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A Decline in Prophets: A Rowland Sinclair Mystery    by Sulari Gentill Amazon.com order for
Decline in Prophets
by Sulari Gentill
Order:  USA  Can
Poisoned Pen, 2016 (2016)
Softcover, e-Book
* * *   Reviewed by Mary Ann Smyth

A Decline in Prophets by Sulari Gentil, the seventh in the Rowland Sinclair series, is a delight from start to finish. Rowland and a small, select group of friends are sailing on the luxurious RMS Aquitania. Almost penniless themselves, they sail under Rowland's generosity. Needless to say, Rowland is loaded with family money which allows the story to show how the wealthy lived down under, back in the early 1930s.

The plot also brings in the Theosophical Society and its followers, as well as an aggressive Irish Catholic Bishop who is there to make sure his niece doesn't make any faux pas that will embarrass her family or, more importantly, himself. Hers is the first death in this well-written novel. Rowland is soon suspected of murdering the young girl. As the Aquitania docks and the diverse members of Rowly's group debark and head to the Sinclair family mansion – mansion may not be quite the word for this glorious and sumptuous in home in Australia – Rowly's brother Wil takes over the everyday task of monitoring the household.

I found myself imagining living in such splendor but gave up and just enjoyed the plot, which takes several more murderous turns, amid Wil's stentorian ways that don't sit well with Rowly. Especially when Wil talks him into playing polo when he knows Rowly hasn't ridden a horse in a number of years and has a wonky knee to boot. If you are looking for more dead bodies, patience. They appear.

Without a doubt, A Decline in Prophets is well worth the time it takes to read. You'll feel sorry there isn't another body lying around. But there are the first six of this series to add to your to-read list.

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