Another good installment to the series (I've read all of these so far). It was nice to visit again with Pru and Christopher and follow their newlywed Another good installment to the series (I've read all of these so far). It was nice to visit again with Pru and Christopher and follow their newlywed life in pastoral Hampshire. Pru and brother, Simon are now working together on the garden of the Wilsons's home as they are away on an archaeological dig. For those who've read all the previous books there's quite a lot of information from those that are related here from chapters 1-10. I'm not going to call that a flaw because it's characteristic of cozy mysteries and helps those who read these things out of sequence. It's all to the good to letting the reader know what's come before, character relationships & hints about past mysteries. So while it felt tedious a retread and I just wanted to get on to the bit in this book that involves the actual plane & body touted in the summary (takes place in chapter 10), I completely understood the why.
As to the past murder mystery and the current one, those were teased out well and I enjoyed following them. No spoilers but I can say that this one was more a conundrum for me and made for a satisfying solution in the end. I will happily look forward to the next book in the series as I am still enjoying Pru, Christopher and any circumstances that arise around them. Reader, pick it up for a quick, weekend read.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
Merged review:
Another good installment to the series (I've read all of these so far). It was nice to visit again with Pru and Christopher and follow their newlywed life in pastoral Hampshire. Pru and brother, Simon are now working together on the garden of the Wilsons's home as they are away on an archaeological dig. For those who've read all the previous books there's quite a lot of information from those that are related here from chapters 1-10. I'm not going to call that a flaw because it's characteristic of cozy mysteries and helps those who read these things out of sequence. It's all to the good to letting the reader know what's come before, character relationships & hints about past mysteries. So while it felt tedious a retread and I just wanted to get on to the bit in this book that involves the actual plane & body touted in the summary (takes place in chapter 10), I completely understood the why.
As to the past murder mystery and the current one, those were teased out well and I enjoyed following them. No spoilers but I can say that this one was more a conundrum for me and made for a satisfying solution in the end. I will happily look forward to the next book in the series as I am still enjoying Pru, Christopher and any circumstances that arise around them. Reader, pick it up for a quick, weekend read.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review....more
I've been really busy but this book kept me interested and turning the pages. I've read others in the series and I honestly mostly turn up for the atmI've been really busy but this book kept me interested and turning the pages. I've read others in the series and I honestly mostly turn up for the atmosphere of Trafalgar and environs. The mystery here was good and I did not figure out who the mastermind of the murder was. Very well done. I am already on to the next.
I read this through Kindle Unlimited. Recommended....more
This one was my least favourite but likely only because I felt the theatre stuff pulled it down a bit. I like theatre but I felt like this would reallThis one was my least favourite but likely only because I felt the theatre stuff pulled it down a bit. I like theatre but I felt like this would really hit for theatre lovers. Still, the mystery was good and I was propelled through the story with a need to know not just the who and why but also why so many people were lying about Anthony. The payoff was well done.
Also to the good was learning more about Hawthorne. It's still scant but I am all in on gleaning more just like Anthony. Kudos to Horowitz for teasing this thread out deftly. I will admit that I have read other series where an author isn't as skillful and it just becomes tedious and I start yelling "Get on with it already!". I have no such urge here and am looking forward to the next installment (number 5!) and am thrilled at the reveal at the end that there will be another trio.
I recommend this series because it not only got me out of a reading and reviewing slump, it compelled me to read all the available books in the series directly. I can't think of the last time (or if ever) I've done so, but this series has been worth it. ...more
Really enjoyed this and went right to the next in the series. H&H are my favourite duo. I can't even relate how happy I was that I didn't have to waitReally enjoyed this and went right to the next in the series. H&H are my favourite duo. I can't even relate how happy I was that I didn't have to waitlist at my library to read this or the next book in the series (which I went right on to as soon as I finished this).
I loved this! This got me up and over a reading and review slump. It's a well-constructed mystery and I could not put this down (well, when I had to II loved this! This got me up and over a reading and review slump. It's a well-constructed mystery and I could not put this down (well, when I had to I thought about it until I could get back to it). It wasn't like anything else I've read in some time and that's just what this reader needed. Thank you, Anthony Horowitz!
All the while reading this, I kept thinking how much I'd love this as an adapted television series (ITV, do your thing!). But then, it'd be kinda weird right? I mean, it's clear Horowitz is a great writer and storyteller but that doesn't mean he's an actor and if he wouldn't play himself, who would? I can't answer any of these things but I would watch fangirling all the way. Anyway, I loved this so much I actually have begun reading the next book already. I checked out every one in this series so far and I'm going to do something that I never do, I'm going to read these in succession. I love everything about this. The way it's told, the characterization, the mystery. I loved all the references to shows I've loved, Poirot, Misdomer Murders and Foyle's War and to other works of Horowitz. This is probably not so much a perk if you're not into his work but I am that girl so, I loved it.
I read this through Kindle Unlimited and I recommend it strongly....more
This was such a fun read! I chose it because it features a sequestered location of a snowy ski resort with a highly dysfunctional family reunion. It'sThis was such a fun read! I chose it because it features a sequestered location of a snowy ski resort with a highly dysfunctional family reunion. It's how I like my reads this time of year. This one is notable in that it takes place in Australia so clearly not the winter season of the northern hemi. I loved it!
The Cunninghams are unique as a family as they've all, each one, killed someone. It's not all murder, understand but still, that's quite a family trait. Narrator Ernest "Ern" Cunningham was a complete joy. His voice was fresh, witty and left me with smiles and laughs as the macabre events unfurl. There were red herrings and all kinds of chaos, sliding allegiances, lies, mistrust and in its way quite a family bond going on. By the time it wrapped up, I was ready to read another but alas, I am off to either another snowy book or some science fiction.
Recommended. For all the Golden Age mystery vibes and just a darn good read....more
I love Augusta! I saved this one for the chilly weather and there is a snowy locale that features. The other draw for me is this is "in my backyard" sI love Augusta! I saved this one for the chilly weather and there is a snowy locale that features. The other draw for me is this is "in my backyard" so that makes for a bit of fun. The mystery of who killed a famous doctor at a dinner party was a good puzzle with suspects, opportunity and lying aplenty. As in the first book, the characters were well done. I did miss BFF Min being in the mix but there was so much going on, that didn't impede the story.
I hope there's a third book because I will definitely read it. Recommended....more
I really enjoyed this one. This is a re-issue in the American Mystery Classic series. I'm not as committed to this series as the British Library CrimeI really enjoyed this one. This is a re-issue in the American Mystery Classic series. I'm not as committed to this series as the British Library Crime Classics series of re-issues but as I'm all for old books and old mysteries in particular, it's another undertaking that I'm glad someone has thought to do. This had a fascinating introduction by Randal Brandt (no relation to the author whose name was Jane de Lange Lewis Benyon Bissell Brandt) that was appreciated.
This story of a writer with a movie producer husband who winds up dead in the same way as her most current novel was quite the page-turner. Victoria and Albert are both in their second marriages and also work together. Albert is on the cusp of producing a film based on a book Victoria has written and they disagree on who the actress for the titular part should be. Victoria tends to be an eccentric sort for her time and her work wholly consumes her while she also possesses an independence and bluntness that seems to unsettle most people and particularly the men she tends to attract and marry. I'm not going to spoil this but before long Albert is found dead on the morning of her birthday and an investigation ensues led by a very competent and very tall Detective Richard Tuck. What followed was a procedural that felt very much like an intimate character study. Victoria, her best friend Bernice, housekeeper Hazel, dead husband Albert, ex-husband Sawn Harriss (what a name) and the actress who wants the prize part, Moira Hastings. It was riveting. As it happens I had a suspicion of the solution near the beginning but was thrown off because of a lot of very good storytelling. I loved the "A-ha!" moment this gave me when it was all finally revealed. A very fun read altogether.
A couple of detractors here, however. While I enjoy reading books from old, I never get used to archaic attitudes of those times. As I always say, no matter when, not all people held those attitudes so it gets no handwave of "Well, that's just how people were then so it's okay for the time" from me. There were always the people on the receiving end of the attitudes who I am sure, weren't all in on it all being okay. Here, there were a couple of comments expressed by characters about Black and Hispanic people that were eye-roll worthy and the same for some expressed about women and men. Like, I had to read twice to make sure I'd read them right. I had. The matter-of-fact way these things were related by characters added to their breathtaking nature. It certainly added to the memorable moments in the reading. As always, I'm glad when books of old are reissued as they were written. It gives a sense of a time and place and is a record of a sort of those old days.
This was the first book I've read by Lange Lewis but if I can find more, it won't be my last.
This book got me over a book slump so for that, I am grateful. I didn't want to put it down and it took me longer than usual to read it as sickness waThis book got me over a book slump so for that, I am grateful. I didn't want to put it down and it took me longer than usual to read it as sickness was roaming my home and I was the resident medicine administrator, homemade chicken soup maker and all around caretaker for my family for a bit over a week. I say all this because, my wanting to continue with this story was remarkable given all the challenges I had including really disliking the main character, Miranda Abbott. Perhaps this was the book that kept me healthy through it all because whenever I had to put it down, I thought about it until I could pick it back up.
Miranda was the star of a cozy mystery show some 15 years ago. While her star has faded, her ego is a Godzilla-sized entity that obliterates the sun and all the insignificant beings at her feet. She never looks down to see they're actually people. Her assistant, Andrew hasn't been paid in forever and in fact is pretty much supporting her when we enter the story. She has no grace, no appreciation and she never expresses thanks. Everything is supposed to bend to her will because she's Miranda. Honestly, one of the most off-putting main characters I've come across in a while. Leading a cozy series usually hinges on people liking the main but that's impossible with Miranda. So, I was reading to see if she changed while also hoping bad things happened to her and she received some comeuppance.
The main of the story has Miranda showing up in a picture postcard town, where her husband, whom she ditched there on their honeymoon still resides. He asks for the divorce they so obviously need and she had assumed that he summoned her to be at her beck and call again. She's out of money and needs someone to take care of her. She ignores what's obvious and decides instead to inflict herself on various people and insert herself into a play that the town holds every year. She has a plan to rope people into "Team Miranda" in her quest to get Edgar (the husband) to change his mind. Long story short, she's not the only inconsiderate woman in town and eventually the other is dead and it seems Miranda was the one being aimed for. It was really nice to have everyone in town enamoured of a local celebrity and repeatedly deny Miranda the attention she felt she was entitled to. Delicious.
I liked the townspeople, and the town very much. It was very cozy. There were also plenty of witty lines and neat things about cozies sprinkled throughout. I could practically see this place, it was described so well. Still, the actual murder does not happen until 55% in. I had to take off a star for that. First book in the series or no, you have to get on with it. It sapped the fun of solving the thing, having waited so long and endured Miranda. In the end, the killer wasn't a surprise and it was good to see Miranda figure it out and kind of see some of her own behavioural problems reflected back to her in the victim.
Amazingly, I'd read the next. Not for Miranda, but for all the other people in town. Hopefully, she'll be a bit more likable in the next go round. There probably was a time when this type of woman, the sort who don't see other people because they're insignificant and only deem others useful to further her ends, would be seen as charming and quirky, but I'm not sure there's a deep well of an audience for that these days. I can imagine others reading with the perverse hope that I did that misfortune would find her. YMMV....more
A second outing with Molly was a joy! I will not spoil things but I loved seeing her involved in another mysterious death at the hotel. A prickly authA second outing with Molly was a joy! I will not spoil things but I loved seeing her involved in another mysterious death at the hotel. A prickly author with a huge following is poised to make some huge announcement and summarily drops dead taking his big revel with him into the after. But it turns out not to have been a natural death and there's a good list of people he's mistreated so lots of suspects. Adding to Molly's urgency to figure things out is that one of her trainees is suspected of the murder. Molly, knowing what it's like to be the maid blamed is determined to set things right. What helped this time was having a less adversarial relationship with the police. Molly, like the best sleuths, is often underestimated and as a maid, unnoticed by many. She is a keen observer and listener so those qualities paired with recalling sage advice from her grandmother, she picks up the clues and assembles them into a tidy solution. It's what the best do.
Molly showed great growth and the potential for more and I enjoyed that. I missed Juan Manuel being around but I was glad he'd got to go visit his family in Mexico. Molly's new maid trainees, Lily and Angela were great additions to the story. Molly also has found a wonderful family connection that made me smile. If she takes up an offer or embarks on a new trajectory if there are future books, I will be happy to read about it. Just like the first book, time with Molly makes me smile.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an Advance Reader's Copy....more
Nat was one of my favorite characters in The Bayern Agenda so a short story featuring her was welcome. It was well done and left me wanting Good Short
Nat was one of my favorite characters in The Bayern Agenda so a short story featuring her was welcome. It was well done and left me wanting more after gaining more insight into the character. Seeing Caledonia a bit was nice too. ...more
I love Shady Hollow! This was fairly predictable but I so enjoy the charming setting and characters, I didn't mind at all. This is just too adorably cI love Shady Hollow! This was fairly predictable but I so enjoy the charming setting and characters, I didn't mind at all. This is just too adorably cozy and I look forward to the next time I get to stop by.
Vera's sleuthing in the matter of a wife adamant that her husband is dead as he's seemingly right next to her for all to see was fun and introduced a nearby community to Shady Hollow, Mirror Lake. Orville, the town deputy and Vera's beau decided he'd had enough of his superior's slackerdom and threw his hat in the ring to run for Sherriff. Joe of Joe's Mug has rolled out the pumpkin pie and cinnamon coffee. That's right, it's autumn and election season! I'd usually save such a read for autumn, but I just wanted to dive into this now. My summer-themed reads are waiting for me but I'm just not quite in the mood for them. Hopefully the mood will strike before I run out of summer. Anyway, I could see the colourful leaves, smell the seasonal food and feel the crisp air. Lovely. This was just what I was looking for in a cozy read and am very glad I got around to reading this series. I hope it goes on for a while.
I wrote a nice long review and Goodreads glitched it! I can't!
I really enjoyed reading this. Augusta and her BFF Misaki were friend and sleuther goalI wrote a nice long review and Goodreads glitched it! I can't!
I really enjoyed reading this. Augusta and her BFF Misaki were friend and sleuther goals. I had some suspicions and questions at times when Augusta didn't but I did fall for some red herrings. I read this over a busy stretch and when I had to put it down, I thought about it. It sustained my interest the entire time and that's all to the good. A very engaging read. I will read the next and hope there are more to come.
This is the second book in this series I've read. I liked it but not as much as the other I read. This took me several days to get through and as my sThis is the second book in this series I've read. I liked it but not as much as the other I read. This took me several days to get through and as my schedule wasn't out of hand, I can only attribute it to this not being as cracking a read overall.
I was drawn to this as the story surrounds a murder in a theatre group on opening night in full view of the audience. The stabbing of Polonius scene in Hamlet goes terribly wrong when the retractable knife is switched with a real one and kills the leader of the troupe. The murder victim also happens to be an awful woman of the first order. She exercises power through blackmail and threats via poison pen letters to the rest of the troupe. This means there are many suspects and plenty to sort through for D.I. Ludd, his D.S. MacPherson along with our sleuthing vicar, Shaw. I thought the chemistry between the investigators was the best part of the story. Even when it was a slow go, they worked well together and also kept the reporter covering the story on his toes. The motives for the murder were plentiful and so were the red herrings. The solution and reveal of the killer was well enough done. This hit all the points technically but I just didn't really feel the pull I wanted when I picked it up. Still, I will continue to read others in this series because I do like the characters.
This was my second visit to Shady Hollow and I just adore it! The mystery itself was straightforward and easy to work out, which would usually be a neThis was my second visit to Shady Hollow and I just adore it! The mystery itself was straightforward and easy to work out, which would usually be a negative for me. But Shady Hollow is just a nice, soft landing setting where murder happens sometimes. I
n this case more than a decade ago as bones are unearthed in the apple orchard at harvest time. The bones belong to a moose and before long, Joe, the town's resident moose and coffee slinger is under suspicion for killing his wife and letting everyone think she'd simply left him. Tenacious reporter, Vera Vixen thinks the police have it wrong and of course, begins investigating. This causes problems with the police and her romantic life as she had been dating Deputy Orville Braun. All other denizens of Shady Hollow have opinions on Joe's innocence and some even have information to impart along the way. There's also a new business opening in town, owned by a mink named Octavia who is an etiquette and manners aficionado.
I'm not going to spoil the mystery but the whole thing was just fun time spent with characters I like. It's a feel-good book and I recommend it. I will definitely continue the series....more
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