Bobbie - Shop now
Kindle Unlimited
Unlimited reading. Over 4 million titles. Learn more
Read for Free
OR
$7.99 with 20 percent savings
Digital List Price: $9.99

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Sold by Amazon.com Services LLC.

Audiobook Price: $15.30

Save: $13.00 (85%)

You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Alisa Craig
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

A Dismal Thing to Do (The Madoc and Janet Rhys Mysteries Book 3) Kindle Edition

by Charlotte MacLeod (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 out of 5 stars 381 ratings
A Canadian snowstorm and an overturned truck lead to trouble: “MacLeod can be counted on for a witty, literate and charming mystery” (Publishers Weekly).
 Janet Rhys is driving through the backwoods of Canada when she sees the truck ahead of her lose control, smash into a snow bank, and flip sideways, completely blocking the road. Springing to action, she darts into a nearby barn, searching for something to use to rescue the person trapped inside. When she hears an explosion, Janet returns to find the truck is nothing but smoking wreckage, and the driver has stolen her car. Janet takes shelter in an abandoned house, and is waiting for help to come when the truck driver’s accomplices set fire to her hideout. Just before she is engulfed in flames, she leaps through a window and escapes into the snow. The killers think their witness is dead, and if Janet doesn’t move quickly, they will be right.
Previous slide of product details
  1. Book 3 of 5
    The Madoc and Janet Rhys Mysteries
  2. Print length
    238 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    MysteriousPress.com/Open Road
  5. Publication date
    October 2, 2012
  6. File size
    4.5 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
Next slide of product details

Shop this series

 See full series
There are 5 books in this series.

Customers also bought or read

Page 1 of 1Start overPage 1 of 1
Previous page
  3. The Terrible Tide
    Kindle Edition
    $7.99
  5. Something Wicked (Andrew Basnett)
    Kindle Edition
    $1.99
  6. King Devil
    Kindle Edition
    $1.99
  7. A Choice of Evils (Andrew Basnett)
    Kindle Edition
    $2.99
  11. Grab Bag: A Collection of Stories
    Kindle Edition
    $7.99
  12. A Hobby of Murder (Andrew Basnett)
    Kindle Edition
    $2.99
  21. The Fat Lady's Ghost
    Kindle Edition
    $7.99
  25. Hole and Corner
    Kindle Edition
    $7.99
  26. Collected Short Mysteries
    Kindle Edition
    $3.99
Next page
Loading...

Editorial Reviews

Review

“The epitome of the ‘cozy’ mystery.” —Mostly Murder “MacLeod can be counted on for a witty, literate and charming mystery.” —Publishers Weekly “Charm, wit, and Holmesian logic.” —AudioFile 

About the Author

Charlotte MacLeod (1922–2005) was an internationally bestselling author of cozy mysteries. Born in Canada, she moved to Boston as a child, and lived in New England most of her life. After graduating from college, she made a career in advertising, writing copy for the Stop & Shop Supermarket Company before moving on to Boston firm N. H. Miller & Co., where she rose to the rank of vice president. In her spare time, MacLeod wrote short stories, and in 1964 published her first novel, a children’s book called Mystery of the White Knight.  In Rest You Merry (1978), MacLeod introduced Professor Peter Shandy, a horticulturist and amateur sleuth whose adventures she would chronicle for two decades. The Family Vault (1979) marked the first appearance of her other best-known characters: the husband and wife sleuthing team Sarah Kelling and Max Bittersohn, whom she followed until her last novel, The Balloon Man, in 1998. 

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0099I92XK
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ MysteriousPress.com/Open Road (October 2, 2012)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 2, 2012
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4.5 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 238 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 381 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Alisa Craig

Alisa Craig

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read book recommendations and more.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
381 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers
Write a customer review

Customers say

Customers find this mystery book fun and wacky, with great characters and a satisfying read. They describe it as charming and worth the time and money.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more

14 customers mention "Enjoyment"14 positive0 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable, describing it as a wonderful Charlotte MacLeod novel filled with wacky fun and humor.

"...Kelling series decades ago. They are delightful. A good, solid, creative mystery wrapped up in a comfy, charming package." Read more

"Complex case, convoluted in spots, fun to read in spite of that, great characters, light romance, all tied up in her proverbial bow at the end of..." Read more

"...Try one and see!!! You won't be disappointed. Well written, well plotted - everyone!!!..." Read more

"...Beautifully scripted mystery with the most wonderful eccentric characters." Read more

4 customers mention "Character development"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book.

"Complex case, convoluted in spots, fun to read in spite of that, great characters, light romance, all tied up in her proverbial bow at the end of..." Read more

"...Beautifully scripted mystery with the most wonderful eccentric characters." Read more

"Charlotte MacLeod is one of my favorite detective story writers...." Read more

"...Its cute and charming. The characters are like people you know and have known for a long time." Read more

4 customers mention "Readability"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book a satisfying read, with one noting its well-written prose.

"...Always makes for a fast and satisfying read. Highly recommend all her books...always...." Read more

"...Try one and see!!! You won't be disappointed. Well written, well plotted - everyone!!!..." Read more

"...the appeal of the people involved as characters and the stylishness of the author's prose, engaged me throughout...." Read more

"Great read!..." Read more

4 customers mention "Value for money"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book worth their time and money.

"...Kelling series decades ago. They are delightful. A good, solid, creative mystery wrapped up in a comfy, charming package." Read more

"Anything by Charlotte MacLeod (or Alisa Craig) are worth your time and money. Try one and see!!! You won't be disappointed...." Read more

"Good book." Read more

"Good book!..." Read more

3 customers mention "Charm"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book charming.

"...me (previous, that is, to publication on kindle) but it has the same charming, light touch, that marks the other works...." Read more

"...more involved in the story, which unfolds in a liesurely & satisfying fashion." Read more

"Further continuation of the series. Its cute and charming. The characters are like people you know and have known for a long time." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Meginiowa
    5.0 out of 5 stars I have missed her..
    Reviewed in the United States on January 13, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Charlotte MacLeod, that is. I have read her Peter handy and Sarah
    Kelling series decades ago. They are delightful. A good, solid, creative mystery wrapped up in a comfy, charming package.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • pollymom
    4.0 out of 5 stars Another fun read from Charlotte MacLeod.
    Reviewed in the United States on October 27, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Complex case, convoluted in spots, fun to read in spite of that, great characters, light romance, all tied up in her proverbial bow at the end of the novel, as per usual.
    Her run on sentences can't compare to mine...hahaha. Anyhoo...another fun, funny, challenging read from this autgoe.
    I mourn her. So sad there are only a few of these and that her other series ended seemingly abruptly...though she wrote them for years band years...when reading them all at once, or one at a time in order one after the other...Like streaming a T.V. series...it seems as if there should always be another book!...only two left in this series. Soooo sad.
    I love her sense of humor, the laugh out loud demerits and film's antics... The comic relief.
    Always makes for a fast and satisfying read.
    Highly recommend all her books...always.
    Happy reading...though be prepared to miss her more and more!
    Helpful
     Report
  • Kathleen Igo
    5.0 out of 5 stars Another wonderful Charlotte MacLeod novel of wacky fun and chuckles galore
    Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Anything by Charlotte MacLeod (or Alisa Craig) are worth your time and money. Try one and see!!! You won't be disappointed. Well written, well plotted - everyone!!! She has at least four series, and they are all exceptional!!! Treat yourself and see for your self!!!!!
    3 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Saxfone
    5.0 out of 5 stars Utterly Delightful
    Reviewed in the United States on June 11, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    First time I have read this author, but it will not be the last. Beautifully scripted mystery with the most wonderful eccentric characters.
    3 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Karen C.
    3.0 out of 5 stars Three Stars
    Reviewed in the United States on May 14, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    A fun cozy mystery. Great for a rainy day and a cup of cocoa! Love Charlotte!
    2 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Kindle Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars A Visit to Small Town Canada
    Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Charlotte MacLeod is one of my favorite detective story writers. This one is from a series previously unknown to me (previous, that is, to publication on kindle) but it has the same charming, light touch, that marks the other works. Lacks, perhaps, the deeper element which tends to underlie the Bittersohn books, due to the earlier life of the now happily married Sarah, but still are entertaining. This one is set in snowbound Canada (birthplace of the author) where the Mrs. of the central couple runs into major, unexpected difficulties in seeking out an isolated location which a friend has told her has just the thing for the place in which she and Royal Mounted Police husband are enjoying the first months of marriage. Before her eyes, in a minor road through heavy snow and cold, a truck turns over. During the interlude between that event and her rescue, she learns that had she been found she would have been murdered. By sheer coincidence, the author's doing, of course, her husband is assigned a very hush-hush case involving people who also have a relationship to that area. Frankly, the mystery is hardly mysterious, the remaining action, not at all vigorous, yet the appeal of the people involved as characters and the stylishness of the author's prose, engaged me throughout. To be fair, these factors will legitimately deter readers who engage in trying to unravel puzzling crimes, like the action to be vigorous or like a touch of the sexual encounter. There is little of that kind of stimulus to the book. For one for whom the attraction of an appealing cast coupled with oddly idiosyncratic types, can be engaging, I do recommend this title.
    11 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Ele East
    5.0 out of 5 stars Buy them while they are still available.
    Reviewed in the United States on May 27, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I am very happy to find a book by this author that I haven’t read. She is gone so there haven’t been any new books for quite awhile. Very enjoyable and humorous stories for great entertainment!
    2 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • C. Myres
    5.0 out of 5 stars More Janet & Maddoc ...
    Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    Another enjoyable entry in the series; Janet is initially more involved in the story, which unfolds in a liesurely & satisfying fashion.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report

Report an issue


Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report