Title: Death Scene by Sara-Jayne TownsendReader Review:
Meet Shara: a young British woman who resides in Canada. She is an
actress, a black belt in karate, and a proud owner of a cat named
Smudge.
actress, a black belt in karate, and a proud owner of a cat named
Smudge.
Whilst auditioning for parts and making ends meet on an
actress’ income in Toronto, Shara is called home to Britain for an
emergency. Her sister, Astrid, is extremely ill and the family asks
Shara to come aid her sister and brother-in-law in their time of need.
Shara is a caring character who possesses many other attributes,
including deathly curious. Upon her arrival to her sister’s home,
Shara is the willing sister who will do whatever is needed of her
while she’s “home,” including babysitting duties for her only niece,
Summer. As the story progresses, Shara (as well as the reader)
realizes that she really will do whatever is needed of her, even if
that means protecting her family from an unprecedented force. When she
suspects foul play regarding Astrid’s health, Shara soon uncovers many
family secrets that have the potential to change everyone’s lives.
Townsend did a wonderful job with Death Scene. Her characters,
especially Shari, have depth and growth, plus the novel is fun in the
sense that the reader is able to put pieces of the puzzle together but
not know the outcome of those pieces. The only criticism I have is the
novel could stand another editing session; there are some misplaced
quotation marks which distracted me a little. Other than that,
however, Death Scene is a wonderful mystery.
Amanda
Manic Readers
(link to review online:
http://www.manicreaders.com/index.cfm?disp=reviews&bookid=15290.)
actress’ income in Toronto, Shara is called home to Britain for an
emergency. Her sister, Astrid, is extremely ill and the family asks
Shara to come aid her sister and brother-in-law in their time of need.
Shara is a caring character who possesses many other attributes,
including deathly curious. Upon her arrival to her sister’s home,
Shara is the willing sister who will do whatever is needed of her
while she’s “home,” including babysitting duties for her only niece,
Summer. As the story progresses, Shara (as well as the reader)
realizes that she really will do whatever is needed of her, even if
that means protecting her family from an unprecedented force. When she
suspects foul play regarding Astrid’s health, Shara soon uncovers many
family secrets that have the potential to change everyone’s lives.
Townsend did a wonderful job with Death Scene. Her characters,
especially Shari, have depth and growth, plus the novel is fun in the
sense that the reader is able to put pieces of the puzzle together but
not know the outcome of those pieces. The only criticism I have is the
novel could stand another editing session; there are some misplaced
quotation marks which distracted me a little. Other than that,
however, Death Scene is a wonderful mystery.
Amanda
Manic Readers
(link to review online:
http://www.manicreaders.com/index.cfm?disp=reviews&bookid=15290.)
Book Description:
British-born, Toronto-based, actress Shara Summers turns amateur
sleuth when her sister is stricken with a mysterious illness. Summoned
back to England to be with her family during a time of crisis, Shara
discovers doctors are at a loss as to what's causing Astrid’s
debilitating sickness.
After her aunt is found dead at the bottom of the stairs the death is
deemed an accident. Shara suspects otherwise. Her investigation
unearths shocking family secrets and a chilling realization that could
have far-reaching and tragic consequences that affect not only her own
future, but Astrid’s as well.
DEATH SCENE is the first book in a planned series about amateur sleuth
Shara Summers.
sleuth when her sister is stricken with a mysterious illness. Summoned
back to England to be with her family during a time of crisis, Shara
discovers doctors are at a loss as to what's causing Astrid’s
debilitating sickness.
After her aunt is found dead at the bottom of the stairs the death is
deemed an accident. Shara suspects otherwise. Her investigation
unearths shocking family secrets and a chilling realization that could
have far-reaching and tragic consequences that affect not only her own
future, but Astrid’s as well.
DEATH SCENE is the first book in a planned series about amateur sleuth
Shara Summers.
Excerpt:
Ruth sat in her rocking chair watching the television, which was
probably about ten years old, and looked like the most modern thing in
the room. She wore a blue floral dress with a patchwork blanket over
her knees. I was sure I had seen that dress before. Her hairstyle
hadn’t changed, either. Her white hair was thinning and she wore it
short and curly in the style of old ladies everywhere. When we came in
she looked up, a toothless smile breaking out over her face. She had
dentures that I recalled she never wore, something else she only saved
for special occasions. When I was younger, Ruth had looked very scary
to me when she wore her dentures, because we just weren’t used to
seeing her with them.
My mother went up to Ruth and leaned in to give her a kiss on her soft
wrinkled cheek. “How are you, Auntie Ruth?” she asked loudly. Ruth’s
hearing had been going for as long as I could remember.
I shivered uncontrollably. The house was freezing. The only source of
heat was a three-bar electric fire on the floor by Ruth’s feet.
“I’m doing all right, dear.” Ruth’s voice was husky, ravaged by age
and lack of use. I supposed she didn’t talk to many people. “Mustn’t
complain.”
Summer, still in my mother’s arms, began to cry and squirm, no doubt
intimidated by the presence of this ancient lady. “Who’s this?” Ruth
stroked one of Summer’s chubby legs.
“This is Summer,” Mum said. “This is my granddaughter. You’ve met
Summer. Astrid’s daughter.”
Ruth frowned. “Astrid? Your little one?”
“Not a little girl anymore, Auntie Ruth. She’s all grown up now.” Mum
pointed in my direction. “This is my other daughter, Shara. Do you
remember? Shara lives in Canada.”
Ruth stared at me, frowning. There was no indication she recognized
me. “It’s been a long time,” she said eventually.
“Hello, Auntie Ruth.” I didn’t know what else to say.
“Have you taken your pills, Auntie Ruth?” my mother asked.
Ruth frowned in concentration. “Pills? Think so. Can’t remember, you
know. My memory’s not what it was.”
My mother thrust the crying child into my arms. “Watch Summer for a
moment, Shara. I’m going to make Auntie Ruth some lunch.” She went off
into the kitchen.
I sat in the faded armchair and bounced Summer on my knee. She kept
crying. Ruth stared fixedly at the television. There seemed to be an
Australian soap opera on, I couldn’t tell which. I wasn’t a fan and
they all looked the same to me. “So what are you watching, Auntie
Ruth?”
“Eh?” She swiveled round to stare at me.
I raised my voice. “The television. What are you watching?”
“Oh, I don’t know, dear. I watch everything. Keeps me company, you
know.” And she lapsed back into silence, staring at the television. A
few minutes went by then she said, “They’re stealing from me, you
know.”
“Who?”
“They’re stealing from me.” Ruth continued to stare at the television.
I wasn’t at all sure she was even aware I was in the room.
About the Author:
Sara Jayne Townsend was born in Hyde, UK in 1969 and spent the first ten years of her life in the North of England before emigrating to Canada with her family in 1980.
She returned to England in 1988, after high school, and now lives in Surrey with her guitarist husband Chris and two cats.
She writes crime and horror and her short fiction - mostly horror stories - has been published in various places over the years. She has two novels published as e-books by Lyrical Press, Inc. The second, DEATH SCENE, is the first of a series of novels featuring amateur sleuth Shara Summers.
She is co-founder and chair person the T Party Writers' Group, which at its inception in 1994 was the first genre-focused writing group in London.
Her website can be found at: http://sarajaynetownsend.weebly.com.
