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Carol Ashton Mysteries #1
Lessons in Murder
On a hot summer day in Sydney Australia, teacher Bill Pagett is murdered. Detective Inspector Carol Ashton uncovers tangled relationships among six teachers, threats by letter and phone, and another corpse. Plus she is attracted to prime suspect Sybil Quade.
222 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1988
16 people are currently reading
393 people want to read
About the author
Claire McNab
47Ìýbooks51ÌýfollowersCLAIRE McNAB, 1940-2022
Claire McNab died on June 30, 2022, after a prolonged battle with Parkinson’s Disease. She also wrote under her real name, Claire Carmichael, an outpouring of children's literature, textbooks, self-help books, and plays. She became (and remains to this day) a renowned author of children’s books in Australia.
Claire McNab is the pseudonym of . She was born in 1940 in Melbourne, Australia. While pursuing a career as a high school teacher in Sydney, she began her writing career with comedy plays and textbooks. She left teaching in the mid-eighties to become a full-time writer. In her native Australia she is known for her self-help and children's books. She moved to Los Angeles in 1994 after falling in love with an American woman, and now teaches not-yet-published writers through the UCLA Writers' Extension Program. She is best known for three lesbian mystery series featuring Inspector Carol Ashton, Agent Denise Cleever and Detective Kylie Kendall. She is the recipient of the 2006 Alice B. Medal.
From the Claire McNab has written over 50 books and is known in her native Australia for crime fiction, children's novels, picture books, self-help, and English textbooks. Her first mystery, Lessons in Murder, was published in the U.S. in 1988. Now a Los Angeles resident, she teaches not-yet-published writers through the UCLA Extension Writers' Program. She is the author of three lesbian mystery series featuring Inspector Carol Ashton, Agent Denise Cleever and Detective Kylie Kendall. She has served as the president of Sisters in Crime and is a member of both the Mystery Writers of America and the Science Fiction Writers of America. She lives in Los Angeles and is working on the finale of the Carol Ashton series, Lethal Care.
Claire McNab died on June 30, 2022, after a prolonged battle with Parkinson’s Disease. She also wrote under her real name, Claire Carmichael, an outpouring of children's literature, textbooks, self-help books, and plays. She became (and remains to this day) a renowned author of children’s books in Australia.
Claire McNab is the pseudonym of . She was born in 1940 in Melbourne, Australia. While pursuing a career as a high school teacher in Sydney, she began her writing career with comedy plays and textbooks. She left teaching in the mid-eighties to become a full-time writer. In her native Australia she is known for her self-help and children's books. She moved to Los Angeles in 1994 after falling in love with an American woman, and now teaches not-yet-published writers through the UCLA Writers' Extension Program. She is best known for three lesbian mystery series featuring Inspector Carol Ashton, Agent Denise Cleever and Detective Kylie Kendall. She is the recipient of the 2006 Alice B. Medal.
From the Claire McNab has written over 50 books and is known in her native Australia for crime fiction, children's novels, picture books, self-help, and English textbooks. Her first mystery, Lessons in Murder, was published in the U.S. in 1988. Now a Los Angeles resident, she teaches not-yet-published writers through the UCLA Extension Writers' Program. She is the author of three lesbian mystery series featuring Inspector Carol Ashton, Agent Denise Cleever and Detective Kylie Kendall. She has served as the president of Sisters in Crime and is a member of both the Mystery Writers of America and the Science Fiction Writers of America. She lives in Los Angeles and is working on the finale of the Carol Ashton series, Lethal Care.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
April 18, 2023
I love a good crime novel and to make matters even more interesting, this is set in Sydney, Australia and was written in the late 80's. I was born in Sydney in the late 80's and I'm so intrigued by McNab's ability to publish a very queer, very unapologetic lesbian crime novel during this time. She was a boss!
Although the mystery of whodunit kept me guessing throughout, the main drawcard here was Carol Ashton. We're told she's exceptionally good at her job, she's a stunning blonde and she seems cool, calm and collected. Reading this, you'd be thinking she was too perfect. However, McNab humanised her in her behaviour towards Syb, which was the standout. Carol's push/pull towards her intrigued me the most within this novel and I enjoyed reading the romance develop between them.
I can't wait to read book two!
Although the mystery of whodunit kept me guessing throughout, the main drawcard here was Carol Ashton. We're told she's exceptionally good at her job, she's a stunning blonde and she seems cool, calm and collected. Reading this, you'd be thinking she was too perfect. However, McNab humanised her in her behaviour towards Syb, which was the standout. Carol's push/pull towards her intrigued me the most within this novel and I enjoyed reading the romance develop between them.
I can't wait to read book two!
April 17, 2023
I kept describing this to people and it sounded dreadful: awful misogyny, sexist cops, statutory rape, physical rape, hostile workplaces. And yet it really wasn't terrible. Well plotted and with enough pace to stay interesting, I think the weakness as a crime novel comes from it trying to also be a story about lesbian attraction and the social dangers therein.
Sybil is surrounded and harangued by men. Her ex husband Tony, her obsessive stalker Terry, the all-round horrible Bill. None of them seem to actually know her or like her, but all of them are flame-drawn to her beauty and her cold demeanour. They all have a desire to conquer her and keep her, just to show the others that they can. Terry follows her everywhere and tries to move in with her constantly, and Bill has boasted to half the school of all the filthy things he's done with her.
The women in Sybil's English department aren't any better. Even the one time you think sisterhood might reign supreme over Terry's alarming stalker behaviour, Edwina turns out to have been setting up Sybil for a surprise shock-jock tv interview. Who's a poor fiery redheaded beauty to trust?
I often say that stories about male violence and dominance told by women feel much less stressful than those told by men. Women understand that other women live with the knowledge of that threat every day, whereas men seem to see it as a dramatic event that can be resolved.
Claire McNab has captured fascinatingly the lives of women living in an inherently misogynistic culture. Nobody is concerned about a male teacher dating and discarding all the attractive girls at this high school, and the cops even note that 'the girls here are stunning, and they're not kids'. Nobody bats an eyelid at Terry demanding that Sybil go straight home after school and call him, or his announcements that he follows her because he loves her and he has a right to know where she is. Nobody cares that Bill has told half the school that Sybil's desperately in love with him, and the other half that she's fucking him nightly. This is his best friend's ex-wife, mind you.
The women in the department snark and bitch at each other constantly, and yet they go over to each other's houses after work like they're pals. The media, the education department, the police all bend over backward to please the famous father of the murder victim, who wants to clear his son's name of interfering with schoolgirls despite knowing that he got one of them pregnant. This is normal life for Australian women in the 80s, and it seems like Sybil's only escape is her unwanted, unexplainable, but very well-drawn attraction to Carol Ashton, popular police inspector.
Here's where the plot needed to make a choice. For a book only 200 pages long, there wasn't enough space to explore both a burgeoning same-sex relationship as well as a gory murder mystery. McNab tried to do both, and achieved quite a lot in that short space, but she needed either more pages or less complications to truly succeed.
Looking forward to reading more of these.
Sybil is surrounded and harangued by men. Her ex husband Tony, her obsessive stalker Terry, the all-round horrible Bill. None of them seem to actually know her or like her, but all of them are flame-drawn to her beauty and her cold demeanour. They all have a desire to conquer her and keep her, just to show the others that they can. Terry follows her everywhere and tries to move in with her constantly, and Bill has boasted to half the school of all the filthy things he's done with her.
The women in Sybil's English department aren't any better. Even the one time you think sisterhood might reign supreme over Terry's alarming stalker behaviour, Edwina turns out to have been setting up Sybil for a surprise shock-jock tv interview. Who's a poor fiery redheaded beauty to trust?
I often say that stories about male violence and dominance told by women feel much less stressful than those told by men. Women understand that other women live with the knowledge of that threat every day, whereas men seem to see it as a dramatic event that can be resolved.
Claire McNab has captured fascinatingly the lives of women living in an inherently misogynistic culture. Nobody is concerned about a male teacher dating and discarding all the attractive girls at this high school, and the cops even note that 'the girls here are stunning, and they're not kids'. Nobody bats an eyelid at Terry demanding that Sybil go straight home after school and call him, or his announcements that he follows her because he loves her and he has a right to know where she is. Nobody cares that Bill has told half the school that Sybil's desperately in love with him, and the other half that she's fucking him nightly. This is his best friend's ex-wife, mind you.
The women in the department snark and bitch at each other constantly, and yet they go over to each other's houses after work like they're pals. The media, the education department, the police all bend over backward to please the famous father of the murder victim, who wants to clear his son's name of interfering with schoolgirls despite knowing that he got one of them pregnant. This is normal life for Australian women in the 80s, and it seems like Sybil's only escape is her unwanted, unexplainable, but very well-drawn attraction to Carol Ashton, popular police inspector.
Here's where the plot needed to make a choice. For a book only 200 pages long, there wasn't enough space to explore both a burgeoning same-sex relationship as well as a gory murder mystery. McNab tried to do both, and achieved quite a lot in that short space, but she needed either more pages or less complications to truly succeed.
Looking forward to reading more of these.
May 29, 2022
Classic lesbian detective novel
SAPPHIC BOOK BINGO: non-US/UK setting, award-winning book, sapphic classic, not a romance, coming-out story, out of your comfort zone, possibly other categories
Originally self-published back in 1988, this was the first Detective Inspector Carol Ashton Mysteries. There were a total of 17 books in the series, the last of which was written in 2012. I've read around �-¾ of the series, mostly because I couldn't find or order all of the paperbacks after I first discovered it.
The times have changed over the past 30-ish years, and that's reflected in the content of the book. The formula for this sapphic fiction genre hasn't changed over all of the decades, though. It was well-written, the plot kept me guessing which character was the murderer, and a forbidden romance was an exciting added element.
The book didn't go into Carol's past, except for a few listed highlights. She was a very capable, intelligent, strong woman with human flaws. The rest of the series eventually revealed her backstory, which contributed as another draw for readers.
I enjoyed rereading this novel after the many years have passed. I only have a couple of paperbacks left to complete the whole series, and I'm excited to get back to reading the rest of it.
SAPPHIC BOOK BINGO: non-US/UK setting, award-winning book, sapphic classic, not a romance, coming-out story, out of your comfort zone, possibly other categories
Originally self-published back in 1988, this was the first Detective Inspector Carol Ashton Mysteries. There were a total of 17 books in the series, the last of which was written in 2012. I've read around �-¾ of the series, mostly because I couldn't find or order all of the paperbacks after I first discovered it.
The times have changed over the past 30-ish years, and that's reflected in the content of the book. The formula for this sapphic fiction genre hasn't changed over all of the decades, though. It was well-written, the plot kept me guessing which character was the murderer, and a forbidden romance was an exciting added element.
The book didn't go into Carol's past, except for a few listed highlights. She was a very capable, intelligent, strong woman with human flaws. The rest of the series eventually revealed her backstory, which contributed as another draw for readers.
I enjoyed rereading this novel after the many years have passed. I only have a couple of paperbacks left to complete the whole series, and I'm excited to get back to reading the rest of it.
May 6, 2023
3 out of 5 stars -
"Lessons in Murder" is a good crime fiction. It follows the story of Detective Inspector Carol Ashton as she solves the murders that take place in a high school in Sydney, Australia. The mystery and intrigue behind the murders were compelling enough to have me glued to my seat; yet the resolution of the quest for the truth failed to satisfy me in the end.
On top of that, I don't think I ever found myself rooting for Carol and Sybil as a romantic couple. One of the reasons is that I couldn't bring myself to warm to Sybil. While I understand that the story was set in the '80s, I still couldn't help but feel frustrated over her life decisions as she dealt with her sexuality. Another reason is the pacing. "Lessons in Murder" is a fast-paced story, which I thought could be perfect for a crime fiction but not really for a romance. I thought it's too fast-paced to nurture any genuine chemistry between Carol and Sybil.
Nonetheless, I really think there's a reason—maybe somewhere in the succeeding books—for this series to reach 18 installments. And I'm determined to find that out later on.
"Lessons in Murder" is a good crime fiction. It follows the story of Detective Inspector Carol Ashton as she solves the murders that take place in a high school in Sydney, Australia. The mystery and intrigue behind the murders were compelling enough to have me glued to my seat; yet the resolution of the quest for the truth failed to satisfy me in the end.
On top of that, I don't think I ever found myself rooting for Carol and Sybil as a romantic couple. One of the reasons is that I couldn't bring myself to warm to Sybil. While I understand that the story was set in the '80s, I still couldn't help but feel frustrated over her life decisions as she dealt with her sexuality. Another reason is the pacing. "Lessons in Murder" is a fast-paced story, which I thought could be perfect for a crime fiction but not really for a romance. I thought it's too fast-paced to nurture any genuine chemistry between Carol and Sybil.
Nonetheless, I really think there's a reason—maybe somewhere in the succeeding books—for this series to reach 18 installments. And I'm determined to find that out later on.
June 11, 2017
This is a book I have had for quite a while but haven’t read it because I haven’t been able to find any of the others in the series (and I think their might be 15 or 16 others). You might think this is a strange reason, but what if I really like the first book then can’t find the rest, the frustration could be overwhelming. Having noticed in an update from Bella books that they have the some Carol Ashton books, I thought it was time to give it a go.
Well I’m frustrated, because I liked this book and I wish somebody (probably Bella Books) would republish all Claire Ashton’s back catalogue as e-books.
At the start of the book the central character seems a bit too perfect but I soon found myself really liking her. I’m not sure what it is, but Carol has something about her that makes her out of the ordinary. The actual mystery started slowly but soon got going and worked well for the first half of the book. Later on it bogged down a little and didn’t flow as well, but picked up again near the end.
I must admit I found the on/off relationship between Carol and Sybil a bit annoying, both saying exactly the right words to infuriate each other, seemingly every time they met. While at the same time having a different conversation in their heads, this became a bit tedious after happening several times.
Well I’m frustrated, because I liked this book and I wish somebody (probably Bella Books) would republish all Claire Ashton’s back catalogue as e-books.
At the start of the book the central character seems a bit too perfect but I soon found myself really liking her. I’m not sure what it is, but Carol has something about her that makes her out of the ordinary. The actual mystery started slowly but soon got going and worked well for the first half of the book. Later on it bogged down a little and didn’t flow as well, but picked up again near the end.
I must admit I found the on/off relationship between Carol and Sybil a bit annoying, both saying exactly the right words to infuriate each other, seemingly every time they met. While at the same time having a different conversation in their heads, this became a bit tedious after happening several times.
April 19, 2023
Hetero-gay-panic is not cute.
Women as killers... That's always intriguing. Like, "What was the reason?" Here though, the reason was so hetero, my gay self didn't appreciate it. Would have been cool if Lady Killer killed those fuckers to get the beautiful red-head for herself. Should have killed that Terry boy as well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 1, 2011
So I have finally got around to start the Detective Inspector Carol Ashton Mystery series and I have to say that while the storyline was a little frustrating the story itself and the writing were very good. Bill, a teacher at Bellwhether High is found in the industrial arts room MURDERED!!! Positioned at a desk with the murder weapon pointing at his eye, upon further inspection the cause of death is found to be a Black and Decker to the base of the skull! Who would commit such a horrendous crime and in such a well respected school? Enter, Detective Inspector Carol Ashton, assigned to the case not only for her great reputation but also because Bill just happens to be the son of a prominent man in the community, one with possible connections to things higher than government influence. Carol starts working the case and is lead astray by pretty much every suspect in the school. First up is Sybil whose estranged husband was the best friend of the victim and some even say he was the reason for the separation. Other suspects pop up as the story continues: A student who found out that Bill was sleeping with students, the girl who was pregnant by Bill, a few teachers who knew about Bill's tendencies like Edwina the plump busybody, Lynne the jealous vixen, and Terry the stalker with a bad temper. As things unfold in the story, Carol and Sybil discover a mutual attraction to each other and against Carol's better judgement they end up sleeping together. Much to Carol's chagrin (knowing the pratfalls of getting involved with a straight woman) Sybil regrets what she has done claiming it to be unnatural, although it does not stop her from enjoying Carol again. Then the calls start, first it was Sybil, threatening to chop her head off and calling her a randy little bitch. Then come the reports of Edwina, Lynne and another teacher getting similar calls and then Carol finds out about the letters that the principal has been receiving and subsequently destroying, all except the last one. Of course no evidence can be obtained from the letters or the phone calls so again, everyone is a suspect. The case really turns when Sybil's husband is found dead thrown off a cliff, Sybil didn't even know he had come back and was surprised to realize that he was at Bill's house as Sybil and Bill were having an argument. As Carol investigates further she realizes two things: Sybil is not guilty and in danger and that she is overly attracted to her. As Carol narrows down the suspect list to just one person she realizes that imminent danger lies ahead and she must act quickly! Is the murderer the plain laced Edwina, one of the students that knew about the proclivities of Bill, Terry the overprotective stalker of Sybil, Sybil's estranged husband, or Lynne the temptress that wanted to be with Bill. Will Carol be able to save Sybil? Will their attraction bloom into something more? One thing is for sure Detective Inspector Carol Ashton always gets her man and her woman!
October 11, 2021
First things first, the book talks about a lot of heavy and darker topics, things like the graphic murder rape and misogyny and something that could be described as a homophobic undertone even from our main character. I need to make mention I think the book handles the topics well, and for the story its telling it fits with the setting as well given that it was written in the late 80s/early 90s from what I can surface level tell. If these topics make you uncomfortable its important to keep in mind.
Onto the review of it, despite all of this and how much I may have turned most people off of the book I don't have many issues with the book itself. Do take note that you should look at the book more as a lesbian fiction than a mystery novel that's going to heavily dive into each of its topics. But the topics are real, and are respected well in the story. I think the book could have maybe cut one or two of them out and focused heavier on it, or made a more clear cut choice between the lesbian and mystery aspects, but for what it is in 200 pages is good. The other main character, Sybil, who questions her own sexuality and what is defined as right or natural in a relationship is something I thought was good and important to read. I enjoy where we are today, where a character can be a lesbian without concern or questioning it, but sometimes its important to remember how distraught some lesbians would be in the face of the fact they might not be straight. I would have liked more time to this, but the progression feels fairly natural.
Again the choice of trying to do both topics hinders the story somewhat in their relationship between Sybil and Carol developing in the most natural way, but I think it still works. The murder mystery part as well if I were to go back and reread it I could probably pin who did it from earlier on in the book. Which is also good, I feel the book does a good job with the mystery. It's just trying to do them both makes it fall overall a little bit more flat. I take this book more as a romance than a mystery, and choose to focus on that.
Another small issue I had with the book was the kind of descriptions of Carol? This beautiful perfect woman all the time which was good I even argue the maybe first 3 times gets tiring. With Sybil it at least made sense where a part of the story was on others clamoring over her, but for Carol it just felt like a kind of... Off. Not enough to ruin the entire story mind you, again I gave it at least 3 times before it got tiring.
Overall, given the topics don't turn you off terribly and are ready for a 200 page book who tries and almost gets the murder mystery and romance right, I think it makes a good story for the age and time it was written and is a good book to look back on.
Onto the review of it, despite all of this and how much I may have turned most people off of the book I don't have many issues with the book itself. Do take note that you should look at the book more as a lesbian fiction than a mystery novel that's going to heavily dive into each of its topics. But the topics are real, and are respected well in the story. I think the book could have maybe cut one or two of them out and focused heavier on it, or made a more clear cut choice between the lesbian and mystery aspects, but for what it is in 200 pages is good. The other main character, Sybil, who questions her own sexuality and what is defined as right or natural in a relationship is something I thought was good and important to read. I enjoy where we are today, where a character can be a lesbian without concern or questioning it, but sometimes its important to remember how distraught some lesbians would be in the face of the fact they might not be straight. I would have liked more time to this, but the progression feels fairly natural.
Again the choice of trying to do both topics hinders the story somewhat in their relationship between Sybil and Carol developing in the most natural way, but I think it still works. The murder mystery part as well if I were to go back and reread it I could probably pin who did it from earlier on in the book. Which is also good, I feel the book does a good job with the mystery. It's just trying to do them both makes it fall overall a little bit more flat. I take this book more as a romance than a mystery, and choose to focus on that.
Another small issue I had with the book was the kind of descriptions of Carol? This beautiful perfect woman all the time which was good I even argue the maybe first 3 times gets tiring. With Sybil it at least made sense where a part of the story was on others clamoring over her, but for Carol it just felt like a kind of... Off. Not enough to ruin the entire story mind you, again I gave it at least 3 times before it got tiring.
Overall, given the topics don't turn you off terribly and are ready for a 200 page book who tries and almost gets the murder mystery and romance right, I think it makes a good story for the age and time it was written and is a good book to look back on.
October 24, 2019
The story, Sydney detective Carol Ashton investigating a grisly murder of a teacher at an elite private school, is compelling. There are suspects galore among the faculty, and even some of the students, and there is a second murder of the estranged husband of one of the suspects, Sybil Quade, thrown in for good measure. The mystery is good on its own merits.
However, the reason I give it only three stars, is the subplot of Ashton becoming romantically involved with Quade. An experienced detective such as herself, in my humble opinion, would never become involved in an affair with someone who has not been cleared of two murders. I understand that the novel is geared toward the lesbian fiction genre, but I would think that the lead detective in a very high profile murder case would have sounder judgement.
I have enjoyed the author's other two series, and I am more than willing to pick up the second novel in this one to watch the detective in action.
However, the reason I give it only three stars, is the subplot of Ashton becoming romantically involved with Quade. An experienced detective such as herself, in my humble opinion, would never become involved in an affair with someone who has not been cleared of two murders. I understand that the novel is geared toward the lesbian fiction genre, but I would think that the lead detective in a very high profile murder case would have sounder judgement.
I have enjoyed the author's other two series, and I am more than willing to pick up the second novel in this one to watch the detective in action.
April 16, 2023
Added a star because this was first published in 1988 and for a lesbian novel that's a century ago in terms of social progress.
I've read a few McNab now, and this one was more serious. The criminal case was believable and had enough ambiguity that it wasn't obvious who the murderer and their motive was. The romance subplot had much of the same ambiguity around motive but it did make sense in the era.
McNab does write fantastic bad guys because they're all socially acceptable within the misogynistic landscapes they inhabit.
If you being angry about injustices then the 80's is a great place to start, and so is this book.
I've read a few McNab now, and this one was more serious. The criminal case was believable and had enough ambiguity that it wasn't obvious who the murderer and their motive was. The romance subplot had much of the same ambiguity around motive but it did make sense in the era.
McNab does write fantastic bad guys because they're all socially acceptable within the misogynistic landscapes they inhabit.
If you being angry about injustices then the 80's is a great place to start, and so is this book.
February 4, 2025
Lessons in Murder is a delight. I’ve tried diving into the lesbian-detective-novels of the 90s a few times (counting this for it’s late 80s pub date) and have often struggled to get through despite my deep investment in lesbians and murder mysteries. McNab is a clean and clear writer, the tension between our leads is fabulous, and the case, though contrived, is just absurd enough. I will be reading the other Carol Ashton mysteries.
February 26, 2019
A slow-burn lesbian murder mystery. It could've been sped up, and the relationship seemed out of character for Carol. She's professional and good at her job, except for having sex with a suspect. The ending was a surprise, though I wished the possibility that a student did it was taken more seriously.
March 6, 2024
It's not perfect, but it is fun to just read something that reminds me of home. Also, the sex scenes are good. So if you got a chill day to read and want a Lesbian cope murder mystery, then this is the book for you.
November 23, 2019
Nice little mystery. Loved the Aussie setting .
August 13, 2020
Readers Advisory class
June 5, 2021
this is very much of its age, and, like lollies, it is absolute trash, but tastes amazing. keen on following this series further!
Read
June 18, 2020Some time ago, I posted an article giving my opinion about why you should read the first book in a series first. One of those reasons is that the first book should be the best, despite the possibility that it might be a little raw. In another article I complained that the small sample of a book that Amazon allows you to read for free is often not enough to tell if the whole is worth paying for. Well, Lessons in Murder brings these ideas home in a big way.
I read the sample of this book twice, and neither time did I think it worth paying the too-high price of $9.99 for the remainder. Instead, I read books 4 and 5 of the same series, which I already had in my library. After reading these, and enjoying them to some extent, I decided to find a used copy of book 1 and see how the series started. So I did, and surprisingly, I was surprised. Lessons in Murder, despite getting off to a slow and somewhat clumsy start, was by far the best of the three and very worth reading.
Because this novel does exactly what the first book in a lesbian mystery series should do: it has an interesting puzzle to solve, it’s peopled with likeable (and unlikeable) characters, and it chronicles the beginnings of a love story between the detective and someone else. In this case, Inspector Carol Ashton investigates a murder at a posh high school just outside Sydney. The prime suspect is Sybil Quade, a woman that Carol feels an immediate attraction to. And even though the other woman is married, she feels a similar attraction for Carol.
Carol, too, was once married, and even has a 9-year-old son who lives with his father, making this book the second I have read where the sleuth and her love interest start out straight (the first was Iza Moreau’s The News in Small Towns. And the growing attraction between the two—coupled with Carol’s strong belief that dating a murder suspect is unprofessional and Sybil’s initial conviction that women loving women is unnatural—make this a juicy story in a lot of ways.
The murder plot is well done—and well played by Carol and her team, including her assistant, Detective Mark Bourke, a handsome, likeable man and a good police officer. The interviews are professional and rewarding in a slow but inexorable way. And there are lots of baddies, too, from the religious fanatic to an ex-Premier whose political career was marred by suspicions of corruption.
My main problem with the book—and the one that caused me initially to stop reading after the sample, is that Carol Ashton is too perfect. Or rather, everyone—good guys, bad gals, and especially the author—are so dazzled by everything about her that they literally can’t see straight. Tall and blonde and gorgeous, she is famous for bringing her cases to a satisfactory conclusion and sought after by the media because of her looks and her calm, unperturbed demeanor. Here are some descriptions showing how everything about her is extraordinary: “Carol’s smooth, decisive driving,� “the firm lines of her mouth,� “Carol drove efficiently,� she parked “with swift competence,� she had “long, sensitive fingers,� “that beautiful woman,� And all of these come in a three-page sequence!
McNab also has a tendency to use phrases usually confined to cheap romances. I imagine that editor Katherine V. Forrest edited out most of these, but some remain. I also wish there had been a little more backstory, more give and take between Sybil and Carol about their pasts. As it is, it reads like it may have been shortened because of Naiad’s penchant for not going more than a page or two over 200. On the other hand, this length is almost perfect for an enjoyable read on a day that you have absolutely nothing else to do but lounge and drift off into another world.
Note: I read the fourth Naiad printing of this book.
Another Note: This review is included in my book along with information on over 930 other lesbian mysteries by over 310 authors.
I read the sample of this book twice, and neither time did I think it worth paying the too-high price of $9.99 for the remainder. Instead, I read books 4 and 5 of the same series, which I already had in my library. After reading these, and enjoying them to some extent, I decided to find a used copy of book 1 and see how the series started. So I did, and surprisingly, I was surprised. Lessons in Murder, despite getting off to a slow and somewhat clumsy start, was by far the best of the three and very worth reading.
Because this novel does exactly what the first book in a lesbian mystery series should do: it has an interesting puzzle to solve, it’s peopled with likeable (and unlikeable) characters, and it chronicles the beginnings of a love story between the detective and someone else. In this case, Inspector Carol Ashton investigates a murder at a posh high school just outside Sydney. The prime suspect is Sybil Quade, a woman that Carol feels an immediate attraction to. And even though the other woman is married, she feels a similar attraction for Carol.
Carol, too, was once married, and even has a 9-year-old son who lives with his father, making this book the second I have read where the sleuth and her love interest start out straight (the first was Iza Moreau’s The News in Small Towns. And the growing attraction between the two—coupled with Carol’s strong belief that dating a murder suspect is unprofessional and Sybil’s initial conviction that women loving women is unnatural—make this a juicy story in a lot of ways.
The murder plot is well done—and well played by Carol and her team, including her assistant, Detective Mark Bourke, a handsome, likeable man and a good police officer. The interviews are professional and rewarding in a slow but inexorable way. And there are lots of baddies, too, from the religious fanatic to an ex-Premier whose political career was marred by suspicions of corruption.
My main problem with the book—and the one that caused me initially to stop reading after the sample, is that Carol Ashton is too perfect. Or rather, everyone—good guys, bad gals, and especially the author—are so dazzled by everything about her that they literally can’t see straight. Tall and blonde and gorgeous, she is famous for bringing her cases to a satisfactory conclusion and sought after by the media because of her looks and her calm, unperturbed demeanor. Here are some descriptions showing how everything about her is extraordinary: “Carol’s smooth, decisive driving,� “the firm lines of her mouth,� “Carol drove efficiently,� she parked “with swift competence,� she had “long, sensitive fingers,� “that beautiful woman,� And all of these come in a three-page sequence!
McNab also has a tendency to use phrases usually confined to cheap romances. I imagine that editor Katherine V. Forrest edited out most of these, but some remain. I also wish there had been a little more backstory, more give and take between Sybil and Carol about their pasts. As it is, it reads like it may have been shortened because of Naiad’s penchant for not going more than a page or two over 200. On the other hand, this length is almost perfect for an enjoyable read on a day that you have absolutely nothing else to do but lounge and drift off into another world.
Note: I read the fourth Naiad printing of this book.
Another Note: This review is included in my book along with information on over 930 other lesbian mysteries by over 310 authors.
March 2, 2017
I loved her series about the Australian private investigator in Los Angeles so I read this one as well. Somehow the main character didn't come over as good as the ones before.
December 31, 2024
This didn’t age too well lol. The main police detective is ‘famous� I assume from solving some high visibility crime cases in the past � we don’t go into why she’s so lauded, or if we did I missed it.
My main gripe was that this experienced detective seems to fall into immediate infatuation with a lady teacher, Sybil - and then has an affair with her while the case is still active and Sybil is still an active suspect. Despite never having a same-sex relationship before, Sybil also immediately falls in love with Carol.
One of the teachers was routinely having relationships with his students � which the staff and students all seemed to know but did nothing about. The way Carol’s police offsider talked about it was very dated � “Hell, Carol, you seen the girls around here? They look a million dollars and they’re not kids, you know. I can understand how Pagett felt.� (p47). The media reporting on the case, a reporter exclaimed � “nubile young beach goddesses from Bellwether High�. (p73) Ew.
The teachers were getting offers for exclusive interviews from ‘Behind the News� lol � I remember watching that at school.
I don't think I'll continue with the other 17 books in this series lol - though it was fun reading about a fictional Aussie detective in Sydney.
For more bookish goodness, check out FishbirdCentral.com :)
My main gripe was that this experienced detective seems to fall into immediate infatuation with a lady teacher, Sybil - and then has an affair with her while the case is still active and Sybil is still an active suspect. Despite never having a same-sex relationship before, Sybil also immediately falls in love with Carol.
One of the teachers was routinely having relationships with his students � which the staff and students all seemed to know but did nothing about. The way Carol’s police offsider talked about it was very dated � “Hell, Carol, you seen the girls around here? They look a million dollars and they’re not kids, you know. I can understand how Pagett felt.� (p47). The media reporting on the case, a reporter exclaimed � “nubile young beach goddesses from Bellwether High�. (p73) Ew.
The teachers were getting offers for exclusive interviews from ‘Behind the News� lol � I remember watching that at school.
I don't think I'll continue with the other 17 books in this series lol - though it was fun reading about a fictional Aussie detective in Sydney.
For more bookish goodness, check out FishbirdCentral.com :)
July 26, 2009
On a hot summer day at Bellwhether High School in Sydney, Australia, teacher Bill Pagett lies murdered, the hole in his head accomplished with neat efficiency
by a Black & Decker drill.
Detective Inspector Carol Ashton investigates, bringing with her a formidable reputation for competence. She soon uncovers tangled relationships and motives
for murder among the six teaching staff, along with a maze of malicious anonymous letters and threatening phone calls. And then there is yet another corpse.
Carol's investigation is further complicated by the flashfire attraction between herself and prime suspect Sybil Quade. Carol fights her desire, knowing
its potential to compromise her investigation. Nor does Sybil welcome an "unnatural" obsession with the alluring woman who is inexorably gathering the
evidence to convict her of multiple murder.
The mystery in this book was lackluster at first and the romance was just so-so. the author does a good job of setting up the next book though and I will continue the series for at least a few more to see if it gets better.
by a Black & Decker drill.
Detective Inspector Carol Ashton investigates, bringing with her a formidable reputation for competence. She soon uncovers tangled relationships and motives
for murder among the six teaching staff, along with a maze of malicious anonymous letters and threatening phone calls. And then there is yet another corpse.
Carol's investigation is further complicated by the flashfire attraction between herself and prime suspect Sybil Quade. Carol fights her desire, knowing
its potential to compromise her investigation. Nor does Sybil welcome an "unnatural" obsession with the alluring woman who is inexorably gathering the
evidence to convict her of multiple murder.
The mystery in this book was lackluster at first and the romance was just so-so. the author does a good job of setting up the next book though and I will continue the series for at least a few more to see if it gets better.
April 30, 2013
The first book in a long line of great stories involving Detective Inspector Carol Ashton. This episode introduces Carol as she investigates the murder of a teacher and the prime suspect is a very attractive woman. As she investigates she not only gets close to catching the killer she also gets close with Sybil. Lines between business and personal are blurred and Carol might just be sleeping with the killer.
Strong characters that are very human and fallible. You fall in love with them because they are "normal" and you can see yourself in their shoes, well at least in the personal sense. Of course if you are a detective then you could identify with it on a business sense too.
Strong characters that are very human and fallible. You fall in love with them because they are "normal" and you can see yourself in their shoes, well at least in the personal sense. Of course if you are a detective then you could identify with it on a business sense too.
October 11, 2021
I really love this book.
It is set in the city in which I was born and live so I feel like it wraps around me.
This is one of the first lesbian style romance books I ever read and I fell so hard for Carol and Sybil.
I find the chemistry and sexual awakening between the two very exciting.
And the murder mystery is a bit of fun.
Carol is a sort of.. sexy cold steel and Sybil is all fire and chaos. Very passionate.
It is dated but I really enjoy reading lesbian romances from the 70's and onwards.
This was published in the late 80's and is a fun trip to another time.
These two are an enduring romance for me. An enduring couple.
It is set in the city in which I was born and live so I feel like it wraps around me.
This is one of the first lesbian style romance books I ever read and I fell so hard for Carol and Sybil.
I find the chemistry and sexual awakening between the two very exciting.
And the murder mystery is a bit of fun.
Carol is a sort of.. sexy cold steel and Sybil is all fire and chaos. Very passionate.
It is dated but I really enjoy reading lesbian romances from the 70's and onwards.
This was published in the late 80's and is a fun trip to another time.
These two are an enduring romance for me. An enduring couple.
September 14, 2009
the plot is not something to write home about, and the unveiling of the mystery proceeds rather ploddingly and without focus, but the relation between carol and sybil is great, and greatly paced. as with
i would have liked the book to wrap up a bit more slowly, but hey, i read this in one sitting, and enjoyed every second of it.
January 13, 2010
Gruesome murder of a teacher in Sydney, Australia brought Det. Carol Ashton in to hunt for his killer. She was known for her formidable reputation for competence. She soon uncovers all kinds of entanglements among the teaching staff, motives, malicous telephone calls, letters and another corpse.
Complicated by a flashfire attraction to Sybil Quade one of the suspects.
REally HOT book!
Lesbians and questioning women will enjoy it.
Complicated by a flashfire attraction to Sybil Quade one of the suspects.
REally HOT book!
Lesbians and questioning women will enjoy it.
February 18, 2013
A cross between a romance and a murder mystery. Again, the stilted formal British way of speaking is amusing and/or annoying, but otherwise it's a decent story.
June 11, 2014
I really liked this Carol Ashton mystery. It was one of the early ones and the mystery is first rate.
September 2, 2019
Fun little lesbian cop drama to waste time on. Read like a fanfiction or soap opera.
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