of this book in November 2015 and received a personalized copy of this edition at a mystery conference in May 2016 where the author received the Lifetime Achievement Award.
pr727's review against another edition
1.0
I listened to the audio book - the narration was okay. Too many characters, many of whom were unlikable, too much pointless and irrelevant dialog and description, especially about food, too many brand names mentioned. Whodunit was contrived and the central issue, other than the murders, was resolved so predictably. Another cozy mystery series I'll avoid.
git_r_read's review against another edition
4.0
#22 in the series and this, or a bit earlier, is the time when a series starts to go stale for me. I was pleasantly surprised when this one started out really well. I was immediately engaged in the story and introduced characters. Then the main character and her family made their appearance, but they didn't take up the whole story. There are several voices telling the tale and I liked that it was told this way. There was a bit of an Agatha Christie feel with a wealthy woman's family being called in to gather for the decision of who got the house that was a family gathering place every summer. Family members with agendas, trying to get in good with the decision-maker. Some just being themselves and trying to help out. Mistrust and dubious behaviour, possible poisoning, suspicious death occurrences.
It was highly enjoyable. Until the last 20 pages or so and it felt like someone else was writing the story or the author was in a hurry to wrap it up. Choppy dialogue and odd phrasing like a beginner was writing. Disappointed in how I felt as I read the last part of the book. It started strong then fizzled.
It was highly enjoyable. Until the last 20 pages or so and it felt like someone else was writing the story or the author was in a hurry to wrap it up. Choppy dialogue and odd phrasing like a beginner was writing. Disappointed in how I felt as I read the last part of the book. It started strong then fizzled.
jjokokomo's review against another edition
4.0
Another great Faith Fairchild mystery! New characters, delicious food. A fun, relaxing read.
kdilley33's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
cj_mo_2222's review against another edition
4.0
Faith Fairchild is looking forward to spending the Fourth of July holiday on Sanpere Island, Maine. This year is a little different than past celebrations since her family is staying with friends while their own cottage undergoes some much needed renovations. Staying with her friends, puts her right next door to an ominous situation. The unusual terms of a recently deceased woman’s will cause members of a wealthy family staying at the family’s beach home “The Birches” to compete for an inheritance and it looks like someone will do whatever it takes to be the lucky heir.
I have read several of the prior books in the series and always liked the main character, Faith. She is an excellent caterer, minister’s wife, and mother. She balances all parts of her life, although in this book she’s dealing with pride, but sadness, that her children are growing up. However, in this book, it’s another character that steals the show. Sophie Maxwell, staying with her uncle at The Birches, and a former babysitter for Faith’s children Ben and Amy, is such a wonderful character. She is smart, determined, vulnerable, and truly a good person. I loved all of the scenes with Sophie and would love to her appear in future books or even in a series of her own!
“The Body in the Birches” starts out on a high note with Sophie’s arrival at “The Birches” and the reader learning about all of the terms of her late aunt’s will. The scene of a house full of relatives hoping to inherit is reminiscent of a great Agatha Christie plot, with a house on the coast of Maine instead of the English countryside. I like seeing Faith interact with her Ben, but some of the scenes with Faith and her friends are a little too wordy and left me eager to get back to Sophie’s narrative. Overall, I really enjoyed this latest in the Faith Fairchild mystery series.
I received a free copy of this book through the Goodreads First Reads program. I have chosen to write an honest review.
I have read several of the prior books in the series and always liked the main character, Faith. She is an excellent caterer, minister’s wife, and mother. She balances all parts of her life, although in this book she’s dealing with pride, but sadness, that her children are growing up. However, in this book, it’s another character that steals the show. Sophie Maxwell, staying with her uncle at The Birches, and a former babysitter for Faith’s children Ben and Amy, is such a wonderful character. She is smart, determined, vulnerable, and truly a good person. I loved all of the scenes with Sophie and would love to her appear in future books or even in a series of her own!
“The Body in the Birches” starts out on a high note with Sophie’s arrival at “The Birches” and the reader learning about all of the terms of her late aunt’s will. The scene of a house full of relatives hoping to inherit is reminiscent of a great Agatha Christie plot, with a house on the coast of Maine instead of the English countryside. I like seeing Faith interact with her Ben, but some of the scenes with Faith and her friends are a little too wordy and left me eager to get back to Sophie’s narrative. Overall, I really enjoyed this latest in the Faith Fairchild mystery series.
I received a free copy of this book through the Goodreads First Reads program. I have chosen to write an honest review.
aspygirlsmom_1995's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
jesabesblog's review against another edition
3.0
By the time other series have gotten to book 22, they're often not worth reading. A sense of nostalgia can only take you so far. But the Faith Fairchild books are still so good I didn't care there wasn't ever a murder to solve - at least not a clear one. There were problems to worry about and, in fact, I found them more interesting than a straight-up murder. The change in format made the book feel fresh. It could probably be read as a stand-alone book, too, as the focus was more on a character other than Faith.
dollycas's review against another edition
5.0
Dollycas’s Thoughts
This is the kind of story I expect from Katherine Hall Page, a murder mystery with tons of family drama!
This is one of my favorite cozy series. When a series lasts this long the characters are like old friends. Faith and Tom’s children have grown up right before our eyes. It is hard to believe Ben is a teenager, but Tom and Faith seem exactly the same. I would love to have them as neighbors!
We again travel to Maine with the Fairchilds and it is not your typical family vacation. The Proctor family has a home there too, The Birches, and a death in the family means a decision must be made on who will inherit the property. All interested parties have been called to spend the month of July there and then a decision will be made by the family’s oldest member. All the family has gathered to curry favor with Uncle Paul hoping they will be his choice. It isn’t long before the housekeeper is found dead and other “accidents” take place and somehow Faith finds herself right in the middle of the drama.
Faith is also facing some things on her own. Her kids are growing up and she is having a hard time with that plus Tom had to head back home when his mother is rushed to the hospital, leaving Faith on her own on Sanpere Island.
I really enjoyed this story because it focuses on two families but blends them together perfectly. There are several characters and new readers to this series may have a problem keeping them all straight. Many reside in Aleford or have an Aleford connection so they have appeared in previous stories. All these characters give us plenty of suspects too and I was a bit surprised by the ending.
It is hard to keep things fresh in a long running series like this and I truly thought the series had ended with The Body in the Piazza. I was thrilled when I found out about this latest installment. I hope we have many more stories featuring the Fairchild family ahead.
If you are new to this series you really should start at the beginning for maximum reading pleasure.
This is the kind of story I expect from Katherine Hall Page, a murder mystery with tons of family drama!
This is one of my favorite cozy series. When a series lasts this long the characters are like old friends. Faith and Tom’s children have grown up right before our eyes. It is hard to believe Ben is a teenager, but Tom and Faith seem exactly the same. I would love to have them as neighbors!
We again travel to Maine with the Fairchilds and it is not your typical family vacation. The Proctor family has a home there too, The Birches, and a death in the family means a decision must be made on who will inherit the property. All interested parties have been called to spend the month of July there and then a decision will be made by the family’s oldest member. All the family has gathered to curry favor with Uncle Paul hoping they will be his choice. It isn’t long before the housekeeper is found dead and other “accidents” take place and somehow Faith finds herself right in the middle of the drama.
Faith is also facing some things on her own. Her kids are growing up and she is having a hard time with that plus Tom had to head back home when his mother is rushed to the hospital, leaving Faith on her own on Sanpere Island.
I really enjoyed this story because it focuses on two families but blends them together perfectly. There are several characters and new readers to this series may have a problem keeping them all straight. Many reside in Aleford or have an Aleford connection so they have appeared in previous stories. All these characters give us plenty of suspects too and I was a bit surprised by the ending.
It is hard to keep things fresh in a long running series like this and I truly thought the series had ended with The Body in the Piazza. I was thrilled when I found out about this latest installment. I hope we have many more stories featuring the Fairchild family ahead.
If you are new to this series you really should start at the beginning for maximum reading pleasure.
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