Fearful Symmetry - Softcover

Joss, Morag

Softcover

ISBN 10: 034071848X ISBN 13: 9780340718483

Publisher: Hodder Paperbacks, 2000

Synopsis

Exhausted after a gruelling world tour, international cellist Sara Selkirk is looking foward to a few months' recuperation at her picturesque cottage near Bath. But her growing attraction to the music-loving DCI Andrew Poole causes her to make the mistake of joining an amateur operatics society. The Circus Opera Group is a motley crew: There's faded diva Helene and her autistic daughter Adele; vain, talentless composer Cosmo and his long-suffering girlfriend, Poppy. Not to mention Andrew's wife, who's beginning to grow suspicious. With this uneasy mix and clash of fragile egos, both Sara and Andrew predict trouble ahead. What they don't expect to encounter is sudden, violent death.

About this title

Review:

'FEARFUL SYMMETRY makes the elegant city of Bath a venue for fear and suspicion. A mesmerising psychological thriller set in beautiful surroundings, it suggests that Joss is the most persuasive chronicler of the city perhaps best known to some as Jane Austen's stamping ground.' (The Times)

'Morag Joss writes razor sharp wry observation.' (Bath Chronicle)

In her second novel, Morag Joss returns to kill off more characters amidst the apricot stone and graceful crescents of Georgian Bath, and as a resident of that city, I can tell you it has never been chronicled with such scalpel-sharp wit. Except by Jane Austen, of course . . . FEARFUL SYMMETRY is in the finest tradition of British whodunnits - constructed with page-turning skill, witty and touching in equal measure, and displaying the crucial awareness that corruption looks innocent and lives next door.' (Bel Mooney)

A new and exciting talent in British crime writing (P D JAMES)

The skilful plotting, strong sense of place and colourful but credible characters would alone mark this book out. What makes it not only convincing crime writing but also a fine novel is its lively sense of social comedy and sharp wit (Good Book Guide)

Well written and well plotted, with a good Bath background (Evening Stansard)

From the Publisher:

A mesmerising psychological thriller set in Bath
Exhausted after a gruelling world tour, international cellist Sara Selkirk is looking forward to a few months' recuperation at her picturesque cottage near Bath.

But her peace is rudely shattered when famous Hungarian composer Herve Petrescu drops into town with his increasingly unreasonable demands. And Sara's growing attraction to the music-loving DCI Andrew Poole causes her to make the mistake of becoming involved in an amateur operatic society, where Andrew is a reluctant member.

The Circus Opera Group is a motley crew at best. There's faded diva Helene, and her unpredictable autistic daughter, Adele; vain, talentless Cosmo and his long-suffering girlfriend Poppy. Not to mention Andrew's wife, Valerie, who's beginning to grow suspicious.

With this uneasy, volatile mix and clash of fragile egos, both Sara and Andrew predict trouble ahead. What they don't expect to encounter is sudden, violent death . . .

Intricately plotted, peopled with a cast of complex, fascinating characters, FEARFUL SYMMETRY is the second psychological thriller to feature the highly original and engaging sleuth, Sara Selkirk.

Praise for Morag Joss's first novel, FUNERAL MUSIC:

'It is always a pleasure to welcome a new and exciting talent to British crime writing, and Morag Joss's distinguished debut demonstrates an interesting setting, characters, both sympathetic and villainous, who are portrayed with wit and perception, good writing and a plot which combines tension with credibility. I look forward to her next with happy confidence.' P D JAMES

'Both literate and sardonic, filled with persuasive characters' The Sunday Times

'The skilful plotting, strong sense of place and colourful but credible characters would alone mark this book out. What makes it not only convincing crime writing but also a fine novel, is its lively sense of social comedy and sharp wit' Good Book Guide

'Well written and well plotted, with a good Bath background' Evening Standard

Praise for FEARFUL SYMMETRY:

'Morag Joss makes the elegant city of Bath a venue for fear and suspicion. A mesmerising psychological thriller set in beautiful surroundings, it suggests that Joss is the most persuasive chronicler of the city perhaps best known to some as Jane Austen's stamping ground' The Times

'Morag Joss writes with razor-sharp, wry observation' Bath Chronicle

'A welcome addition to the crime writing genre, there are enough twists and turns to keep you guessing throughout' U Magazine

About this edition

• Publisher: Hodder Paperbacks
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 034071848X
• ISBN 13: 9780340718483
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 352