Fiction, Mystery & Detective

Toby's Folly

Name: Toby's Folly
Author: Margot Arnold
ISBN: 9780881502282

by Margot Arnold

Available on Bookshop Write a review

Books.org participates in affiliate programs including Bookshop.org and the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. We may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through links on this page, at no additional cost to you.

Synopsis

Penny is looking forward to a lengthy visit from her son, Dr. Alex Spring, when she receives a summons from Scotland Yard. Where is Sir Tobias Glendower? It happens that a young Russian ballerina is being held in custody as a primary suspect in the bizarre bludgeoning-to-death of one of the members of a visiting Soviet corps de ballet. But she will speak only to Sir Toby, who she claims is her father! Toby is eventually reached at his private archaeological excavation deep in the Welsh country--the "folly" of the title--and plunged headlong into mayhem and danger.

Reviews

There are no reviews yet. Log in to write one.

Editorials

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

The eighth appearance (after The Menehune Murders ) of archeologists/sleuths Penny Spring and Sir Toby Glendower features a Russian ballet troupe touring the U.K. during the era of glasnost. The company manager, a KGB agent who had been sexually harassing many of the troupe members, is found murdered in Brighton's Royal Pavilion, and ballerina Sonya Danarova goes missing. Found and arrested, she demands to see Sir Toby, claiming he is her father. The astounded archeologist admits to a postwar romance with a Russian dancer, although he hadn't known of a child's existence. The defection to Brazil of two dancers and the murder of the prima ballerina follow as Toby, Penny and her son, physician Alexander Spring, try to prove Sonya's innocence and keep her in the U.K. Pursued by a motorcycle gang, Toby and Alex take Sonya to Toby's Welsh hideout, while a mysterious figure out of the sleuths' past enters the case with important information on what is really going on--a blackmail scam and a black market in Russian icons. Arnold's lively and literate mystery is enhanced by her sure eye for details. (Sept.)