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The Hunted Hare
The Hunted Hare
The Hunted Hare
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The Hunted Hare

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

3.5/5

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About this ebook

CRT Awards - Fiction Book of the Year 2013


“A wonderfully atmospheric story of sudden death in a secluded Welsh valley.”

Pennant Melangell lies at the head of a mountain valley in North Wales. It consists of a church, with the medieval shrine and pilgrimage site of St Melangell, a few cottages - and a newly constructed hotel, the House of the Hare, built by its imposing director Thaddeus Brown.

To the House of the Hare come Aidan and Jenny Davison, with their seven-year-old daughter Melangell. Jenny has advanced cancer: will the sacred location become a place of healing? Or will the hotel's new facilities - for instance, its impressive archery range - become a place of death? In this secluded setting, who might be the victim?

The first of a series of new mysteries featuring Aidan and Melangell and set in what Fay Sampson describes as the 'thin' places of the Celtic world.

LanguageEnglish
PublisherMonarch Books
Release dateJul 17, 2012
ISBN9780857213402
The Hunted Hare
Author

Fay Sampson

Fay Sampson is a widely published author with a particular interest in fantasy and Celtic history. She has been shortlisted for the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize on three occasions and is a winner of the Barco de Vapor award.

Read more from Fay Sampson

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Reviews for The Hunted Hare

Rating: 3.5142856399999998 out of 5 stars
3.5/5

35 ratings13 reviews

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  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    The Hunted Hare is a classic whodunit in the sense that a character we’ve only just met (who might not be such a nice person) is murdered quite early on in the story, and there is a convenient cast of characters who all have a motive for offing him. It takes place at an under-booked guesthouse in a remote but picturesque part of Wales. Sounds like the perfect formula for a cozy. What makes this book a bit different is that one of the protagonists, Jenny Davison, has terminal cancer. She and her husband, Aidan, and their young daughter are on a final holiday together, and making a pilgrimage of sorts, as their destination, Pennant Melangell, is considered a sacred place that may have healing properties. The back copy describes the book as first in a series of mysteries about the “’thin’ places of the Celtic world,” but those looking for a hint of fantasy or the supernatural with their murder won’t find it here. Sampson sticks pretty strictly to the historical significance of the area. She portrays its importance to both Pagans and Christians, and the location does provide some of the motivation and the conflict in the story. Jenny’s illness definitely hangs a sense of melancholy over the book—a whodunit is usually a “fun” murder story, where death is almost beside the point, as characters and reader collect clues and race toward the big reveal at the end. But having a main character who is facing her own death—not dramatic or plot-fueling, but sad and slow and all too familiar for those who have battled a serious illness or lost someone to one—changes the tone of the book somewhat. It humanizes the characters a bit more, which is not necessarily a bad thing, but it is somewhat unexpected. It makes it a bit more serious. And I am curious to see how Sampson handles the subsequent books in the series—they are called the “Aidan Mysteries,” so presumably Jenny is not going to experience a miraculous remission. It’s an unusual way to start off a series. The setting is intriguing and well-described, I didn’t guess the solution, and I give Sampson points for stepping off the beaten path a bit; but, for me, there was still something missing here. Maybe Aidan isn’t a compelling enough protagonist, or I was hoping for a hint of the Fair Folk, or maybe the realism of Jenny’s cancer was just too depressing for me in this subgenre. It’s a solid mystery, but just not quite my cup of tea.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    With deft movements, Ms. Sampson not only brings the reader into a world rich with imagery and artistry, but into the complex and care-worn family of Aidan, Jenny, and their precocious daughter, Melangell.

    Get to know this family as they struggle with the challenges of dealing with terminal cancer and journey with them as they courageously continue to live their lives and are determined to hold onto hope and each other.

    These characters were well drawn and relateable, but while I did enjoy each character, for whatever reason, it was Aidan who claimed my heart. A true hero, torn between wanting to protect his family from the horrors that have surrounded them, but able to do little more than hold onto the precious love he has for his wife for just a short while longer.

    This is a poignant story. A story that will try to keep you in its own world. A story that will beckon you to read it again after you've finished.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Jenny Davison is dying. She and her husband want to return to a place that is special to them, a place they named their daughter after, Pennant Melangell. Jenny and Aiden had written a book about the shrine there and Saint Melangell, and the shrine is thought to have healing properties.There is a new Inn that they stay at, the House of the Hare. It's beautiful, peaceful and all that they wished for. Jenny even takes up an old hobby, archery. All is well, until someone is murdered with an arrow. There are several people who may have had motive, and Jenny may have seen or heard something that may help the police find the killer, but she can't quite remember what it is. This was a very interesting book, full of local color and historical references. The Davison's are a warm and loving family, facing a terrible personal crisis. They are looking for solace and peace and instead find violence and murder. This book is as much about how this family deals with both of these situations as it is about the mystery itself. The Davison's are people one would like to meet. The characters are believable and complex, and the relationships drive much of the story. The only flaw is that book bogs down a bit when discussing the Pagan vs Christian aspects of the history of the place, but this is a minor distraction. I very much enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next installment in the series!
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    My ancestors are from Wales, so the subject of this book interested me. The Davisons are returning to St. Melangell -- a place that Aidan and his wife Jenny have previously visited. They even named their daughter Melangell. But this time, Jenny is terminally ill and wanting to visit for maybe one last chance of getting well. Their stay at the new big resort, The Hunted Hare, is not without problems. A murder occurs, and Jenny is briefly a suspect. I liked the characters and the settings. There was a brief intro to the next book, and therefore you know what happens to Jenny. I do hope the books don't just become another series where the characters are always running into a murder or two each time.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A solid mystery. The Davisons are a truly nice family with a sadness ahead of them since mom, Jenny, has cancer. They come to the House of the Hare to revisit old memories and look for peace. A murder gets in the way of this. I never really understand why Lorna is so beloved by her friends that they will do so much for her. Overall, well-plotted if a little wordy at times.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This new series by Fay Sampson features photographer Aidan Davison, his terminally ill wife, Jenny, and their mischievous daughter Melangell. Many years prior, the couple had collaborated on a book about the mystical Pennant Melangell; Jenny, a writer, captured the magic with words while Aidan captured it in photographs. The couple has now returned to St. Melangell's hoping to recapture a bit of their past and share the magic of the place with their daughter, who was named after the saint. However, there is another reason for their visit. Many flock to St. Melangell’s for spiritual and perhaps physical healing. Jenny is no exception; she has incurable cancer with just months to live.Seeking solitude and peace, the family settles into the fictional House of the Hare. While there are few guests, peace and quiet eludes them as a man is murdered in broad daylight. Instead of the peaceful atmosphere they had wished for, the Davisons suddenly find themselves at the center of a murder investigation. As the police continue questioning Jenny, who may hold an important clue, the couple's strained relationship becomes even more of a struggle. Additionally, the stress of the investigation begins to take its toll on Jenny's fragile body. It's a race against time as Jenny tries to remember something important before someone else is hurt. The Hunted Hare includes plenty of suspects, a few unsavory characters, and lots of twists and turns to keep readers guessing until the end.The Bottom Line: The first book in the Aidan Mysteries series was slow to start, but eventually reeled me in. In this mystery, author Fay Sampson also explores the theme of faith as Jenny faces her mortality. However, Jenny's battle with cancer was not depressing; instead, Jenny seeks peace and acceptance.While the setting of St. Melangell's is fascinating and the mystery is enjoyable, I felt the characters fell flat. Also, the writing style incorporates simple sentences and plentiful questions. There are even a few sentence fragments mixed in at times. Overall, this was an average effort that sometimes felt more like a draft than a finished product. I hope that the characters are more fully developed in future installments. Nevertheless, readers of cozy mysteries and Christian fiction may want to give it a try.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I received my copy of The Hunted Hare in return for a review. I wanted it because it was set in Wales. The Welsh history provided was interesting, as was the contrast between what might be considered ordinary worshipers and religious fanatics -- especially followers of Mammon. I liked the the Davisons, the family who are our main characters. Will there be a miraculous cure for Jenny, or will Aidan become a widower and their little daughter, Melangell, motherless? The author made Jenny neither saint nor coward as she faced her fatal cancer. Ms. Sampson was able to convey how much Pennant Melangell meant to Jenny and Aidan. One touch that gave us insight into Aidan was his pleasure that Melangell is now old enough for him to share the Narnia books with her. There are plenty of suspects for the murder, and enough twists and turns that I was successfully misled. One of the secondary characters had an attitude toward his profession and a willingness to do things to further it that was disgusting, but quite believable.Caradoc Lewis, religious fanatic, may not have been willing to tolerate views other than his own, but his views certainly weren't boring.I freely confess that Ms. Sampson successfully misled me. I did not guess whodunnit. I enjoyed the descriptions, particularly the ones of Pennant Melangell itself. I wish there had been a pronunciation guide to the Welsh names, but the lack of one was only a minor disappointment. Physically, this is a pretty book. The leaping hare on the cover is repeated, in gray, at the head of each chapter. The knotwork border is used instead of a line of asterisks for a change in time or place as well as around the page numbers.I'm pleased to add this mystery to my collection. I want to read the next one, too. If you love only 'mean streets' mysteries, you'll probably not be interested, but I think this book should appeal to fans of cozies and other mystery genres.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The Davissons, a young family with a precocious 7 year old daughter, head to the small Wesh town of Pennant Melangell to rekindle fond memories and make a spiritual healing pilgrimage for Jenny Davisson, the seven year old's mother. She's facing terminal cancer and St. Melangell is her last hope. There's not much to the sleepy village but an ancient pilgrimage church dedicated to Saint Melangell and new lodgings for the pilgrims. Needless to say, danger is afoot and a messy murder plays out requiring astute sleuthing of the key characters. A most pleasant read with a bit of ancient church spiritualism. A cozy and charming book for the winter doldrums.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    I was disappointed in this book. The Celtic legend was interesting, but not developed enough and the characters were pretty one dimensional. I thought things happened too quickly, too many hints dropped too soon and randomly, and everything seemed a bit contrived.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    A woman with terminal cancer and her family visit a Welsh sacred site that touched them in the past, so much so that the daughter is named for the saint associated with the site, St. Melangell. However, their return is not as peaceful as they had wished - people start turning up dead in unusual circumstances.Promising premise, but this is just not very good. Conversations are contrived, a full third of the sentences are in the form of a questions ("Someone had set this fire deliberately. But why? An arsonist who simply reveled in starting a blaze? It seemed unlikely in such a remote spot. Someone with a grudge against the church? But they had left the most precious target untouched..." ad infinitum), characters act inconsistently (how dare you, tiny woman, enter my room when I told you not to?!!? I am FURIOUS!!!! Oh, I misplaced the key to the room? Haha, so minor, must be getting old...) etc. Overall, this is just not a masterpiece. I struggled to finish it.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    4.0 stars – RecommendedJenny Davison is fighting a losing battle with cancer, but she wants to live out what little life she may have with her husband Aidan and seven-year-old daughter Melangell. So when they journey to a newly constructed hotel in a hidden part of North Wales to find peace and healing, they have no idea they are stepping into the middle of a fierce battle over the future of the area that will lead to murder. Soon the Davison family isn’t just trying to solve a crime; they are fighting for their very lives in one of the “thin” places of the Celtic world.Fay Sampson made a name for herself first as a children’s book writer and then with her Morgan Le Fay series of novels. The Hunted Hare is the first installment of her new mystery series featuring Aidan Davison and his precocious daughter Melangell. Sampson does a nice job bringing her characters to life – especially the loving but strained relationship between Aidan and Jenny as she is quickly reaching the end of her battle with cancer. The struggle to maintain a ‘normal’ family life for their young daughter was written so well, that you want that miracle to come true as bad as they do. But Sampson doesn’t stop there. All of her characters come to life with their manifest quirks and attitudes, propelling the story along. I was absorbed by the entire world Sampson painted and couldn’t put it down.The plot of The Hunted Hare was very well done. Right up until the final scene, I wasn’t sure who was involved in the crimes and who wasn’t. There were several red herrings put to good use by Sampson. Characters who you thought were one thing turned out to be something else – and it actually worked. Nothing felt contrived or far-fetched. The entire story worked seamlessly to carry us to a satisfying conclusion. Sampson’s writing was also quite enjoyable. If you are looking for a story with lavish prose and lengthy exposition, this isn’t going to meet your needs. This is straight-ahead storytelling based on character and plot with little in the way of sidebars or atmosphere.I really enjoyed The Hunted Hare. I had not read any of Sampson’s writing prior to this, but I am really looking forward to the next installment of this series when it comes out. I might even have to give some of her other works a try. The Hunted Hare is a well-written, enjoyable mystery.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Aiden Davison and his wife, Jenny, take their young daughter to visit a place that holds special meaning for them. It was so special for them that Jenny wrote a book about it while Aiden supplied the photographs. The place is in Wales and was a holy place commemorating St. Melangell, a Celtic saint. Jenny is a Celtic historian. They even named their daughter after this saint and area that they were so taken with. The trip is one they had wanted to do for quite a while but now had little time left to do it as Jenny is dying. Pennant Melangell is known as a healing place much like Lourdes. Will a healing take palce for Jenny? Will she find the peace she craves? They hope this will happen but then horrific things happen to shatter any peace they could have had - first a murder, then a fire - and how do they fit in?A story that keeps you wondering - about who did it and how would Jenny end up.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The Hunted Hare by Fay Sampson is the first volume in the Aiden mysteries. It is set in the mountains of Wales and explores Celtic history and folklore. It is also a murder mystery with an interesting cast of characters all of whom are potential suspects. It is cozy mystery with just enough tension and suspense to keep the reader engaged. Readers who like puzzles will particularly like this book. Book clubs might enjoy discussing pilgrimages, Celtic history, and sacred places. My favorite words were hoary, taxol, and crozier. An interesting question to discuss would be whether or not the reader believes in supernatural healing or has ever had an experience with it? I enjoyed the read, and would recommend it for anyone who likes Father Dowling mysteries or Agatha Christie.In accordance with FTC guidelines, please note that I received a free review copy of this book from Kregel Publications in exchange for an honest review.

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The Hunted Hare - Fay Sampson

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