The Deeds of the Disturber by Elizabeth Peters (Amelia Peabody Book 5)

 

Publication Date:

January 1, 1988

Genre:

Cozy Mystery

Length:

389 pages

Series:

Amelia Peabody Mysteries

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

Can fear kill? There are those who believe so but Amelia Peabody is skeptical. A respected Egyptologist and amateur sleuth, Amelia has foiled felonious schemes from Victoria's England to the Middle East. And she doubts that it was a Nineteenth-Dynasty mummy's curse that caused the death of a night watchman in the British Museum. The corpse was found sprawled in the mummy's shadow, a look of terror frozen on the guard's face. 

What or who killed the unfortunate man is a mystery that seems too intriguingly delicious for Amelia to pass up, especially now that she, her dashing archaeologist husband, Emerson, and their precocious son, Ramses, are back on Britain's shores. 

But a contemporary curse can be as lethal as one centuries old and the foggy London thoroughfares can be as treacherous as the narrow, twisting alleyways of Cairo after dark when a perpetrator of evil deeds sets his murderous sights on his relentless pursuer... Amelia Peabody!

My Thoughts:

I seem to be on an Egypt kick this year! I wanted something to listen to besides Agatha Christie books and thought I'd finish this Amelia Peabody I'd started last winter. I prefer reading her books and am reading the next book in the series alongside listening to this one. It's strange because when I finished book 4 I thought I'd take a break from this series but something drew me back in. I am enjoying catching up with Amelia, Emerson, and Ramses again.

I've read this is the only book in the series that takes place in England. I confess that was disappointing because part of the draw is the exotic locations and the explorations of the Peabodys in the pyramids. But I just know that these books can be complex at times and I needed to make sure I read this one to fill in any gaps Also, I like the characters of Walter and Evelyn (Emerson's brother and his wife) and since they are in England with their brood of children, I knew this might be one of the few that included them going forward.

In addition to the mystery of the guard's death, the Peabody's have been saddled with Amelia's brother James' very odd children. They seem to act innocent but get into all kinds of weird situations with Ramses. I began to actually feel sorry for him early in the book. It's a good peek into Amelia's family and her strange upbringing.

S.S. Murder by Q.Patrick

 

Publication Date:

January 1, 1933

Genre:

Cozy Mystery

Length:

223 pages

Series: No

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

It’s homicide on the high seas in this mystery by the Edgar Award winning author who wrote the Peter Duluth Mysteries as Patrick Quentin.

Cub reporter Mary Llewellyn is on a soothing sea cruise to help her recover after a minor operation. Her fellow passengers are pleasant enough, gathering to play a friendly game of bridge to pass the time. But the game turns considerably less so when a wealthy businessman samples a cocktail—and ends up dead at the table.  

The news that someone on board dumped a fatal dose of strychnine into the man’s drink sends a ripple of panic through the voyagers. All too soon, it becomes clear that the murder was not an isolated incident when another passenger is shoved overboard during a storm. 

Determined to stop a murderer, Mary decides to do some snooping above and below deck to get to the truth. If she doesn’t figure out the mystery of the seagoing slayer, she might not make it back to land alive.  

My Thoughts

I had heard of the Peter Duluth mysteries but this book was entirely unknown to me when I saw it. It's a stand alone mystery and so you won't miss anything if you read this one only.  The setting drew me in and the cover. I love all things set on the ocean. When I did a little research this is a combination of several people writing these different books. It was a bit confusing so I consulted with Fantastic Fiction's website to get the authors names all correct with the different books. Anyway, this one written by "Q Patrick" seems to be one of just a handful under this pseudonym. 

It started off strong and interesting. The main character, Mary Llewellyn is writing to her fiance in a journal about the events on the ship. She is recovering from surgery and headed home to be married to Davy, and as two murders unfold and the investigation begins she recounts all that involves her and the passengers she has come to know. I liked the style of writing in the diary format and it made her personality come to life. Throughout the book I didn't tire of that. 

Royal Flush by Rhys Bowen (A Royal Spyness Mystery Book Three )

 

Publication Date: 

July 7, 2009

Genre:

Cozy Mystery

Series: 

A Royal Spyness Mystery

Length:    

306 pages

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

With its posh clientele in the country for the summer, Georgie's housecleaning business has fizzled. So she tries hiring herself out as a dinner-and-theatre companion. But her first client has quite the wrong idea. To avoid further scandal, Georgie's shipped home to Castle Rannoch, where her summer plans include honoring a promise to Her Majesty to keep Castle Rannoch's divorcée houseguest from seducing the Prince of Wales. She's also been coerced into helping Scotland Yard with a top-secret mission - namely keeping an eye on the shooting party at Balmoral and preventing someone from shooting the Prince. And Georgie must manage all this without strangling her odious sister-in-law Fig or spineless brother Binky.

My Thoughts:

I have actually been reading this series in order and I'm pretty proud of myself as I've been known to skip around way too much! This is book three and I'm getting to know the characters better now. Lady Georgie is disheartened by her lack of steady employment. She naively decides to start an "escort" service thinking she will be a dinner companion for men in need of a date. When she is approached by the authorities she agrees it might be best for everyone if she takes a small hiatus and heads to her ancestral castle home in Scotland until things blow over. They also are aware of her knack for solving cases and ask her to keep an eye on who might be trying to target the royal family. Set on hanging at neaby Balmoral, spying, and relaxing with royalty she is instead caught up in murder and mayhem again.

I always enjoy Bowen's wit and this one had plenty. Her two unruly Scottish cousins are entertaining and her Grandfather who is not royal in any way is endearing and simple compared to the stuffy royals and Georgie's brother and sister in law. Her brother, "Binky" who is the current Lord of the manor is laid up in bed with an injury that seems suspicious. Was he deliberately targeted? Is someone trying to pick off the royals at Balmoral? And Wallis Simpson, the American and the young Elizabeth II even make an appearance.

It was a fun read although I honestly found the ending to be a bit much. Too far fetched and the actual reason behind the murders was interesting but not too convincing. I thought the action scenes in the last couple of chapters were over the top and very coincidental too but it all worked out in the end. Bowen did draw on historical rumors for the outcome which was fascinating. I also didn't guess the total "why" behind it all so it was well hidden. It's a fun series and I'll keep reading it going forward. I'm pretty loyal to series books, I just wish I had more time!

Three Act Tragedy by Agatha Christie (Hercule Poirot Book 11) Read Christie Selection March 2025

 

Publication Date: 

1934

Genre:

Mystery

Series: Hercule Poirot Book 11

Length:   279 pages

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

Who wouldn't be pleased to attend a small dinner party being held by Sir Charles Cartwright, once the leading star of the London stage? At his "Crow's Nest" home in Loomouth, Cornwall.

Unfortunately, thirteen guests arrived at the actor's house, most unlucky. One of them was a vicar. It was to be a particularly unlucky evening for the mild-mannered Reverend Stephen Babbington, who choked on his cocktail, went into convulsions and died. But when his martini glass was sent for chemical analysis, there was no trace of poison -- just as Hercule Poirot, also in attendance, had predicted. Even more troubling for the great detective, there was absolutely no motive!

My Thoughts:

This book was the Read Christie March Selection and I listened to it on audiobook.  It was called Murder in Three Acts originally when first published. I and read that this is the only novel where the two characters of Poirot and Satterthwaite work together to solve a murder. 

Sir Charles Cartwright, a famous London actor and friend of Poirot,hosts a dinner party with thirteen guests. During the party, Reverend Stephen Babbington dies after ingesting his cocktail. Although everyone attending suspects foul play, it can't be proven. There is no poison to be found in the drink. Poirot and Satterthwaite, who were attending the party, find this frustratingly odd of course. They cannot work out a motive either. Who would want the Reverend dead? When they hear about another, similar death not long after they are extremely suspicious given that most of the exact same guests attended the second party. Coincidence? Poirot thinks that highly unlikely. 

It was fun to see the challenge presented here. No real motive or means, and most of the guests seemingly harmless bystanders. Poirot eventually interviews the relevant ones and seems to take a liking to one in particular, "Egg" the nickname for Miss Lytton Gore. We see a softer side of him and he also eventually tells us some things about himself personally that are interesting, towards the end, one in particular relating to the way he speaks. I found it all kind of endearing.

I didn't guess the relationship between the two crimes so the mystery was well done. It wasn't the strongest of her books in terms of character development and I wouldn't say I walked away really excited about the plot, but it is still a good read, or listen. Her books usually are a great escape!

 

Death Down the Aisle by Verity Bright (A Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery Book 11)

 

Publication Date: August 31, 2022

Genre: Cozy Historical Mystery

Series: Lady Eleanor Swift

Length: 319 pages

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

The society wedding of the decade has the blushing bride, beautiful flowers… and the groom arrested before he can walk down the aisle? Thank goodness Lady Swift is on the guest list!

Lady Eleanor Swift isn’t normally one for grand social occasions, but who can resist a wedding? Especially when it’s her old friend, Constance Grainger, marrying the most eligible bachelor in town, Lord Peregrine Davencourt. Eleanor is taking Gladstone the bulldog as her plus one, with a smart new bowtie to match her bridesmaid’s dress.

But the big day is ruined when the groom is arrested for murder before he makes it to the altar. In a baffling twist, it turns out he was already engaged to the lovely Daisy Balforth, who has been found dead at the local inn with Lord Davencourt kneeling over her. The gossip pages will have a field day!

The distraught bride-to-be asks Eleanor to clear her fiancé’s name, as she’s certain he wouldn’t hurt a fly. With help from handsome Detective Seldon, Eleanor examines the evidence. But she’s barely had time to write down her suspect list before Constance’s father is set upon by a bearded stranger on the golf course. Clearly there is more to this story than Eleanor first thought, but can she catch the real killer before the wedding turns into her wake?

My Thoughts:

I wasn't really looking forward to this particular book as much as the others in the series because it takes place in England and I love the books that have Eleanor visiting other locations. So I kind of stalled getting on with reading it. I'm glad I finally did though because it turned out to be really cute and also moved Eleanor and Hugh's relationship a little further. I'd probably be a bit lost if I'd skipped it! So I'm pleasantly surprised and had fun reading it.

In this story, Eleanor is preparing to be a bridesmaid in her dear friend Constance's wedding. But before she can walk down the aisle her fiance, Lord Peregrine Davencourt is accused of murdering his former love interest, Daisy. It's a race against time to clear his name, if he is even innocent, and save the wedding. Peregrine insists he's not guilty and Constance believes him. Eleanor sets out with her butler Clifford and Detective Hugh Seldon to try to help. 

It didn't sound all that exciting when I started but this book held my interest well. I just need cozies to be authentic to the times, have some red herrings to navigate, and wrap things up neatly. This one did just that and included a cast of characters wtih colorful and shady backgrounds. There was the ladies society also of which Eleanor is a part of promoting women police officers (an interesting topic for the time) and the attempt to throw us off with the backstory of a town decimated by the war. I enjoyed the addition of a little boy, Bertie, who is clearly autistic but since at that time people were less aware of it, is presented as an intense, loveable child who ultimately helps with solving the murders in his own unique way.

The person responsible for the murders and mayhem was hidden well until the end and I enjoyed how they were revealed. It was exciting and throughout the book I kept changing my mind as each new clue was revealed. All in all an enjoyable read and I'm looking forward to the next adventure in the series.

Murder at Wedgefield Manor by Erica Ruth Neubauer (Book Two: A Jane Wunderly Mystery)

 

Publication Date:  March 31, 2021

Genre: Cozy Historical Mystery

Series: Jane Wunderly

Length: 304 pages

Book Description (GoodReads):

In the wake of World War I, Jane Wunderly- a thoroughly modern young American widow-is traveling abroad, enjoying the hospitality of an English lord and a perfectly proper manor house, until murder makes an unwelcome appearance . . . 

England, 1926: Wedgefield Manor, deep in the tranquil Essex countryside, provides a welcome rest stop for Jane and her matchmaking Aunt Millie before their return to America. While Millie spends time with her long-lost daughter, Lillian, and their host, Lord Hughes, Jane fills the hours devouring mystery novels and taking flying lessons-much to Millie's disapproval. 

But any danger in the air is eclipsed by tragedy on the ground when one of the estate's mechanics, Air Force veteran Simon Marshall, is killed in a motorcar collision. The sliced brake cables prove this was no accident, yet was the intended victim someone other than Simon? The house is full of suspects-visiting relations, secretive servants, strangers prowling the grounds at night-and also full of targets. 

The enigmatic Mr. Redvers, who helped Jane solve a murder in Egypt, arrives on the scene to once more offer his assistance. It seems that everyone at Wedgefield wants Jane to help protect the Hughes family. But while she searches for answers, is she overlooking a killer hiding in plain sight?

My Thoughts:

I have read books one and four in this series and went back to see how book two unfolds. It was good that I did because the relationship between Jane and her love interest, Redvers, really blossoms in this book. The plot wasn't terribly involved and I felt the narration was a little forced in that there weren't enough red herrings and suspects as well as crimes to warrant some of the lengthy musings of Jane. It also didn't take place in an exotic location like the other books, which is the appeal of this series. But I still enjoyed the story.

Lord Hughes, their host at Wedgefield Manor, is suspected of cutting the brakes on his handyman's car, which results in his death.  Jane just doesn't buy it. She smells a rat elsewhere but has a hard time convincing the local inspector. She and her fiance set out to find another alternative, and in the midst of investigating consider his daughter, niece, and the other few guests and staff of the mansion. Most of the book is your typical cozy mystery, them searching for clues, wondering who could be guilty, and in the end wrapping things up neatly. 

I consider this book a transition to the next book three more than an extra exciting sequel. But I wouldn't skip it if you want to continue with this series as I do. It fills in gaps about the characters and I think Neubauer has done a good job making me care about them. I am really looking forward to book three, Danger On the Atlantic, in which Jane and Redvers travel back to her home in America. Then the other books take place in different countries again. It should be a fun time!

A Body in the Villa by Isabella Bassett (Lady Caroline Murder Mysteries Book 3)

 

Publication Date: November 16, 2022

Genre: Historical Cozy Mystery

Series: Lady Caroline Murder Mysteries

Length: 190 pages

Book Description (GoodReads):

Switzerland, 1925

A rare bird is nesting in the lush summer meadows of the Swiss Alps, and the grizzled members of Uncle Albert’s Royal Society for Natural History Appreciation travel en masse to get a closer look.

The fact that they will be encamped at an opulent villa, coupled with the promise of a midsummer party, persuades his niece, and unenthusiastic secretary, Lady Caroline, to follow suit.

As the champagne flows, and tales of rare birds grow taller, a killer makes a bold move. One of the more risque guests is strangled with her own elaborate dress. When a rakish rogue, a charm-the-birds-out-of-the-trees kind of man, is picked off next, the police speculate that someone is stalking the more exotic specimens of this country house party.

Dismissing this bird-brain idea, Lady Caroline suspects instead that a cunning killer is using the party to feather their nest. Ready as ever for a good scavenger hunt, she follows the clues to the bad egg spoiling all the fun.

My Thoughts:

This is book three in the series. I have read books one, two and five already. I know I'm strange the way I skip around and I'm honestly trying not to do that anymore but it's hard. Sometimes a series book down the line looks good and I just don't want to wait! But it creates spoilers and unanswered questions too. So that bugs me. I can't win, lol.

Lady Caroline and her Uncle Albert have come to the Swiss Alps and the Royal Society for Natural History Appreciation, to search for a special bird. She is his secretary, unusual for the time as the others are male, but determined to do her job well while also looking out for her elderly beloved Uncle. While staying at a beautiful villa, Caroline becomes involved in three deaths, all of which seem unrelated until she starts to dig into the past of the victims. 

The story centers around the local hippie commune which seems to house a strange, eclectic group of people who all have their own secrets. Caroline is sure some of the answers to the deaths lie within but she also is suspicious of one of the members of the royal society. Along with her wacky friend, Poppy, who arrives and offers to help, they investigate and have some shenanigans along the way. 

I enjoyed the book but not as much as the one set in Cairo. I love how Bassett picks exotic locations and the commune made the story even more interesting. I wish Caroline and James, her love interest had had more interaction but overall the story was cute and I'm happy to move on to the next one in the series soon. 

A King's Ransom by Sharon Kay Penman (Plantagenets Book 5)

 

Publication Date: March 4, 2014

Genre: Historical Fiction/Medieval Fiction

Series: Plantagenet Saga

Length: 685 pages

Book Description (GoodReads):

From the New York Times-bestselling author of Lionheart comes the dramatic sequel, telling of the last dangerous years of Richard, Coeur de Lion’s life.
 
This long-anticipated sequel to the national bestseller Lionheart is a vivid and heart-wrenching story of the last event-filled years in the life of Richard, Coeur de Lion. Taken captive by the Holy Roman Emperor while en route home—in violation of the papal decree protecting all crusaders—he was to spend fifteen months chained in a dungeon while Eleanor of Aquitaine moved heaven and earth to raise the exorbitant ransom. But a further humiliation awaited him: he was forced to kneel and swear fealty to his bitter enemy.

For the five years remaining to him, betrayals, intrigues, wars, and illness were ever present. So were his infidelities, perhaps a pattern set by his father’s faithlessness to Eleanor. But the courage, compassion, and intelligence of this warrior king became the stuff of legend, and A King’s Ransom brings the man and his world fully and powerfully alive.

My Thoughts:

When I read the last sentence of this book Sunday night I was pretty elated. Not because I'm done and didn't like it but because I've finished all the books in this series which I started during Covid. I felt like I'd accomplished something big! Penman's books are so amazing they take awhile to read carefully. And there were times I thought I'd never finish a chapter, trying hard to concentrate on everything going on. 

It made me want to go back and re-read The Land Beyond the Sea, her last book and set during the period of Saladin and Baldwin, The Leper King. So I am reading it again before I start another epic. 

If I'm honest, this was my least favorite of the series. It was still amazing! Penman doesn't write a bad book, period. This one just wasn't quite as exciting as I'd hoped. The one before, Lionheart, was so intense and so beautifully written it was hard to top though. In this story, we spend a lot of time inside Richard's head. Penman said that she felt her novel Lionheart was about Richard the warrior and A King's Ransom was about Richard the man. I totally agree.

Richard leaves the Holy Land at the end of Lionheart. This book picks up at that point and takes us in spectacular detail through his attempted journey back to Europe. Through a series of bad events, he is captured first by Leopold, the Duke of Austria who has a major axe to grind with him, and then handed over to brutal captivity in the hands of the Holy Roman Emperor, Henry Hohenstaufen. His mother Eleanor works back home to raise his ransom. After three long years he is freed but must now deal with his shady brother John and arch enemy Phillip of France as they have sought to steal Richard's kingdom and thwart his freedom at every turn. They never anticipated Richard would be freed. Now, as John says, "Look to yourself... the devil is loose!" They are panicked and realize their schemes will be revealed and have no idea how Richard will react. 

Mrs. McGinty's Dead by Agatha Christie (Hercule Poirot Book 32)

 

Publication Date: February 1952

Genre: Classic Mysteries/Cozy Mysteries

Series: Hercule Poirot Mysteries 

Length: 243 pages

Book Description (GoodReads):

In Mrs. McGinty’s Dead, one of Agatha Christie’s most ingenious mysteries, the intrepid Hercule Poirot must look into the case of a brutally murdered landlady.

Mrs. McGinty died from a brutal blow to the back of her head. Suspicion falls immediately on her shifty lodger, James Bentley, whose clothes reveal traces of the victim’s blood and hair. Yet something is amiss: Bentley just doesn’t seem like a murderer.

Could the answer lie in an article clipped from a newspaper two days before the death? With a desperate killer still free, Hercule Poirot will have to stay alive long enough to find out. . . .

My Thoughts:

My favorite Christie books feature Poirot and Ariadne Oliver. So this one looked like a winner. I unfortunately could not access the current Read Christie book, So this was a suggested alternate choice.

I thought there were a lot of characters to keep up with and off shoot storylines. I had to think hard to keep them all straight. Basically the story centers around the death of an elderly landlady, Mrs. McGinty and her convicted murderer, James Bentley. The local superintendent is not so sure he did it as there was the feeling of it being staged. Poirot is called in to investigate and as usual, can spot holes in the case right away. With his foreign flair and investigative skills he soon uncovers a much deeper answer....it involves the past of a local woman and her child and he has to interview multiple townspeople and sift through their personal drama to get to the bottom of things. 

At least one of the characters had me convinced they were the murderer for a good part of the book. They way she was portrayed had me strung along. There is no way I'd have guessed the ending as it really was cleverly disguised behind one small clue that most of us would overlook. Of course Poirot doesn't! Mrs. McGinty was a bit of a sleuth herself which ultimately puts her in the spotlight of danger and Poirot has to figure out who would use the information she obtained to silence her. But he's convinced from the beginning it isn't Bentley.

One character, Maude Williams, who once worked with Bentley doesn't believe he is capable of murder and offers to help with the case. A possible weapon is found in a local home, further giving rise to Poirot's suspicions, and a mysterious photo leads him to believe some people are not who they claim to be. 

I thought this was a decent attempt for Christie but it was pretty complicated at times. I found my mind wandering as I tried to keep up with everything. The ending was satisfying and unique though and didn't reveal itself until the last moment. 

I'm looking forward to March and the next Read Christie selection!

Five Little Pigs by Agatha Christie (A Hercule Poirot Mystery, Book 24) Read Christie January 2025 Selection

Publication Date: 

May 1942

Genre:

Classic Mysteries/Cozy Mysteries

Series:

Hercule Poirot Mysteries 

Length:

234 pages

Book Description (GoodReads):

It was an open and shut case. All the evidence said Caroline Crale poisoned her philandering husband, a brilliant painter. She was quickly and easily convicted and sentenced to life in prison.
Now, sixteen years later, in a posthumous letter, Mrs. Crale has assured her grown daughter that she was innocent. But instead of setting the young woman's mind at ease, the letter only raises disquieting questions. Did Caroline indeed write the truth? And if she didn't kill her husband, who did?

To find out, the Crale’s daughter asks Hercule Poirot to reopen the case. His investigation takes him deep into the conflicting memories and motivations of the five other people who were with the Crales on the fatal day. With his keen understanding of human psychology, he manages to discover the surprising truth behind the artist's death.

My Thoughts:

The title of the book was clever. Poirot labels each suspect as one of the pigs from the nursery rhyme and we see the reasons unfold as each one tells his or her account of what they heard and saw about the murder as well as their thoughts and impressions of the others. 

There are Phillip and Meredith Blake (brothers), Angela (Mrs. Crale's half sister), Angela's governess Cecilia Williams, and model Elsa Greer who is carrying on with the victim prior to his death. Elsa is only a young girl of around twenty who is carefree and unbothered that she is breaking up a marriage. Most of the people involved either love or hate her and some feel she is a manipulator and well aware of what she is doing. Some are unsympathetic to Caroline and feel she deserved what she got....going to prison for killing her husband. 

Caroline's daughter, Carla is not so sure and wants Poirot to find out the truth. He does so in his customary way of interview and reel them in. He spends a lot of time listening to the five people tell their stories and trying to decipher the mental motives behind it all. The truth of course isn't what is seems at first and it will take him patience and time to get to the bottom of things. 

This book was honestly disappointing for me. I found it to be long and tedious. There just wasn't much to the plot. Jealous wife. Daughter determined to clear her mother's name. Saucy young girl with fantasies in her head of the future with a married man who will love her only. It's been done so many times. I absolutely love Poirot, always do. But this story just fell flat and the ending was not that climactic to me. I think as always Christie is a master of human psychology and sets up her characters and their many personal flaws superbly. She really excels with knowing how people operate. I just thought the mystery and crime were pretty substandard and the resolution not all that exciting or jaw dropping. I guess I'm used to a little more "twistiness" in her stories now! 

While I don't recommend skipping this one altogether, it is not one I'd put on my radar if you have a limited time to read Christie books. It felt like she was kind of going through the motions with it. But I got it read and reviewed in January and that was my goal!

Death Below Stairs by Jennifer Ashley (A Below Stairs Mystery Book One)

 

Publication Date:

January 2, 2018

Genre:

Cozy Historical Mystery

Series:

A Below Stairs Mystery Book One

Length: 

336 pages

Book Description (GoodReads):

Victorian class lines are crossed when cook Kat Holloway is drawn into a murder that reaches all the way to the throne.

Highly sought-after young cook Kat Holloway takes a position in a Mayfair mansion and soon finds herself immersed in the odd household of Lord Rankin. Kat is unbothered by the family’s eccentricities as long as they stay away from her kitchen, but trouble finds its way below stairs when her young Irish assistant is murdered.

Intent on discovering who killed the helpless kitchen maid, Kat turns to the ever-capable Daniel McAdam, who is certainly much more than the charming delivery man he pretends to be. Along with the assistance of Lord Rankin’s unconventional sister-in-law and a mathematical genius, Kat and Daniel discover that the household murder was the barest tip of a plot rife with danger and treason—one that’s a threat to Queen Victoria herself.

My Thoughts:

Through the story I learned a little more about the Irish/English conflict that has been going on for a very long time. The major plot of the novel centers around the Irish girl, Sinead, who is the victim and how her personal life might relate to an attempt on the Queen's life. We get to know a bit about the group "the Fenians" who are anarchists bent on bringing down British government if they can. Kat and Daniel are slowly drawn into this orbit unwillingly as they try to uncover who killed Sinead. 

The author also adds the fun "extra" of weaving recipes and cooking norms for the time throughout the story. I don't cook much but marvel at those who do. And especially a hundred or more years ago in a huge manor house. Kat is always creating delicious dishes despite the lack of resources or time and anxiety over the murder. It's a wonder!

Villainy in Vienna by Kelly Oliver (A Fiona Figg Mystery Book 3)

 

Publication Date:

January 20, 2022

Genre:

Cozy Historical Mystery

Series:

Fiona Figg Mystery Book 3

Length: 

260 pages

Book Description (GoodReads):

1917 Vienna.

File clerk turned British agent Fiona Figg is more comfortable wearing a fake mustache than a ballgown.
When a royal ball ends with a royal body in the middle of the dancefloor, Fiona trades her dancing slippers for practical oxfords and sets out to investigate.
As she tracks her nemesis, the Black Panther, from Vienna to the Austrian countryside, a hunting accident makes her rethink her loyalties.
Can Fiona prevent the Black Panther from striking again, save her own skin, and find a decent cup of tea, all before the enemy's emperor realizes she's a spy?

My Thoughts:

Having read these books in order (a feat for me!) book 3 was a lot of fun now knowing the characters better. While there wasn't a ton of murders or super intricate details going on to solve in this one, the political intrigue combined with the quirky personas involved made it a good book. Once again, Fiona is hot on the trail of her nemesis, notorious spy Fredrick Fredricks. He is always one step ahead of her though and continues to get in her head and see through her disguises. While Fiona is not the least bit interested in him romantically and only has eyes for fellow British spy Archie, she admits Fredricks is handsome and charming in his own way.

She is in Vienna to keep an eye on him and other players on the British side, and report any suspicious behavior to the British war office back home. When the story begins she attends a royal ball where a death occurs, setting things in motion. She befriends an eccentric woman, helps find the culprit in the kidnapping of the lady's dog, and eventually, has to outsmart some of the shady male diplomats around her while trying not to draw too much attention to herself. We meet the real Emperor and Empress of Austria which I found to be a wonderful side story.

I think that is what has kept me coming back to this series. The author does a good job of weaving in real historical characters and World War I information while keeping things light and humorous. I learned a bit about the war again, Vienna's royal society during the time, and was reminded that Fredrick Fredricks was indeed a real person. The next set of books in this series take on a second main character, Kitty, and I will pick up with it soon. They are a good break from serious books.

Pirates and Patriots: A Tudor Naval Adventure by David Field (The New World Nautical Saga Book 1)

 

Publication Date:

June 2, 2023

Genre:

Historical Fiction

Series:

The New World Nautical Saga Book 1

Length: 

246 pages

Book description (goodreads):

The world is Drake’s oyster…

England, 1554

Fifteen-year-old Francis Drake is realising his dream of sailing on the open seas. After training with his cousins William and John Hawkins in their naval business, he takes his first commission upon the Bonaventure.

But when disaster strikes the ship and Francis saves the men with his quick-thinking, he makes an enemy of the captain, who threatens to charge Francis with mutiny.

Francis must seek a new path to make his fortune and he joins with the Hawkins brothers to search for glory in foreign lands.

But trading on the world stage is already being dominated by Spanish and Portuguese explorers and so Francis must act quickly if he wishes to make his mark.

And as one Tudor queen makes way for another, and Spanish relations grow ever tenser, Francis Drake may soon be needed to help save his country from the threat of war...

My Thoughts:

I have read most of Field's Medieval series and was not interested in this one at first. So glad I changed my mind because I absolutely loved this book and can't wait to read the next two in the three part series. 

Francis Drake is such a fascinating person and even though I know some of the story was crafted by the author, the basic facts as to how he rose through the ranks to defeat the Spanish Armada are solid. The love story between him and his wife Mary seemed plausible and her needing him to validate her as a wife and being distraught at how long he'd be away on his voyages felt very realistic. 

I loved the way he was portrayed as having a sense of humor about life too and wondered if this were something the author felt he had to add because it was something written in historical documents. His interactions with his cousins, Queen Elizabeth, and his crew members made the history come alive. I actually found myself wanting more detail as to how he handled his work life during the times he wasn't at sea.

Not needing or wanting books with detailed accounts of battles, this one was again a great balance of recreating the voyages to the West Indies and Americas, the navigating of the later named Drake's Passage, and the fateful day defeating Spain's formidable navy without so much detail one gets bored. Field's books don't feel like military books but they include enough to do justice to the important parts you have to learn. 

I will definitely be continuing with this series and all of his books. This is the way to learn history!

The Mystery of Mistletoe Hall by Benedict Brown (Lord Edgington Investigates Book Four)

 

Publication Date:

November 11, 2021

Genre:

Cozy Mystery 

Series:

Lord Edgington Investigates Book 4

Length:

243 pages

Book Description (GoodReads):

England, 1925. When Lord Edgington receives an invitation to spend the Christmas holiday with an old colleague from the police, he expects fine food, good conversation and the warmth of a roaring fire. But on arriving at Mistletoe Hall with his family, they discover the house deserted and no explanation for where their host or his servants could be. As more guests appear, the master detective begins to question what could connect the disparate group of newcomers. A teacher, a comedian, a thief, a sportsman, a singer, a policeman and a racing driver will all have their roles to play when a killer crashes the party. Cut off from the outside world by the worsening weather, and with bodies piling up, Lord Edgington must rely on his wits, his years of experience, and the help of his bumbling grandson Christopher in order to solve "The Mystery of Mistletoe Hall" .

With hints of “And Then There Were None” and “The Sittaford Mystery”, the fourth "Lord Edgington Investigates…" novel is a spoiler-free, standalone whodunit with a wicked resolution all of its own. Filled with warmth, humour, a fiendishly twisting plot, an adorable canine sidekick and plenty of Yuletide spirit, “The Mystery of Mistletoe Hall” is an Agatha-Christie-style Christmas cracker that will baffle and charm you in equal measure.

My Thoughts:

This book was a stand alone in the series and I haven't finished book one yet. So I was glad I could read this at Christmas and enjoy it without series spoilers. The covers are so pretty and are what made me stop and notice. Then having a male detective made me want to try it more because as I've said there are so few cozies with them. It's almost always women so changing it up is fun. 

Lord Edgington is a great character. He and his grandson Christopher are always stumbling upon a crime or body and working together to solve the case. In this story I especially loved the author's descriptions of the mansion they visit, the snow, the sleigh they take to ride to the front, and then combining that with the creepiness of the woods and the sense of doom. As murders occur and everyone feels unsafe and uneasy, they must try to stay calm and find out what is happening and why.

Murder at the Dolphin Hotel by Helena Dixon (Book One: A Miss Underhay Mystery)

Publication Date:

December 11, 2019

Genre:

Cozy Mysteries

Series:

Miss Underhay Mysteries

Length:

252 pages

Book Description (Good Reads)

A room with a view… to murder

June 1933. Independent young Kitty Underhay has been left in charge of her family’s hotel, The Dolphin, on the tranquil English coast. She’s expecting her days at the bustling resort to be filled with comfortable chatter with chambermaids as they polish the mahogany desks and glittering candelabras of the elegant foyer. Everything must be perfect for the arrival of a glamourous jazz singer from Chicago and a masked ball that will be the cultural highlight of the season.

But when several rooms are broken into and searched, including Kitty’s own, she quickly realises that something out of the ordinary is afoot at the hotel. Soon rumours are flying in the cozy town that someone is on the hunt for a stolen ruby. A ruby that Kitty’s mother may well have possessed when she herself went missing during the Great War. And when the break-ins are followed by a series of attacks and murders, including of the town’s former mayoress, it seems the perpetrator will stop at nothing to find it.

Aided by ex-army captain Matthew Bryant, the Dolphin’s new security officer, Kitty is determined to decipher this mystery and preserve not only the reputation of her hotel, but also the lives of her guests. Is there a cold-blooded killer under her own roof? And what connects the missing jewel to the mystery from Kitty’s own past?

My Thoughts:

This is my second time to read this book. Actually, all the way through...the first time I read about a third and stopped. I think I was just overwhelmed with other books and reviews at the time and didn't finish it. I picked it up again and am glad I did. I confess it wasn't my favorite cozy series but that is because I've read so many this year it is sometimes hard to choose. And the story lines blur together too.

Kitty is the typical independent woman of her time. She helps with the running of the Dolphin Hotel along with her beloved grandmother who is absent for much of the book, caring for her sister. Kitty is left in charge and thinks she is only preparing for guests and fancy parties. She doesn't realize she's about to embark on a sleuthing expedition for a missing ruby, her missing mother, her missing father and will have help from a dashing man, Matthew Bryant. Her grandmother has hired Matt to look after security and Kitty and Matt have immediate chemistry. As Kitty seems to be in some danger from someone who is committing thefts and then murder, Matt feels very protective of her and it becomes more than a job.

I enjoyed the banter between the two and the story line. Kitt's missing mother and the reasons behind why she is missing were the main parts that kept me intrigued. If the murders and jewels had been the only plot it wouldn't have worked as well. Also, having her father be a mysterious, shady character who appears to have gotten Kitty's mother with child and deserted them both added to the drama. The ending left open many story arcs to come so that means the series has a ways to go. 

I will likely pick up book two eventually. I seem to be in a pattern of reading book one of a series and then moving on later if I feel like it. I can't say this would be my first series choice but it wasn't bad. I just didn't find myself as bonded to the characters as some others. Also, the history parts about Matthew being in WW1 seemed very simplistic and shallow of extra tidbits found in other cozies. But I don't hold that against the author, that's not the main purpose of the story here. 

It was a good story with potential and has a lot open to continue with.