The body in the bonfire [bk. 12] : a Faith Fairchild mystery

Caterer and small-town minister's wife Faith Fairchild might never have accepted the job teaching a course on Cooking for Idiots at Mansfield Academy had it not been for Daryl Martin. An African-American student at the prestigious prep school, Daryl has lately become the target of a series of vicious and anonymous racial attacks -- and Faith is determined to put an end to the injustice. But Mansfield, she finds, is a seething cauldron of secrets, academic in-fighting, and unspoken rules that complicate her task. When someone tampers with her classroom cooking ingredients -- and then the remains of her prime suspect are discovered smoldering in a campus bonfire -- she realizes that a monstrous evil is stalking both Daryl and the school. And suddenly Faith's own life is in serious jeopardy as well! From Publishers Weekly Despite three brutal murders and some ugly racial prejudice in this 12th mystery to feature amateur sleuth Faith Fairchild, Agatha Award-winner Page (The Body in the Belfry, etc.) keeps the tone light as her heroine reflects wittily on the quotidian challenges of being the wife (and daughter) of a clergyman, the mother of two young children and the head of her own catering business. At Mansfield Academy, a not-so-elite boys' boarding school in a small town outside Boston, someone is harassing black student Daryl Martin, a top athlete and scholar. Faith's friend Patsy Avery calls her in to find out who's responsible for the hate-filled e-mail, offensive newspaper clippings and finally a noose left on Daryl's pillow. Under the cover of teaching a cooking class during winter project term, Faith searches for clues. At the same time, students and maintenance crew build a gigantic pyre for the school's annual bonfire. Faith is sure she's identified the harasser, Sloane Buxton, the aristocratic and handsome leader of a campus clique. When Sloane's corpse turns up in the smoldering embers of the bonfire, suspicion falls on Daryl. The harried headmaster, meanwhile, who rescued Mansfield from bankruptcy years before by buying it, has a lot of explaining to do to concerned parents. With recipes of the dishes Faith prepares in her cooking class in an appendix, this whodunit provides fully satisfying fare for a cold winter's night around the fire. Agent, Faith Hamlin. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. From Library Journal New England caterer Faith Fairchild (The Body in the Moonlight) takes time to teach a cooking class at a nearby boarding school. There, she hopes to uncover the tormentor of a minority student. Unfortunately, human remains turn up after a school bonfire, so her sleuthing takes a dangerous turn. A deservedly popular series. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

caterer And Small-town Minister's Wife Faith Fairchild Might Never Have Accepted The Job Teaching A Course On Cooking For Idiots At Mansfield Academy Had It Not Been For Daryl Martin. An African-american Student At The Prestigious Prep School, Daryl Has Lately Become The Target Of A Series Of Vicious And Anonymous Racial Attacks — And Faith Is Determined To Put An End To The Injustice. But Mansfield, She Finds, Is A Seething Cauldron Of Secrets, Academic In-fighting, And Unspoken Rules That Complicate Her Task. When Someone Tampers With Her Classroom Cooking Ingredients — And Then The Remains Of Her Prime Suspect Are Discovered Smoldering In A Campus Bonfire — She Realizes That A Monstrous Evil Is Stalking Both Daryl And The School. And Suddenly Faith's Own Life Is In Serious Jeopardy As Well!

publishers Weekly

despite Three Brutal Murders And Some Ugly Racial Prejudice In This 12th Mystery To Feature Amateur Sleuth Faith Fairchild, Agatha Award-winner Page (the Body In The Belfry, Etc.) Keeps The Tone Light As Her Heroine Reflects Wittily On The Quotidian Challenges Of Being The Wife (and Daughter) Of A Clergyman, The Mother Of Two Young Children And The Head Of Her Own Catering Business. At Mansfield Academy, A Not-so-elite Boys' Boarding School In A Small Town Outside Boston, Someone Is Harassing Black Student Daryl Martin, A Top Athlete And Scholar. Faith's Friend Patsy Avery Calls Her In To Find Out Who's Responsible For The Hate-filled E-mail, Offensive Newspaper Clippings And Finally A Noose Left On Daryl's Pillow. Under The Cover Of Teaching A Cooking Class During Winter Project Term, Faith Searches For Clues. At The Same Time, Students And Maintenance Crew Build A Gigantic Pyre For The School's Annual Bonfire. Faith Is Sure She's Identified The Harasser, Sloane Buxton, The Aristocratic And Handsome Leader Of A Campus Clique. When Sloane's Corpse Turns Up In The Smoldering Embers Of The Bonfire, Suspicion Falls On Daryl. The Harried Headmaster, Meanwhile, Who Rescued Mansfield From Bankruptcy Years Before By Buying It, Has A Lot Of Explaining To Do To Concerned Parents. With Recipes Of The Dishes Faith Prepares In Her Cooking Class In An Appendix, This Whodunit Provides Fully Satisfying Fare For A Cold Winter's Night Around The Fire. Agent, Faith Hamlin. (mar. 27) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

"This whodunit provides fully satisfying fare for a cold winter's night around the fire"—from the Agatha Award-winning author of The Body in the Moonlight ( Publishers Weekly ). Caterer and small-town minister's wife Faith Fairchild might never have accepted the job teaching a course on Cooking for Idiots at Mansfield Academy had it not been for Daryl Martin. An African-American student at the prestigious prep school, Daryl has lately become the target of a series of vicious and anonymous racial attacks—and Faith is determined to put an end to the injustice. But Mansfield, she finds, is a seething cauldron of secrets, academic in-fighting, and unspoken rules that complicate her task. When someone tampers with her classroom cooking ingredients—and then the remains of her prime suspect are discovered smoldering in a campus bonfire—she realizes that a monstrous evil is stalking both Daryl and the school. And suddenly Faith's own life is in serious jeopardy as well! "Skillful sleuthing . . . bon appetit." — The Tampa Tribune "Faith's fans are sure to be pleased with another of the author's always readable stories." — Kirkus Reviews "A deservedly popular series." — Library Journal Caterer Faith Fairchild, the wife of a small-town minister, agrees to take a job teaching a cooking course at posh Mansfield Academy because of an African-American student who's been targeted in vicious racial attacks. But Faith finds a seething cauldron of secrets simmering at Mansfield, which soon leads to murder Part-time caterer and amateur sleuth Faith Fairchild uses her cooking talents to infiltrate a boys' boarding school disguised as a culinary teacher to try to uncover the perpetrator of a harassment episode, but her investigation soon takes a deadly turn. Faith Fairchild's Brief Stint As A Midterm Cooking Class Teacher At Nearby Mansfield Academy Takes A Harrowing Turn When A Body Is Discovered In The Ashes Of The Annual School Bonfire -- And That's Only The Beginning! Katherine Hall Page.