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Review of No More Time

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No More Time coverFrom the publisher of No More Time

Restaurant manager Dodie O’Dell has found her niche in the cozy New Jersey town of Etonville, creating menus that make a delicious double-act with the community theater’s productions. Now she’s ready for a vacation at the Jersey Shore town she called home before a hurricane hit. Sun, salty air, and seagulls make for a nostalgic escape from regular life—until a contingent from Etonville arrives to compete in a Jersey Shore theater festival.

Roped into helping her former boss cater the event, Dodie also gets a visit from her old flame, Jackson, who’s hoping to revive his charter boat business and is looking for a place to crash. Before Dodie can tell him that ship has sailed, Jackson’s partner is found murdered on his boat. Dodie knows her ex is a mooch, but she’s sure he’s no killer. But as she follows a trail of evidence that leads into her own past, Dodie stumbles on a dangerous conspiracy theory that could bring the festival to a shocking finale…

My review of No More Time

This was my first Dodie O’Dell Mystery. No More Time follows the currently popular formula of ‘single-woman-cop-boyfriend.’ There is a twist, however, in that the cop, Dodie’s fiancé Bill, is not in his home territory and therefore is not constantly blocking her from the investigation. In fact, he’s got a plot line of his own going on that largely keeps him out of the picture.

The writing style is crisp and there’s not a lot of unnecessary backstory, which means the plot keeps moving. There were also enough questions raised to make it difficult to figure out who the ultimate villain really was. Speaking of villains, there were plenty of suspects that were interesting enough to raise the ‘what-if’ question about them.

I found the characters enjoyable and easy to be around. For me, liking the main characters is a big deal because we spend a lot of time together. I thoroughly enjoyed Dodie and her friends, especially the somewhat eccentric Etonville Theater group.

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Review of Prussian Counterpoint

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Prussian Counterpoint coverFrom the publisher of Prussian Counterpoint

An unexpected invitation from wily King Frederick causes composer Joseph Haydn to fear he’s walking into a trap. After all, the Prussian King has never had any use for Haydn’s music. His Majesty seems more intrigued at Haydn’s being the son of a market-judge.Worse still, the invitation appears to stir up suspicion in the highest quarters in Vienna. So much so that a mysterious, cloaked lady visits Haydn’s Music Room and issues a thinly veiled threat.

Now Haydn is convinced there’s mischief afoot. But not even he can foresee that he will stumble upon the corpse of the imperial ambassador a day after his arrival in Frederick’s Prussia, along with evidence that His Lordship may have been a common thief.

Can Haydn salvage the imperial ambassador’s reputation—and find his killer?

My review

The author’s love of classical music and this era comes through clearly in Prussian Counterpoint. The entire book has an authentic feel—from the dialogue to the descriptions to the actions of the characters. The plot centers around the political intrigue surrounding Prussia, and the author portrays the uncertainty of the times well. At times, the mystery felt as though it took a back seat to the introduction of characters and the intrigue. 

In a macro sense, the story is historically accurate. While the actual events portrayed in the story never took place, the overall situation involving Persia is accurate and the politics portrayed are also accurate. Accuracy is the both the strength and weakness of this story. The main point where this becomes obvious is in the references to characters in the narrative. For instance, in dialogue, it makes perfect sense for characters to use a noble’s title. However, in the narrative, the same titles quickly become cumbersome and confusing when several they are used in close proximity.

I enjoyed the story itself, but sometimes found myself bogged down in those pesky titles. I also enjoyed the fact that it basically took a team to bring together all the clues so Haydn could solve the crime. 

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Review of The Golden Tresses of the Dead

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41+q6UpPP1LFrom the publisher of The Golden Tresses of the Dead

Although it is autumn in the small English town of Bishop’s Lacey, the chapel is decked with exotic flowers. Yes, Flavia de Luce’s sister Ophelia is at last getting hitched, like a mule to a wagon. “A church is a wonderful place for a wedding,” muses Flavia, “surrounded as it is by the legions of the dead, whose listening bones bear silent witness to every promise made at the altar.” Flavia is not your normal twelve-year-old girl. An expert in the chemical nature of poisons, she has solved many mysteries, sharpening her considerable detection skills to the point where she had little choice but to turn professional. So Flavia and dependable Dogger, estate gardener and sounding board extraordinaire, set up shop at the once-grand mansion of Buckshaw, eager to serve—not so simple an endeavor with her odious little moon-faced cousin, Undine, constantly underfoot. But Flavia and Dogger persevere. Little does she know that their first case will be extremely close to home, beginning with an unwelcome discovery in Ophelia’s wedding cake: a human finger.

My review

The Golden Tresses of the Dead is a delightful mystery driven by the strong narrative voice of Flavia de Luce, a precocious twelve-year-old sleuth and chemist. One of the beauties of Flavia is that she is as naïve as she is astute. Her naivete creates a wonderful narrative, during which she may wax profusely about a new discovery or concern.

This is definitely a mystery in which the detectives, Flavia and her adult partner Dogger, detect. The pace remains fast as they chase down clues. Flavia’s methods are sometimes unorthodox, but they are effective and create a fun read. Her exploits are always focused on the crime she and Dogger are investigating, which makes for a book difficult to put down.

This is a cozy mystery fit for all audiences, from young to old. It’s filled with good dialogue, a clever plot, and quirky characters. Add to that a protagonist with the enthusiasm of youth and this is a sure winner in the genre.

Review of A Murderous Marriage by Alyssa Maxwell

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A MURDEROUS MARRIAGEFrom the publisher of A Murderous Marriage

Since the Great War, some family fortunes have suffered, including those of the Renshaws. Despite being the granddaughter of an earl, Julia Renshaw is under pressure to marry for money—and has settled for Gilbert Townsend, a viscount and a wealthy industrialist. He is decades older than Julia, and it’s clear to her sister Phoebe—and to Eva, who has been like a surrogate mother to the girls—that this is not a love match. Nevertheless, the wedding takes place—and in a hurry.

At the reception aboard the groom’s yacht, there appears to be tension between Gil and several guests: his best man, a fellow veteran of the Boer War; his grouchy spinster sister; and his current heir, a nervous young cousin named Ernest. The bride is also less than pleased when she discovers that her honeymoon will be more crowded than expected—with Gil’s pretty secretary, among others, coming along.

That very night, Julia pounds on her sister’s door, brandishing a bandaged hand and reporting a hot-tempered outburst on her new husband’s part. Julia is feeling doubt and regret about her hasty decision, but returns to the boat. Then the next morning, before the yacht can depart the harbor, Gil’s body is found in the water below—and Phoebe and Eva must discover who pushed him over . . . before the Renshaws’ social standing is irreparably stained by Julia’s arrest for his murder . . .

My review

Not having read any of the previous books in this series, I didn’t know what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised to be immersed in the post World War I era. From the customs and clothing to the attitudes and actions, the story felt authentic and true.

The lead characters in this story, Phoebe and Eva, are spunky and believable. There was a good deal of rumination for both characters, which was at times a bit much, but it did not feel excessive. Their actions were consistent with their characters, i.e., that of Lady and her maid.

The mystery itself was well-planned and there are sufficient twists to keep the reader guessing. A good read, especially for cozy mystery fans who love history.

FTC Full Disclosure: A review copy of this book was provided by its publisher.

Review of Ask Me No Questions: A Lady Dunbridge Mystery

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From the publisher of Ask Me No Questions

From New York Times bestselling author Shelley Noble, Ask Me No Questions is the first in the Lady Dunbridge Mystery series featuring a widow turned sleuth in turn-of-the-twentieth century New York City.

A modern woman in 1907, Lady Dunbridge is not about to let a little thing like the death of her husband ruin her social life. She’s ready to take the dazzling world of Gilded Age Manhattan by storm.

From the decadence of high society balls to the underbelly of Belmont horse racing, romance, murder, and scandals abound. Someone simply must do something. And Lady Dunbridge is happy to oblige.

My review

I was really looking forward to reading this book. I love the time period, the pomp and circumstance, and and the spirit of the times. In short, I came into this book with high expectations.

The story begins with a smart introduction of Philomena Amesbury, the countess of Dunbridge. Known as Phil to her friends  She has sass, is smart, and has no compunction about showing up the police.

The strength of this book is the plot and the story. It’s filled with twists that left me unsure of who the killer was until the end. For readers who like the continuity of a series, the author introduced multiple long story arcs, which will likely form the basis of future stories.

In period pieces, I look forward to being immersed in the world, but I found the descriptions and character development weak. There were times when they didn’t paint a clear picture, making it difficult to visualize the setting, the dress, the atmosphere, and others where I was quite satisfied. The one main character who really shined was Detective Sergeant John Atkins. His essence and values were clear from the beginning and remained true throughout.

This was a good story overall. I was always interested to see what was coming next and wanted to know how Phil was going to solve the crime. I’m also curious as to what her next adventure will be.

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Review of Hall of Mirrors by Christopher Fowler

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From the publisher of Hall of Mirrors

London, 1969. With the Swinging Sixties under way, Detectives Arthur Bryant and John May find themselves caught in the middle of a good, old-fashioned manor house murder mystery.

Hard to believe, but even positively ancient sleuths like Bryant and May of the Peculiar Crimes Unit were young once . . . or at least younger. Flashback to London 1969: mods and dolly birds, sunburst minidresses—but how long would the party last?

After accidentally sinking a barge painted like the Yellow Submarine, Bryant and May are relegated to babysitting one Monty Hatton-Jones, the star prosecution witness in the trial of a disreputable developer whose prefabs are prone to collapse. The job for the demoted detectives? Keep the whistle-blower safe for one weekend.

The task proves unexpectedly challenging when their unruly charge insists on attending a party at the vast estate Tavistock Hall. With falling stone gryphons, secret passageways, rumors of a mythical beast, and an all-too-real dismembered corpse, the bedeviled policemen soon find themselves with “a proper country house murder” on their hands.

Trapped for the weekend, Bryant and May must sort the victims from the suspects, including a hippie heir, a blond nightclub singer, and Monty himself—and nobody is quite who he or she seems to be.

My review

If I were to describe Hall of Mirrors in a single word, it would be “chaotic.” This is the 15th book in the Bryant and May series and, quite honestly, it feels like a bad place to begin. Throughout the story, I found myself disoriented by what I consider inadequate scene setup. Fans of the series may like Fowler’s head-hopping style, switching from one point-of-view to another in the middle of paragraphs, but I prefer to feel more grounded in a scene.

I felt the book was too was about 25% too long. It was as though the publisher said we need 400 pages, and so those pages were filled with regular reminders from the main characters of their ineptitude, details which did not add to the mood or story, and delayed responses to questions asked (some of which were never answered until the denouement.)

Several of the characters introduced seemed irrelevant—until the very end, which is where this book shined. The last ten pages were very entertaining because the author let loose with concise and imaginative descriptions of each character and what happened in their lives after the story. It was obvious from these last pages that Fowler has a sharp sense of humor—I just wish it had come through much earlier in the book.