What do you think?
Rate this book
Kelling & Bittersohn #8
The Silver Ghost
The annual Renaissance Revel takes a mysterious and deadly turn when Rolls-Royces begin disappearing and the gatekeeper is found dead, and it is up to Max and Sarah Kelling to solve the mystery
213 pages, Paperback
First published December 7, 1987
234 people are currently reading
354 people want to read
About the author
Charlotte MacLeod
113Ìýbooks248ÌýfollowersNaturalized US Citizen
Also wrote as Alisa Craig
Charlotte MacLeod, born in New Brunswick, Canada, and a naturalized U.S. citizen, was the multi-award-winning author of over thirty acclaimed novels. Her series featuring detective Professor Peter Shandy, America's homegrown Hercule Poirot, delivers "generous dollops of...warmth, wit, and whimsy" (San Francisco Sunday Examiner and Chronicle). But fully a dozen novels star her popular husband-and-wife team of Sarah Kelling and Max Bittersohn. And her native Canada provides a backdrop for the amusing Grub-and-Stakers cozies written under the pseudonym Alisa Craig and the almost-police procedurals starring Madoc Rhys, RCMP. A cofounder and past president of the American Crime Writers League, she also edited the bestselling anthologies Mistletoe Mysteries and Christmas Stalkings.
Also wrote as Alisa Craig
Charlotte MacLeod, born in New Brunswick, Canada, and a naturalized U.S. citizen, was the multi-award-winning author of over thirty acclaimed novels. Her series featuring detective Professor Peter Shandy, America's homegrown Hercule Poirot, delivers "generous dollops of...warmth, wit, and whimsy" (San Francisco Sunday Examiner and Chronicle). But fully a dozen novels star her popular husband-and-wife team of Sarah Kelling and Max Bittersohn. And her native Canada provides a backdrop for the amusing Grub-and-Stakers cozies written under the pseudonym Alisa Craig and the almost-police procedurals starring Madoc Rhys, RCMP. A cofounder and past president of the American Crime Writers League, she also edited the bestselling anthologies Mistletoe Mysteries and Christmas Stalkings.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
April 28, 2014
Convoluted plot, deliciously eccentric characters and highly amusing dialog. What's not to like?
February 9, 2019
The Rolls is already a valuable antique in the time of the story which also includes Princess style corded phones, multiple radio stations, and phone booths. There's also a Renaissance gala on a family estate, the missing Rollers and the murder victims total two of each, a multiplicity of suspects and red herrings, and a disgraceful police chief making a mess only Max and a real cop can untangle. But Sarah is the one with the creative imagination that leads to the resolution. And it's great fun!
Andi Arndt is the very enjoyable narrator.
Andi Arndt is the very enjoyable narrator.
July 7, 2017
Fun but like other later MacLeod cozy mysteries, too much exposition and repetition. It was fun to revisit Sarah and Max Bittersohn and even get a glimpse of Uncle Jem, and I'll finish the rest of the series unless it gets too whimsical.
December 6, 2020
I just couldn't get into this one
September 20, 2021
Another fun and engaging cozy mystery. Sarah and Max and on the case when a Kelling family friend's antique Rolls Royce goes missing. More Kelling humor and enough twists that kept my interest. I confess that this time I did have a suspect before the reveal and was proved right.
September 11, 2020
Not one my favorites in the series, I'm afraid. I like the setting - a big Renaissance-like party featuring Morris dancing and a large pot of frumenty. The mystery and plot are fine, though I think the villain is kind of obvious. the problem with this book is there isn't enough interaction of Sarah and Max with the other characters. They spend most of their time chasing around - separately - looking to talk to certain people. But it's just not that fascinating and we get not even a glimpse of their personal life as a family. Still, it's a light, clean mystery for when you're in that mood.
April 12, 2023
Another interesting one - #8 in the series. I'm reading them in order again - it's fun to see Max and Sarah's relationship grow and change. This time they're at a Renaissance Revel at the Billingsgates' home, partly because one of Bill's Rolls Royces has been stolen. Most of the Kelling relatives are there, along with the obnoxious Prof. Ufford and Drusilla Gaheris, a long-ago friend of Sarah's Aunt Appie; she is staying with the Billingsgates. Max and Sarah discover the dead body of the man guarding the R-R collection hanging in a tree, and then Sarah's Aunt Bodie disappears, along with another of the Rolls-Royces. Bill owns a series of small radio stations which have been having some unusual troubles lately, while his wife and daughter handle the Apian Way honey and mead sales; honey from their own collection of bees. Things keep getting more complicated, another death occurs, and Aunt Bodie is finally found tied up in a Rolls-Royce. A fair amount of humor is included, despite all the nefarious goings-on. A very enjoyable read.
Sept 2020 - Rereading again - still 5 stars
April 2023 Rereading
Sept 2020 - Rereading again - still 5 stars
April 2023 Rereading
October 1, 2018
Bill Billingsgate decides to throw his annual renaissance party even though one of his antique Rolls Royce's has been stolen. At least he's clever enough to invite investigators Max Bittersohn and his socially connected wife Sarah Kelling, who are on hand when a family retainer is murdered and another Rolls Royce is stolen. Bill also finally confides his real problem--sabotage at the small chain of radio stations he runs. Another dead body and a kidnapped Aunt (Sarah's, as it happens) confuse the issue, as do all the sons-in-law, nephews, cousins twice removed that are part of the Boston social scene.
June 24, 2016
Great for expanding one's vocabulary
A good old-fashioned mystery. A good read for an old-fashioned reader. Set among Boston's old's money leisure class.. Reading the series in order enhances one's enjoyment.
A good old-fashioned mystery. A good read for an old-fashioned reader. Set among Boston's old's money leisure class.. Reading the series in order enhances one's enjoyment.
January 1, 2020
This Sarah Kelling mystery starts at a Renaissance Revel where Sarah and husband Max (art expert/ P.I.) are investigating a missing 1927 Rolls Royce when the gatekeeper is found murdered and Aunt Boadicea Kelling goes missing. Lots of fun with the usual eccentric relatives.
July 3, 2024
Audiobook.
February 5, 2017
I was definitely disappointed in this one. The mystery wasn't as tightly put together as some of the others in the series. I am annoyed that at least two of the bad guys, or at least one current and one past bad guy was completely off stage, so to speak. Some of the connections were pretty much drawn out of nowhere, particularly the revelation of the past bad guy. I didn't see what was the motivation of one of the two main baddies in pinpointing the victim. They guy was obnoxious but had been given a livelihood by the victim. I guess I missed something there and I don't care enough to go back and reread it to find out the missing pieces. Throwing in Aunt Boadiccia seemed necessary to make it a Kelling mystery, but otherwise just a bit of a reach in terms of the story. I did find the information about the Rolls antique cars interesting. I don't think this was the worst in the series, but it sure was far from the best. Definitely tossing this one. I think I only have one book left in the house so will go on to read that one. This was one of the few I am certain I never read before.
July 26, 2016
#8 in the Sarah Kelling and Max Bittersohn mystery series.
Sarah Kelling and her husband, Max Bittersohn, have made names for themselves tracking down stolen paintings, sculptures, and, when necessary, the occasional murderer. But this is the first time they have been asked to find a missing Rolls Royce. When Bill Billingsgate's prize 1927 New Phantom disappears, they head for his estate on the Massachusetts coast, arriving--to their horror--just in time for Billingsgate's annual Renaissance fair. Donning period dress, they grab pints of mead and start searching the crowd for the thief. Instead they find a corpse. When the local police bungle the investigation, Max and Sarah take it upon themselves to find the killer. In the course of their search, they confront a car thief, corruption at a radio station, and a horde of murderous bees.
Sarah Kelling and her husband, Max Bittersohn, have made names for themselves tracking down stolen paintings, sculptures, and, when necessary, the occasional murderer. But this is the first time they have been asked to find a missing Rolls Royce. When Bill Billingsgate's prize 1927 New Phantom disappears, they head for his estate on the Massachusetts coast, arriving--to their horror--just in time for Billingsgate's annual Renaissance fair. Donning period dress, they grab pints of mead and start searching the crowd for the thief. Instead they find a corpse. When the local police bungle the investigation, Max and Sarah take it upon themselves to find the killer. In the course of their search, they confront a car thief, corruption at a radio station, and a horde of murderous bees.
September 3, 2019
MacLeod pulls all the Kelling and Bittersohn triggers (excessively interrelated Kelling dynasty, independent Bittersohn), but the story is choppy. The narrative seems to rely greatly on the reader's familiarity with the previous stories in the series.
August 12, 2009
a couple solves the murder of two people at a bee farm There are several characters to keep track, but the stsyle is light reading. Follows Convivial Codfish and best if read in order.
October 13, 2012
A couple works to uncover the mystery of two stolen cars and a missing woman from the home of a friend. I found it hard to read, partially due to a lot of detail.
December 27, 2020
It’s winter, so time to read some Charlotte MacLeod. Usually I go straight to Rest You Merry, a Peter Shandy Christmas mystery of which I am very fond, but this year I started with Sarah Kelling mysteries. I should have begun with The Family Vault but instead read The Withdrawing Room first and then The Silver Ghost. The title refers to a vintage Rolls Royce that has gone missing from the home of one of Sarah’s relatives during the annual ridiculously silly but perfectly correct Revels celebration.
Everyone is in costume, which makes discovery of the thief more difficult, and there are so many Kellings frolicking in the grounds that no one can keep track of anyone.
This mystery is very witty and fun, going deep into the eccentricities of the Kelling family. Sarah is now married to Max Bittersohn, who works with her to solve the mystery, with his view coming from outside the Kelling family circle.
It’s fun to read something so intelligent that is also so silly. It makes the couple of deaths seem a bit unimportant, though cleverly done.
The first is a man found hanging in a chestnut tree—the belief that he is a suicide dies quickly when a block and tackle are found in the tree. The the missing cars (there are two) distract everyone, as there is no way they could have been removed from a locked garage. Or could they?
This is a nicely far-fetched mystery that I cannot possibly summarize—just remember that the owners raise bees.
Everyone is in costume, which makes discovery of the thief more difficult, and there are so many Kellings frolicking in the grounds that no one can keep track of anyone.
This mystery is very witty and fun, going deep into the eccentricities of the Kelling family. Sarah is now married to Max Bittersohn, who works with her to solve the mystery, with his view coming from outside the Kelling family circle.
It’s fun to read something so intelligent that is also so silly. It makes the couple of deaths seem a bit unimportant, though cleverly done.
The first is a man found hanging in a chestnut tree—the belief that he is a suicide dies quickly when a block and tackle are found in the tree. The the missing cars (there are two) distract everyone, as there is no way they could have been removed from a locked garage. Or could they?
This is a nicely far-fetched mystery that I cannot possibly summarize—just remember that the owners raise bees.
August 3, 2017
Although this was set in Massachusetts, during the 1980s, it really was more of a 1940s English mystery. The “Silver Ghost� here is a 1908 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost that was one of 10 antique RR cars owned by the Billingsgate family. Sarah Kelling and her husband Max Bittershon are private detectives who were hired by Bill Billingsgate to investigate the stealing of another RR: a 1925 Silver Cloud. Since Sarah was a relative of the Billingsgates, they could move easily around the estate during the Renaissance Festival being held at the Billingsgate estate. The 1908 RR was stolen and the guard watching the garage was killed during the festival. Unfortunately, Sarah’s Aunt Bodie also went missing during the festival. –A number of mysteries to be solved! �. This novel was not as good as it might have been because of the frequent use of Renaissance terms being used � especially to describe the dress of the various characters during the festival. If you didn’t know what a kirtle or a houppelande is it can be annoying. (Note: current dictionaries don’t have the terms � I looked.) There were a number of interesting slightly off-center relatives that made things a bit more interesting; in general, I would not recommend the book.
March 13, 2023
Sarah Kelling Bittersohn and her husband Max are invited to take the place of Sarah’s Uncle Jem at a Renaissance-themed party at the estate of the Billingsgates, close friends of Uncle Jem. The latter could not attend because he was off sailing somewhere, but the connection serves to conceal the real purpose of Sarah and Max’s attendance: one of Bill Billingsgate’s many vintage Rolls Royces has been stolen, and he is hopeful that Sarah and Max can determine the culprit and, if possible, get it back. But when one of the household’s faithful retainers, assigned to keep guard on the shed where the Rolls Royces are kept, is murdered and his body concealed in a nearby tree, Sarah and Max realize that something much more sinister than car-napping is going on�. As ever, this eighth book in the cozy series featuring Sarah Kelling and Max Bittersohn is chock full of eccentric and interesting characters, many of them Sarah’s relatives. Here we also have a smarmy professor, a treatise on the history of the Morris dance, a huge swarm of (usually) benevolent bees and, of course, a bevy of ancient but glorious vehicles. Oh, and a host of private radio stations in the process of being hijacked by sinister forces. Plus lots of witty dialogue, too; recommended!
November 29, 2020
The Silver Ghost (#8) � Charlotte MacLeod (23 chapters) Nov. 26-29, 2020
The author seems to have hit her stride in this the eighth book in the Sarah Kelling cozy mystery series. In this one, a rare early Rolls Royce goes missing and while the two detectives are only starting the investigation at a renaissance revel, a murder takes place.
As Sarah and Max work through the clues to solve the murder and the missing car, another rare Royce from the same collection goes missing and another body turns up.
Are the murders and the missing cars related?
This story was splendidly written with well timed humor placed throughout it. I really am enjoying this series as it involves Sarah’s complicated family and their hijinks.
There is one chapter in the book where the client recites several biblical passages (the character appears to recite these under duress.) It was a little off-putting; these recited passages only appear in the one chapter and then it disappears never to appear again. Odd.
Best one in the series so far.
Four stars.
The author seems to have hit her stride in this the eighth book in the Sarah Kelling cozy mystery series. In this one, a rare early Rolls Royce goes missing and while the two detectives are only starting the investigation at a renaissance revel, a murder takes place.
As Sarah and Max work through the clues to solve the murder and the missing car, another rare Royce from the same collection goes missing and another body turns up.
Are the murders and the missing cars related?
This story was splendidly written with well timed humor placed throughout it. I really am enjoying this series as it involves Sarah’s complicated family and their hijinks.
There is one chapter in the book where the client recites several biblical passages (the character appears to recite these under duress.) It was a little off-putting; these recited passages only appear in the one chapter and then it disappears never to appear again. Odd.
Best one in the series so far.
Four stars.
October 21, 2024
Well crafted story with 10 Classic Rolls Royces! What a treat!
Well plotted.
Well written.
Well described.
Well Received!
What a time one has reading about how the other half lives, loves?, spends their money and their time...even if they are shatters and living off the foolishness or bad intent or bad advice or bad , bad , bad practices of themselves and others.
How the good shine out in MS Macleod is books.
Add a little romance and some cuddling and you have a really great story to read and share...aloud and with gusto!
I really liked this one. Plot a little convoluted at times and in the end all is made clear. Was pondering about the perpetrators from near the outset of the story...watch out for visitors from the past and was satisfied when proved right minus the details which were revealed toward the end of the tale.
Really loved the setting for this one...neo nazis? Then, too? How horrible is that! She must have been paying attention better than most...here we go again decades later. What a shame!
Anyway, this one was worth the read.
Well plotted.
Well written.
Well described.
Well Received!
What a time one has reading about how the other half lives, loves?, spends their money and their time...even if they are shatters and living off the foolishness or bad intent or bad advice or bad , bad , bad practices of themselves and others.
How the good shine out in MS Macleod is books.
Add a little romance and some cuddling and you have a really great story to read and share...aloud and with gusto!
I really liked this one. Plot a little convoluted at times and in the end all is made clear. Was pondering about the perpetrators from near the outset of the story...watch out for visitors from the past and was satisfied when proved right minus the details which were revealed toward the end of the tale.
Really loved the setting for this one...neo nazis? Then, too? How horrible is that! She must have been paying attention better than most...here we go again decades later. What a shame!
Anyway, this one was worth the read.
September 11, 2024
Yes, I'm still reading cozies. And yes, this series is still goofy, but, you know, adorable.
I like how much more confident Sarah has become, and how much more agency she has. I did realize while reading this one while I don't have a clear picture of Max in my head, I envision Sarah as 99 from Get Smart (Barbara Feldon).
One of the fun things about reading older series is seeing what strange they're hung up on. In the Mrs. Pollifax books (go read those, they're great!), it's karate. Here it's I will say I was pretty sure I knew who the villain was, and I was right. But it was still a good time.
I like how much more confident Sarah has become, and how much more agency she has. I did realize while reading this one while I don't have a clear picture of Max in my head, I envision Sarah as 99 from Get Smart (Barbara Feldon).
One of the fun things about reading older series is seeing what strange they're hung up on. In the Mrs. Pollifax books (go read those, they're great!), it's karate. Here it's I will say I was pretty sure I knew who the villain was, and I was right. But it was still a good time.
March 13, 2018
Early Bird Book Deal | I seem to have gotten to the section of the series that's most enjoyable | After some entries that were only middling, this is the third in a row that was really pretty good. Sarah and Max are both involved fairly equally, some of the better repeat characters are featured, and while the culprit was again very obvious, they were also quite satisfying. I'm a bit concerned about baby Davy, he was a nonentity here but as he gets older that may change. If this series falls into the Ramses Peabody trap, I'll be ticked.
April 14, 2025
Sweet Murder
This books had everything needed to seem like a classical mystery. When I first started reading MacLeod’s stories I had a hard time trying to figure out the era they were set in. I thought Victorian or the twenties or thirties. But then the automobiles were classic cars in a contemporary tale. Many character’s had Woodhousian names. And then I realized the characters where Boston Brahmins; boadacious characters named Boadacia made sense. Kudos to Ms MacLeod for providing an entertaining story that provided comedy with mystery and a sense of timelessness.
This books had everything needed to seem like a classical mystery. When I first started reading MacLeod’s stories I had a hard time trying to figure out the era they were set in. I thought Victorian or the twenties or thirties. But then the automobiles were classic cars in a contemporary tale. Many character’s had Woodhousian names. And then I realized the characters where Boston Brahmins; boadacious characters named Boadacia made sense. Kudos to Ms MacLeod for providing an entertaining story that provided comedy with mystery and a sense of timelessness.
November 17, 2020
I really enjoy these old fashioned style mysteries (although set in the 1980's it felt more like the 40's). I haven't been reading this series in order and I kind of wish I had been. The mystery is fine without all the background, but my understanding of the interactions of the characters would probably be enhanced by having read the books leading up to this one. I guess I'll go back and fill in my knowledge.
September 9, 2021
Max and Sarah are attending... some sort of function. I started this book awhile ago and it really didn't hold my interest. But there's a lot going on at this thing. Morris dancers, big dinners, the theft of some valuable cars and a murder. The solution seemed rather convoluted and depended on a plot device that has since been disproven but we got to see a bit more in the life of the Bittersohns and the eccentricities that surround them.
September 30, 2024
The most difficult thing in reading the Kelling & Bittersohn series by McLeod is the names. There are so many odd ones. And it is also difficult keeping straight who is who in the family and how they are connected--not that it particularly matters to the outcome of the mystery, but you certainly don't want a family member to be the perp! Otherwise, this is quite good, and I should have suspected who-dun-it much earlier than I did.
November 17, 2019
This was the first book in the series I read, and all the characters were kinda confusing. The names of so many of the people are peculiar and there were just too many to keep track of who was who. It took me awhile to get into the book, but then I did get interested in learning who did it. Then, the solution came out of left field, which I didn't like.
September 26, 2019
A friend of Max and Sarah's owns a fleet of ten antique Rolls Royces. The cars have begun disappearing, one by one. Amid crowds of long-time friends and neighbors, the chaos of a Renaissance Revel, and a massive sabotage campaign against the car-owner's radio stations, two dead bodies and the disappearance of an old lady demand a discreet investigation. As always, Sarah is endearing and helpful and Max is clever.
Read 2 times, listened once
Read 2 times, listened once
March 8, 2023
Having a police duo of Grimpen and Myre made me laugh out loud.
Lots of humor here and lots of houppelandes and liripipes for my medieval needs.
The mystery is perfunctory and the genealogy, as always, a giant muddle. I think that's why these books work.
Lots of humor here and lots of houppelandes and liripipes for my medieval needs.
The mystery is perfunctory and the genealogy, as always, a giant muddle. I think that's why these books work.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.