Product Description

Edgar Award winner Sharyn McCrumb brings you her sixth Elizabeh MacPherson mystery novel.
The unsinkable Elizabeth is on tour of England's most famous murder sites, when Rowan Rover, the group leader, is quietly asked to commit murder. He does, of course, but not without misgivings--not the least of which is having Elizabeth MacPherson, canny observer and all-around murder spoiler, on his tail...
"Sharyn McCrunb is definitely a rising star in the New Golden Age of mystery fiction. I look forward to reading her for a long time to come."
Elizabeth Peters

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1098318 in Books
• Published on: 1992-08-23
• Released on: 1992-08-23
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• 256 pages

From the Publisher
I particularly enjoy mysteries that allow me to play the
armchair traveler, following along as the detective visits famous
sites or interesting corners of the world. Sharyn McCrumb's
MISSING SUSAN is one of the best examples of this kind of
mystery. In MISSING SUSAN, Elizabeth MacPherson, forensic
anthropologist and sleuth, decides to go on a tour of England's
most famous murder sites. She isn't aware that Rowan Rover, the
tour guide and Jack the Ripper expert, has been hired to kill a
tour member -- the obnoxious young heiress Susan Cohen.
Throughout the story, we are treated to a travelogue of England's
more gruesome tourist spots, as well as Sharyn McCrumb's dryly
humorous prose. MISSING SUSAN inspired me to take the Jack the
Ripper tour myself -- and although I didn't encounter any murders
other than those of Jack the Ripper, the atmosphere was decidedly
more intriguing due to this book.

--Malinda Lo, Editorial Assistant

From the Inside Flap
Edgar Award winner Sharyn McCrumb brings you her sixth Elizabeh MacPherson mystery novel.
The unsinkable Elizabeth is on tour of England's most famous murder sites, when Rowan Rover, the group leader, is quietly asked to commit murder. He does, of course, but not without misgivings--not the least of which is having Elizabeth MacPherson, canny observer and all-around murder spoiler, on his tail...
"Sharyn McCrunb is definitely a rising star in the New Golden Age of mystery fiction. I look forward to reading her for a long time to come."
Elizabeth Peters

Customer Reviews

Side Split howl of a mystery!!
This was the first Sharon McCrumb I read (definitely, not the last), was given to me in a promotion set of 10 mysteries. This is the only one I recall, and with just cause. Starting from the title, this book is just the opposite of what you expect. It is fresh, with a dry humour that is so engaging. Since reading this, I am a dyed in the wool McCrumb fan, and this is one of her best!!

This is the 6th Elizabeth McPherson novels. This time, she is on a tour of England, with a motley crew, and one really aggravating heiress, Susan. Susan's uncle has paid the tour guide to bump his niece off somewhere along the trip...only one problem - he keeps missing Susan.

It is so funny, a mystery where you are rooting for the bad guy to succeed!! McCrumb has taken the typical mystery and set it on its ear!!

Missing Susan-Over And Over Again
This sprightly mystery will be a jolt to readers only familiar with Ms. McCrumb's much acclaimed ballad series. "Missing Susan" is part Agatha Christie-spoof, part England tour, and part very sharp character study.

The star is not Elizabeth MacPherson, forensic anthropologist, but Rowan Rover, silver-tongued, down on his luck, tour guide. I was reminded of Stanley Holloway, the rascally father of Eliza in "My Fair Lady." The supporting cast of characters are lively individualists. Rowan is hired to 1) conduct a two-week Murder Mystery tour through England and 2) to eliminate one of the members of his group. Now Rowan is not normally a lawbreaker, but he has three ex-wives, a son in an expensive preparatory school and a rundown houseboat that he calls home.

Fortunately for all concerned Susan, the proposed victim, is unlikable enough that all the tour members have murderous thoughts involving the best way to rid themselves of Susan. It is a near thing whether Rowan will do the deed or will one of the tour members beat him to it. Susan is from Minneapolis. Before I read this book, I had nothing but admiration for this fine city. After hearing Susan compare everything from airports to monuments unfavorably with Minneapolis, I could cheerfully go a long time without hearing Minneapolis mentioned again. That's what Susan does to you.

The novel tidily begins and ends with a Jack the Ripper tour through Whitechapel. You may think you have everything figured out, but Ms. McCrumb has a few surprises in store for you. A good, fast enjoyable read.

Hilariously fun!
I thoroughly enjoyed this Sharyn McCrumb book. I've read about 10 of her books and I must say that "Missing Susan" is my favorite. It has a tongue and cheek quality and Sharyn McCrumb has a knack for making the unfortunate victim in the story totally unlikable. I also found the British Mystery Tour angle very informative and entertaining. If you like Agatha Christie you will like this book. "Paying the Piper" is also very good, as well as, "McPherson's Lament".