REVIEW: Miss Seeton's Finest Hour

Miss Seeton's Finest Hour
Author: Hamilton Crane

This book is a departure from the usual Miss Seeton novel. Instead of a lively tale of the elderly, retired Emily Seeton solving mysteries, Miss Seeton's Finest Hour jumps back in time to 1940. She's 29 years old, living with her mother, and helping in the British war effort. In spare moments when she isn't involved with the local canteen, Miss Seeton ventures out to draw. Her artwork, however, lands her in hot water, as a few of her drawings seem to show advance knowledge of military plans. Someone reports her as a possible fifth columnist. After a meeting with her, a local major is sure she isn't a spy, but he isn't quite sure what she is....how could such a quiet young girl figure out the things she sketches in her drawings? But he's determined to put her mind to work for England! Miss Seeton finds herself working in a Spitfire factory as a "war artist." She is to sketch things she sees at the plant and try to ferret out the cause of recent sabotage at the factory. When things escalate from faulty wiring in aircraft to serious accidents and murder, Miss Seeton finds herself in danger!

I loved this peek into Miss Seeton's past. The story not only shows what she was like as a young woman, but also explains a bit about her talent for knowing impossible things. It also sheds a bit of light on the reason Emily Seeton is a spinster. I liked the portrayal of war-time England.....girls carrying gas masks to work in a plane factory, sky lights pulled out and boarded over, windows taped and draped with blackout material, rationing and fear of spies. The plot was believable and not melodramatic. A very enjoyable read!

The Miss Seeton series has 22 books. The first five books were written by Heron Carvic, with the rest penned by Hampton Charles (Roy Peter Martin) and Hamilton Crane (Sarah J. Mason). Farrago's re-release of this series has brought it back to life! For the first time in 20 years, there will be a new Miss Seeton novel this year! Miss Seeton Quilts The Village will release in September!

I am so glad I found this series! I am a huge fan of similar characters like Miss Marple, Mrs. Pollifax, and Jessica Fletcher. Miss Seeton seems like an elderly version of Columbo....appearing a bit bumbling, feather-brained and scattered when actually she sees things quite as they are and expresses it in her art. The difference is that Miss Seeton knows things, but doesn't always realize or understand what she knows. Being an avid mystery reader since 1977, I am not sure how I missed this series. But I'm so glad to be reading it now!

**I voluntarily read an advance readers copy of this book from Farrago via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**