A graveyard scholar, Sweeney is fascinated by a headstone in the cemetery at the Byzantium Colony (based on Cornish NH?) which does not match her historical expectations. ( )

O’ARTFUL DEATH is written by Sarah Stewart Taylor. The title is Book #1 of Ms. Taylor’s Sweeney St George Mystery series.
Ms. Sweeney St. George is an accomplished art historian presently living and working in Boston. She has a special interest in the ‘art of death’. She becomes intrigued by several photographs of a New England cemetery given to her by friend, Tony DiMarco. The very beautiful, intriguing, sculptured headstone of one ‘Mary Elizabeth Denholm —- January 3, 1872 to August 28, 1890’ is intriguing because, though late Victorian, it had unusual ‘death images’ inconsistent with the period and a very puzzling poem etched into the sculpture.
Toby is spending the Christmas holidays with relatives in Byzantium, Vermont, the very location of the cemetery and a former art colony, and invites Sweeney to come with him. Sweeney’s curiosity is so intense, she is eager to visit the cemetery and research the art colony and the town itself, Byzantium.
The plot is a bit complicated with many references to art history, particularly the Pre-Raphaelites and their artistic movement.
There are also many references to the Arthurian period and the very famous, lyrical poem “The Lady of Shalott” by Alfred, Lord Tennyson that was a cornerstone of Arthurian legend. (Also, my very own personal favorite poem. I loved all the excerpts.)
The story is further complicated by the murder that occurs the very afternoon that Toby and Sweeney arrive.
I thought this was a wonderful mystery; a wonderful first introduction to Sweeney St. George.
The locations were excellent; the art history references were very interesting and I felt that I learned a thing or two about a previously unknown subject. The characters were interesting and very plausible. The ending was a bit ‘hurried’, but it was a surprise (to me) and many puzzles were solved.
I am looking forward to Book #2 in the series. Meanwhile I am reading “The Lady of Shalott”. ( )

I've read the german translation I've picked up in my local library but it didn't grab me. The plot is complex but the characters are mostly flat and hard to connect to. Especially the heroine, Sweeny, sometimes seemed a bit two-demensional. Still, it's an easy read for a rainy afternoon. ( )

giving to sanger mystery group 1/2013

In some ways reminiscent of A. S. Byatt's Possession: a Romance. ( )